X Chapter 7 X - Bonds
Warning: Language, Graphic Violence, Dark Themes
Ginge and Pinach stood frozen in the snowy plain. "Didn't you guys hear me? Iseber is back!" Both blinked, shaking their heads. After a short silence, Ginge spoke. "What did you say?" Arti stamped his foot and yelled. "Iseber is back! He's back at camp!" The two eldest looked at each other, wide eyed. They took off spontaneously, showering Arti in snow. Shaking it off, he followed suit.
They flew as fast as they ever had. Their faces were completely serious, a display of disbelief and hope. It couldn't be true could it? Was this just another one of Arti's pranks? There would be hell to pay if it was.
When they arrived at the excavated camp, surrounded by cornices; they landed right in the middle. A tall figure in black fur garments stood. A hood covered the head and concealed the face with shadows. Standing only meters away, the pair and figure had a stand-off. It was silent between them. No movement, only snowfall and staring.
Finally, the figure raised its stout black-clad arms and removed its hood. Both Ginge's and Pinach's eyes grew as the hood slid down. Iseber's golden face was revealed. Though it had changed from the last time, having an unnaturally mature appearance, they recognized him. Ginge's breathing became irregular before she started off toward him, sprinting. Iseber warmly smiled at her while Pinach stood like a statue.
When Ginge reached him, she leapt at him, embracing him. He stumbled back a step, laughing heartily. She cried into his cloak while he held her tight. The other children were awakened by the noise, coming outside to see what the fuss was about. Their jaws dropped when they saw who was with Ginge. They scrambled out from the dwellings and formed a circle around the pair. Arti arrived and joined them, wheezing slightly.
Pinach was still standing in utter disbelief at what was happening before him. He dreamed of this for years after Iseber's disappearance. Now that it was actually taking place, he had no idea how to feel or how to react. Slowly, he walked towards the others and joined them. When the crowd saw him walk up, they parted for him. He stepped into the circle where Ginge and Iseber were still in an embrace. What... what happened to him? He looks so much... older than he should.
Pinach addressed him. "H-hey Iseber." Iseber turned his gaze from Ginge to Pinach. "Hey, buddy! What's up?" Standing almost a foot taller than Ginge, Iseber reached out to Pinach and patted him on the head. Pinach recoiled back. Why is he treating me like his kid brother? He stared up in silence at Iseber. Iseber looked down at Ginge, who was still in hysterics. "Let's get you inside and out of this wind." Ginge looked up at him, wiping her eyes and nodding.
Everyone spent the rest of the day packed into Ginge's house, telling Iseber about their adventures and training. He and Ginge sat side by side on her bed, surrounded by the others while Pinach stood in the corner. Pinach eyed Iseber with an ounce or two of suspicion. Whenever Pinach asked him about where he had been or what he had been doing, Iseber blew him off and changed the subject. Where the hell did he go? Why didn't he come back if he was still alive? He glanced at Ginge, who was resting contently against Iseber's strong body. Isn't she bothered in the slightest that he won't tell us where he's been or what he's been up to?
Night fell. After kicking everyone out except Pinach and Iseber, Ginge served them both a bowl of onion stew. To her delight, Iseber dug in and ate several bowls in quick succession. Pinach picked at his food, glancing sideways at Iseber. He sat silent as Ginge and Iseber talked. "So what have you been up to this entire time?" Iseber stopped slurping his food and looked at her. "Lost in the swamp. I walked around for years without seeing the end. I survived by hunting the various beasts of the swamp." He pointed to his fur clothes. "I got these from killing a black furred demon of a creature. It had a huge maw of razors and it stood on four legs. After a tough fight, I had won at the cost of my armor; it was torn to shreds. So I decided to skin the bastard and make a cloak."
Ginge's eyes sparkled with wonder at everything he said, swooning over him. Pinach's eye twitched when he heard Iseber tell her so casually what he failed to tell him when asked several times. But that wasn't what bugged him the most. What bullshit! We never saw a single creature aside from that snake the entire time we got lost together! And how did he get so lost that he stayed lost for four years?! We were only in there for a little over a day before getting out! He gazed at Ginge, who held her head in her hand, staring at Iseber. An unfamiliar feeling crept up from his stomach.
Shaking it away, he got up with his bowl of stew and walked out. The other two continued their talk as if he had never been there.
Later that night, Pinach lay in his bed. He stared up at the ceiling, thinking. First he shows up after four years out of nowhere. Then the first thing he does is pat my head like I'm just some little boy. He wouldn't answer me when I asked where he'd been but he told Gin- Images of her earlier at the table flashed through his mind. He told Ginge on the spot. But I know what he told her is horseshit. I guess I can believe that he's a better hunter than me, and that he found animals in that desolate swamp. But being lost for four years?! What a load! More images of Ginge with Iseber crept in the back of his mind.
I'm never gonna get any sleep because of this bullshit! He hopped up and sneaked out of the house. He had to find out the truth. Levitating slightly over the snow, he made his way to Ginge's house. Peering inside, he saw that they weren't in the kitchen or living room. He could hear two muffled voices at the back of the house. Tip-toeing, he traversed to the bedroom door, which was shut. He put his ear on the door and listened in. Laughter and speech filled his ear.
"So then I chased after you, leaving poor Pinach a bloodied heap on the ground." Iseber laughed at her story. "Yeah, I wished Pinach good luck before I took off in the swamp. Seems like it was a bit redundant." Ginge laughed. "Yes, he was in quite the condition when I got through with him." Iseber chuckled. "No doubt I would have been in the same way if I was a second slower! You could still probably kick my ass if you put all your heart into it." Ginge rolled her eyes and grabbed his arm. "Oh stop. These big arms tell me you could beat anyone here."
They fell silent, staring at each other. Pinach was peering through the keyhole, watching. The young saiyans leaned toward each other. Before their faces met, Iseber turned his head to the door and called. "Pinach. Come in." The color from Pinach's face drained away. How the fuck?! Hesitating, he opened the door and stepped in. Ginge's face, which before was confused, morphed into anger. She stood up and started strutting towards Pinach. He stood unmoved and unfazed by her anger as she got in his face. "What do you think you're doing, Pinach?"
Pinach shot her a cold glare that seemed to ask the same thing. "Get out of my face, Ginge." She stood, dumbstruck by his demeanor. He had always been callous towards her, but this look was much, much colder. "I said move, Ginge! I have questions for our friend." He almost choked on that last word. Ginge, for a moment, didn't know how to process what was happening. But soon, her anger returned and she bared her fangs at Pinach. "I don't know who the hell you think you are bu-" She was cut off by Pinach raising his hand towards her face. Her eyes widened and her mouth closed as a bright ball of ki formed in front of them. "Last time. Move."
Out of shock, she complied and stepped aside. Pinach stepped towards Iseber, who had been watching with an enigmatic face. "I want to know the truth. You and I both know that there's no way you could have gotten lost so badly. What were you really doing?" They stared at each other for a moment before Iseber sighed. "I did exactly what I said. Why is it so hard for you to believe me?" Pinach snarled. "Because it's complete and utter bullshit and you know it." Iseber didn't respond. A minute of silence passed. "I don't know what kind of game you're playing, but I'm gonna find out one way or another. If you won't tell me willingly, why don't we step outside so I can beat it out of you?"
Pinach heard Ginge speak from behind him. "That's enough, Pinach! Get out!" He ignored her, staring with hostility at Iseber. Finally, Ginge spoke again, but with a hint of malice in her voice. "Oh I think I know what's going on here." Pinach turned to her and shouted. "Do you ever shut the fuck up?!" A vicious grin crept across her face. "You're mad because momma Ginge won't share the love!" Iseber cracked up, snorting. Pinach looked at him, then back to Ginge, who still bore a wicked grin. He couldn't believe the bullshit he was hearing. Had she really held a grudge because of what he said, even after everything that happened?
Both Iseber and Ginge started laughing at him. Pinach looked back and forth at the two. The unfamiliar feeling reached up from his stomach and seemed to squeeze his heart with icy fingers. The last trace of warmth in his eyes disappeared as he looked at Ginge for the final time. She was covering her mouth, laughing at him with tears in the corners of her eyes. With no emotion, he calmly walked past her and exited the room. Their laughter echoed in his ears as he left the house.
Launching at speed, he flew as fast as he could to the river. There was nothing on his mind that a little training couldn't distract him from. He arrived at his favorite spot within seconds. The river had replenished the layer of ice that he and Ginge destroyed that morning. It was as if nothing ever happened... almost. Chunks of rock from his boulder still lay along the bank. He snarled, blasting the remains into ashes. Ginge! He yelled at the top of his lungs.
Hours later, Pinach stood on the ice, breathing heavily. His training was not going well. He had fallen through the ice many times because of his lack of focus. It didn't help that the moonless nights made it pitch black outside. Still, he trained. Anything was better than lying awake in his bed. He punched the rocks, kicked them, and blasted them, dunking himself in the river many times. Eventually, he collapsed from fatigue on the ice. It was dangerously cold outside, cold enough to kill a grown saiyan caught out. His vision wavered as he lay. At last... Just when he was about to pass out, he could make out boots walking towards him. They were white with gold tips. "Well well well. Hello, my little whore."
Pinach's eyes shot open upon hearing the familiar voice. With what little strength he had, he pushed himself up to look. Tercres towered about him. He wore the same armor that he did when he was banished; it was ripped, torn, and cracked. He knelt down to Pinach's level, smirking. "It's awfully dangerous to be training in such conditions." He chuckled. "Coming here alone without Ginge? Oh that's gotta be the worst mistake of your life." Pinach snarled. "Either kill me or fuck off! I'm already tired of listening to your stupid voice!"
Tercres stood up and placed his boot on Pinach's head, smashing it into the ice. Pinach grunted. "Oh I will kill you. But I'm gonna make sure you hear my lovely voice the whole time you're dying." He kicked Pinach in the ribs, knocking the wind from him. He kicked him again. Again and again and again. Pinach was too tired to defend himself. Tercres laughed wickedly as he beat Pinach mercilessly. "Oh I've been waiting for this, Pinach. I needed to pay you back, and with so much time passed, I've accumulated a lot of interest."
Finally, Tercres rolled him over and stomped on his chest. "It's just a shame the harpy couldn't be here to see this!" After several stomps, Tercres paused briefly, panting. Weakly, Pinach spoke. "She'd probably enjoy it." Cocking his head and snorting, Tercres inquired. "Yeah?" He stomped on Pinach several more times. Looking into Pinach's eyes, with an uncanny clairvoyance, he deduced exactly what Pinach was talking about. A devilish smile ripped across his face. "It seems like everything you touch becomes a whore."
As if he could see into Pinach's soul, he laughed as Pinach's world came crashing down around him. Something within Pinach snapped, and he felt nothing anymore. The wind, the cold, the ice; it was all gone. He closed his eyes and shut everything out. Tercres' laughed harder and harder until he saw a faint glow around Pinach. It softly illuminated a circular area around them. Tercres fell silent, stepping back in fear as he felt something big was happening. Pinach's eyes opened. They had become amber.
As he stood up, Tercres could only stammer. Holding out his hands, Pinach looked at them. His muscles bulged and rippled. All sense of himself was gone. He was one with the creature inside. The sound of Tercres cracking the ice got his attention. Tercres froze when those yellow eyes glared deep into his. The being that looked at him was no longer a child. When he looked into those tight rings of fire, he saw a devil peering back.
The devil roared. Shockwaves from his latent power alone were sent sweeping across the fields. The air around became hot, melting snow and thawing the river. Tercres snapped his head around in terror, witnessing everything as the devil he had birthed screamed hellishly. The armor that the creature had worn, ripped off, exposing its bare chest. Tercres was being blown back by the wind generated by the creature's power. He fell on his back and scrambled to get up. Finally, with a deafening yell, the devil generated an explosion that ripped through the land.
Back at camp, everyone except Iseber was asleep. He stood in front of Ginge's house, watching the dark horizon where Pinach had flown off. His face was perturbed, like he felt something happening. Suddenly, a white flash erupted in the distance. It completely lit up the night sky, illuminating clouds and dimming the stars. Iseber could see the silhouette of a gargantuan mushroom cloud expanding, pushing natural clouds away. He saw a tsunami of snow approaching at incredible speed. A stupendous, roaring boom came just before the tsunami hit.
Iseber shielded himself as the wave arrived, blowing away every trace of snow to reveal the frozen turf beneath. Every window in the camp shattered, showering the interiors of the houses with glass. Ginge, who was asleep in her bed, awoke terrified from the loud boom. She shielded herself as the shattering glass sprayed her room. Shaking, she stood in the middle of the carnage, unsure of what to do or think. Quickly, Ginge slid her armor on and rushed outside to find Iseber waiting for her. "What's going on?! What happened?!" Iseber tilted his head toward the horizon. A faint glow shone over it. Strong winds still ripped through the camp in the aftermath.
Tercres put his arms down from covering his face. Standing inside a giant crater filling with water, an even more terrifying sight lay before him. The devil had transformed. Its size had doubled; its muscles inflated to unbelievable magnitude. With each breath, it grunted, boring holes straight through Tercres with its glare. It roared once more. Tercres didn't even see it coming; he was smashed into the dirt. The devil's boot pressed hard onto the back of his skull, compacting his face into the ground. It twisted back and forth as it pressed. Tercres' muffled screams reached out for no one to hear.
Finally, the boot relented and he felt himself be grabbed by his flame-shaped hair. The creature placed Tercres on its knee and grabbed his leg, yanking him down. Tercres screamed in agony as he felt his spine breaking. The creature grunted and laughed, delighted in its victim's suffering. There was a sickening crunch and an even louder scream. The laughter got even more demonic, cackling, as the devil took Tercres' leg and started slamming him repeatedly on the ground.
Before the sixth smash, Tercres threw a duel-handed blast at the devil's face in an attempt to get free. It didn't release its grip, and when the smoke cleared, it simply grinned hideously at him. Tercres froze, mortified at the helplessness of the situation. The devil slammed him into the dirt once more, but with its knee pressed square into his back. It took his arms and started pulling them, trying to break them. Tercres screamed with each crack and pop. With two loud and final pops, his arms were dislocated. Tercres, the once proud saiyan warrior, was reduced to tears. The creature laughed maniacally and began pummeling the back and head of its victim.
With each blow, he was pushed deeper into the dirt. The crater was beginning to fill up with water from the river. When the water reached them, the creature picked Tercres up by the head and started dunking him in it. After a minute, it brought him up just to put him back in before he could take a breath. Another minute passed and Tercres stopped struggling. The devil raised him from the water, delighted in its comatose victim. With an otherworldly, monstrous voice it spoke. "Goodbye, loud-mouth." Placing his head between its palms, the devil began to crush it. Before it could, a female's voice from behind called out to it. "Pinach! Stop!"
The creature whipped its beefing neck around to look. It saw Ginge standing at the edge of the crater, looking down at it. A tear ran down her cheek; a pained look in her eyes. "Please." The creature panted, staring at her. It looked back at Tercres. After a moment, it tossed the body in the air, turning to Ginge. She held her breath, hoping that Pinach came to his senses. A sheepish smile appeared on her face. But just as Tercres was about to hit the ground, the devil spun around and unleashed a flying-scythe of ki. It cut his body clear in two, raining blood everywhere. The creature turned around; its face was spattered with blood. A vile grin stretched across its face.
Ginge looked on in horror as the creature licked the blood from its lips and laughed its demonic, cackling laugh. Iseber appeared next to her. "Damn it! I told you to stay hidden with me!" The creature roared, powering up more and generating ridiculous wind. "This isn't good, he's more powerful than everyone combined!" Ginge turned to him. "And how do you know that?" Iseber stared seriously down at the raging monster. "I'll tell you if we survive."
When it stopped powering up, the monster grunted, sneering. Then, it charged, ripping the ground asunder as it travelled. In under a second, it reached them at the edge of the crater. Too slow, they took battle stances as the creature prepared to grab their heads. Just before it touched them, the creature was struck in the neck by a shadowy figure kicking it. The monster fell limp, aura extinguished. As the masked man stood there next to it, the devil shrunk, morphing into Pinach.
Ginge stood frozen, she had unwittingly wet herself. When her gaze fell on the unconscious Pinach, she began shaking. W-what is he? Iseber bowed to the cloaked figure. "Master. Thank you for the help." Confusion was added to the long list of emotions she was feeling. Master? What the hell is he talking about? The figure picked Pinach up by the waistline of his pants. He spoke. "You did well, Iseber." Then, looking down at Pinach. "It's time I took him under my wing." Iseber bowed to him once more. "Yes, master." Turning to Ginge, the figure spoke. "I trust that you can fill her in, Iseber?" He replied. "Of course, master." The figure spoke to Ginge with a warm tone. "Don't worry about Pinach. He's in good hands with me." She slowly nodded, overwhelmed by all the information. For the final time, the figure turned to Iseber. "You are needed here. Continue your training without me... never return."
Without the slightest objection, Iseber bowed. The figure nodded and took off into the pitch darkness carrying Pinach.
A/N: I would just like to clarify, the form Pinach morphed into wasn't rage form or LSSJ. It's a made up form that I created. It is saiyan specific but that's all I can say; I can't give it a name yet without spoiling a key part of the story, so I apologize!