Title: Minus the Pride
Author: Chibi Team Rocket (
Genre: drama, romance
Begun: March 26, 2001
Rated: PG13 (For swearing and some adult situations)
Setting: Autozam, for the most part
Notes: This is a Magic Knights Rayearth (mostly Autozam) and OUTLAW STAR crossover. It consists of many different pairings – Two shounen-ai (boy/boy), one shoujo-ai (girl/girl), and one straight couple. It is not a hentai fic, but deals with some strong emotions. If you do not like odd couplings, then you may not like this fic, though that is not what the story centers around.
Also, since this is an American writer writing, I will not use any Japanese words throughout the entire thing. Yet, there is the thing about Jim always calling Gene aniki, which means 'older brother.' But instead of Jim just calling Gene by his name, I've made him call him 'brother.' It does seem a tad odd and repetitive, but it is kind of keeping to the Japanese version.
Disclaimer: Sadly, OLS and MKR do not belong to me. Even more sadly, Jim Hawking does not belong to me, and I do wish he did… However, there are a few original characters and places that are mine. If you wish to use them, please ask me. Thank you.
Dedication: First, I dedicate this story to CGR for always helping me with good plot-ideas through the wonders of Role-Playing. Second, this goes out to Iced, rikachu, and RocketJesse. They are the best writers I know, and I try to copy their styles, Iced's in particular, but I shall never be as good as they are. Last, but not least, this goes out to Nightshade for helping me get into Outlaw Star and putting up with my idiotic rambles.
Anything Else: ::Brak voice:: No, thank you.
Minus the Pride
There was complete silence.
"How did we end up like this?"
"I don't know… I really don't know. But, frankly speaking, I don't really care."
* * *
Chapter 1 ~ Eagle ~
Phoenix Strata was probably the most beautiful woman Eagle knew. She was tall and slender, but shapely all the same. She had short, fiery red hair, golden skin, and glittering orange eyes. Her lips were ruby red, and when she smiled, the whole world seemed to bow in her presence. Not only was she gorgeous, but also she had a kind heart. She was often quiet and kept to herself. Still, if given the opportunity, she would be so generous and gracious to one.
Eagle Vision and his cousin had always gotten along together well. Phoenix and her family would often come to visit him from her planet of Juu'Oin when they were children. He always remembered having the most wonderful conversations with her. They were very close, he pale, like the sky, and she burning like fire. But their personalities were almost identical. People used to call them twins despite their looks because they were so in tune with each other.
And then, one day, Eagle was told he was to marry her.
"My son, there comes a time in every man's life when he must accept who he is. He must stand up and face the consequences, taking every step up the ladder to fit in with the game of life."
Altima Vision was the King of Autozam. He was strong and loud. Whenever he was around, people bowed, but not out of the common courtesy one should receive if they are a great person. People bowed because they feared for their life. Truthfully, the man was a tyrant. His gigantic figure made people tremble. To be in his shadow was as if to be in sheer turmoil.
Eagle Vision, son of Altima Vision, had to live with him everyday. He was also afraid of his father, but did not want to let him know that. Like the other inhabitants of Autozam, he too cursed and laughed at him behind his back.
Today, Eagle stood before his father in the large throne room of the castle. He was excused from his daily studies to have a meeting with his Royal Highness.
"You are growing up, Eagle," Vision said rather calmly, stroking his thin, white beard. His light brown eyes seemed to penetrate through Eagle's feeble body and pin him to his place. Eagle dared not to move or speak until he was spoken to. "Pretty soon I will be gone…"
And thank God of that, Eagle thought to himself.
"…And you, unfortunately, will have to take my place as ruler of Autozam. But, to continue the Vision family-line, you need a wife, yes?" He nodded to Eagle, saying he was able to speak now.
Eagle nodded and replied, "Yes, father," like a good little boy. That was how his father treated him. Even though he was almost 22 years old, Vision made him feel as if he were 12. "I agree."
"Good," Vision said flatly, as though it was customary for Eagle to always agree with him. "Your soul purpose for being born was to be ruler of Autozam. It's in your blood, Eagle. You are a Vision."
Eagle wished he were not.
"So it is only necessary for you to get married, have another child… A boy, remember… We can't have women rulers here. It just would not be proper! Oh, where was I?" A glance was given towards Eagle.
"It is necessary for me to marry and have a boy…" Eagle hated saying that. His father was very discriminative, especially towards women. He sighed as he thought about his sweet younger sister Camry Vision who would never grow up to be great in her father's eyes.
"Ah, yes… So, I have come to the conclusion that you should marry as soon as possible. I know the perfect wife for you." He paused, as if wanting to keep a grand, dramatic hold on an audience that was not there. "I have chosen Phoenix to be your bride!"
"Phoenix?" Eagle cried, not waiting for a gesture of continuation from his father. "I-I can't marry Phoenix…!"
There was a violent uproar. "You dare go against my will?" Vision's voice bellowed. Throughout the halls, people could hear him scream. Eagle seemed to shrink. He crouched in fear and fell to his knees, looking straight at the ground and not into his father's eyes. "Damn you, Eagle! Why wouldn't you want to marry her?"
"Because she's my cousin…" Eagle whispered ever so quietly.
Vision groaned and rose to his feet from his elegant throne. "Why should that matter? It's far better to in-breed anyway, dear boy. Keeps the Vision line the same. Besides, why marry some other riff-raff?"
He made it seem like there was no problem in it at all, like Eagle was an animal. A stupid dog. He was afraid to speak, but felt he had to go in for the kill.
"I do not love her, father."
For a long while, there was nothing but silence and tension around them. Without even looking up, Eagle could feel the anger swelling up in Vision's whole body. Eagle was wet with cold perspiration. He felt ill, a sick feeling creeping all over his body. He coughed a small cough, breaking the silence.
"You ignorant fool," Vision spat out harshly. "What have I been raising? A sick wuss?" He walked over to Eagle, grabbing the back of his elegant robe and hoisting him to his feet. "Did I love your mother when I married her?" he screamed.
Eagle screamed back, almost in tears. "No!"
"A woman of love will ruin you. Do you want to be ruined?"
"No!"
Vision dropped him and began circling him like an ugly buzzard waiting for its prey to fall. He would break Eagle. "I've seen many men fall in love. All that did was make them act stupid! They gave up everything they owned to satisfy a measly woman… Don't cry, Eagle, for God's Sake! You're an adult!"
You don't treat me like it, Eagle wanted to blurt out through his angry tears.
"You're going to thrive, my boy! I have big dreams for you, but if you marry for love, you'll be a dead man. So you shall marry Phoenix within the next two months!"
"…Yes… Father."
Geo's face was awe-stricken. "Phoenix?" he gasped, barely able to contemplate what Eagle was telling him.
Eagle nodded, sitting on a chair across from Geo and Zazu who remained on the couch in Geo's home. Zazu was drinking a beer and shaking his head slightly while Geo continued staring at Eagle in disbelief.
"Father says I will have to marry her soon," Eagle said quietly. His hands on his lap were fidgeting and he constantly let his eyes dart down to them, never quite looking Geo square in the face. "But I don't want to. I really don't… Want to… marry."
"Ah don't blame ya," Zazu said in a slurred tone. He rose up his hand as if he were going to make a speech. Eagle and Geo watched the drunken boy wobble to his feet and try to stand upright. "Women are too much truh-ble," he said, adding a hiccup to the end of the sentence. "Ah sho never wanted ta marry mah girlfriend, sho she ran off with da fishes into the shea…"
Geo coughed. "Um, sure, Zazu."