MTP Ch12 - Time Slip arc Pt 2: Introductions
Ryu and his friends were invited to go back to the town on the mountaintop. Both groups were curious about the other, and sitting down to discuss details of themselves would be the best way to go about it.
When they arrived, the young Brood warrior motioned politely to his home and said, "Welcome to Township!" Before them, sat a bustling little town made up of relatively new looking homes, buildings, and storefronts. At the center of the town sat a fountain and a large marble statue of the Brood warrior himself. A young red haired woman from one of the shops who looked to be fairly spooked walked up to him. 'Beretta' her name tag read. She timidly approached the warrior and asked, "Chief Bateson… w-w-what happened? The cult isn't back is it?"
"Be at ease, Beretta," he replied. "We're going to discuss what just happened with these new visitors." With that, she bowed gracefully and went about her daily business. The young dragon led them to what was essentially the back of the town, into the largest building there. Once there, they all sat at a long table in a room meant for gatherings.
Having been overtaken by curiosity about dragons from outside of Dologany, the Brood warrior stood at the head of the table and spoke. "I think it would be a good idea to go around one by one and introduce ourselves." To his right, the Woren woman stood up. He slid a hand around her lithe waist and pulled her closer. "This pretty kitty is my right hand hunter, Katt."
She stood on the tips of her toes to place a loving peck on his cheek and purred a bit before saying, "My name is actually Lynn Chuan, but people outside of Worent just call me Katt."
Next to Katt sat the serpentine sorceress herself. "I'm not sure how, but you all seemingly know me already. Yes, I am Deis." All but Teepo recognized her. She was exactly the same as they remember her. From her torso up, she was a very (almost obscenely) beautiful woman with very large (almost obscenely so) breasts that as always caught hold of Ryu's eyes. She had the same fanged smile, the same deep ultramarine blue hair, and was carrying what appeared to be the same ornately bejeweled staff she used to channel her spells. The only difference they saw was that she was wearing a hooded half robe with a cape instead of the magician's pauldrons and bustier they were used to seeing her in.
Next to Bleu/Deis was the Brood youth's winged younger sister. He noticed that she was staring at something and cleared his throat to get her attention. She snapped back to reality and spoke up. "Oh… right. My turn. I'm Patty, and like my brother, I am of the Dragon Clan." She spread her batlike wings and curtseyed politely. She then drew her wings back in and wrapped them around herself with the claw at the point of each wing clasping, forming what looked like a natural cloak. Patty sat back down at went back to her staring.
To Patty's right sat the black winged woman. She was a very quiet and reserved girl. So much so, that it seemed she was purposely trying to blend in to the background. Before it was her turn to speak, she had not made eye contact with anyone in the room, opting instead to pay close attention to ring on the middle finger of her right hand. When Patty was finished, she rose and still without making eye with anyone, and in a very low demure voice, said her piece. "Hello. I am Nina Winlan. Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Windia."
GASP!
Everyone on the opposite side of the table took in a hard breath as they were all bowled over by what they had just heard. The other Nina, who had not once taken her eyes off those beautiful black wings, stood up. As it was her turn, she turned toward Momo and Hana. "Well girls, that right there is even more proof that your machine worked." The rabbit twins looked at each and nodded. Nina spoke up again. "Now this is going to sound very, and I emphasize 'very', strange, but I am Nina Winlan. Crown Princess of the Kingdom of Windia." To prove it, she held up her right hand and showed her ring that was emblazoned with Windia's royal crest. The very same ring the Nina with the black wings was wearing on the same finger of the same hand. Every face on the opposite side of the table was instantly populated with a confused and contorted look. "After the introductions, the twins will explain."
Teepo was up next. He noticed as he stood that Patty's eyes were locked onto him hard. He took that little tidbit and filed it away for later use. "I am Teepo, and I must say it is indeed thrilling and an honor to meet other members of the Brood," he said with a gracious bow. He looked up from his bow and saw that Patty had an almost longing look about her. When he sat, he took a moment to take her in, noticing that she was actually a very attractive young woman…
It was Rei's turn. He stood up and instantly froze. He didn't really know what to say. "Uh… I'm Rei." He nervously grabbed his tail and fiddled with it. "Um, yeah. I'm a Woren tracker."
Wanting to spare him from looking the fool any longer, Momo stood up next to him. "Sit down, man-cat. I don't want you to pop something." she said with a hint of teasing in her voice. He obeyed, but not without sticking out his tongue at her and letting out a light growl. "Anyhow, I'm Momo. My sister and I are engineers and we're the reason all of us are here right now."
The other rabbit twin let go of her beau's hand and stood from her seat. "I'm Hana. We'll give you all the details whenever you're ready to hear us prattle," she said with a smile.
Finally, it was Ryu's turn to speak. Before he did, he took a moment to bring himself out of the momentary trance he was in that was brought on by looking at and fantasizing about the massive 'orbs of power' Deis was in possession of. He stood and with a smile spoke. "I'm Ryu. I like long walks on the beach, eating everything in sight, this little White Bunny, boobs, this little White Bunny's boobs, and fishing."
Hana quickly sprang back to her feet and slapped him on the nape of the neck. "Sit down, dumbass." The way she said it conveyed no malice at all. It was more of a playful thing, like it happened all the time. She figured that at some point after he realized there was no imminent danger, the filter between his mouth and his brain would take its leave and his silly side would manifest itself.
Finally, it came back around to the head of the table. The Brood warrior stood again. "Will the wonders never cease? You say you have a Deis where you come from. You have another Princess Nina. And also another Ryu… I am Ryu Bateson, chief of this town, as chosen by its people." The other Ryu and Teepo looked upon the town chief with an air of respect. "You've already met my sister and my significant other. I'll introduce you to my father some time. He is the chief of the town at the base of the mountain. But first…" He paused a moment as he turned his gaze to the rabbit twins. "You say you are engineers, yes? There is someone here that would probably love to meet you."
Chief Ryu opened a panel on the table, revealing a plethora of buttons. He pushed one and spoke into the air. "Eichichi, its Ryu."
A light beep resounded through the air, followed by the voice of a woman. "What can I do for you, chief?"
Chief Ryu's gaze went back to twins as he spoke again into the intercom. "I have some visitors in the conference room that appear to have been the cause of that black lightning phenomenon. Would you be interested in speaking with their engineers about it?"
Eichichi could not hope to mask the excitement in her voice as she responded. "They have scientists with them?! Ooooooooh!" She let out an overly excited squeal. "Let me clean up here in the library and I'll be there in a moment."
"Well now," Chief Ryu began. "When Eichichi gets here, at least one of us will be able to comprehend what is going on. For now, if you would, please give us a basic rundown."
Hana stood to speak. "Well, Chief Bateson," she started. The Chief stopped her there.
"Please, just Ryu is fine."
Hana smiled and grabbed her man by the hand. "All due respect Chief, but I think the formality will stick for the time being. Particularly given you share the same name as my beloved goof ball." In another fit of his trademark silliness, Ryu called attention to himself by doing a 'This Guy' pose with both thumbs. "Anyhow Chief, the basics of it are easy, but at the same time complicated. My sister and I recreated a machine with lost technology that opened a door into the past. As we are here, it worked, but the door grew big enough to capture our entire Tower and bring it here also."
Hushed awe crept over Chief Ryu and his friends. "Unbelievable," he said.
"Incredible," interjected Patty, who was listening, but still paying more attention to Teepo.
"Indeed. That most certainly is incredible!" Ryu and his friends turned to the unfamiliar voice at the door. Chief Ryu recognized it is that of his resident egghead, Eichichi. She was wearing her usual lab coat with goggles dangling around her neck and had hair that was a brilliant hue of orange. Though a bit taller and a little more burly than the average woman of other clans, Eichichi was actually very small for a woman of the Iron Ox clan.
"Ah, Eichichi. Good of you to join us," Chief Ryu said. He gestured toward the rabbit twins. "These two are the engineers that can explain what they know of the odd black lightning."
Eichichi's eyes lit up and she sat at the foot of the table, eagerly awaiting the explanation.