Yanno what? Screw this. Fine. Here ya go. Right on a flippin' golden platter. Happy now? You better be or else I'll probably just hunt your miserable ass down and gut you on the spot.

{Don't worry bout her. She's just being facetious while raging almost like her favorite character.}

And how the hell would you know that?!

{Just let them read.}

(Disclaimer, dudes. We don't own apple juice.)

Someone get me a glass. Now.

"Now remember what we talked about," Mali says. "Only speak when you have to, but be as respectful as possible. Bow to the Sultan when you see him. Do not instigate problems with Kairune, and be sure–"

"Be sure to keep it short and simple," Ratchet finishes. "Don't you worry, Mali. I'll be fine. You've drilled every scenario possible into my mind all night. I think I've got it." Her lips purse, showing her worry plainly.

"You better not get yourself killed," she mutters. The word sounds more like "culled."

Ratchet simply chuckles. "It won't be easy, that's for sure." He starts walking towards the palace, waving back at her as she shouts a few final warnings and wishes him luck.

I take a nervous breath, straightening my clothes a bit. Mali and I may have gone through and thought out every scenario we could come up with, but that doesn't mean I'm not nervous. With one final breath to clear my head, I step into enemy territory. The challenge has begun. It isn't much of an act when I look around at the palace grounds in wonder. The entire place is breathtaking in daylight just as much as it is in sunset. I'm not much of an art critic or anything, but the palace is just amazing. I've seen some pretty neat buildings in my adventures, but this one…this beats them all.

"Hey, you!" My attention is drawn away from the grand structure and to a set of guards walking towards me.

"Oh, hello," I begin courteously. "I'm here to-"

"You are not allowed here," one growls. Surprise, surprise. It's Kairune. "The Sultan is not taking audience today."

"I'm terribly sorry, but I believe I am-"

"Move your tail out of here before I make you." He interrupts me again, harsh. My ears fall back naturally. I like him less than I like Kerchu. If that's even possible. Kerchu are nasty little buggers.

"Now listen here, sir," I begin heatedly. "Your sultan is expecting me." I point up at the sun. "An hour past sun-high. That is when I am due to see His Highness." I force a sharp sigh to calm myself. "If you would escort me, Captain, I would greatly appreciate it."

"I'll be glad to escort you. Right to the dungeon," he mutters darkly.

"That would be ill advised," I say calmly. "Such an act could create a problem with Commander Darkstar."

"You little rat!" I can easily avoid him, but I don't. He grabs my shirt collar in a tight fist, glaring at me. My frightened expression is no act, that's certain. It's almost like he's possessed by a demon. I wonder if he is. "Your impertinence is unwelcome here, rat. Scurry back to the hole where you belong."

"I'm…afraid I am unable to do that, Captain," I say, measuring each word carefully. "I must retrieve what I was sent for. Commander Darkstar would not be pleased if I were to return to him without the item."

"I couldn't care le-"

"Captain?" The calm and strangely innocent voice rings throughout the courtyard, drawing everyone's attention.

"Princess Ailisha." Kairune places his free hand over his heart, giving the speaker a slight bow. "My apologies for disturbing you, Princess. I was just dealing with an intruder."

"Intruder?" I feel her gaze turn to me, but I can't quite see her. "Please, release him. He has done no harm."

"Your Highness-" His voice sounds patronizing.

"Please. Captain," she says, a bit more forcefully, but still innocent and sweet.

"Of course." He opens his hand, letting me drop to the ground. I land hard on my tail. With a glare at me, he excuses himself from her presence, returning to other duties.

I stand and dust myself off before looking up at my savior. "You have my thanks, miss." I nod respectfully to her. After all, didn't Kairune call her Princess?

"Kairune did not harm you, did he?"

"Nah, you don't need to worry. I've been through worse than him." I take this time to look her over a bit. I wouldn't say she's exactly beautiful, but she is fairly pretty by my standards. She must take after her mother; her fur is a bit darker than the sultan's, and her ears are less rounded. Kinda cute, actually.

"You say you are here to see my father, yes?" she asks.

"Yes, miss," I reply kindly. "Commander Darkstar of the Solana Galaxy sent me to pick something up for him. Uh…" I pause a moment, thoughtful. "Though, it seems I've lost my way. If I may ask, where shall I find the illustrious Sultan?" She points me in the right direction, and I graciously decline her offer to escort me. "Certainly, you have more important matters to attend to, miss." I don't know how to interpret the expression on her face before she leaves, heading towards what I assume to be the gardens. Forcing myself not to zone out, I make my way towards what I will now assume to be some sort of throne room.

The ceiling is high – seriously, what's with the high ceilings and archways here? White pillars, trimmed with a copper-gold, reach up; they seem more like decoration than an important part of the structure, but I can't quite tell. The room itself is large enough to comfortably host at least a good hundred people. Examining closely, I can see hooks up above the arches, probably there to hang banners. Within the circle of pillars is a copper-gold circle, and within that I notice an intricate design. I'd love to see what it looks like from above, but I don't have the time. I'm here for one reason and one reason only.

I glance around, but the room is empty. Strange. It is one o'clock, isn't it? I check my watch, and then the sun. Yep. One hour past sun-high, he said. The sound of voices drifts into the room. "Yes, yes, of course I'll deal with it, but Sir Darkstar's charge will be here at any moment. I do not wish to keep him waiting." Looking around, I finally see a small group of people – including the sultan – come in from a door across the room. I assume the others are advisers of sorts. It would make sense. I wonder what they were talking about. The sultan's eyes turn to spot me. "Ah, that must be him." His voice is quiet, but I can still hear him as he dismisses his following. It is only then that he walks towards me.

"Good day, young lad," he says, speaking only when he thinks he is close enough for me to hear. I bow to him, a hand over my heart – similar to what Azimuth had done when I met him – and greet him respectfully. "I assume you are the one sent by Sir Darkstar?"

I straighten, looking up at him. He's just about a head taller than I am. "Yes, sir. Ratchet Nebula, at your service."

The sultan has been peering at me curiously. I shift in discomfort. "Oh," he jumps slightly, realizing now how he has been staring. "You must forgive me, lad. I did not realize he would send the same creature."

"Sir?"

"Eh, your species, lad. Lobix?"

"Lombax, sir," I correct gently. "If I may ask…why do I confuse you?"

"Well…it is…that…" He smiles at the irony that I feign ignorance to. "The item – or rather, creature that you are here to pick up – is also a Lombax." I blink, as if to seem surprised. He seems to understand my shock. He's a lot kinder than I really expected.

"I see…I was…not aware of this…" I rub the back of my neck out of habit. "That's certainly a new piece of information."

The sultan smiles a moment before clapping his hands together loudly, making me jump. He chuckles at my reaction. "Well, then, my boy. Mustn't tarry now, shall we? Come, come. This way." He leads me off at a surprisingly swift pace. As I follow him, I marvel at the rooms and hallways he takes me through. They sure do like their marble and gold trimming. I think I see the odd gemstone here and there as well. The sultan glances back at me once in a while, chuckling. Probably at my expression. Once in a while, he'll say something about the architecture or the history behind it.

After what seems like hours of wonderment, he stops in another large room. A quick scan reveals it to be like all the others practically: white marble and gold trim. The only difference is the presence of two people not scurrying about like the servants I had caught glimpses of on the short tour. The first was Kairune. Seriously, how much do I have to deal with this guy? He's everywhere, I swear! The second is smaller. I assume him to be Mali's friend; I don't think I ever caught his name.

I stare at him quietly for a bit, this being the first time I can actually see him clearly in a properly-lighted setting. His cream-colored fur is mottled with dirt and dust, obviously left unkempt. I notice a few burrs and grass tangled in as well. I'll definitely be brushing that out once we get out of here, maybe trimming as well. I know it shouldn't be the first thing on my mind, but this kid seriously looks like he rarely ever got the chance to groom himself. That's the first thing that'll change. He's definitely getting a bath when we get home…

I frown at the sight of chains around his wrists and how he keeps his head down, eyes staring strictly at the floor. I hate seeing him this way. It's frustrating, angering. It makes me want to scream. Why would they harm him, a child, force him into such a state… It takes every ounce of my willpower not to lunge forward and attack Kairune here and now. Instead, I glance at the sultan. His face is pinched, mouth twisted into a grimace. I guess he isn't too pleased about it either.

My observations only last a few seconds before the sultan speaks. "Here we are." His voice holds confidence, definition. Things I certainly don't have now. How am I going to go about this…?

"Why is he bound?"

When it becomes obvious that the sultan cannot answer, Kairune speaks up. "Can't have him running off." The Cazar's tone in smooth, a bitterness to it: condescension. If he had been born a Cragmite, he'd probably fit in perfectly. He appears to have a sore spot for Lombaxes.

"Remove them," I say, speaking of the chains. Kairune looks like he is just about to protest when I speak again. "I doubt he'll run off. He has nowhere to go, for one thing." My sharp glare rests on the Cazar as he hesitates. His expression changes between anger and perhaps confusion. Finally, he does as I have asked and moves away, standing by the door. Well, isn't he paranoid…

The boy hasn't moved, his hands now hanging limply at his sides. Thinking about it now, I remember that I've never actually met a Lombax younger than me. Well…first time for everything.

I walk over to him, watching for any reaction. Absolutely nothing. I crouch in front of him, elbows resting on my knees. "Hey, there, kid," I say quietly, trying to gain his attention. The tips of his ears flick just slightly, his tail following suit. I give him a smile. "You're not scared of me, are you?"

I'm not sure what I was supposed to expect from him, but what I got was a glare and a quiet snarl. It surprises me first. Then I chuckle. It's actually kinda adorable. A kid not even half my size growling at me like a Leviathan hatchling. His head stays down, but I still see his glare. "There's no need for that, now," I say calmly. "Don't worry. I'm a friend." The look remains in place. I wonder when he clenched his fists like that…

"Hey…look at me." When he refuses, I gently lift his chin with one hand until his eyes meet mine. The color of his is absolutely stunning. One is vibrant green like my own, while the left one is a brilliant violet. I stay silent for a moment as we stare at one another. "I'm not gonna hurt you, okay?" I give him a small smile now.

He simply stares at me for a long minute, seeming disbelieving. Is it because I'm a Lombax? Perhaps… Eventually, he nods, the motion barely perceptible. My smile widens just a bit. "Come on. Let's get you out of here and find Mali." He seems shocked again. I stand up. "Come on." I place a hand on his shoulder and lead him forward, stopping a moment to speak with the sultan.

"Thank you, Highness. This means a lot."

"It's my pleasure, dear boy. You take care of the little tike now."

"I will, sir. Oh, I was also instructed to give you this." From my quick-select, I pull out a small ornate box. It's not anything too terribly fancy. I figured I'd play quaint this time around. Inside, though, is a gold bolt. It was actually Mali's idea. He takes it from me with thanks. "Commander Darkstar also sends his regards." A nod and a return from the sultan. We pass through a few more pleasantries before he shoos us away, the sun halfway to setting already. After another thanks, I lead the boy out of the palace and back to the tavern.

We're in my room only about five minutes before a quiet knock comes at the door. "Come in." Mali rushes in at my call and pulls the boy into a hug.

"Oh, Rishi, praise Allah you're alright! I thought they were going to kill you!"

He tenses before taking an asking glance at me. I smile. "Kid, I don't own you." He appears confused for the third time today.

"W-where is Master Darkstar?" His voice is quiet and tentative.

I smirk, pushing myself up from the bed and holding myself up by my hands. "You're looking at 'im." His confusion turns to completely baffled. My shoulders shake as a laugh. "Holo-guise, kid. Actually, the entire scheme was your friend's idea." I shift my weight to my right hand and gesture to her with my left. "She is absolutely brilliant."

"Don't sell yourself short, Ratchet!" Mali demands. "You're the one who actually braved the palace like a gallant knight and stole him away from the vicious jaws of the hell-beast!" Her words make me snort in amusement. She starts chattering to the boy, squeezing his hand, hugging him. Relief, I realize is why she's like this.

When she eventually slows down, I get up and crouch down to eye level with the boy again. "So. Your name's Rishi, right?" He nods, and I hold out my hand. "Ratchet Nebula. Nice to meet you, kid."

"The pleasure's mine." His voice is stronger than it was earlier, and he takes my hand firmly. A friend and a pleasant setting do indeed make for a more relaxed person. "And my name's not kid. It's Rishindiola Hicôtorín Fazashän." The sudden string of foreign words catches me off guard. I blink, trying to process. He and Mali giggle together. "You can just call me Rishi, I guess," he consents, obviously seeing my mental struggle. He offers a shy smile, which I return.

I sit down as the two kids strike up conversation again, but it's only a few sentences in when Rishi falters. He shakes his head and blinks before continuing on, but it happens again. This time, he loses his balance and falls over. I catch him before his head hits the floor. His eyes were unfocused, and he trembles slightly, breath shaky and uneven. "Mali, go get some food and water," I command. She runs off immediately, returning with a brimming cup and some fruit. I take the cup from her and gingerly put it at Rishi's lips, tipping a bit of the liquid into his mouth.

"What's wrong with him…?" Mali asks in concern.

"I'd say low blood-sugar. It's happened to me a couple times when I've gone too long without food." I wrinkle my nose, remembering the black-green darkness that blinded me and the hot, tingling sensation. "He'll be fine once we get some food in him." I tip the cup a little further just as Rishi reaches up with shaky hands to take it from me. He drinks the rest greedily. I take the cup, switching with Mali. She takes it, presumably to get more for him. "Think you can sit up?"

Slowly, he does so, leaning forward and closing his eyes. He takes a deep breath and releases it. I offer him the fruit. "Here. You should eat. It'll help you feel better." I sit next to him as he takes it and slowly nibbles it. Mali comes back with the water and, after a while, Rishi seems just fine. He and Mali go right back to talking like nothing had happened.

Once the sun sets I make them move from the floor to the bed, sitting down on the floor and messing around with my quick-select with a candle for light. Sometime around midnight, I look up. The two kids are curled up together on the bed, sleeping soundly. The sight makes me smile. I get up and pull the blanket over them. Mali stirs slightly, but soon settles back down. I sit back against the wall, keeping a watchful eye on them. Eventually, I, too, fall into the dark abyss of sleep.

*falls back to try to gain a semblance of order and do actual school work instead of wasting time with this crap*

Don't you dare, ever gripe at me about this ever again, you got that you bunch of assholes?! Do NOT. I repeat: Do. NOT. EVER. Bug me about updating something this much ever again, shitstains, because I. Will. Fucking. End You.

*rages*

(Calm the f- down, Foenix. You're cursing. Like a sailor.)

A stereotypical sailor, mind you.

Ya know, it's weird writing one of my own experiences from an outside perspective. It's really hard.

Oh gosh…sorry bout that, guys…that was totally uncalled for…

(That's it. No more HS for you.)

WHAT?! NO. Hell no! Hell flipping no!

{You should know better than to threaten with that, idiot.}

(God….damn…she's at it again.)

I'm gonna go wring his neck before continuing on with writing. Hope you had fun and were pleased when I finally graced you with the presence of this new and glorious chapter. If you don't like it, deal with it. Be happy with how long it is. Don't expect anything anytime too soon.

(Hey, can anybody guess how Rishi's full name is pronounced? I'd love to hear a recording of that one!)

I am gone.

Laters.

~Foenix Nightshade~