Author's Note - Looking over this fanfic again, I realize, with horror, that Kiki is actually a very BLAND, BORING character. What's further, I also realize I have created her to be a personality-clone of yours truly. Self-insertion!? Not quite. But still very distressing! *ensues to maul self*
--
Initiation
Part Six
--
It was ten minutes after Penny had gone on home. Kiki stayed parked on the bench, her sketchpad in hand, trying not to think about the conversation that had just transpired.
Of course I wasn't too hard on her. Even if she's my first friend since… how many years has it been now? She gave up on that thought; it wasn't the kind of reassurance she needed. …Whatever. She'll get over it… she has Rudy, and he's a much better friend than I could ever be. Although it's not like I told her to shove off and leave me alone forever….
She shook her head, groaning.
I shouldn't stress about it.
With that, all thoughts of Penny were forcibly dismissed. Kiki had other problems to worry about. Like… the misadventures of the evil overlord Blasphemy.
She pulled out her comic, carefully and slowly, so as not to dog-ear the corners of the paper. The girl laid it out over her binder, poising her hand over the page while her imagination was hard at work.
What kind of morbid mayhem will Blasphemy wreak today?
That was the question that always seemed to linger whenever she tried to work. It was a difficult and tedious process, trying to come up with something new and original for her character to do. And that process was only made harder by all the distractions that buzzed by in the outside world.
An enormous, beaten black bird hovered in the air above her, shuffling its wings awkwardly, barely staying airborne as it floated on the invisible thermal. It had obviously lost all its inspiration, all its will to live. It was old and downtrodden, and its caw sounded lost and pathetic. Kiki watched it with an intense fascination brought on by distress, as if doing so helped her forget her problems.
I wonder what kind of bird it is. Hope it's not an endangered species, cuz this one looks like it's about to hit the pail. Penny would probably know… but I can't ask her. Not now.
That girl had surfaced again. Kiki glared down at her paper with belittled determination. Try caring about comics when your mind feels like it's constantly contradicting itself.
With those thoughts, the blonde set down her pencil. She knew what she had to do. She wasn't actually going to do it, but walking helped her organize her thoughts, and she knew it wasn't a good time to try and draw anyhow.
By this time, a good portion of the sun was shielded by the bulk of a passing cloud. It would mean a little relief from the heat. Even if it was just a little consolation to the blonde girl that walked along down below, she was thankful for it.
With the weather being so tolerable, it wouldn't hurt too much to take a few detours. And Kiki knew where Penny's house was. She'd sat down in front of the local maps the night prior and memorized the location, as if she'd known the information would come in handy.
I could stop by, and check to make sure she isn't upset. She's been a good friend… So far.
Even though it seemed logical, she ultimately decided against it, and continued on her way home, totally solo.
As she would go… for quite some time in the future, as the weeks passed on.
--
Kiki had been in Plainsville for nearly a month.
Rudy and Penny, having apparently re-built their close friendship, sat together at lunch once again. They shared their own little inside jokes, talked amongst themselves in secretive tones… which were all normal things in a typical 10-year old friendship… Save for the whole 'disappearing for hours at a time' thing, which they'd also been known to do.
After that one afternoon, Kiki had avoided her Hispanic friend. Or maybe vice-versa was true. Either way, the two had barely interacted with one another. Their friendship had been close, but brief.
The blonde strayed away from all forms of social engagements; presently, she sat by her lonesome once more, leaning over her drawings. She gazed at them, uninterested, and did nothing to try and improve them. The motivation to draw was gone.
"Hey, Penny…" Rudy tapped her on the shoulder lightly. The two of them were sitting at a completely different table, amongst the other misfits of the school who accepted their presence.
The girl was afraid of his question. She already knew his eyes rested on the girl several tables away, the only one in the lunchroom who sat totally alone. "Yes, Rudy?"
"How come you still haven't told me what's going on with you and Kiki?"
Penny felt her arms stiffen. She stared down at the table, trying to act nonchalant about it (and failing). "It just wasn't working."
"Oh, come on. That's what you always tell me." He leaned forward, listening intensely. "What's the whole story?"
"It's nothing. She realized I was keeping secrets from her…" -she gave him an accusing look as she said it- "And I guess we've just never talked since then."
He chuckled to himself, but it wasn't in an amused way. "And I actually started to feel ready to trust her."
"What?!"
"The strange creatures that used to ravage ChalkZone? The crazy pixies that chased Snap, the mutant chicken that ruined the show, the psychic lizard that destroyed the Globe Theatre? No traces of them have popped up ever since." He paused to cram a few French fries in his mouth. "…When you and Kiki stopped talking, that's when the monsters stopped."
She gazed at him quizzically. "And you're thinking the two events are connected? Rudy, that doesn't even make sense! Why would Kiki and I being friends cause monsters to invade ChalkZone? Pardon, but that's just dumb."
He shook his head. "I think she's upset… about the collapse of your friendship. That's why she hasn't drawn anything."
"Would you stop this 'Kiki' nonsense?! True, she theoretically could've been the monsters' source, but we don't have any solid proof. Besides… doesn't depression inspire artists?" Her friend looked baffled at those words. "Oh, uh, I read a book on what motivates artistic minds."
"Anyway, Penny… I'm not accusing her of anything anymore. I still think she drew those creatures, but creation-wise, she's been idle for a month. ChalkZone's been peaceful for a while. I think she might've changed. And anyway, weren't you the one who kept trying to convince me that Kiki was-"
She cut him off quickly. "Forget her, Rudy." Her eyes bore down into her tray. "Just forget her."
He grunted in surprise. "…Fine." And, accordingly, Kiki was forgotten. He lowered his voice, deciding to change the subject. "So, you still wanna come by ChalkZone after school today?"
"I… I, uh…" Penny had her own doubts. She knew she wasn't quite feeling up to it. But she'd promised Rudy just last period that she'd accompany him. And after a certain incident a month prior, she'd learned to respect her friends more faithfully. "Of course, Rudy. After all, I still don't trust you and Snap can look out for each other without supervision."
His grin returned. "Is that so? I'll see you at 3:30."
"Will do."
--
Snap paced the ground impatiently as he awaited Rudy's arrival. He knew the boy would come whenever he pleased, but the earliest he could hope for was 3:30, when their school let out. With yet another glance at the clock-tower (dubbed "Big Bennett"), he knew 3:30 was fast approaching.
"Where are they? If I have to walk around doing nothing for one more minute, I'm going to explode! Interesting people are never around on boring days. I almost preferred the pixies. The terrifying thrill of chase was somehow more enjoyable than this… At least running for dear life gave me something to do! "
He looked on out over the treetops, musing over the past few days. Well, more like the past few weeks. Whoever said there was never a dull moment in ChalkZone obviously hadn't suffered such a horribly dull month.
But those thoughts were interrupted as something caught his eye. It was a glimmer of light, forming a circle in mid-air. Someone was coming through. Rudy, most likely. And indeed it was; the boy slid through the now-open portal, and his female counterpart followed suit. Snap felt a massive wave of relief flood through his system; finally, he could leave yawnville once and for all, because with Rudy, it was impossible to be bored (though it was probably because the boy had a tendency of getting he and his accomplices into all kinds of trouble).
The bucktooth boy spoke casually. "What's up in CZ today?"
"Nothing."
"Like what kind of nothing?"
"The nothing kind of nothing. Today has been a total yawn parade. Just like yesterday. And every day last week."
Penny rolled her eyes. "Unlikely, Snap. In a place of such dynamic proportions, the chances of complete inactivity Zone-wide are slim."
"Rudy? An English translation would be nice?"
"I think she means something's bound to have happened. You know, because ChalkZone is so big." Rudy gestured towards the city down the hill below them. "You wanna check out the city? We could ask a few Zoners if they know of anything going on."
"That's a great idea, Rudy." Penny gave Snap a triumphant look before following the boy as he continued along.
Snap was hesitant to trail behind them. He didn't think they'd have such luck finding something interesting to do. He was Snap, after all, the self-proclaimed knower of everything.
A rustle in the bushes to his left made him rethink his decision. Who knew what was in there- it could've been anything from an aroused fangirl to a toaster with wings. Of course, it was probably nothing, but still…
Snap tore his gaze away. "Hey, guys! Wait up!"
The three of them paraded into town. Two-thirds of their posse was eager and bright. Snap, however, just couldn't shake that 'being watched' feeling. Even as Rudy and Penny dragged him into ChalkZone City, where the chipper faces of innocent civilians were seen all around, he still had this nagging instinct…
"Hey ChalkDad!" Rudy waved to the little butcher, who was merrily sweeping away at the dusty ground.
"Well, hey there, Rudy! What can I do ya for?"
Penny cut in. "Do you know of any special events going on in town today? Something even a little bit intriguing? Snap says the city's been dead all month."
"I don't know about the rest of the city, but business has certainly been sluggish lately." ChalkDad admitted. "Not a single customer in days. I think a lot of people are on holiday this time of year."
The two kids shot confused glances at one another before the artistic of the pair spoke up. "What about Queen Rapsheeba, or one of those other music groups here in ChalkZone? Are they having any special performances?
ChalkDad opened his mouth to respond, but Snap was quick to interrupt. "Queen Rapsheeba doesn't have any scheduled events today."
Penny giggled fiendishly. "And I suppose you live by her schedule, huh Snap?"
"What's that supposed 'ta mean!?"
Rudy slapped his forehead in frustration. "Alright already… Cut it out, guys!" He turned to ChalkDad once again. "Thanks anyway. I guess we'll just be on our way."
He took both friends by the hand and dragged them out of the deli. Penny and Snap continued to bicker, but Rudy paid no heed to the angry words until a few minutes later, when the two seemed like they were on the verge of declaring war. He silenced them angrily.
"Now let's go. Snap, could you try and… not cause problems?!"
The blue boy's jaw nearly popped out of its socket. "What the-? Come on, bucko, she started it and you know it!"
"Enough!"
The three of them trekked outside the city once more. They stood on the grassy outskirts, not far from where they had assembled their picnic in the first few paragraphs of the story.
"Sometimes I wish we were part of a foursome, so I had someone to help control you guys. You're constantly at each other's throats." Rudy grumbled, as the trio continued on their way.
"Well, if you didn't have to bring her along in the first place, I wouldn't have anyone to argue with." Snap grumbled.
Penny merely stomped her foot in protest, but said nothing. Sometimes she couldn't believe Rudy could put up with such an arrogant little sidekick.
And not for the first time that month, Penny found herself wishing that she had an actual friend to talk with, who always sided with her, and would never ignore her feelings. I came close to having that kind of friend - but I guess I blew it.
"Rudy?" It was Snap, speaking to his creator cautiously. Penny considered ignoring the twos' conversation, but it wasn't like she had anything else to listen to. "Do you have this… feeling!?"
"What do you mean?"
"This feeling like… I don't know… like we aren't alone?"
"Well, Penny's behind us, if that's what you mean. And she's staying with us, Snap, whether you like it or not."
"This isn't still about her! I mean besides the three of us… Don't you get this feeling like someone else is around?"
Penny, still listening in, shook her head, almost in amusement. Snap and his crazy suspicions…
Crazy. Totally crazy. Crazy, crazy, crazy, crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy crazy…
…
…
…
Waitaminute.
She looked around, at the chalky grass and the trees. Leaves, branches, and blades of grass all billowed in the breeze, whipping in the wild wind freely (a likewise effect was happening with her hair). It was a very windy day, and everything loose was waving…
All except one bush, somewhere ahead of them, in the clearing. The shrubs it stood among all whipped, waved, and billowed as they should've. But not that specific bush, no. Defying the laws of physics, it stood absolutely still. Not a twig stirred.
But the leaves started to flicker.
And then waver.
And no sooner had this silent discovery been made than did that very bush disappear, and in its place, a slender white form stood. It was distinctively reptilian, with red bands among its wrists and ankles.
It leapt from what had been its hiding place, landing right before her. Too terrified to scream, she gazed upward into its eyes. They were deep, and pigmented of an impossibly empty ruby red. The eyes showed wisdom, intelligence… hatred.
Rudy and Snap had melted into the background. Everything was irrelevant except that horrible lizard-esque demon, which stood poised above her, both eyes boring down into her own.
It raised a long arm - inhumanly long - and instantly its entire form began to glow. It glowed blue… it was an eerie glow.
And she realized, disbelieving, that her own body was glowing with that strange blue hue as well.
"What's going on? Snap?! Ruudddyyyyyyyy-?"
Her mind began to fade. The world was growing darker.
"…Guys?! Kiki? …Anyone?"
--
A/N: Wow, that was a weird chap. o0;; I figured it was high time for some traces of actual PLOT.