[10-9]
Chapter 10
"Are you all ready to go shopping?" I ask the kiddos.
"Yes mom!" They said in unison happily.
"Alright let's get going then." I look up a the smug asshole. "You coming too?"
She just smirks at me and gives me a bow. "Oh I'd love to. And of course I couldn't leave a lovely flower such as yourself alone for long. And the young ones only compel my heart more to accompany you more." The kids cheer muttering how cool the detective lady is.
I just roll my eyes. "Thank you for coming too Scarlet." I whisper to her.
Scarlet tilts her head slightly to the side. "No worries. I'm looking forward to getting a new gun and some ammo. Are you going to meet with your Oracles? Is this just still a simple walk around town?" Scarlet asked me in whisper blunter than a brick.
"Mainly just shoppin round. Afterwards I'll meet up with my Oracles."
"Alright. Sounds reasonable. The clothing store is this way. You want to hit that first right? Given your pups barely have any clothes right now." Scarlet points out and she does have a point they are only wearing robes right now good enough to cover their bodies.
"Yeah. I need clothes for myself also. And new boots that can handle my weight easier."
Scarlet hums for a second. "Try heavy duty soft sole diving boots they can take a lot of punishment, Not to hard to move around in for combat and are very comfortable to wear. I wear them whenever I go diving or need something tough."
"That's good to know cause I don't want to buy new boots every week."
Scarlet nods "That wouldn't be very practical. Luckily I have a spare pair you can borrow if you can't find them. They are somewhat popular. Well we are at the local clothing should be easy to help the kids find what they like."
"Thank you. And heck all I'm getting are pants and tee-shirts mainly."
Then the smug jerk opens her mouth I really don't like her. "So you have simple tastes not even a vest of a jacket for protection of the elements and combat? Well then again some of the best things in life are the simple things after all my dear." URGH! No calm down must not let Sherry get the better of you Alex.
"What shall we get the kids? Two pairs of day clothes and pajamas work for now I think."
"That should work for now. If anything give me the word and I'll go shopping for you since your bound to be busy soon." Scarlet says to me in her normal calm and blunt way of speaking. It occurs to me the two adults next to me are almost polar opposites.
"Let's get going then eh. Lead the way." I say.
Scarlet nods in response by taking us to a clothing store that had a couple options I liked but it seemed to have clothes mostly for teenages, Kids and young adults. Nothing serious stuff that I really like.
"Sorry but this is one of the casual stores. Other more mature stores wouldn't have anything for the kids." Scarlet tells me and I just shrug it wasn't that bad.
"Alright. Now kiddos. I'm going to be nice. Pick out two outfits for ya and Nepgear please help Peashy out."
Nepgear nods as if she was accepting a mission "On it mom! Come on girls let get to it!" Nepgear all but ordered as they dispersed with Nepgear holding Peashy's hand as they went deeper into the maze of clothes. Frost on the other hand is holding onto me by my pant leg refusing to leave my side. She must be unused to people well large groups anyways.
"Lets go sweety. What do you want to wear?" I ask her. I get why she doesn't like crowds or heck unfamiliar people due to her past experience.
Frost looks around before pointing to a icy blue flannel button up shirt and a pair of child sized jeans with child sized boots. "Those mommy." She tells me as she points at them with a smile.
We went and grabbed them. "Alright one more set then we can move on to nightwear when the others are done."
Frost nods and points to a black T-shirt then a white hoodie and a pair of cargo pant with normal shoes. "Those do mommy?" Frosts asks me curiously.
"Those work." I say grabbing them. We then walk back to the others while they were getting done. "Alright. We are now moving to pajamas. Also to avoid confusion you are all getting different colored underwear and socks."
They all looked at me confused for a bit before Uni spoke "Do we get to choose the color?"
"Yes but if someone argues about how someone else got the color no one gets it."
The girls nod in understanding. "Purple." Nepgear claimed. "Black." Uni claimed. "YELLOW!" Peashy loudly exclaimed I really hope she mellows out a bit. And Frost claimed "Light blue." And luckily none of them conflict at all.
"So now that you know the colors go and grab them and also two sets of pajamas. Either two sets or onesies."
The girls nod before running off with Frost staying close to Uni. Soon they came back Nepgear with two sets each having some tech or geek theme to them. Uni and Frost came back with one set and one onesie each in their chosen color. Uni's had some video game stuff on it more so the military side of gaming.
Frost's had a arctic theme to them the set having a snowflake pattern and the other one an arctic wolf theme. And lastly Peashy came back with two onesies that looked vaguely feline themed.
They all had their own tastes in clothes. This should be interesting. But it's also a bit funny how choose such unique clothing.
"Okay everyone. Go and put them onto the counter so we can actually buy them." I say walking up to the cashier and waiting for her to register everything.
The girls put the stuff on the counter and cashier gets everything scanned before giving me the price. "For everything in total that should be 234 credits."
I hand her my card and she runs it through. I grab two of the bags. While everyone else grabbed what's left. "Where is the other store?" I ask Scarlet.
"Not far from here. Just keep an eye on the kids. Lot of sharp and heavy stuff laying around. Follow me it's about a block east from here and the blacksmith Bellona is a unique sort try not to be put off by her." Scarlet began walking away towards where this blacksmith should be.
I turn left to see Sherry finishing her own purchase and giving me another smug grin as she tips her detective's hat at me.
"Smug ass." I mutter following Scarlet. "Do you know how many people are in this town now?" I ask curious.
"Roughly a thousand here alone more in the outlying towns of this landmass. More in this town now with the refugees and others that are coming in now that you're in charge. Many want to help shape or just want the thrill of something new." Scarlet told me and I guess with the size of the town it is a good baseline.
"In my opinion everything is happening way too quickly for me. Heck I show up in this town and less than 24 hours I'm leading it."
"My dear try not to be so hard on yourself. After you get most things up and running you can take a break for a bit and let your oracles handle most of the work. That's what one of my moms used to do when she was getting stressed. You are your own boss after all." For once she isn't speaking so smugly and is offering me a genuine piece of advice guess it wouldn't be too hard to take it. Wait she has parents? Are all CPUs made that way well I maybe an exception to that.
"Thanks for the info. Who are your parents by the way? Which CPUs are they?"
Sherry taps her cane a few times on the ground in thought "To tell you the truth I'm not really from around here. I come from a different dimension and well maybe time too haven't checked yet. Time gets a little messy with dimension hopping. No matter to answer your question their names were Neptune and Alice Homes. Purple and Gold heart respectively. They were the best parents one could ask for. Always were the supportive types."
"Guess I'm not the only one here that's from another dimension eh. What made you choose to come here?" I ask while we walk up to the store.
"I was aiding my cousins of sorts and our friends in a war or battle you could call it and got separated by some manner of beast that threw us off course. We had decided on a specific place in both a dimension and time to regroup at. I do hope Scrap and God Eater are okay they got hurt pretty bad in that encounter." Sherry had a solemn look on her as she recalled that event. Being separated abruptly from loved ones and being dimensions apart must be rough.
"That must be rough. Now my big question is. How'd you end up in that spider cave?"
Sherry sighs "I was wounded like everyone else to varying degrees then I had the unfortunate luck of stumbling into the CFW Magic and the Arfoire of this dimension. Normally I could take them both somewhat but being as injured as I was I could do little more than rough them up and flee. Didn't get very far as I bleed out before Arfoire poisoned me and tossed me to the spiders that were always happy for another victim. Though my strong aura kept them from doing more than cocooning me."
Sherry then tightens the grip on her cane. "Oh how I'd love to thrash one of those two around now that I'm not on death's door anymore. Oh pardon my manners. Arfoire and CFW Magic are two evil entities that are in almost every dimension consider them something like a staple. A really annoying one at that. It usually takes more than one to bring them down and sometimes not forever. Like in my home dimension she came back after a while. And I believe the Neptune of the Gemstone and my grandmother Zoey Smith both soloed Arfoire."
"So we have to deal with her here then. That's wonderful." I say as we finally reach the store and go in. "Are they just evil in every dimension then? Because if so that's going to be annoying."
Sherry smiles "Not every dimension are they evil actually went to one where they were good and they were actually rather pleasant company. Linda is also pleasant company if she's good as well as a certain fairy. Croire I believe her name was. Both of them were from the Gemstone dimension. Word of advice never piss off a Plutia or Iris heart. Usually doesn't end well for the other person involved unless your my grandmother in a bad mood." I'll have to keep that in mind when I talk with Iris heart at some point.
"I guess a pissed off Plutia isn't a good thing then." I look at Scarlet. "What are we supposed to get here again?"
"We're getting some blades here. You need a new sword and I need to get blade maybe a kukri or some large one handed blade. Good thing Bellona is a gunsmith too. We can get some high quality firearms too which reminds me I need a new sidearm." Scarlet tells me as she opens the door of the store.
"Bell I'm back!" Scarlet calls out as she enters the store.
And a voice calls back soon after. "I'll be right there just finishing something up. Help yourself to eying the merchandise in the meantime."
"Alright kiddos. Just looking no touching for you guys. Also before I forget." I take out the handgun I snatched from Scarlet couple days ago and hand it to her.
Scarlet takes it and examines it. "Hmm still in top shape, You cleaned this recently? Thank you for giving this back. I'm surprised you wouldn't want to sell such a high quality firearm. But I'm glad you didn't now I only need to get a blade now."
"It was yours to begin with and I'm not that much of a dush. I'll have to get me a handgun and a sword now." I say to her.
"Well I can help with recommending some good ones to you if ya want. Oh your the new CPU around here. A pleasure to meet you. Bellona Roman goddess of war at your service." A woman with chestnut brown hair covered in soot and other dirty stuff wiping her hands on the apperon she was wearing. She looked to have a rather athletic build though her eyes glowed red a bit. And wait what did she say she was a god? They're real!
"Likewise. Surprising to see another goddess that's not a CPU. Can I get a decent handgun and a sword that's better than this one?" I ask pulling my former broken blade out of my inventory and putting it on the counter.
Bellona scowls at the blade "What a piece of shit this wouldn't hold out for long compared to a real blade. Alright tell me that you need in your sword and handgun. Firepower and accuracy for the handgun. And what of the sword? Sharpness, durability, power, Utility?" Bellona asked me curiously.
"More into power and durability. I need something that can last with my strength."
Bellona hums are jogs over to a crate that started rattling as she approached it. She latched it and pulled out a broadsword and sheath. It was completely crimson red with a red catseye gemstone in the crossguard and in the pummel was a blood red ruby I'm guessing. She lays it on the counter before reaching to something else out of another smaller box and comes back with two handguns one a black revolver it looked to be a .44 magnum and the other a silver colored Five Seven.
She lays those on the counter as well alongside the sword. "Alright this is some my higher end stuff. This sword is made of one hundred percent blood quenched hellstone ingots. Toughest and meanest shift around for weapons nothing ain't nothin going to break this or not feel getting stabbed by this any time soon heck even powerful ancient don't like getting hit by it. It also binds itself to one wielder's bloodline so it has a built in security measure. More blood you bath it in the more powerful you both get. Had to lock this puppy away for safety reasons. Damn powerful and destructive. The gems help retain the power it gives you from the blood it feed off of."
Then she swiftly moves on to the hang guns she picks up the magnum "This one if for pure power and the other is made for versatility not as good in raw power but more ammo and it still packs a good punch. You going to name?" Bellona asks me after showing me the weapons and I have to say they all do look rather nice. Particularly that sword of her looks awesome.
I pick up the sword and take it out of its sheath. "Toughest eh." I lean it on the counter and take my shield out of my inventory and bash the edge of it on the sword. Both the shield and counter denting. "That's impressive. Now do you have a decent shield I can buy?"
Bellona snaps her fingers and goes to take off a kite shield from the wall behind her and sets it on the counter. The bottom edges and sides were bladed, the inside had thick straps inside to hold my arm in place when using it. Though the shield itself was a bit shiny and glowing.
"This is corundum quenched Silverite best thing around for defense. Repels harmful magic, great for cutting and voidlings and other shadows hate this stuff. Even hexium tipped rounds won't be able to get through this easily. Trust me I tried." I can see a few scratch marks where the rounds hit they didn't do much it seems.
"Good to know. How much for the three items and some ammo for the five seven?"
Bellona puts the revolver away since I'm not going to be getting it. "60,000 credits for the sword, 3,000 credits for the Five Seven, and 50,000 credits for the shield. Ammo would 1,000 for five clips of the good stuff. That will bring it up to 114,000 credits for all of it." I sweat that is a lot of credits and I'd be using most of the credits I got from killing Luna the first time around. That bring me from my total to 75,856 credits left over.
I hand her my card. "There should be enough on there."
Bellon takes out a small machine and swipes the card and the machine makes a ringing sound. "Okay the transaction went through perfectly. Here's your card back." Bellona then hand's me my card back with a smile.
Then Scarlet gives me a questioning look. "How did you get all those credits? Only big ass hard to monsters net you close to that amount or you went farming for awhile more than you and IF were out. That quest even with the dragon should have netted you between 40-60k credits."
"There was a lot of those spiders in there. I even got stuff from the spiders after I burned the place down."
"Most of those Spiders would have been a hundred a piece. Well I'll leave it for not. But I still find it a bit suspicious. You get anything from Luna after you killed her?" Scarlet asks me bluntly getting to the point of where she thought I got the extra credits from.
"Yes I got a couple things from her."
Scarlet sighs. "Just don't mess with her personal items and we'll have no issues. Credits can be earned but even some mundane things to us can be priceless for others."
"You say it like I'm like that. I was going to give them to Grave anyways." I say putting my new stuff in my inventory besides the handgun which went on my belt.
Scarlet nods. "That's good. We're you meeting up with her after this?" Scarlet asks me curiously.
"Dunno. I was just going to give her a call and see from there." I then turn around and pluck a sword out of Nepgear's hand. Along with a rifle from Uni, claws from Peashy, and a kind of link staff from Frost. "What happened to the no touch policy?" I ask them.
Nepgear sweats a bit as she and the rest look down sheepishly. "It all looked so cool. And we thought if we held the weapons for a bit we would be a bit more like you mommy."
"That's fine but wait till your older till you handle any of the dangerous stuff. I can get you guys somethings to train with just not now."
The girls smile and cheer before hugging me. "We love you mom!"
"Now kiddos. We are going to pick up some clothes for me before I have to go and do something for awhile. Alright."
The girls nod saying use quitely. Then Sherry speaks up to ruin the mood a bit. "Well aren't you great with kids. Your like my grandmother and my Mama Nep well that's what she wanted me to call her by."
"Hey I was always good with kids. I just never actually had any till recently."
Sherry just hums and nods in response. "I understand unexpected motherhood. Happens more often than you think. Well shall we be off my dears? Or do you have other business to tend to here?" Sherry asks me with as smirk and while leaning on her cane.
"We are going to grab my clothes real quick. You still coming with Scarlet?"
Scarlet nods. "I will. If only to act as your unofficial bodyguard if you want. A CPU should always have someone watching her back." Scarlet tells me. She thinks she's tough enough to protect me? Well I wouldn't mind free backup if I get into an potential fights.
"I don't mind the backup but I am pretty durable with my bones, muscles, and whatnot being densed to hell."
"True but a sharp enough dagger can still inflict serious injury to the unsuspecting no matter how tough they are. Remember there is always something or someone that can kill you. First lesson my mother taught me, and the one that I made her pay for." Scarlet told me while clenching her fists.
I won't ask her for the details of it. "You are right and I know my limits. I can take care of myself for the most part. I didn't survive for years as a mercenary for doing nothing."
Scarlet gives me a nod showing she understood. "I'll still keep an eye out. Just don't freak out if I kill someone before you have the chance to. I'm a fast quick draw."
"Alright. But I'm capable now to cave their chest so let me get ahold of a couple. It's been only a few days but I can definitely say you've changed from what you were before." I say remembering the first time I ran into her.
"Yeah well one I really didn't want to fight that war. I'm more than capable myself just a lot was going on and I was worried if I want against them they'd hurt IF the only family I have left. If I lost her lets just say a lot of snow in Lowee would be red now. There's more to me than you know but that's something for another time." Scarlet told me her fist clenched with a spark of rage in her eyes. I notice she has a kukri on her waist she must have bought that while I was busy with the kids.
I give her a small pat on the back. "Hey just think. You have your sister back and there is no war any longer. At least for awhile anyways. How about you spend the next week with your sister."
"Yeah that sounds good. I may take a few jobs with her for old times sake while we are together." Scarlet tells me and I find it a bit odd but given how IF said they lost their family at a young age it makes sense they start out doing jobs together.
"Just make sure she doesn't go overboard. Now where is this clothing store? I want to end this shopping trip already. Never liked clothing shopping much so I didn't do it much."
Scarlet begins walking out. "Just two stores over. Not too far."
"That's good." We went to the store and I quickly grabbed two sets of tee shirts, cargo pants, and undergarments. "Do they have those boots here?" I asked Scarlet.
Scarlet nods and takes me over to the boots section and takes out a pair for me. "These are the ones I mentioned earlier. Not to heavy, comfortable and don't make in simple terms a ton of noise when you walk around."
I grab them and another pair. "That's good. Crap that reminds me. We need to get shoes and slippers for the kids."
Scarlet shrugs before looking around briefly. "Then its a good thing this store has children sizes too. I think this store should have something they'll like."
"That's good. Alright kiddos. Let's get a pair of shoes and slippers for you all. Also a pair of flip flops." I say when we go swimming in the future. Which we need bathing suits first.
The kids nod and run off to get the stuff I told them to with the older two helping the younger ones with finding the stuff. Seems they are already getting into their own rhythm about this now.
"I'm kinda glad they can already do this stuff on their own. I just have to watch over them while they do it though."
"You know they can do low level quest starting at seven right? Nepgear and Uni with some training can go off to do some low level monster clearing nothing that dangerous. Pests mostly. One of us can supervise them while they go out so you can tend to other business. Compa may not look it but she's quite the fighter." Scarlet told me and that isn't such a bad idea but I want to give them some training first.
"Alright but I want them to turn eight first and them have training. I just don't want them to do that yet."
"I get it. I'll help then. I know some decent training weapons to get them that can hurt monsters but not people well not leathally." Scarlet tells me and I may as well let her handle that part. I wonder if Grave has any weird tech that can help. Something to ask her later.
"Thank you. Heck I want to be with them when they do go out and quest just in case. Okay if everyone is done put your shoes and whatnot onto the counter."
All the girls put the shoes, slippers and flip flops on the counters. And yet they still keep roughly the same themes with their clothes. At least I'm getting the hang of what they like right now.
I also put what I was going to buy up there. "How much is this going to be?" I ask the cashier.
"Hmm about 545 credits. Those boots are the most expensive item on the list. Making up half the cost." The cashier told me after ringing the stuff up.
"That's fine." I say handing her my card. "Alright kiddos after she's done ringing them up put on your pair of shoes."
The girls nods in agreement. After a moment the cashier hands me my card back and the girls put on their shoes.
"Now I have to get going but when I get back we are going out for ice-cream got it?"
The girls nod. "Okay mom." Sherry steps in front of me. "Don't worry I'll escort them home so you need not worry about their safety my dear." Sherry tells me while giving me a bow taking her hat off and holding it close to her heart. Well if her heart was on the opposite side.
"Thank you. Can you carry my stuff back also?" I ask taking one of my pairs of boots out of the bag.
Sherry nods as she takes the bag off my hands and puts it in her inventory. "If that is all I should be heading back to your place with the kids now. Have a pleasant evening my dear."
"You too. Thank you both for coming with me." I say sitting on a bench outside switching my boots out.
Sherry nods and began gently guiding the girls back home while Scarlet sat on the bench next to me as I changed my boots out.
I grin sideways at her. "You comin with me eh." I say tying up the first boot.
Scarlet nods "I am. Someone has to watch your back. No telling if someone unpleasant may want to say high." Scarlet takes a deep breath for some reason before looking me in the eyes. "Can I trust you with a secret Alex?"
"Yes you can." I say to her with full honesty.
"To be honest I am not related to IF by blood I was adopted by her parents when I was young. Haven't even told IF this though she may have suspected something off. But I'm not exactly human. Look closely at my teeth Alex." Scarlet tells me and I do so till I notice her teeth look razor sharp and look almost like shark teeth but more tightly grouped and of course smaller. This throws me for a loop. If she isn't human than what is she?
"Then what are you exactly then. Cause heck I can say I'm not human anymore anyways."
"I am a Abyssal Draconis. A race of shadow dragons if you will or at least that's what my mother told me. I can change between my forms at will. Though I'm barely an adult by their standards. Just hit 60. As far as I know I'm the only one of my race here. Killed my mom and she was 200 years shy of becoming an elder. She thought she was invincible till I proved her wrong in an ambush attack. And don't give me that look she was legitimately crazy. She tried to eat me twice." Scarlet informs/tells me and I'm more shocked over her mother actually tried to eat her.
"Alrighty then. I've heard it's quite rare for shadows to become crazy."
"My mother already had a lot of screws loose to begin with. My dad leaving when I was young didn't help or was it other mom can't remember. Anyways it is true for us to go crazy. So you don't have to worry about me going crazy and killing you. Same with IF though since she was turned she's currently going through a tempermental phase." Scarlet tells me and that would explain IF's outburst.
"Now with what I read about shadows she may be a normal shadow due to how she was turned."
"Yeah she's going to be stronger. Though IF was stronger than most humans so don't let the baseline fool you. And every shadow gets stronger with age just so you know. And training to." Scarlet tells me. And it makes some sense.
"You are right about that. I'm going to call Grave now alright?" I tell her holding up my phone.
"Alright that's fine. I'll just keep an eye out while you make the call." Scarlet tells me as her eyes already began scanning the area for potential threats.
"No need to go overboard." I say dialing Grave's number. She picked up after a few rings.
"This is Grave Deathstalker. Who is this?" Grave asks me curiously and in her normal almost monotone voice.
"Oh you know. The person who wanted to check in on ya after your personal vacation."
"Oh its just you Alex. So what do you want to know? I only got back recently with the kids bugging me and everything else." Grave told me and I can just picture one of her kids pulling on her sleeve. So she really did bring her kids? Or did she just visit them.
"Are they with you right now?"
"Yes and Ram is bugging me about all the tech I have around the ship. Managed to get some of my company resources sent over here to get things moving faster." Grave tells me slightly annoyed with being pulled around by a kid.
"Hey enjoy your time with your kids. Now I want to talk with you and Lucy about what we are going to do to start up this nation and also. Err. I have some…...News that shocked the hell out of me and it's going to shock the hell out of you."
"Alright that's reasonable. So what is it Alex? I'm sure it's not that big of a deal." Grave told me not expecting what was to come.
"I'd rather say it to your face and you'll find out how big of a deal this is."
"Okay. Just need to land the Negotiator out of the city and I'll come to see you or do you have a place in mind you want to meet up at?" Grave said to me and I already have a place in mind.
"Alright land by the mansion. The one that was assigned to me. I'll meet you there due to you'll beat me. Just be prepared for the news. I also want to see the kiddies too. Oh yeah you haven't seen all of mine. Well the candidates I believe."
"Hmm so you got more kids. It will be interesting to meet them. I'll be over there soon. And they assigned you a mansion that is surprising. That one is old be the construction is solid. I'll need to update it a bit. Had a few blueprints for that place just need to find them later." Grave sounded a bit surprised if anything.
"Sounds good. So far it's me, my four kiddos, Compa, IF, and Scarlet living in the place right now."
"Well I'm almost there. I can see them playing outside. Well see you soon Alex. I'll try not to scare them with my dreadnought." Grave told me and I had to bit my lip to not laugh at how comical that sight would be.
"Alright just tell em to go inside afterwards."
"I'll do that then. See you when you get there then Alex. Need to begin landing approach. Bye." Grave then hung up on me soon after.
I turn to Scarlet. "She'll meet up with us at the mansion. Also do you know IF's number or more specifically one of the guild members number?"
Scarlet pulls out her phone and went to her contacts under the guild category. "Yeah I have a lot of guild members numbers and not just this branch. So you need IF's and who else's number?" Scarlet asked me as it seems she has a lot of contacts.
"Mainly just either Rose Dark and Yuki Raiko."
Scarlet pulled up their names and showed me there numbers. "Here you go. Real professionals these two. Always do exceedingly well at their jobs. Though they stay under the radar of a lot of people."
"Thank you." I say dialing one of their numbers.
It takes only a moment for them to pick up. "Hello this is Rose Dark. Need something killed quickly and no one needs to know?"
"Maybe in the future. Glad you offer those services. But no this is Alex Gardner. What is Luna doing currently?"
"She's reading a lot of books to keep herself busy. So far she hasn't done anything shifty. She's been really nice so far only talking to us for a few moments at a time. Its odd but she's polite at least." Rose told me and that was somewhat good news.
"That's good. Now can you please escort her to her room until further notice? I'm having someone come over and I don't want it to be out yet she's alive."
"Will do. Just keep us posted." Rose told me and I can faintly hear some talking in the background.
"Thanks I'll be there in a minute." I look back to Scarlet. "Let's get going shall we?" I ask starting jogging.
Scarlet jogs after me keeping pace easily enough. "You know I'm probably one the few that can carry you on their own if it came down to it."
"Good to know. I do weight abit. Grave is at the mansion now so let's get a move on. How fast can you run eh?"
"I can casually clear kilometer in a second in this form. I'm a bit faster in my other form. You want to race?" Scarlet asked me as she kept pace with me.
"Race with you. I doubt my muscles are even stretched enough to go full out and also I don't even know how fast I can go."
"Well I do know another way for us to get there faster if you don't mind being carried." Scarlet tells me and I wonder what she has in mind.
"We are only half way across town. And what is this method?"
"I turn into a dragon grab you to my talons and fly you over." Scarlet told me while flexing her fingers getting ready for the task. I'm honestly curious to see her dragon form anyways.
"Eh fuck it but if a quest goes out for a dragon I'm not helping ya."
"I should be fine I'm tougher than most and they'll only go after one form. I can clear it up on my own." Scarlet tells me then a surge of darkness envelops us and something grabs me and I feel wind hitting me in the face. I look up and see a pitch black dragon with dark red accented scales, I can barely make out that her eyes are glowing purple from here as she flew to the mansion.
Which didn't take long. As we landed in the front Scarlet turned back into her human form and we walked in. We walk into the living room to see Grave sitting on the couch with two little ones I didn't recognize running around with Peashy. "I'm guessing the trip with your kids went fine."
"You can say that. They wouldn't take no for an answer so I had to bring them with. So you got three more now? Two of them are training age." Grave told me as she took a sip from a bottle she had nearby but it didn't smell alcoholic so that was good.
"I know but I don't know if I should let them start this early." I then notice the attire of her twins running around. I grin a little bit. "Already trying to make em look like little Russians eh?"
"Russian what now? No that is just popular Loween clothing. Is cold as heck there so it makes sense. I'll get them some clothing for warmer weather in a bit. They just got back here from the hiding place I had them at." Grave told me and the joke fell flat.
I just wave her off. "Some of the references I make you wont get due to me being from a different dimension. Now." I say clapping my hands together. My smile slipping off my face. "So do you want to know the news."
Grave nods and takes gulp from her drink. "Yeah I really don't get why you're beating around the bush like this. Just get to the point already." Grave tells me annoyed and I see the kids are staring at me too.
"Alright follow me then." I say turning around and heading to the stairs to go up to Luna's temporary room. "Also before we reach there do you mind if I take your kids out for ice cream with mine?"
"Sure I don't see why not if your offering." Grave told me putting her hands in the pockets of her coat.
"Alright." I say. We walk up to the third floor and walk down the hall to see Rose Dark and Yuki Raiko standing in front of the door at the end of it. I nod to them both. "Thank you for coming and doing this."
"Were happy to help our goddess just give us a call if you need anything else." Yuri tells me with a bow and I notice she has a wakashi strapped to left hip with and a katana to her right with a handgun on her thigh. This is the first time I got a good look at them since they got here.
Yuri had light blue hair with black streaks in it. Her eyes were pale blue almost white. Her skin was also pale almost sickly so. But she didn't look it. Rose on the hand had dark red hair and healthy tan skin she also had pure amber orange eyes that all in all gave her an exotic look around her. She had sawed off shotgun on her left hips with a large axe/sword looking weapon on her back. All in all they both looked deadly.
"I'll remember that. Do you guys need any payment?"
Rose stretches in front of us her vest was udon leting her halter top expose more of her tan belly. "Well only if you want to pay us. Otherwise just give us a call if you need some help on some quest later. It's been an honor working for you."
Yuri bows again and she was thankfully dressed more formally dressed almost like a ninja from one of those games. "Yes it's truly has been an honor."
"Glad you feel that way. If you guys ever want to do a quest together just ask."
Rose smiles "We'll keep that in mind just let us know when your free. Well if you don't need us around here any longer. Me and Yuri are going to hit the bar for a few drinks."
"Alright. Heck I might join you tonight. Depending on how the kids are."
Yuri nods and hands me a piece of paper. "We'll be waiting at the guild then. Give us a call when you heading over. This is the quest we'll be doing."
"Alright I'll try to join but I'll give ya a call if I can't make it. See you guys later then."
They nod and wave before leaving. Now its just me and Grave.
"So Grave. You ready to find out what shocked me down my core when I found out?"
"Yeah let get it over with. I can't see what your so worked up about. It better not be some joke." Grave told me now thoroughly annoyed.
"How bout you see for yourself." I say opening the door and holding it open for her.
Grave looks inside and gasps in complete shock "Lu Luna!?"
"Yeah it shocked the hell out of me too. Do you know why I wanted to tell you in person now?"
Grave nod slowly. "Yeah I do."
"That's why I asked if it was alright to bring your kids out also. So you two can spend some time together. Only thing I ask is don't take her out of this building until further notice."
"I can do that. Me and her have a lot of catching up to do. I won't take her out of here I promise. I have Simulation room the kids and train in when you believe them ready. Safest way of training." Grave tells me as she walks closer to Luna.
"Sounds good. I might have them training early then. Also a good piece of advice. No one lives on the third floor so be as loud as you want." I say with my voice full of humor.
Grave smirks at me as she continues walking closer to Luna like a predator. "Oh thank you Alex. I was planning on getting loud anyways. Now if you don't mind. I'm going to make sure Luna is very sore when I'm done with her so please leave now."
I laugh walking out. "Your welcome by the way." I say closing the door and walking away. I walk down the stairs and get all the kids attention. "Alright! I will say this once and once only. We are now getting ice cream for you all but if you act bad you don't get anything. Got it."
The kids nod "We promise!"
I then crouch and look at Tomb and Ram. "You two want to go also? Your mother said it was alright."
Ram smiles "We'll tag along right Tomb?" Ram told her sister while nudging her in the ribs. Tomb just rolls her eyes. "If you say so Ram. Do you always need to be so pushy?"
"Also you two. Your mother is going to be busy for the rest of the night. Are you two alright staying here tonight with us?"
Tomb covers Ram's mouth with her hand as she was about to say something. "Sure why not but Ram here wants you to kiss her cheek first." Tomb told me as Ram blushes bright red as she manages to free herself. "TOMB! Don't say stuff like that!" Ram shouted embarrassed.
Tomb just points at Ram's face. "Ram your face. Its so red. Is it turning into a cherry or tomato?"
Just to mess with her I pick up Ram temporary and gave her a peck on the cheek before setting her down. A big grin on my face. "Alright kiddos lets go and get ice cream." Gladly I saw a shop in town.
Ram blushes a deeper shade of red as she almost faint for Nepgear to help steady her. It was so priceless. So we were on are way to the ice cream shop. And soon after many detours we reach the ice cream shop and the owner greets us. "Hello what would you like. Business as been going well today after all."
"I'd like two scoops for each of their choices and I want a hot fudge brownie sundae. What do you want kiddos?"
Nepgear chose rocky road, Uni picked mint chocolate chip, Ram some weird Neoplatine with odd colors, Peachy chose a banana and mango frozen yogurt, Frost got some blueberry flavored one with snowflake shaped mints, And Tomb picked a salted caramel ice cream with chocolate covered peanut butter balls mixed in.
"How much will that be?" I ask the owner. Pulling out my card.
"33 credits for everything. And may I just say your kids are really cute." The owner said to me as she held out her hand.
I hand her my card. "They are aren't they?"
The owner nods and rings up the transaction before handing me my card back. "Well here you go. You all take care now."
"You too. Have a nice day." I say picking up mine and handing the cones to the kids as she makes them. "Anywhere else you kiddos want to stop by before we all go back?"
Peashy smiles "TOY STORE!" She cheers before taking a bite out of her frozen yogurt.
"I guess I can get you a few toys since you don't have any but I don't know where one is. Guess we can look around for one."
Tomb takes out some two bars bound together before she pulls them apart to make some kind of tablet and tapping on a few things. "There's one here." Tomb tells me while pointing at her tablet thing having a map out.
Why didn't I think to look at my map? "Alright we are here I believe. Let's go there after you guys finish your ice cream alright?"
The girls nod and hurry to eat there ice cream to we can go toy shopping later. It was almost humorous to watch while I enjoyed mine.
We walked to the place after everyone was done. And only a few got a brain freeze. "Okay you all can have two each but one rule. Nothing dangerous."
Nepgear's eyes lite up as she sees something and runs to it. "Hey mom look at this!" Nepgear then grabs a small stick like object before pressing a button and a blade of energy comes out. It was a freckin Lightsaber in a kids store!
I grab it out of her hands and look at it. "Why would they sell something like this here?" I mutter to myself.
Ram gives me a funny look. "Its a form training blade it can't even cut paper. Mom showed us them us a few times"
I then give it a few swings before hitting it onto my arm to test it. It just bounces off. "So it's a hard light type thing. Alright guess you can get it Nepgear."
Nepgear smiles and clutches it close. "Thanks mom!" Then Peashy comes up with a teddy of sorts. "Mama can I get this!?"
"Sure. Remember as long as it's not dangerous you can get it."
The girls nod and sure enough they come back with nothing dangerous. All of them got plushies and some kind of more physical toy like Nepgear got.
"Okay put them on the counter so I can buy them."
The girls put the toys on the counter and the cashier rings them up. "That will be 234 credits please."
I hand her my card. "Now only thing I'm saying is your bringing your own toys home. Unless it's a heavier item."
The girls nod and pick there stuff up but Frost struggles to lift hers up and I remember she's still physically very weak. I'm going to need to help her build her strength back. She was knocking on death's door not too long ago in that labor camp. Actually I wonder if she's tired from all this walking now given her health.
"Here let me get that for you." I say grabbing her things. "Also." I pick her up from under her arms and put her on my shoulders.
Frost yawns and quickly fell asleep slumping against my head passing out. Poor thing must be exhausted.
"It must be getting late with all that we did today. Did you all eat dinner while I was gone?" I know I wasn't gone long but they could've ate by then.
Uni nods "We did Compa cooked some what were they called pot pies? For dinner. Tasted good."
"That's good. Now when we get back we are all going to bed. So you guys want to sleep with me or get your own rooms for tonight?"
"We want to sleep with you mommy!" Peashy cheers loudly being the hyperactive ball of energy that she's proving to be of the family. I should definitely ask Compa to give Frost a check up later since she's a nurse and maybe help me with a recovery plan.
"Alright. If that's fine with you all but you are all wearing your pajamas. It doesn't matter what I wear got it?"
I got a chorus of "Yes mom and Yes ma'am." from the two that aren't my kids.
We get home easily enough and when I opened the door I see the dogoo hopping around. "There you are." I pick it up and place it on Frost's lap. "Alright you guys just set your toys down for now unless you want to bring your stuffed toy. Also grab your pjs so when we get to my room you can change."
The girls nod bringing their plusies and PJ's with them. As they followed me to my room.
We go in and while they change I strip down and slide under the covers. One by one they joined me. The dogoo sitting on the pillow besides my head.
Frost snuggles close to me as does Peashy. Ram and Tomb stay close to each other as does Uni and Nepgear. I notice Frost feels rather cold. I'll have to check with Compa later for another reason then.
As I start falling asleep I mutter. "Good night guys."
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Writer: Project Omega
Co-Writer: Alternet RedSkys
Editor: {No one's volunteering}
Thank you all for reading. Please review and tell us what you think of the story so far.