Hello again, everybody. ¿Cómo están? I'm pleased to announce that I've received over one hundred hits on my story. I'd like some more reviews, please, out of those hits, but noobs can't be choosers. Thanks to all of my reviewers and return readers for you support. Mad props for you all.

I don't own SRMTHFG, because if I did there would be a fifth season.

On with the story!

Stranded on Ariralue

Chapter 3: Feelings with a Twist

Nova couldn't rest. She knew it was the smart thing to do, but her anxiety was too strong. Whenever she closed her eyes, she saw the shadowed female stroking Sprx's head. When she tried to shut out noise, she heard the venom in the stranger's voice. Nova's anger was bubbling within her, mixing with her anxiety and exhaustion. It was a dangerously volatile mix, and she knew it. Still, she couldn't calm herself down. She paced back and forth, a million situations running through her head. Nova was just planning a particularly gruesome fate for the stranger, when a comforting hand grabbed her shoulder. The goofy, smiling face of Otto greeted Nova as she turned around.

"Everything will be okay, Nova. Sprx and Gibson are tough, plus the strangers don't want to hurt them. Just relax." Nova let out a sigh and forced a smile.

"I know, Otto. I'm just, well, that's just it. I don't really know what I'm feeling right know. I can't stop thinking about, er, about the stranger." Nova was being only half-truthful. She was thinking about the stranger, but it was more about what the stranger was doing with Sprx than the stranger herself that consumed Nova's thoughts. She searched herself, trying to name this emotion inside of her. She couldn't put her finger on it, so she decided to ask Otto. "What do you think, Otto?" Otto's eyes opened wide, and he blushed considerably. He wasn't the person people usually opened up to about their feelings. That was Antauri's department. He cleared his throat.

"Well, um, I don't know. What is it about the stranger that has you going like this?" Nova recoiled ever-so-slightly at the question. Damn, what was I thinking? Otto can't help me with this without me telling him about Sprx. Still, I guess I have to tell someone. Nova took a deep breath.

"Well, Otto, I-I think it has…something to do…with…Sprx." Nova had all but whispered Sprx's name. Otto's eye ridges shot up. For the first time in his life, Otto completely understood a situation that had nothing to do with mechanics. It was just his luck that the situation happened to be such a touchy one. Not to mention that he was dealing with the hot-headed Nova. Otto began touching his index fingers together, looking everywhere except at Nova.

"Um, Nova, I th-think that, um, y-you might be, er, feeling a t-tad bit, um…jealous." Otto squeaked out the last word, but Nova still heard it. Nova suddenly heard two voices in her head.

"He is right, you know." The first voice sounded clam and collected, like a female Antauri. A second voice responded.

"Don't listen to Ms. Goody-goody over there. You, jealous of Sprx? Ha!" The second voice reminded Nova of herself. It was strong, independent, and fiery. The first voice answered back.

"Look into your heart, Nova. Search your feelings. You know that you are jealous."

And why would I be jealous of Sprx and some tramp? thought Nova, not really expecting an answer. She almost gasped when she got one.

"The answer is, of course, obvious. You have feelings for him. Feelings you don't harbor for anyone else in the universe. Don't try and deny it either. I can see it in your actions around him, and in the way you respond to him when he makes passes at you. It is most prevalent, however, when you see him flirting with another female. You get angrier at those times than when you are fighting. Admit it, Nova, you l-" the second voice cut in.

"Oh please, like she really feels for the red guy. He's a good-for-nothing pervert, and you know it. You see how he flirts with every pretty tail that passes by. I'm telling you, Nova, you don't feel anything for this guy." The first voice jumped back into the argument.

"How can you have seen everything I've seen, heard everything I've heard, and felt everything that I've felt? Not feel for him? She feels more strongly about him than anyone else. You're both just too stubborn to realize it." The second voice laughed.

"We're stubborn? We're not the ones who think that life is all candy canes and hugs. We're not the ones who believe love is black and white." The first voice roared at this.

"You are the ones who think love is black and white. You think, just because you're confused about how you feel for Sprx, that you don't love him? Don't be ridiculous. Nova, you love Sprx, and you know it. No amount of denial is going to change how you feel." Nova could almost feel the first voice smile at the silence it received. Nova worked up the courage to speak.

Even if I do love him, which I'm not saying that I do, what am I supposed to do about it? Tell him I love him and hope for the best? The first voice sighed.

"Nova, Nova, Nova. You know what to do. You have to first admit it to yourself that you love him. Then, you've got to tell somebody else how you feel. You'll never have the courage to tell Sprx without telling someone else first. Finally, after you've admitted it to yourself and somebody else, you'll have to tell Sprx. You can't just sit around, hoping that he'll tell you. Nova, can you hear me? Nova?" Nova came crashing back into reality.

Nova opened her eyes to find herself staring up at the worried faces of Otto and Antauri. Her head was throbbing from the mental battle she had been in. She sat up and held her head, trying to ease the ache. Otto and Antauri seemed slightly relieved that she was awake and moving, but their faces still betrayed a large amount of concern. The ache in Nova's head dwindled, but she could still feel a faint throb. She forced a smile.

"Hey guys, what's going on?" The stern look she received from Antauri silenced any further hope of brushing off the subject. Otto put his hand on her forehead. "Otto, what are you doing?"

"I'm checking your temperature." he responded matter-of-factly. Nova brushed off Otto's hand and glared at him. Antauri stepped in before a fight could start. He looked at Nova. Nova felt as if he was looking through her, directly into her soul. She broke eye contact and turned around. Antauri sighed and, placing his hands on her shoulders, spun her around to face him. Nova gazed into his blue orbs, a calm feeling coming over her. Antauri began to speak.

"Nova, Otto tells me that you may be, well, jealous of this stranger and Sprx?" As Nova prepared an answer, the throb in her head worsened. She winced at the ache, but did not succumb to it again. She struggled from Antauri's grip and glared at him.

"I've already told you, Antauri, I don't love Sprx. There's no way in the world that I would ever feel jealousy towards anything that has to do with him. Now if you don't mind, I'm going to get some rest before we get to the location of Sprx and Gibson's last transmission."

"Uh, I don't think that's going to work, Nova." stated Otto. Nova raised an eye ridge.

"And why, may I ask, not, Otto?" There was a dangerous edge in her voice. Otto pointed at the comm.

"Because," he said, "we'll be there in five minutes."

"Paradise. Now that is a name for a city. Do you think the others would object to us living here, Gibson?" Sprx was looking out the window again, a smirk plastered onto his face. He glanced back to see if Gibson had heard him, and was surprised to see him deep in conversation with the twins. Well, one of them anyways. Mubra seemed to be actively participating in the discussion, while Arbum had an expression of polite interest on her face, but was clearly bored. Knowing that feeling all too well, Sprx sidled over to her and whispered into her ear.

"Hey, how about you show me around the city? Let the two love birds have their time alone." Arbum blushed at the closeness of their bodies. At least, Sprx thought she did. Her dark-brown coloration made it difficult to tell. She composed herself and spoke.

"Of course, Master Sprx. It would be my honor to show you the city." Without bothering to dismiss herself from her sister, she spun around and strode out of the room. Not that it would've mattered, thought Sprx. Mubra and Gibson are so wound up in their conversation that I could smack them with a two-by-four and they'd keep talking. Casting one last look at his blue brother, Sprx hurried after the receding figure of Arbum, closing the door behind him.

Gibson looked up when he heard the door close. "Oh dear. It seems that we were so caught up in our conversation that we failed to notice Sprx and Arbum's departure." Mubra scanned the room and nodded her concession.

"It would appear so, Master Gibson. Well, what would you like to do? You have total freedom here, as long as it is within our laws and our walls. Is there anywhere special you would like to go?" Gibson thought about it for a moment, thinking over his options. Then a thought occurred to him.

"Monkey doodle! The team!" Mubra tilted her head, confused by the sudden outburst.

"What is this team of which you speak, Master Gibson?" Gibson stared at Mubra, not really sure how to explain.

"Well, Mubra. Sprx and I belong to a team known as the Super Robot Monkey Team Hyper Force. We protect the planet Shuggazoom and the universe from evil. We had come under attack while passing by your planet, causing us to crash. Sprx and I were separated from the rest the team upon our landing."

"So is that who you two were waiting for when my squad brought you here?" Gibson looked up.

"That reminds me." He stared penetratingly at her. "Why did you bring us here?" Mubra looked uncomfortable.

"Er, well, it is a complex issue. Perhaps it would be better to discuss it when Master Sprx and the rest of your…team are present."

"Yes, I suppose so. But, how will the team get here?" Mubra offered a comforting smile.

"Worry not, Master Gibson, an experienced guide will be sent to lead your team." Gibson looked skeptical.

"I don't believe that the team will take too kindly to a stranger greeting them after we've been kidnapped. I would like for either Sprx or myself to go along." Mubra shook her head at this.

"I am afraid that that is not possible, Master Gibson. It will be hard enough for the guide to lead your team as it is. Adding another monkey may prove to be too strenuous. I'm afraid he will have to go alone." Gibson didn't comprehend what Mubra was saying.

"What do you mean too strenuous? Wouldn't it make his job easier if a friendly face was present to calm my team's suspicions?" Mubra sighed, and was apparently mulling something over in her head. Suddenly, she took Gibson's hand and led him out a door opposite the one Sprx had exited through. Gibson was surprised by the sudden movement, but couldn't help but like the feel of her hand in his.

"Where are you taking me, Mubra?" Mubra didn't bother to look over her shoulder when she answered.

"I'm going to show you why you cannot accompany the guide to meet your friends." Intrigued by the prospect of learning more about his surroundings, Gibson let Mubra guide him without resistance.

A couple minutes of walking brought the pair to a large pair of ornate doors. Gibson noticed that the corridor they were in seemed cloaked in shadow, keeping everything just outside of his view. He worked up the courage to speak.

"Mubra, where are we? This place has a mysterious and rather disconcerting feel to it." Mubra looked back and offered him a comforting smile, which gave Gibson a fuzzy feeling in the pit of his stomach. She proceeded to knock three times on the right door, and then thump the left door once with her tail. The doors opened inward, not a sound to be heard. Although disconcerted by the fact that nobody had appeared to open the door, the warmth of Mubra's hand in his gave him the courage to follow her into the room. The doors closed behind them, creating total darkness. Gibson was about to say something when the room was suddenly flooded with light. Gibson blinked a couple of times, attempting to adjust to the sudden change in lighting. When his vision returned, the sight astonished him.

"Welcome to Portal Room Sigma, Master Gibson." said Mubra, who smiled at Gibson's astonishment. They were standing in a room filled with dozens of monkeys, all of them a shade of brown. While some were simply standing around and chatting, others were scurrying about, doing some task or another. A few monkeys were washing and polishing a trio of giant monkey statues, which depicted three monkeys standing next to each other, hands interlocked. The majority of the monkeys, however, sat meditating around a giant swirling pool, which appeared to be filled with black ooze. Tar, perhaps? thought Gibson. One monkey, who was apparently deep in conversation with another, happened to glance in Mubra and Gibson's directions. His eyes widened and he knelt down, proclaiming loudly.

"Esteemed One Mubra! Our deepest apologies for not extending a proper greeting immediately on you entrance! Forgive our oversight! We shall fast two weeks as punishment!" Every monkey in the room, save for Gibson and Mubra, fell to their knees and began proclaiming as well.

"Forgiveness! Forgiveness! We beseech you humbly, begging your forgiveness!" Fascinating, thought Gibson. It would appear that Mubra has quite a bit of influence here. Perhaps what would be equivalent to a Sensei in a dojo, or a Dean in an University. Gibson was drawn from his thoughts by an exasperated sigh that escaped from Mubra's lips. When she spoke, it was with the tone one would expect from a mother who was not really angry with her children, but had to scold them anyway.

"Must you all do that every time I enter this room? I swear, all the other Portal Rooms have learned, why can't you all?" The monkeys hung their heads in shame. The monkey that first spoke, however, worked up the courage to speak.

"But, Esteemed One, we are simply following the customs set down by your-" Mubra cut him off, apparently having heard this argument many times.

"The customs set down by my fathers and mothers before me, yes, yes, I know. But they aren't here, are they? I'm in charge now, so therefore you listen to me. Do I make myself clear?" The monkeys hung their heads lower, shame apparently growing. A second monkey began to speak.

"We apologize for our inability to learn, Esteemed One. We shall fast for-" This monkey was cut off by Mubra again, annoyance beginning to show in her voice.

"No Fasting! Do I make myself clear?" The monkeys hung their heads almost to the floor, and then chorused.

"Yes, Esteemed One, we understand." Mubra sighed, but a smiled appeared on her face. Gibson was beginning to like that smile. Mubra cleared her throat authoritatively. The monkeys' heads all snapped up, listening intently.

"I have a guest with me today, one Master Gibson." They monkeys all stared at Gibson, apparently noticing him for the first time. A loud wail escaped from the crowd of monkeys.

"Oh, Master Gibson, forgive our oversight. We did not see you there. We shall fast for-" Mubra almost lost control.

"WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT FASTING?" This time the monkeys' heads did touch the floor.

"FORGIVENESS! WE BESEECH BOTH OF YOU! FORGIVENESS!" While Mubra was threatening to blow, Gibson had to restrain himself from laughing. When Mubra noticed this, she calmed down considerably. She turned back to the emotionally crushed monkeys.

"As I was saying, I have with me a guest. Master Gibson has need for a guide to retrieve his team from the jungle. I am in search of Harlo."

"I am here, Esteemed One." The first monkey who had spoken stood up and hurried over to the pair, bowing his head. "I am at your command, Master Gibson." Gibson wavered slightly, but regained his composure.

"Please, just Gibson." Harlo's eyes widened, but he nodded all the same. Gibson smiled. "Now, Harlo, I need you to go to the clearing where my brother Sprx and I were, er, found, and meet up with my team. I request that I come with you, so as to calm any hostilities that may, and probably will, occur." Harlo shook his head, which irritated Gibson. "Why can I not come? Does it violate a custom or something?" Harlo shook his head again, but Mubra was the one who answered.

"It has nothing to do with our customs, Ma-er, Gibson. It has to do with it being, like I said, too strenuous." Harlo nodded in confirmation, and Mubra continued. "The swirling ooze you see there is a special kind of tar, found only on this planet. Long ago, a chosen few of our people discovered how to use the tar as a portal of sorts, allowing them to travel about the planet quickly. The problem is it requires a good bit of energy to use the portal, and even more when bringing guests along. It will already be strenuous for Harlo to bring your team back with him. Adding an extra passenger is unnecessary, not to mention dangerous. I believe that a letter written by your hand will be enough for your team, correct?" Gibson wasn't willing to give up so easy. He still had one argument left.

"Then why only send Harlo? Why not send one or two more to assist?" Mubra had an answer prepared, as if she'd been expecting this question.

"There are two reasons. The first reason is that it would, again, be unnecessary. A note from you is all Harlo will need. The second reason is that, if we did send along extra help, it would appear as if you were a prisoner instead of a guest. We do not desire unprovoked hostilities. Surely you see the logic in this, Gibson." Even though he didn't like it, Gibson was forced to accept what Mubra said as the truth. He sighed and nodded. Mubra smiled at him, and then turned to Harlo.

"Bring Gibson the materials necessary for his letter." Harlo bowed and disappeared into the chamber. The rest of the monkeys had returned to their earlier activities, acting as if nothing had changed. Mubra sighed. "They can be exasperating sometimes, but they are the best we've got." Gibson was about to inquire further about the portals and their users, but was interrupted by the return of Harlo. He had in his hands a piece of paper and a fountain pen. Gibson graciously accepted the items and began writing the letter. He didn't write much, just enough to ease the mind of his teammates. When he was finished, he turned to Harlo.

"Here you go, Harlo. You will want to give this to Chiro; he will be the tallest of the group. A human, if you know what that is." Confusion registered on Harlo's face, so Gibson dropped it. "You will also want to watch out for a yellow-furred monkey named Nova. She can be a bit quick-tempered sometimes. The silver and green monkeys are named Antauri and Otto, respectively. Antauri is quite wise, and Otto is a goof-ball. You should receive no trouble from those two. Good luck, and send them my and Sprx's regards." Harlo bowed yet again, stuck the letter in a pouch on his belt, then promptly spun around and approached the swirling ooze.

"I beseech you, great portal, allow me passage!" Harlo's eyes took on a purple glow, and a dark mist surrounded his body. He extended his right arm forward, making what appeared to be a stop signal. The mist around his body began to circle in front of his right hand, and began to grow. It became larger and larger until it was big enough for Harlo to step through. Harlo bowed his head at the black ooze, and then stepped through the portal. The mist immediately disappeared, and Harlo was gone.

"Wow." Gibson had seen many extraordinary things in his time, but this was nigh unbelievable. Mubra once again smiled at his astonishment.

"Does this interest you, Gibson?" Gibson looked at her, awe clearly etched on his face.

"I must admit, Mubra, that this whole thing astounds me. If it is possible, I would like to research all of this, possibly hear from you what it is all about. There is so much to learn!" Mubra looked at the floor when she answered.

"I would be happy to take you to the archives, that you may learn all you wish to know. However, I was wondering if, er, you were hungry?" Gibson was caught off guard by the question, but realized that he was indeed famished.

"Actually, I am feeling rather hungry. I believe the ingestion of nutrients would be an excellent idea." Mubra laughed at his choice of words. Gibson felt pure bliss as he listened to her laugh. It was almost magical.

"Well, Gibson, I know a nice deli near the city archives. That is, if you, er, wish to…join…me?" Gibson almost cried out at this. She was inviting him to go to lunch with her. He saw her looking everywhere but him, and thought it was absolutely adorable. He took her hand, causing her to blush.

"It would be my honor, Mubra." At this, Mubra's blush grew even redder.

Sprx hurried down the hall, reaching the end of the corridor before finally catching up to Arbum. "Wow, slow down there, princess." Arbum looked over her shoulder, embarrassment registering on her face.

"My apologies, Master Sprx. I did not mean to walk at such a fast pace." Sprx offered her a charming smile.

"Hey, no harm no foul. Just take it easy, ok? Enjoy life." Arbum smiled at this, and the pair continued down the new corridor, Sprx marveling at the ornate decorations. "Wow, this is one fancy place." Arbum laughed at this, drawing a frown from Sprx. "What?" Arbum stifled her laughter.

"Oh nothing, Master Sprx. I just found it amusing that you seem surprised that the palace would be fancy." Sprx stopped dead in his tracks.

"The palace?" said Sprx, astonished. He looked at Arbum intently, causing her to blush. Sprx continued. "So when I called you princess back there, was I being accurate?" Arbum let out another laugh at this.

"No, Master Sprx, I am not a princess. I am in a high position, however. I am in charge of all things mechanical in the city. The Head Mechanic, if you will." A female Otto, eh? thought Sprx. Well isn't that interesting? Sprx smiled at Arbum, drawing another blush.

"My apologies, Arbum. I didn't mean to mix up your position." Arbum waved the apology aside.

"Please, Master Sprx, think nothing of it. Now, do you still desire that tour?" Sprx smirked and nodded.

"Sure, why not? It'll give me something to do." Arbum smiled, and the two monkeys continued on their way. When they were about halfway down the hall, a door on their left opened. Out of it stepped Yitai in all of her glory. Sprx gave her a quick once over. Upon seeing Sprx and Arbum, Yitai waved and approached them. She had a beautiful smile on her face.

"Where are the two of you going?" asked Yitai, her melodic voice dulling every sense in Sprx's body. Arbum answered.

"Master Sprx requested a tour of the city, Yitai. We are on our way right now."

'Would you care to join us, babe?" Sprx offered her his arm with a wink, causing Yitai to giggle. She wrapped her tail around herself and looked at the floor, her shyness only strengthening Sprx's love-drive.

"I'm afraid that I cannot accompany you, Master Sprx, though I would very much like to. However, I do need to speak with Arbum in private. Only for a moment." Sprx was disappointed at Yitai's inability to come, but hid it. Yitai beckoned for Arbum to follow, and the two walked through the open door, closing it behind them. Sprx was left to wonder what they were talking about.
"Is everything going as planned, Arbum" asked Yitai, her shy-girl act now nonexistent. Arbum stood rigidly at attention, meeting the piercing gaze of her leader with rigid discipline. She answered in a strong voice, like one would expect from a strong officer.

"Yes, Yitai. Everything is going as planned. Mubra has the blue one preoccupied, and the red one is infatuated with you. Soon he will be all yours. Everything is running smoothly." A third, unseen voice entered the conversation. This voice was much like Yitai's, only it was older and commanded complete respect. There was also venom clearly existent the voice, lots of it.

"No! Everything is not perfect. It is true that Mubra has this Gibson preoccupied, but I sense that she is beginning to feel for him. That must be monitored closely. Also, I sense that this Sprx does not have eyes solely for you, Yitai. I sense in him a love stronger than the one he has for you. Much stronger. We must find who this love is for, and overshadow it." Yitai snarled at this news, an ugly imperfection on her otherwise flawless personage.

"I know who he loves. On his team, there is a yellow-furred female named Nova. From what little I have heard and seen, the two appear to feel something for each other, but neither is strong enough to admit it." The third voice sighed at this news, but quickly composed itself.

"This is an unfortunate situation, but not all together unworkable. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage. Yitai, you must guide Sprx through the city. Attempt to dig this Nova out of his system, and implant yourself in her stead." Yitai nodded and walked towards the door. Just as she was about to open it, Arbum called out.

"Be a good girl, won't you?" Yitai had an evil grin on her face.

"Aren't I always?"

Sprx was trying to hide a fancy candleholder he had broken when Yitai exited the room. Sprx grinned sheepishly and held out the broken object.

"Er, sorry about this. I didn't think it would be that fragile." Yitai simply laughed, driving away all Sprx's worries.

'No matter, Master Sprx, no matter. Those are easily replaced. However, I am sorry to report that Arbum has been called for by some of her aides. It has something to do with a malfunctioning generator. Anyways, I will be happy to guide you through the city. That is, if it pleases you." A hint of hope entered her voice during the last bit. Sprx smirked at her.

"Oh, it would be very pleasing to have you accompany me." Yitai blushed at the compliment, and that blushed only deepened when Sprx offered her his arm. She took it, and the two set off down the hallway, both looking forward to an afternoon together.

So, that's Chapter 3 done. Sorry if it was WAY to long. I just started typing and ended up with what you see. Like it, Love it? Hate it? Well, I've got an Idea.

PLZ READ THIS! (ahem)

I would like to thank the people who've read my story so far, especially the reviewers. You guys are the coolest. To all those people out here who read my story and don't review, I have this to say. I write these stories not just because I like writing, but also for you guys, my readers. I want to make this story as good as possible, and I can only do that by hearing everyone's opinion. So flame it, say good job, whatever. It could be one word. But, if I'm going to write these chapters of thousands of words, couldn't you all just spare ten seconds to review it. It means a lot to me whenever I see a new review has been posted. A LOT. Anyway, thanks for reading my story, and this. Gracias, mi amigos, gracias.

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