Series Placement: The following Shard takes place during Fragment 95, between Scenes X and XI.
Like the sailboats that sauntered along off shore, the clouds floated quickly on unfelt trade winds. Grains of soft sand shifting beneath its paws felt cooler this morning. Distance splashes and children's cheers waltzed alongside gentle waves. Their temporarily abandoned sand castle loomed tall just ahead, and its welcoming shadow beckoned Fou closer. Moments later, the weakened beast traded the sights of Fantasia's luxury for the simple company of its fellow phantasmals.
Amid the spacious courtyard, large enough to fit the entire kid group, their little troop claimed their current territory. If the child servants minded, they had a strange way of showing it with offered treats and delights that its companions happily munched on with happy mewls. No shaved ice though. A shame. A few nice pies which easily had Gugalanna and Babe occupied.
Princess swallowed a bite from her delicious watermelon. "(Lord Fou. Does he want any food?)"
"(Nothing. Lobo still wants to be left alone.)"
Fou couldn't blame Lobo. For all he's been through at the hands of humans. Chaldea's Shinjuku plan didn't exactly help his disposition, nor did that avenger core of his; Fou pegged most of his anger as that natural avenger's wrath. But, if the other avengers learned to manage their endless hatred, then maybe Lobo would learn to temper that overwhelming grudge against humankind. Until then, he remained holed up on his claimed land like a spited bear.
A shame, really. Mount Meru had so much to offer in comforts if the wolf just chose to indulge in its curiosities. No question: Combined-summon or not, there was no way Lobo would have answered the call had his heart not had passions of its own to fulfill. At least with Fou secretly helping Geronimo and Kintoki's attempts to negotiate, the avenger had become more approachable.
The beast had to wonder how Lobo might fit in with the Chaldean Phantasmals, but another was always welcome to the ranks…
…especially with more soulless automatas running around as of late.
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Shard 28: Petential New Friend
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Minutes after Fou started savoring an offering of mangos and pineapple, the children had returned. Jack and Nursery Rhyme had joined them, and though Fou anticipated good belly rubs and pats, they only offered waves and some cheers. The girls were making a quick stop to drop off their friends' beach belongings. The commotion above the sandy walls of the imposing sand citadel was muffled, and Fou didn't pay much more attention in favor of delicious food.
…At least until a squirming Jack appeared in the crawlspace of the castle's gate. Her smile was bright as diamonds, but Fou and the other phantasmals already had their eyes locked on the strange pink ball she pushed through first. All their little beast conversations fell silent when they noticed red shoes and a face. Whatever it was, it looked at them in wonder.
"Hi, everyone~!" Jack cheered and gently pushed her new pet into the castle courtyard. "This is Kirby! He's my cutest bested new pet! I hope you become good friends with him!"
"Jackie! Let's go! Lancelot and Uncle Arthur got the paddle boards!"
"Coming~!" Jack quickly chimed, gave a final smile, and then pet Kirby on the head. "Be nice, Kirby! I'll be back!"
"Poyo~!" the pink puffball saluted as Jack wiggled out of the entrance. Like a missile, she darted after her fleeting friends, leaving the phantasmal alone with…
"(What is this thing!? Is it another automata!?)" Mister Sprinkles questioned first.
"(I presume so. It has no presence.)" Fou affirmed. Like the many other automatas Helena created, they were incredible works of art. They mimicked wildlife behavior accurately, and they grew from their own experiences. Nevertheless, they were a forgery, and they lacked a true soul. Though the Chaldean phantasmals grew to accept them as comforting illusions to brighten Chalea further, they could never accept any among their own.
They didn't even speak the traditional animal language. The pink puffball's curious tilt of his head proved that to Fou. "(If you don't speak animal…?) Then how about human tongue, Kirby?"
"Poyo!" Its eyes quickly lit up at Fou's hushed words. At least that answered how to communicate with this one, but that was problematic. Only a select few knew the other phantasmals could speak in human tongue, but definitely preferred not to; Gugalanna and Babe were the childish outliers who loved to. Fou also had his true status to hide, weakened or not… So communicating with this thing was going to be problematic unless the beast used…
"(I think it's cute! What about you, Gugi? Isn't it cute?)" Babe chirped happily as he bounced across the sand towards it.
"(It's like a pink you! But no horns! And you're a bull!)" Gugalanna was quick to scamper over, though the heavenly bull had far more delicious pie smeared on his lips than his blue companion. "Hi! I'm Gugalanna and Babe! And that's Mister Fou! And that's Mister Sprinkles, and Princess, and…"
Gugalanna kept belting out introductions, which had Kirby's attention as his head followed the bull's paw. Though there could have been better options, Fou was content with this possibility; Gugalanna and Babe, hyperactive or not, could make fair translators. Mostly because the beast had a feeling this wasn't the last time Kirby would be joining them.
So if that was the case, the beast may as well see if this new automata had any special gifts that set it apart from the others that filled the resort… besides being a carbon-copy from a cartoon he'd seen the children enjoy on occasion. "(Gugalanna? Babe? I have a favor to ask you.)"
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"(…So you're telling me Kirby only knows one word… Or it uses Poyo as every word…)" Fou sighed into a lone palm. "(This is just like those little Nobus…)"
The two bulls still looked very pleased with themselves as they jumped up and down merrily. It didn't help Kirby had joined in on the bouncing. Rose too, but Fou supposed that was only to be expected from Ereshkigal's sphinx kitten. It seemed the little puffball was already being accepted by some, even if no one knew whatever it was saying without playing a guessing game.
"(I suppose there's no helping it then,)" Fou mused out loud as Kamilah approached Kirby to look at it. Kirby gazed back, blinked, then offered a happy hug to it, just like it had to the bulls and Rose. Trust Jack's new pet to be tailored as overly affectionate and cute. Fou supposed there could have been worse creations.
Footsteps approached, and a moment later, Kintoki's shining mug appeared just over the tall walls. He grinned down at them and cooed. "(Hi little guys! Having fun? Food sure looks great!)"
"(Can we have more watermelons, Mister Golden?)" Princess was quick to chime up as she waggled her tail in the air. Kintoki only grinned bigger.
"(I'll go get you some then!)" he replied quickly, but looked down beside him. "Ah, sorry Shuten. Want to take a look? Looks like they're making new friends!"
"And how might mine eyes gaze upon them, boy?" Shuten mused playfully. Her devilish giggle quickly followed as Kintoki's head vanished for a moment. Now cradled in his arms, Shuten's head appeared beside his. Most didn't pay them any further attention as Kamilah started rolling a full watermelon across the sand for Kirby. "Hmmm~… How precious."
"They'll need more watermelon. You don't mind a detour, right?" he asked as he they spun around. Their conversation faded as he carried her off, but Fou's slight apprehension dissipated; The beast actually considered telling more of Chaldea of his status at some point, if only because of how inconvenient it was to be on guard all the time… plus having a group of younger phantasmals who were bound to slip at some point.
"(Lord Cath Pulag! Would you like a slice?)" Mister Sprinkles chimed loudly.
"Let Kirby have my watermelon," the beast replied in hushed English. The pink fluffy ball quickly grinned in delight.
"Poyo Poyo~!" Fou just assumed that meant thank-
Kirby quickly expanded. It was terribly unnatural. The first things Fou could relate it to were an anaconda unhinging its jaw for a feast, or a pufferfish guarding itself. Yet, even they and some rare phantasmals couldn't completely consume an entire watermelon like Kirby just inhaled. The suction caught some sand, but the pink ball didn't seem to mind. Inflated like a balloon nearly twice his original size, it quickly swallowed.
…And Kirby was now back to normal size. "Poyo!"
Needless to say, a few startled sphinx kitten now cowered in one of the hollowed out guards towers. With their heads tacked one atop the other, they stared out at pink ball while quivering. Only Mister Sprinkles could muster his voice. "(What was that!? That abomination just ate the whole thing like drinking water!)"
"(How unsightly…)" In truth, Fou knew Kirby could do that after seeing it on screen a few times, but the beast didn't actually think Helena would give it that ability. With its outright lack of presence of power or soul, thankfully… thankfully it seemed Kirby couldn't just power up like his real namesake. That would have been a whole new level of worry. Last thing Fou wanted was to worry about being consumed by a cartoonish beast.
"Poyo?" Kirby's eyes stared towards his bull friends, who now looked a little sad.
"I wanted some more watermelon too…" Babe complained, which quickly snagged an apologetic, sad smile from the pink pet. It quickly waddled over to hug the two bulls.
"Poyo…" Well. At least it was capable of sympathy and emotion. It had that much of an edge over the other soulless automatas decorating the resort. Maybe Kirby could learn to be respectful, and not an uncaring thief like the seagulls were turning out to be… though, that was actually accurate to most gulls…
Whatever the case, they'd have to get used to their new handful of a companion… '…Mouthful…?'
