Chapter 9 – Brothers

A/N: Okay guys were almost there, just a few more chapters. This chapter will explain a few things of Rico's family.

Chapter 9 – Brothers

Rico's POV

Alone, I walked across the vast meadow; the wind blew against my face and played with my head feathers, but I continued to waddle aimlessly. My eyes were staring down in hurting. My mind's spacing out, the three names haunted me "Kipper, Walski, Rivate" that monster Twilight casted them away into who knows where. And now I'm alone and there was nowhere for me to go.

On my way to nowhere certain, I held that white pearl charm thingy and scanned it. It looked pretty normal to me, nothing strange or special about it, but I kept feeling some strange, alien emotions inside me. Funny, it felt familiar somehow, but why was it inside my tummy? I mean, I usually have the usual stuff like bombs, swords, and fire throwers but never in my life had I seen this thing.

I was so oblivious and lost in my own world I didn't see the tree I was approaching until "Awww" I crashed into it and, cocked my head. When I stared above I was astonished "…"

I paused, staring at the big high tree with its bright green leaves and like Silver Ghost said, had multi colored fruit. The sight of that tree torn my heart into pieces. Me and my friends wanted to see it and try its fruit that taste like snow cones, but now it's just me, it will be selfish of me to try it on my own.

So there's nothing for me to do but sit and wait. I waddled to its base, sat down, and leaned on its stem. Hemph, ironic, I was supposed to save this kingdom but I can't even save my own friends.

I looked above me up to the fruit and made sad smile. If Private was here he would say it's the most pretty tree he ever seen while Walski would say it's scientifically impossible for a tree to have multi colored fruit and much more rambling which no one gets it.

I closed my eyes and wondered. Where my friends are? Are they all right and where Twilight sent them to?, I held the charm tightly in my flippers into my chest as I slowly drifted in my sleep.

Rico's POV ends

Meanwhile

In the deep depths of an unknown dark valley, was Private, waddling and trembling in fear by the horrifying surroundings. There were big scary trees and grey ground and rocks, echoes of strange noises like howls coming from everywhere, the mountains, the bushes and deep in the forest, and not to forget the negative feeling he's been getting ever since he found himself lost in here, in the dark "Hello! Anybody…there" he called out "Skippah! Kowalski! Rico! Hello!" his voice reached so far but still no replies were heard.

Looking down, he sobbed and tears streamed down from his blue sad eyes. Will he ever get out of here? Will anyone ever find him? He shook his head from those thoughts and continued his wandering through the dark.

The cold breeze blew against his feathers, making him shiver and wrap himself for warmth "Brrrr" he muttered. Wishing to find a source of heat soon or else, he didn't even want to think of what will happen then.

He whipped away his tears and looked serious "No I mustn't cry, Skippah would never want seeing me cry. Now think, what did he say about surviving a crisis situation?" it was the concrete jungle survival all over again, only this time there were no haunted buses.

Okay, he needed a weapon to protect himself from any threat dwells in the dark. And for his luck he had his Sun's Embrace staff secured and tied on his back.

Next he must find a place to hide, a shelter. Looking left and right he saw a hole in the base of a tree "That would be perfect!" and hurried to it, but unluckily he wasn't alone, something was moving in the dark. An ominous figure was being revealed from the shadows.

Once the youth got there, he looked inside in the hole, a bit dusty but good enough so, he went inside and lied down, boy, he sure needed some rest.

The dark figure walked closer and closer and it seem to have a massive body and four legs.

Inside the hole Private was having some R and R "Phew that was close, for a second I thought-"he was cut off by the sound of heavy footsteps approaching. The loud sound made chill down the little bird's spine. He swallowed and hoped "Please be a bad dream, please be a bad dream"

The sounds got louder and louder. Tension Rising. Private felt his heart pounding faster and his body shivering more than before, his breathing was heavy.

Suddenly a giant foot stomped in front of the hole. It was lion-like but it was black with some strange dark mist surrounding it. Private had that ominous feeling. Like the time when he met Lord Twilight for the first time. He heard sniffing, like if it could smell your fear.

Heart beating faster and faster, was this the end? He head was in chaos that moment, everything was shuffling, and his life flashing by, his memories of his friends and home "Skippah…" he murmured "Wake up, Wake up"

Soon the beast took off; the atmosphere was finally calm "Phew" he sighed in relief, until suddenly a monstrous face burst inside the whole. It looked like a big raven head with red eyes. The avian officer shrieked and pulled his Soul Aura weapon "Light!" he shouted, still frightened. The bright rays of light hurt the beast's soul piercing eyes and forced it to pull its head out of the hole. Private took the chance and slid under it away as far as he could. Looking back, he saw the full form of the beast. It had a loin body and raven head with a mane and wings. It looked terrifying. Almost like a gryphon which is a mythical beast in loin-eagle form.

Soon the creature of the dark recovered its sight and turned to the round penguin with furious glowing red eyes that plants dread into the heart. It gave a roar that filled the sky with terror, as for Private he closed his earholes, almost becoming deaf by the harsh sound.

Through the valley loud screams could be heard. The youth was fleeing for his life as the beast chased him with hungry eyes "Help! Anyone!" he cried at the top of his lungs for help but no one was there to save him from the claws of that beast.

Private took a phase of maneuvers, hoping to loss his stalker. Unfortunately, it didn't work.

The little bird reached a dead end. A bottom of a mountain. Private tried to climb up, but the rocks were too soft and he kept sliding down.

Looking behind, the beast was already there, staring with its blood red eyes at him "Oh please don't eat me, I taste bad" he claimed nervously but there was no use.

Private swallowed and closed his eyes so he won't see it coming. The creature moved closer to his prey. It was about to eat him until a barrage of glowing arrows came out of nowhere. They exploded causing a flash of bright stinging light which burned the creature's eyes. Since it lived in the dark for so long, its eyes were sensitive and couldn't bear a single spark of light. In the end, the beast fled leaving a confused Private.

"What just happen?" he asked out loud.

"Hey there young Private" a voice greeted. Eyes went wide at moment. He turned around and saw his beloved leader waddling with his Falcon's Eye cross bow to him "I admire your spirit soldier but next time leave the big ones for us okay" he grinned.

Some tears stood on the rookie's eyes "Skippah…" his joy was indescribable. Without hesitation he rushed to his leader for a warm hug "You found me!" he chirped as he nuzzled into his white feathery chest.

Skipper chuckled, and patted his friend's back "Well of course we would young Private, thanks to Kowalski here" just then the smarty pants penguin walked in "Hello there, did you miss me?" now Private's happiness was greater "Kowalski you're here too!" and he gave him a quick but warm hug too.

Then the two told Private how they managed to find him. It was Kowalski's Soul Aura weapon, Oblivion Shard. Its thought reading power did all the work of finding the youth, but their happiness wasn't complete since Rico wasn't there.

"So, anybody has an idea of how to get out of here?" Skipper questioned while waddling alongside his men.

Kowalski brain stormed through it but sadly "I'm sorry Skipper, but this world is beyond anything I ever faced. Who knows when will we get out of here" the scientist whined. Kingdom Naria isn't Kowalski's place since nothing goes by science's logic.

It was Private to come up with the idea "Maybe we just need to let Rico help us find him" he suggested only receiving blank expressions from his two comrades.

Kowalski crossed his flippers and argued "And how would Rico do that, When HE'S NOT EVEN HERE!" he shouted at the young.

Private trembled by the outburst but managed to reply "Anything is possible if you believe" and it was totally obvious of where did he get that idea "It was lunacorns who said that right?" Kowalski said and looked annoyed. Private sweat-dropped "Well yes, but-"

"Oh Private, C'mon! It's just a cartoon, nothing they say can actually happen" he growled furiously.

Private was about to take back his suggestion until Skipper, who was silent for a while spoken "Ya know what? I think the kid's is on to something Kowalski, let's give it a shot" he said.

The analyst of the team's jaw fell, how could Skipper say such nonsense? Is he hallucinating or just gone crazy? "Skipper you're not serious about this, this doesn't make any sense-"Skipper interrupted "Enough Kowalski, we'll go with Private's plan"

"But-"

"That's an order!"

The brainy penguin said something under his breath but followed. The three penguins held flippers with Skipper in the middle and soon disappeared in the dark of the realm "All right Rico, where ever you are, help us find you" Skipper said and soon they were out of sight.

Meanwhile

Rico blinked, he no longer was in the place he slept in. he gasped awake "Wha" he looked left and right. He was in different place, a garden perhaps, he looked upward. There was a tree behind him but the one before.

Also there was someone next to him. Rico's first expression was a shriek as he found out that someone was "Wiligh!" he gasped. It was lord Twilight only with no mask and this was the first time he saw him his face. The manic got into battle stance, but the other Diren didn't respond, like if he didn't see him.

Rico waved a flipper in front of the sitting figure but there was still no respond. Was he a spirit? Maybe, but how and why did Twilight looked almost like Rico?

Suddenly a red round object went through the maniac's body and hit Twilight's side. It was a ball. Someone with a childish voice cried "O'rry!" Rico turned around to see a small grey penguin waddling to fetch the ball that was bigger than him.

Rico looked at the kid for a while. That figure, that face, those head feathers, could it be? "ME!" the weapon expert couldn't believe he was seeing his past self, also something else caught his attention "B'oer?" baby Rico called Twilight 'brother', but that means…Twilight is Rico's brother! Impossible!

The very idea flipped Rico's head up-side-down, he heart almost burst out. How can this be real, this must be a dream. Silver was a close friend to his father and he never mentioned anything about Rico having a brother or him being Twilight.

"Hey there little guy" he stared at his brother fondly. The little Rico smiled widely "Play?" he asked with cute puppy dog eyes.

Twilight sweat-dropped, those big blue puppy dog eyes gets him every time "Well I guess, I don't have any work today so, of course I will play with you brother" he grinned.

This made the chick so happy he jumped into his brothers chest, nuzzling deeper and deeper in his feathers, the older penguin wrapped him tight into a comforting hug "'ouv yoo"

"I love you too"

Rico was speechless. How someone who assassinated an entire royal family and brought destruction to his world, could be so kind and merciful. And why did the lycan man have to keep it from him, I mean, sure it was shocking and hurt a bit, but that's no excuse.

Just then the red eyed penguin gave baby Rico something "Here you go Riconidus, this is for you" it was…that charm! The hefty penguin was thrilled by the scene. His vision shifted from his charm to the other that was being giving to his past self.

What could this mean? Rico was confused but listened to what the older Diren said "You want to know what is this right brother?" he grinned "This is reminder charm. If you ever forgotten something important, it will help you remember it" he explained. Baby Rico didn't seem to understand what he said but was grateful "Thks" the baby didn't have the scar which made Rico puzzled. So he didn't get it when he was a baby in Naria, then how did he ended up in the other world, scarred.

"Hey son!" a deep male voice called out from behind them. The two brothers and spirit Rico looked behind to see an adult penguin with a golden cape and blue eyes "Twilight my boy, I need to talk with you alone for a moment. It is very important" he exclaimed, looking concern. It was for sure his father, King Tailen which made the hefty shed a tear "Da'dy" he said under his breath.

The older Diren got up and looked down at his brother who looked disappointed. He smiled and played with his head feathers "Don't be sad Riconidus; we'll play in some other time, I promise" the warmth of his smile made the kid do the same "Okay" he chirped and watched his brother and father leave. Rico was left alone with his reminding charm around his neck.

The baby glared at his brother once last time. He had a sudden urge to cry, like if he was seeing him for the last time. It was awkward. Twilight looked back once more and did a quick wave. It made the chick smile a bit and waved back.

"It all started from here and it ends with you" a voice said.

Suddenly Rico gasped awake again, this time he was in the same place he slept. Looking around and checking if he was still a spirit, he sighed. It was good to back, but still, what was that all about? Was it a dream? No it can't be, it wasn't clear but the manic knew what to do to get to the truth "S'ver" Rico soon took off to find the lycan man. Thus getting the 'truth'

"You have your world, and I have mine"

A/N: Phew, this one took a lot of effort but totally worth it. To think Twilight was Rico's brother all along AND wasn't evil in the beginning makes no sense now but later it will, just wait and you'll see.