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Overall Disclaimer: KoDraCan Productions disclaims the Super Robot…oh, screw it- We disclaims SRMTHFG (!). I repeat, we do NOT own, distribute, produce, or sell this franchise for profit or ratings. The following document is a fan-based piece of literature intended for entertainment purposes only, and should be regarded as such. Ciro Neili and the Jetix division of Disney own this franchise.
Overall Claimer: KoDraCan Productions claim all rights to the fictional place Harkening Square and all non-canon fictional characters that are NOT part of the SRMTHFG canon.
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Warning: This story contains the following themes that should be regarded with caution before reading. If you do not approve of the following, then we kindly ask you not read this story in the first place. The following themes are:
OUT OF CHARACTERNESS
Heterosexual Romance
Homosexual Romance
Hurt/Comfort
Foul Language
References to Self-Harm
Reference to Some Religion
ALTERNATE UNVERSE
Pairing(s): eventual Gyrus Krinkle/Valina; eventual Alchemist/Captain Shuggazoom
PROCEED WITH CAUTION, OR GET OUT OF DODGE!! YOU WERE WARNED!
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Notes: If you're going to leave a review, don't bitch at me about
A) The fact that I'm pairing Krinkle and Valina and
B) Any possible occurrences of OOC-ness. That's covered in the warning.
Also, Scrapperton from 'Magnetic Menace' and other episodes is known as Milton Remington in this story. (He became human when he died.)
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The After Life Chronicles
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Chapter Four: The Truth about Her Master
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It was a whole month after Valina's performance at Vesper's Club. Since that fateful night, she became an instant celebrity around the music circuit at Harkening Square. Despite pleading from Vesper and many of her instant fans, she refused to make her singing a career, by reason of refusing to be in the spotlight. Instead, she decided to spend her afterlife saving up enough money to get a place of her own once the contract binding her to Denise's care was expired. She eventually found work as a domestic, often cleaning up older buildings after dusk. This put her more in Gyrus's face, as he was a night shift mechanic. Every time the guy tried to make some conversation with her, he usually found Valina avoiding him or simply ignoring him. This in turn, infuriated Milton to no end and gave him another reason to despise Valina. Still, Gyrus never gave up hope that one day; Valina would actually talk to him.
Things with Denise were no less easy with Valina. Unlike her, Denise actually befriended Gyrus and Milton and generally sided with Milton about Valina's treatment towards poor Krinkle. The witch refused to hear of it, making it clear that she was saving herself for her beloved king. Five months after Valina's arrival in Harkening Square, the former skull sorceress was awakened by Denise.
"Come on V…there's something you have to see at Kayos Towers."
"It's my day off…can't it wait?" Valina mumbles through her pillow.
"It's about your Skeleton King."
Valina was out of bed faster than you could call upon the Hyperforce's full team name. "What about my king?!"
"He…he died, Valina." Denise stated after some hesitation.
"WHAT?!"
"My mother wants you to see his death."
Valina didn't hear anything past the fact that her king was dead. She was dressed and on her way towards Kayos Tower.
"How…how can my king--"
"Your sworn enemies, the Hyperforce were able to defeat him."
"WHERE IS HE?!"
"I cannot tell you that. What I can do is show you his last moments, Valina. See for yourself." Denise informed her. The daughter of the High Mistress showed Valina an image from the crystal of Kayos. A huge gem appeared before them and glowed blue. Valina had her arms crossed across her thin form; she was slightly confused and quite pissed off as he stared into the crystal with her deep colored eyes.
"I don't see the point of that! I KNOW what his last moment were filled with!"
"You'd be surprised. Say what you want...but I assure you: The image in the Crystal of Kayos is infallible." Denise assured her.
Image in the crystal
A dying Skeleton King coughed more black ooze onto his chest as the aged Captain Shuggazoom held him. SK looked at peace as he seized the other man to stay something.
"After all these years…why did you come back to me?" SK breathed.
"What do you think, Aki?" The old man sobbed.
"Aki…I haven't been called that in over 40 years…"
"I'm so sorry…"
"No. Don't apologize to me; Clayton….the fault was mine."
The witch went wild with rage. "Why is that old fool man touching my king?! He should be killing that senile old fool!"
Denise shook her head. "Shut up and pay close attention. The next words out of his mouth are important!" she hissed.
Valina frowned even more and stayed silent. She didn't like being bossed around, especially by Denise, but she was oddly curious like a child curious about something they haven't seen before.
"Aki--" Captain Shuggazoom sobbed before the dying king grabbed his face and made him look him in his eyes. Black tears fell from the fallen king as his armor fell bit by bit from his body.
"Don't say another word, my lost love. I've waited 40 years to see your face again. Now I can goodbye to you with no regrets."
"N-NO!"
"LOST LOVE!?" Valina eyes got wide and in that instance her heart seemed to break into a million pieces. This was the truth that everyone had been trying to get her to see. She stumbled back the tears welling up in her eyes.
"No...it's impossible! He can't love him! HE CAN'T LOVE HIM!"
"I love you, Clayton Carrington. You are my only true love….now and forever. Finally…I am…free."
With that, The Skeleton King was dead. His body became ash and swirled around the old man as the grief-stricken Hyperforce and Mandarin watched helplessly.
"AKIHITO!!"
Image Ends
Denise Defoe turned to the horrified woman. "Well...does that finally explain things for you?"
Valina turned and she ran. She ran as hard as her legs would carry her even if she didn't know where she was heading; she ran until her legs gave out and she just sobbed bringing her legs up and buried her face in them. She was in dream Park, where Krinkle and Milton happened to be out towards a morning walk. Krinkle, who had seen Valina run in the park in tears, carefully approached her.
"V? V...what happened in the tower?"
"Don't get too close to her Gyrus, tick-tock." Milton warned him. "A sobbing witch is still an evil witch."
"Shut-up, Milton!" Gyrus snapped at him, "Valina...please...what did Denise show you in the tower?" He, along with Milton and Ashley knew that Denise planned on showing Valina what happened to Skeleton King. They were sworn not to tell the witch anything prior to today. Gyrus knelt in front of her and tried to reach out for her to comfort her. Milton scowled, keeping his mouth shut.
Valina quickly pulled away and stood up brushing her dress off before she began to walk away. She looked quite heartbroken.
"I…I don't want to talk about it right now, Gyrus. Not even time can heal a broken heart."
Gyrus followed her, gathering his courage. "Valina, please...don't push me away! I'm...I'm your friend! If you'll let me..." he pleaded.
Milton huffed. "I take it you finally learned the truth about Lord Skeleton King."
Valina stopped and screamed at Milton, "SHUT UP!"
"Bloody harpy, tick-tock!!" Milton screamed back, "I HOPE YOU'RE MISERABLE AND ALONE IN THE AFTERLIFE!!"
"Stop it, Milton!" Gyrus snapped, going over and pushing him.
"HOW CAN YOU DEFEND THAT BITCH?!"
Krinkle was at a loss for words...he couldn't tell them the truth.
Valina snarled and walked up to Milton and punched him as hard as she could. Despite looking dainty, she had a mean punch. Afterwards she turned around and stomped off. Milton lay on the street, not stirring. Gyrus left him there and went to Kayos Tower to confront Denise.
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"What did you show Valina in the crystal?!"
"I showed her the truth, Gyrus." Denise sighed, "What else could I do? She needed to know the truth about the man she thought she loved."
"You could have shown her something else, Denise! You've lived with her, you know her, just as your mother knows everyone in this place! Why did you hurt her like that?!" Gyrus was in tears at this point, but he didn't care. All that mattered to him at this point was justice for Valina.
"I'm only doing my job, Gyrus. Sure, she is heartbroken now but she will get over it just like you did. Just give her some space and be her friend. She needs that more than a lover."
"You job sucks, Denise. You pretty much ruined even the possibility of a friendship with her!" Gyrus snarled. "You think it was easy for me to get over my dreams and hopes crushed by my own limitations?! You know nothing about me, then!" He turned away and fought the urge to sob.
"If you're so worried about her, then go talk to her Gyrus. Tell her how you feel…how you REALLY feel. I'm sorry. Please excuse me." Denis sighed, walking off.
"Thanks a fucking lot." He shouted after her.
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She slammed the door when she got there. Not giving a damn about her punishment, she found a lighter and proceeded to burn anything within her rage-filled grasp. The room was a mess of books and charred remains of Denise's clothing when she was finished. Few things were left untouched by the witch. She lay sobbing on the bed, crying into the sheets.
"Geez...what did Denise show you at Kayos Tower to piss you off enough to burn half the place?" Ashley asked her, stepping over the wreck. She took a seat on the armchair, falling on her ass as it crumbled. The witch couldn't help but let out a snort and tried not to laugh at the red-head falling on her ass lifting her head up.
"You bitch. Excuse me then...you know, V," Ashley began, standing up. Instead of being a bitch towards Valina, Ashley sounded serious and loving, "There's nothing that eases the pain of heartbreak and stress like marking my skin. You're...you're the only one that knows that, Valina. I don't even tell Denise about it. I promise you it'll provide some relief from the pain..." Ashley promised.
"It sounds like a cheap excuse."
"Well, you can always jump in the Void. I gotta tell you, Valina, going through the Void is a bitch. It's a worse fate than death and going to Hell."
"Oh, and existing in this pit knowing that the man I love loves another man isn't a fate worse than death?!"
"Feeling pain and heartbreak is worlds better than feeling nothing. I survived the Void, and I fell in it by accident. Imagine feeling nothing, stripped, ravaged on all levels and driven to eternal insanity where nothing makes sense, not even in your head."
Ashley's green eyes became red and looking into Valina's fuchsia eyes intently. "Please believe that what I'm offering is to help you."
Valina just looked shocked, unable to turn her eyes away. This pain in the ass was being...nice?! She didn't know what to think anymore. Everything that she had in life—her powers, her actions, her beliefs—meant nothing anymore. She left lost. She knew nothing else but of Skeleton King and now finding out that he held feelings for another, she really didn't know him. There was nothing for her, even if she did return to the living world. She felt nothing and at the time, Ashley's suggestion of 'marking; herself seemed the only plausible solution. After the intense stare down, Ashley's eyes became green again and Valina seemed to be in a slight trance.
"Valina?" Ashley asked her.
The former witch responded, quietly, "I don't know about this marking my body but I guess it's worth a try. What do I do?"
A dark smile framed Ashley's lips, revealing her demonic nature. The skull sorceress was hers now.
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Note: Please don't kill me, Malina/SKalina fans! Also, a very big thank you to MiniMaloMyotismon10 for helping me write this chapter. vv
