Okage Densetsu - Lookit the Fancy Japanese

Chapter 8 - How Much is a Third?

Again, this Evil King summoned in reinforcement in the form of flippy-floppy frogs. The heroes dived in head first, taking on one monster all at once, instantly killing it. As they continued, they found the frogs knew some serious water magic, causing Ari to wish he had brought along the electricity-weilding Rin. The three would move to the next frog while being batted over the head by the Evil Aqua King, who was laughing and cursing them out the entire time. They had to pull back since they began taking some serious hits.

"Somebody HAS to know healing spells in this party!" Rosalyn panted, digging through her things in a hurried effort to find a potion or something.

"Don't look at me- I only research things!"

Ari hadn't cast magic before this point, but he thought hard, trying to find if he had anything in him remotely close. He kept his eyes closed, and as if entering a dream, he suddenly was surrounded by the darkness from his dreams. Gasping, he looked around, then noticed a faint light far away. Rushing closer, it grew bigger and bigger, until he came upon the object. It was a flower, somewhat like a rose, pure white and glowing. Carefully lifting it off the ground, the world around him lit up, and a voice whispered upon the air...

The power to heal...

Is the power to feel...

Compassion and love...

With the light from above...

Within you is a weapon great...

Which will thus alter fate...

So remember in times of night...

Not always with a weapon do we fight.

The battle suddenly was around him again, and he suddenly closed his eyes, wishing nothing other than to heal somebody around him- suddenly, a wave of pure light energy eminated from the side, Rosalyn being entirely healed.

"Thanks, Ari!" She dived back into the fight with renewed vigor.

"It works!" Ari casted the same spell on Kisling, and then on himself, just in time to be hit with a huge blast of water.

While this was all happening, a pair of little feet were coming. Tapping sandals against the stone floors, a black-haired child made her way in with eyes bright. With her stuffed cat, she walked to the rear of the room where the fight raged, and smiled something terrible. "Look, Sampson... it's just like a faerie tale. Fighting to save the princess. This is how it should be, everything's a faerie tale here! Perhaps, however, I best keep their affection ratings up for myself. Okay, one crispy critter combo coming up!"

Running to the center of the room, right in front of everyone, Rin suddenly spread out her magic circle, gathering energy. The Evil Aqua King saw this, then laughed, plodding up to her, bellowing. Before the others could leap in and get Rin out of the way, a massive burst of water hit her. Against the opposite wall, the soaking-wet Sampson slapped the bricks and then dropped to the floor, but the water spell had formed into a sphere around where Rin was. Everyone began backing away as the ball itself shot off sparks...

"What... What kind of magic is this? This is unhuman!" The Evil Aqua King began backing away, but his tail touched the wall. "Stay away from me!"

"Heh!" Suddenly growing a smirk that could kill, the ball EXPLODED, glowing, electricty-filled balls of water instantly flying all over the room. The heroes suddenly dived under Rosalyn's parasol in the corner and somehow managed to live, while the Evil Aqua King was hit hard and promptly roasted. When it was all finished, the room was dripping, and the scent of cooked fish rose in the air. "You afraid of a wittle girl?"

"..." Ari stumbled out from under Rosalyn's umbrella, unwinding his panicked self from the heroine herself, getting up and walking besides Rin, staring at the still-alive-but-toasted Aqua King. "Rin, enough. Just... enough."

"AHAHA! Now that's the power I need in ALL of my followers!" Stan absorbed the magic from the now-Former Evil Aqua King, who also shrunk in size. "Yes... yes... more power! Closer to my goal! BWAHAHAHA!"

"...Dude. What was I doing again?"

"Eh?" Everyone in the room moved to the center of the room, staring in confusion at the Former Aqua King.

"Whatever! Unhand the princess, this instant!"

"Oh god! By all means, take her!" The fish-thing almost BEGGED, "What a terrible creature!"

"Huh? Hey! If you kidnapped her, didn't you have a reason?" Stan pointed an accusing finger at the Aqua King, "Come on, weren't you even planning one evil deed you were going to do with her?"

"Eeew, no! I don't like human females! Ick! In fact... I don't know why I kidnapped her. I just... felt like I had to."

"Hmm," Kisling scratched the side of his face, "Did you think about any sewers?"

"Yeah, I thought that I would find the cleanest koi pond there of evil if I went there... but... now I just don't care. I don't even like sewers."

"There's a pattern... the Evil Sewer King... now this one..." Rosalyn pondered, "All talking about the sewers."

"Whatever! Let's just leave!"

"Wait! Where is the princess?"

"Now... presenting..." A lethargic, familiar voice hit the damp air, as everyone turned to face the doorway. There stood, in front of the Princess, Corona, announcing as loud as she could muster, "The honorable and beautiful princess... Marlene!"

"Oh, your Highness!" Rosalyn instantly went down on one knee before the girl, "You are safe! Thank the gods."

"Indeed. This place smells too much like a fish for my enjoyment." She spoke monotonely, no life in her eyes, "My shoes are soiled as well. You-" She pointed at Ari- "Shine them."

"W...What?"

"Ari, better do it," Rosalyn whispered, "You're building up 'points' for our plan..."

"Yes, Slave! Go and do it!"

"Wait a minute!" Rosalyn spoke to herself, "Does he know the plan?"

Ari slowly walked over, digging out the only cloth he could find- his hankercheif. Still approaching, he suddenly heard Stan command, loudly: "Now, look into her eyes!" Without any control, Ari suddenly was pushed onto the girl, instantly latching onto her. Everyone let out a loud gasp, since he had fallen onto her in the perfect hug. Stammering uncontrollably, he suddenly looked up into those emotionless red eyes...

"...let me go..."

"Yes, yes, just- ...What the?" Stan blinked, "What in the HELL?"

"Let... me... go... NOW..."

"WHERE IS HER SOUL?" The Evil King yelped, more confused than hell.

"You... you offender!" Before Ari had the chance to move out of the way, a hand suddenly hit the side of his face like a semi-truck hitting a butterfly in mid-flight. He fell over onto the floor, loosing a good 18 HP in the process.

"...Nice hit, your Majesty." Rosalyn stood up, staring at Ari, not knowing what to do.

"Yes, now let us all go back to the town. I grow weary of this place."

After everyone got back to town, Ari's face slightly swollen, they came back to major fanfare, the Mayor instantly bursting through the crowd. Right behind him was Marlene's butler, Beloune, looking as cool as ever. The mayor paused, panting a bit, before he looked up and smiled, "And here are our heroes! Your Majesty, are you well?"

"Indeed. It was an interesting turn of events. However..." She walked to Beloune and spoke quietly. She glanced occasionally at Ari, making him know he was in for it. Then she turned to the party and spoke, "We will all meet in the mayor's office. I have many things to say to you heroes."

"Oh, your majesty... I deserve no praise..." Rosalyn hid a proud smile.

"Nor do I! I was just furthering science!"

"Sampson says your welcome!"

"..." Drip, drip...

Ari said nothing, gingerly holding the sore side of his face. He was instructed to head to the mayor's office, and came last among the rest of the people. When he fell behind, Rosalyn paused and looked back at him for a moment, silent. He knew what she was going to say, and simply shook his head, catching up. After the party was wedged into the mayor's office and the door was shut, a talk began.

"This event has opened my eyes," Marlene spoke flatly, "I need more protection if I am to continue my trip across this world. Heroine Rosalyn?"

"Yes, your Majesty?" She tried to stay calm, on her knee, but was clearly excited.

"Beloune and I have decided you shall be my bodyguard. You may rise."

"Oh, I am undeserving!"

"What is SHE so happy about?" Stan grumbled, but wasn't visible.

"Rin, Corona, Doctor... My thanks goes to you for assisting in my rescue. Without you perhaps the day would have been done prematurely."

"Uh, right..." Kisling was busy calculating the Princess's figures in one of his books. Corona and Rin merely nodded.

"Finally... Ari..."

He gulped, then looked at Marlene, "Y-yes, your Majesty?"

"Me and Beloune have discussed your actions. You must be punished for what you did."

"But your majesty! Not to interrupt, but he-"

"Silence. Do not interrupt me."

"...Sorry mi'lady..." Rosalyn sighed.

"Therefore... as punishment, you are now my personal servant."

"WHAT?" Both Ari and Stan spoke at the same time, the shadow instantly up behind Ari, "What do you mean?"

"Simple. He now belongs to me."

"WOAH! WAIT A MINUTE!" Stan shouted, "This is MY slave! I own one-hundred percent of him!"

"I will not give you more than fifteen percent."

"AT LEAST HALF OF HIM IS MINE!"

"Fifteen."

"NO NO! FOURTY!"

The arguement continued for some time, Ari just staring with a numb expression on his face, as he listened to them barter over who owned more of him. He could only wonder if he even owned a portion of himself. Nobody dared interrupt, of course, so he could do nothing but listen to the percentage of his life being screamed about. By the time the argument had finished, he barely noticed he had been put into a hotel room and it was near midnight. He simply stood in the exact same position all night, not paying attention to the flow of time around him...

In the morning, he was knocked out of his trance when a little hand was tugging at the bottom of his shirt.

"Hey! Wake up now! You too, Grampa!"

"Huh? Oh... Rin..."

"Morning! Miss Rosalyn told me to waked you up- something happened last night!"

"Yeah..." He opened the closet door, finding a Corona in it, "Awake?"

"Sleep is good for the soul..." She slowly wandered out, dragging her bucket with her which was full to the brim with spit.

"...yeah. I think I need to find Rosalyn. Stay handy." Leaving the room, Ari was instantly being panickedly shouted at by Rosalyn.

"THE PRINCESS IS GONE!"

"Again?"

"AGAIN! WE'RE GONNA DIE!"

"No we're not. We just need to figure out where she went."

"EVEN BELOUNE'S GONE NUTS OVER IT! OMIGOD WE-"

SLAP!

Rosalyn blinked twice. "...Thank you, Ari. I needed that."

"Yeah, don't mention it. Just... where would a princess go unescorted?"

"The potty?" Rin smiled cutely.

"That's an awful long time to be in the bathroom, you nut," Rosalyn gave the girl a slight smirk, "Where else?"

"Perhaps, uhmmm... perhaps she escaped because her status as a princess and being in control of the social order has made her weary and she's longing for a temporary refuge somewhere where life is more simple?" The girl blinked cutely, "Like an ordinary house?"

"..." Rosalyn and Ari stared at each other, then stared down at Rin. Both spoke in unison: "I think she's onto something."

"Ordinary..." Corona stumbled to the door, "Ordinary... is... Nice Guy... who lives... ordinary town..."

"...And SHE'S onto something." Ari blinked, "She might be heading for Tenel. Nothing out of the ordinary happens there- or didn't- before Stan showed up. Find Kisling and tell that butler guy we'll find Marlene, okay? We move out right away."

"Right!" Rosalyn headed off to inform the two people addressed, then came back with a Kisling and joined the party. Together, the heroes headed off in search of Her Highness- to Ari, this meant mostly one thing: They'd pass through Madril. And what was in Madril? That adorable singer, Linda. Hopefully she still WAS waiting for Ari's return- he could only hope so. So as they crossed the fields, he gave his all into slicing through monsters with his dull sword, then was the first to enter the town.

"Uh, you guys meet me downstairs, I wanted to ask the doctor something..."

"Alright," Rosalyn smirked, "We'll be waiting at the gates. Come on, guys."

Ari watched them all leave, and then he ran to the street corner where he last saw Linda- there she was, dancing away, humming cutely. "Linda!"

"Oh, Coach!" She smiled as wide as she could, "You came back!"

"Of course! How's it going?"

"Oh, I have a few fans now!" She giggled, "I can only thank you for that advice, Coach!"

"But -I- gave the advice..." Stan whined.

"Would you like to hear me sing again?"

"Very much so..." Ari smiled, "Please!"

"Alright... I worked hard on this one, so please be kind!" She rose the mircophone to her mouth, suddenly growing a deep, full-bodied tone. "There's a power, undenyin'... There's a source, it's supplyin'... 'Till the power's overwhelmin', Then comes the Big rush! The big, big rush- the power's overwhelmin'!"

By this time Ari was as red as he could be. He was hoping to god that this song WASN'T about him yet at the same time WISHED it was.

"Stand in its way- It'll cut you down to size! Try and stay away- it'll just supersize! And all the while there's a rush... The big, big rush... All the while there's a rush, a big, big rush..."

"Oh... my... GOD..." Ari mentally whimpered, transfixed on the singer and her kickass dancing moves. He wasn't about to interrupt, still as red as he could be.

"There's the power, undenyin', which you are supplyin'! 'Til the power's overwhelming- until heavy enough to crush, the big big rush, the big big rush! Stand in it's way- it'll cut you down to size! Try and stay away- it'll just supersize! And all the while there's a rush... the big, big rush... all the while there's a rush, a big, bi-"

"T-t-the song is p-p-perfect. S-s-so is your voice." The words barely squeezed out of Ari's mouth, who felt as if his skin was on fire. "T-the practice paid off!"

"Oh, thank you!" She burst into giggles, "I'm so glad! Thank you, Coach! Thank you so much!"

"Y-yeah... I've g-g-g-(gulp)ot to go n-now... p-people are waiting..."

"Please... come back again... I always love to see you... Coach, take care... come hear me sing again!"

"O-of course." He slowly shuffled for the elevator, running into the side of a building on the way.

"Hehe... Hahaha..."

The party regrouped and headed off again, and though Ari was still read, nobody dared say a word, and Rosalyn had to hold back laughter the entire trip. He led them back through the woods, slaying monsters in between, and into town. Everyone began investigating, asking townspeople, but they didn't get far until Ari was suddenly spotted.

"Big brother!" Annie suddenly ran over and lunged onto him from behind, hanging off in a hug.

"Woah!" He stumbled a bit, but regained his balance, "Careful! I'll drop Rin!"

"Who?" Annie let go and stared up, "Oh my GOD, Bro, you had a kid?"

"NO! She's an orphan for god's sake!"

"Oh. Hehe. If she were your kid I'd wonder why I hadn't aged four years."

"Whatever."

"Oh! Did you know there's a visitor at our house?"

"At our- Annie, is the blonde?"

"Yup. She has freaky red eyes, too."

"Hey! That's Marlene! HEY!" He called everyone over, "Guys, this is my little sister, Annie."

"Yo, whassup, homies?"

"What?" Rosalyn blinked, noticing the girl's shadow was pink. "That bastard..."

"What now?" Annie blinked, "Woah! You're pretty! You gotta share your secrets! And there's another girl- Ari! Are you becoming a pimp?"

"WHAT? NO!"

"I'M TELLING MOM! HEHE! ARI'S A PIMP!"

Instantly the entire town was -staring- at Ari, who was as red as he could be, but nobody could be sure if that was out of embarassment or anger. "ANNIE... SHUT THE HELL UP."

"BWAHAHAHA! No! Not unless you clean my room for the rest of y- Hey!"

"Come on, guys." Ari walked off, Rin held in one arm, a flailing Annie in the other, "Marlene's at my house."

"Right..." Rosalyn giggled deviously the entire way there.