A Crazy Boy and a Beautiful Love

Chapter 3: The Fateful Encounter

-Compa's House; Later- "Phew... That was close," Neptune sighed as she sat next to Bradley.

"At least I stopped it with Giant Vanity," Bradley said.

"I can't believe it still stood after all the damage it took," Histoire's voice called to them.

"No kidding," Bradley sighed.

"So, Histy... What's this weird thing we picked up?" Neptune asked as she looked at the fragment.

"That is a Key Fragment... It is needed to unlock me from my tome," Histoire said.

"Ah... I see. Well, how many fragments do we need to help you?" Bradley asked as he looked at the fragment.

"Well, you need 4," Histoire said simply.

"4... That's a specific number," Bradley said as he looked up at Neptune, "Hmm... Any other advice we need? Histoire?" No reply.

"How rude! She hung up!" Neptune fumed.

"Maybe we lost connection," Compa said as she looked at them.

"Probably..." Bradley sighed as he shook his head.

"Maybe she should change her telepathy provider," Neptune pouted as she wraps her arms around Bradley's torso.

"Why are you... Oh, never mind. I'm glad you and Compa are all right," Bradley said as he held Neptune close. Compa sat next to Bradley and hugged him.

"We were worried when you went down like that, Brad-Brad..." Compa said softly... Almost like she was on the verge of tears.

"Sorry I made you 2 worry... I promise I'll protect you both," Bradley smiled softly as he kissed both of them on the forehead. Neptune and Compa smiled at him and giggled.

"He is a great guy," Neptune smiled, "Naturally for my soul mate."

"I wish I had a soul mate," Compa said as she looked at Neptune.

"Compa, Neppy... I have a request. I'm exhausted; so, why don't we call it a day?" Bradley asked as he looked at them.

"Sounds like a plan, Hubby!" Neptune smiled as she kissed him on the cheek.

"I can agree to that... We can continue tomorrow," Compa smiled as she lets out a small yawn.

-That Night- Neptune slipped into a big blue t-shirt with a number 78 on both sides that Bradley gave her and hops on the bed right next to Bradley, who wore a black muscle shirt with brown pajama pants. Compa wore a pink silk nightgown as she laid in her bed across from Neptune and Bradley.

"Ahh... I always wanted to have a sleepover," Compa smiled.

"Wish granted," Bradley smiled.

"So, Hubby... Can I ask where you're from?" Neptune asked as she looked up at him.

"Earth... Eastern District 439, to be exact. I have a mentor who I live with there... His name is Son Goku," Bradley said, "He taught me how to fight after I lost my mother and father. He's a nice guy... And, a great mentor. I have a lot of respect for him."

"Wow... He sounds awesome!" Neptune smiled.

"He is... His son Gohan taught me how to read and write," Bradley said.

"How old were you when you lived with them?" Compa asked.

"5," Bradley said with a sad sigh.

"5?!" Compa gasped.

"Wow... That's bad," Neptune said as she looked up at him.

"It wasn't all bad... I still had a family," Bradley said.

"Did you ever think about how your life would have been if you still had your parents?" Compa asked.

"Honestly... No," Bradley said, "I tend to not dwell in the past. I look to the future and see where life is taking me." Bradley sighed and looked out the window at the starry night.

"I got to hand it to Gamindustri... The sights are breathtaking, don't you girls think?"

"Uh huh," Compa smiled as she looked out the window as well.

"I wonder how they're doing back home," Bradley thought. He took out a pendant from his shirt and opened it up to reveal a picture of him when he was 5 and he was being held by a white haired woman with amber brown eyes and a man with jet black hair and blue eyes standing behind her with his hands on her shoulders.

"Mom... Dad... I miss you to pieces," Bradley sighed as he looked at the picture.

"Those are your parents?" Neptune asked as she also looked at the picture.

"Yep... Their names are Seljina and Kalenon Phoenix," Bradley told Neptune. Neptune squinted at the picture for a second, as if she was analyzing it like a scientist.

"Something the matter, Nep-Nep?" Compa asked.

"No... It's nothing to worry about," Neptune smiled.

"Are you sure? You're staring pretty hard at this picture," Bradley said.

"Well... I may have seen this woman before... But, I can't remember where," Neptune said as she points at Seljina.

"What? Where did you see her?" Bradley asked in surprise.

"I just told you I can't remember," Neptune told him.

"Never mind... I can't blame you," Bradley said as he looked at her, "Ugh... I'm tired... Good night, girls..." Bradley drifts off to sleep. Neptune looked up at Bradley with a caring smile on her face.

"Good night, my future husband," Neptune giggled, "I will be right here when you wake up." She kissed Bradley on the lips and cuddles in his arms. Compa looked at the cuddling lilac blue haired girl and jet black haired boy and smiled.

"Nep-Nep and Brad-Brad are perfect for each other," Compa smiled, "I hope I end up with someone... Probably an amazing guy like Brad-Brad." She slowly drifted off to sleep.

-The Next Morning- Bradley slowly opened his eyes and looked around. "Good morning, my Hubby! We cooked you breakfast!" Neptune's voice called to him. Bradley sat up as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"I've known her for one day... And, she is already cooking for me. Huh... That's love for you."

Neptune and Compa brought him a tray of eggs and bacon with a cup of coffee and another cup of pudding.

"Wow... Thanks, girls," Bradley smiled, "If I didn't know any better, both of you would make great wives." Neptune giggled as Compa blushed.

"Oh, I love seeing you happy," Neptune said sweetly.

"Thanks, Brad-Brad," Compa smiled. He ate his breakfast and finished after a few minutes.

"Ahh... That hit the spot," Bradley smiled. Compa took the plate away from him and walked to the kitchen. "

I'll take care of this... Just sit tight," Compa smiled.

"Ok," Bradley said. Neptune hopped onto the bed beside Bradley and smiled.

"What is it?" She kissed him on the cheek.

"Uh... Why did you..."

"Just because," Neptune smiled.

"Ah... I see," Bradley said. Suddenly, Bradley grabbed the sides of his head in pain as he cried out in pain!

"Hubby?! What's wrong?!" Neptune panicked. Blood dripped from his nose as a dark aura surrounds him.

"What's this feeling?!" Bradley thought as he looked up.

"Brad-Brad?! Are you okay?!" Compa called as she rushed to his other side.

"It's the same as a few nights ago! Only... This time it's a lot stronger than before!" Bradley told Compa.

"Oh, no... Fight it, Brad-Brad!" Compa told him. Bradley looked up and saw a dark shadow watching them from outside a nearby window.

"Neptune, Compa... Stay down! Giant Vanity!" Bradley yelled as he flung a large sphere at the window. The window shattered as the sphere hits the figure! The figure disappeared into a puff of smoke. The aura disappeared around Bradley as he took a few deep breaths.

"What was that?!" Neptune panicked.

"I have no idea myself..." Bradley panted, "But, it's gone now. That was too close, anyway."

"Brad-Brad..." Compa said as she looked at him.

"I'm okay, Compa... What about you and Neppy?" Bradley asked.

"We're fine," Neptune said.

"Good..." Bradley said as he suddenly felt weak. He laid back and passed out. The girls' worried voices called to him as he lost consciousness.

-Later- Bradley quickly sat up and looked around. "Neptune?! Compa?!" Bradley called. He looked around at the empty apartment and got out of bed. He then got really dizzy and sank to his knees.

"Whoa... I hate vertigos," Bradley groaned as he slowly got to his feet. He slowly walked over to the door and opened it.

"Where would they go? The Guild, maybe?" Bradley thought as he leaned on the wall for support.

"Stupid vertigo won't go away," he groaned as he kept walking.

"Can't keep up, huh?" a voice called.

"Huh?" Bradley asked as he looked around. A figure was beside him, smirking a sly smirk.

"Who are you?" Bradley asked as he looked at the figure.

"Neppy and Comp are in quite a pickle... They are facing a dangerous opponent, ya know," the figure said.

"What?!" Bradley panicked as he looked at the figure.

"Would you like to see this? I think it's quite entertaining," the figure said as it called a portal towards Bradley. A visual of Neptune and Compa fighting a Gothic clothed woman with a large yellow spear... And, Neptune was down on the ground in pain as Compa sat at Neptune's side. Another girl with waist length brown hair holding a pair of Qatars in her hands standing in front of Neptune and Compa, protecting them.

"Weak... I'll just kill you all!" the woman called.

"Try it, woman!" the girl called as she charged towards the woman.

"Bring me there! Now!" Bradley demanded the figure.

"Hmm... Are you sure? In your current state, you won't be able to help them much," the figure said as it folds its arms.

"I don't care about me... Just get me there, please," Bradley said.

"Your conviction to these girls is admirable... Very well. I will give you my aide," the figure smiled kindly.

"Who are you?" Bradley asked the figure. "My name is Mulina... I'm the true form of Exe," the figure said as it revealed its features to Bradley. The figure was a young woman with crimson red hair that reached the middle part of her back and soulful brown eyes that looked like they could tell you her whole life story. "Take my hand, if you don't mind," Mulina said as she held her hand out. Bradley slowly reached his hand out and took Mulina's hand.

"Good luck with your conviction, Bradley... I hope you succeed," Mulina smiled. She disappeared... And, Bradley stood up straight. He looked at his hands and nodded.

"Thank you, Mulina... This should help a lot. Neppy... Comp... I'm on my way," Bradley said as he looked over at the portal. He stepped into the portal and it disappeared after he went in.

-Monster Cave- A girl with waist length brown hair crashed into the cave wall and slid down the wall in pain.

"Iffy!" Compa called as she looked up. "I-I'll be fine... Just take care of Nep, ok?" the girl called to Compa.

"Iffy..." Compa said sadly. "Time to finish this," a voice called as a woman in Gothic clothing hovered over to the girl.

"Take your best shot, witch," the girl snarled as she spat blood onto the ground.

"Gladly," the woman smirked as she held her long yellow spear high into the air.

"Iffy, no!" Compa called. She pulled out her large pink syringe and shot several bullets at the woman. The woman dodged out of the way and charged at Compa and Neptune.

"Eek!" Compa screamed as she held up her hands in defense. Suddenly, the woman was kicked in the face! She slid across the ground and quickly got to her feet.

"Who dares interfere with this matter?!" the woman snarled as she looked around.

"I dare," a familiar voice called. She turned and saw a young black haired teen standing in front of Compa and Neptune.

"Bradley Phoenix at your service... Can I help you?"

"Brad-Brad!" Compa said in tears as she looked up at him.

"Hubby..." Neptune said weakly as she looked up at him.

"You two rest here... I'll take care of the wicked witch of the north," Bradley told them as he looked back.

"She's too much... Don't go," Compa said as she shook her head.

"I'll be okay, Comp... I promised that I would protect you both," Bradley said as he had a thumbs up towards them. Compa nodded slowly and looked down at Neptune. Bradley glared at the woman and stepped towards her.

"You... You hurt my friends... You'll pay dearly for that," Bradley told her.

"Ahh... I see. You're gonna stop me from hurting your harem?" the woman smirked as she held up her black and yellow spear towards Bradley.

"Not just stop you... I'll beat the crap out of you," Bradley said as he got into a fighting stance.

"Bold," the woman smirked, "Then, you'll face the wrath of Arfoire."

"Arfoire? Like Bandai Namco?" Bradley joked.

"What?"

"It's a lame joke my best friend thought of," Bradley said as he rolled his eyes, "His name was Connor and he made me laugh every day."

"Is he dead?" the girl called as she got to her feet.

"Brain tumor at age 14," Bradley told her. "Wow... Sucks," the girl said.

"Since then, I promised myself that I would protect my loved ones from any evil," Bradley declared, "That includes you, Arfoire."

"Yawn... Tell me when to care with whatever you say," Arfoire smirked.

"Didn't think that would work too well," Bradley sighed, "All right... Come at me, lady!"

Arfoire charged at Bradley and swung her spear towards him. He sidestepped to the right and grabbed the spear. He pulled her towards him and uppercuts her. Arfoire quickly got to her feet and called forth several black spheres around her.

"You didn't tell me you had gifts for me!" Bradley smirked as he quickly stepped back.

"I do... Enjoy them to the fullest extent!" Arfoire called as she flung the spheres at him. Bradley grabbed one of the spheres and threw it back at the incoming spheres. The spheres collided with each other and explodes on contact.

"Impressive, boy... I might make you into a henchman if you weren't helping Neptune," Arfoire smirked as she charged at him. Bradley called forth his purple gauntlet gloves and charged at Arfoire.

"Sorry, lady... I have a few girls to protect from evil people like you," Bradley said as he ducked under the incoming spear. He stood upright and punched Arfoire in the stomach, forcing her to her knees in pain as she her stomach. Bradley flips backwards and kicked her in the face. She fell onto her back as blood dripped from her now bloody and broken nose.

"How? How do you have so much power?!" Arfoire called as she got back to her feet.

"Call it hard work and determination... With a little help from vengeance," Bradley said as he grabbed Arfoire's left wrist. He kicked Arfoire in the stomach and threw her into the air. He then held out his left hand as a white sphere grew in the palm of the hand.

"Also... Something about you just pissed me off. You're just like Demigra... Thinking you rule everything and everyone. Well, I'm about to dethrone you! White Flash!" Bradley called as a large white beam of light shot out of his hand and crashed into Arfoire, blasting her to the ground. She slowly got to her feet and glared hatefully at Bradley. Then, she lets out a forced and evil laugh.

"How fake can you get, woman? That was horrible to listen to."

"I think it's funny that you think you've won this fight," Arfoire smirked.

"What do you mean?" Bradley asked, "This battle was already over to begin with."

"Hmm?" Arfoire asked.

"You see... I've been fighting ever since I was about 6 years old. I fought in countless battles and gotten a lot of wisdom and experience in the amount of 12 years. But, I hate to drag on like a super villain. What I'm trying to get at is your number is up," Bradley smirked as he walked over to Compa and Neptune. Then, Arfoire was forced to her knees as ANOTHER Bradley had his foot on her back.

"For example... I can create clones of myself at will. I can also do this." He snapped his fingers and a ton of dark blades surrounded the Bradley clone and Arfoire.

"Any questions?"

"Damn you, boy!" Arfoire yelled as she glared at him. She quickly got to her feet, knocking the clone Bradley over. The blades charged at her and one of them pierced her left side.

"Gah! You little pest!"

"Oh, you're still alive... How bothersome," Mulina's voice came out of Bradley's mouth.

"Huh? Brad-Brad?" Compa asked as she looked at him.

"Bradley, let me handle this woman," Mulina said as her spirit appeared behind Bradley.

"Are you sure?" Bradley asked out loud.

"Of course," Mulina smiled.

"Ok... Go ahead," Bradley said as he switched places with Mulina.

"Now, we start the endgame," Mulina said as a large purple scythe appeared in Bradley's right hand.

"What are you, exactly?" Arfoire asked as she glared at Bradley.

"Well... I'm a boy possessed by a spirit, that's all," Mulina and Bradley said at the same time in the same tone of voice, "Also... I'm a Sayain. What, you've never heard of Sayains?"

"Does it look like I know what you're talking about?" Arfoire scoffed as she pulled out the dark blade from her side.

"No... I just had to ask," Bradley's voice said as he looked at her.

"By the way... It looked like you knew Neptune. Mind telling us how?" Mulina asked as she walked up to Arfoire and held the scythe's large silver blade towards Arfoire's neck. Arfoire raised her neck and panicked as she looked into Mulina/Bradley's green and black eyes.

"A demon..." she thought.

"I won't give in to your scare tactics," Arfoire said confidently.

"Scare tactics? Oh, this is just a joke to me... THESE are scare tactics," Mulina smirked demonically as she looked closer into Arfoire's hazel brown eyes. Suddenly, Arfoire screamed in complete horror as she fell back, covering her eyes.

"Whoa... What did you do to her?" the girl called to Mulina.

"I have the ability to make anyone see their worst nightmares just by looking deep into their souls," Mulina said as she looked at the girl, "Are you all right, though?"

"Yeah... I've been through worse," the girl groaned.

"Good... Now, Bradley... You can take control, you know," Mulina told Bradley.

"Huh? Oh, right... Sorry," Bradley's voice called as his spirit appeared beside Mulina. Bradley and Mulina switched places and Bradley rushed over to Neptune and Compa.

"How's Neppy?" Bradley asked.

"She's going to be okay," Compa said with a smile.

"What about you?" he asked. "Me too," Compa smiled. Bradley hugged them both.

"Don't you both dare leave anywhere without me again, ok? I was so worried," Bradley sighed.

"I'm sorry, Brad-Brad... We actually were looking for some specific types of herbs to help you," Compa told him. Bradley slowly pulled away from Compa and looked at her.

"You were? You would've risked your lives for me?" Bradley asked. "Mm-hmm... You're precious to me and Nep-Nep, Brad-Brad," Compa smiled sweetly.

"Compa..." Bradley was struck with happiness.

"These girls care about me... They were gonna risk their lives to save me from that sickness," Bradley thought.

"Your conviction is incredible, Bradley. Keep that conviction," Mulina smiled.

"Ungh..." Arfoire groaned as she sat up. Bradley looked over to Arfoire as Arfoire slowly sat up, holding her head. The girl walked over to Compa and Bradley and shook her head.

"Man... Are we glad you came along," the girl smiled.

"No problem," Bradley smiled, "Thanks for helping them. You got a name?"

"IF," she said as she fold her arms.

"Bradley," Bradley said.

"Which one is your girlfriend?" IF asked with a small blush.

"This one, apparently," Bradley said as he placed a hand on Neptune's head.

"Oh... Never would've guessed that," IF smirked, "Honestly, with the way you 2 were acting..."

"No... Neptune may be my girlfriend, but, I've known Compa longer," Bradley explained.

"Ahh... I see," IF said.

"Are you gonna be okay, Brad-Brad?" Compa asked him sincerely.

"Yeah... That shadow is not gonna bother me again. At least, not for a while," Bradley said, "Hey, how did you girls meet that woman?"

Bradley looked at Arfoire.

"She just came out of nowhere and threw a hissy fit," IF said as she rolled her eyes.

"Hissy fit?! How dare you!" Arfoire snarled.

"Give me another minute... I'll get some answers out of her," Bradley told the girls as he stood to his feet. He walked over to Arfoire and knelt in front of her.

"I still have many questions to ask you... And, you owe me for hurting these girls. If you try anything funny or you won't answer my questions... I'll leave you in an unrelenting nightmare," Mulina's voice called to Arfoire.

"Fine... What do you want?" Arfoire snarled.

"Why were you after Neptune?" Bradley asked.

"She's Purple Heart... Goddess of Planeptune. Your little lover is a goddess," Arfoire smirked.

"Huh... I thought something was a little off about her," Mulina's voice told Bradley.

"Next question... What are you planning to do with this Key Fragment?" Bradley asked as he snatched the fragment from Arfoire.

"Give that back, you brat!" Arfoire snarled as she lunged at him. Then, she cried out, holding the sides of her head.

"I didn't say you could have this," Bradley told her calmly, "Answer the question... Now."

"It's none of your business," Arfoire scoffed.

"Stubborn, aren't we?" Mulina smirked as she glared at Arfoire, "You know, I don't have to look directly into your eyes."

"Damn you... I will return," Arfoire snarled as she vanished.

"Tch... Course she ran away," Bradley scoffed.

"Shall we give chase?" Mulina asked.

"Nah... Neppy needs us here," Bradley told Mulina, "Besides... This won't be the last time we see her. I can promise you that. Villains always tend to show up at the most random of times in a bunch of hero stories."

"You broke the 4th wall, Bradley," Mulina told him.

"I did? Oops..." Bradley said. Bradley walked over to Compa and IF and picked up Neptune.

"Hey, Neppy... Rise and shine," Bradley said. Neptune slowly opened her eyes and looked up at Bradley.

"Hi there..." Neptune groaned.

"How you feeling?" Bradley asked.

"Like crap," Neptune groaned as she held her head.

"I can believe that," Bradley said as he carried her out of the cave, "Come on, you 2... Let's head back."

"Yessy!" Compa called as she rushed after him.

"Coming," IF said as she walked after them.

-End Chapter 3-