DISCLAIMER: I own a copy each of two of the Ratchet & Clank games, the character Anastasia and the absent-minded midget-bot that is Klunc. But I don't own anything else outside the plot.

Thoughts Change in Time/Place "Speech" (Author's Notes)

Feature presentation brought to you by Pyro Productions.

The Story of A Prince
Chapter 2 - Unimportant Epiphanies Are Unimportant

Ratchet sighed in relief as the ship exited Vox's atmosphere and entered the large black expanse that was space. He typed in a couple commands into the computer and then leaned back as the autopilot took over.

"Ratchet, what is our destination?" Clank asked. He was adjusting the seat belt so it wouldn't smother him.

"We're heading to Metropolis. I have a friend there who said he'd house me if I ever needed a place to stay while I was on the planet," Ratchet replied, he swiveled his seat so he could rummage through the built in mini-fridge behind him. He removed an orange colored can, "Want one?"

Clank declined and Ratchet shrugged, "Suit yourself," and a quiet "ka-psshh" sounded as he opened the can. After a couple gulps he spoke again, "Why do you ask?"

"I was simply wondering," Clank paused, "Did you know we only have a quarter of fuel in the tank, Ratchet?"

Ratchet blinked as he swiveled again and peered at the gauge that kept track of the fuel. His ears lowered as his posture slumped slightly, "Crap. We'll never make it to Metropolis without at least a half tank of fuel..."

"What will you do?"

Ratchet gave Clank one of those is-that-a-rhetorical-question? looks and said, "I don't know. You're the one with a computer for a brain. What do you suggest?"

"I suggest we find the nearest planet under the Galactic President's command and-"

"Woah, woah, woah! Hold on a second!"

"What is it?"

"We can't go anywhere in the GP's circle of command, Clank, my mom probably has my father by the ear and had him call in the GP to help search for me already," Ratchet explained.

"But Metropolis is in the Galactic President's "circle", as you put it," Clank said.

Ratchet paused, "It is isn't it...what am I gonna do...?"

"Go to the nearest planet with fuel on it and, if it is within the Galactic President's circle, keep a low profile," Clank suggested, "That would be the wisest course of action, Ratchet, by my calculations. And my calculations are never wrong."

Ratchet gave Clank a blank stare, "Right. Computer for brains. Not much room for error there, buddy."

"Do not mock me. I am made of metal. A bitch slap would hurt you more than me, Ratchet."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever," Ratchet said dismissively, but truth be told he was a bit nervous, he'd been bitch slapped before. By Angela and it had hurt, he couldn't begin to imagine how much more it would hurt if Clank, of all people, robots, whatever, bitch slapped him...

He shook his head and got to work on finding a planet within less than two days time from their current position. He'd come up with two possibilities a minute later, Deftone and Campagna 4. Deftone was 3 hours away, but Campagna 4 was almost two days away, just missing two days by a mere hour. The only thing that made this decision hard was that Campagna 4 had fuel on it, ready to use fuel, as opposed to Deftone that also had fuel, but the fuel needed to be diluted, lest it eat away at the engine.

Ratchet turned to Clank, who was playing Jak2 on a display that was attached somewhere within his chest cavity, "Clank, two planets came up, but I need your help deciding," He slid the holo-screen he was using towards Clank, "But first thing's first, do we have the materials needed to dilute raw fuel?"

Clank stared at the stats of both planets for a few moments, "We do not have the needed materials, however, Deftone has both raw fuel and the materials needed to dilute the raw fuel."

Ratchet watched as Clank paused, almost in hesitation, "I'm feeling a "but" here..."

"...But..."

"I knew it! There's always a catch!"

"All but one of the materials you need for diluting are easily found," Clank continued on, ignoring Ratchet's outburst, "The one you cannot easily find is an extract from a rare plant that can only be found during midnight where both of Deftone's moons are eclipsed. It occurs once every 3 months, luckily we are 7 days away from the next eclipse."

Ratchet blinked, "Ok, so what makes this hard?"

"It is pitch black when this happens. There is not one iota of natural light given."

"Need night-vision goggles. Got'cha. I have those."

"The eclipse only lasts 5 minutes before the plant's flower closes."

"Need to run. I'm a fast runner. I can do that."

Clank sighed, he knew he was going to regret this next one, "The flower generally grows near the nest of a Rhapson, a very dangerous reptile native to the planet yet hard to find, as it dwells deep in caves and many who've found the nest are eaten shortly thereafter."

Ratchet nodded slowly, "Alright, dangerous animal with lots of teeth and a taste for fleshy and/or furry things," He paused before pumping his fist in the air, "Score!"

Clank knew he wasn't going to regret this last bit, "I must mention that the flower grows in the Rhapson's...refuse, which is near its nest."

Ratchet blinks, "I have to wade through shit for this flower?" Clank nodded, "After killing a vicious reptile out to eat me? Within 5 minutes?" Two more nods. There was a pause before Ratchet hung his head, "Damn it."

Clank chuckled lightly, the way Ratchet's mind worked always amused him. He cleared his metallic throat, "Shall I set a course for Deftone while you wallow in misery?"

Ratchet chugged the rest of soda and looked out at the stars for a moment before turning back to Clank and narrowing his eyes, "I hate you, always ruining my fun by adding little details that probably would've entertained you more had you told me moments after my fun is finished, but no-o..."

Clank tuned out the rest of Ratchet's rant as he returned his attention to the console in front of him, "I will take that as a "yes"."

3 Days Later/ Vox Royal Palace

"My king, I present to you the Galactic President, David." (C'mon, he named his daghter Sasha, he had to have a normal name to match! But if any of you can tell me his actual name from the game, I'll change it.)

The Galactic President walked through the double doors and into the audience chamber where all three royals sat. King Magnus sat in the middle, between his wife, Lidia and Anastasia. The throne beside Anastasia was empty, Ratchet not there to occupy it. His throne was gold and was taller than Lidia, Ratchet, and Anastasia's, the three other thrones were silver in color and all four had a dark red satin covering on the seats. The throne arm rests had lion heads carved into them and ornate designs covered everything else, the artistic chaos creating a seeming flow of pictures that was meant to captivate the observer.

The floor was made of a marble that was a swirl of dark and light gray, black speckles flowing throughout the stones. A dark red carpet with silver and gold trimming sat in the center of the hall, making a walkway from the double doors to the thrones. The pillars that lined the hall, a few meters from the carpet on both sides, was made of the same stone as the floor, the same designs that made the doors ornate were carved into the stone. (I like the word "ornate", can ya tell? ;) )

"And the Galactic President's daughter, Captain of the Starship Phoenix, Sasha," Sasha walked in step with her father, looking refined in her Starship uniform.

Magnus nodded in acknowledgment and the slightly pudgy lombax who had announced the guests exited the hall, the doors shutting behind him. Lidia smiled at David in greeting while Magnus gave a small smile for his old friend and Anastasia held an unreadable mask.

"Welcome, old friend, how are you this fine day?" Magnus asked.

"I am well, Magnus, but we've no time for formalities if the message you sent me is any indication. What have you called me for?" David asked.

"Right down to business, as usual, David," Magnus said, "I've called you for a favor. It seems my eldest child has run off-"

"You mean you ran him off," Lidia cut in with a pointed glare at her husband; Magnus withered under her gaze.

"Y-yes," Magnus winced at the cold look his daughter gave him and sighed, "Ratchet and I got into an argument and I, unfortunately, questioned his rebelliousness."

"Which is a big no-no," Anastasia said offhandedly, "Slighting my brother's rebelliousness is akin to insulting a drunkard in a bar late at night, things are bound to go downhill from there."

"I see..." David said.

"So, what have you called my father for? And why am I needed?" Sasha spoke up for the first time since getting there.

"I have called your father for old time's sake, to catch up on things past. I have called you," Magnus said, "To ask if you would go and find my son, apprehend him, and bring him home."

Before Sasha could say anything Lidia spoke up again, "Please, Sasha, I fear my husband has tested Ratchet's patience once too many times and he will stay off Vox until he is too homesick to stay away anymore."

"If you're sure he'll return, why not wait?" Sasha asked.

"Because we are not sure and my brother is stubborn, Ms. Sasha," Anastasia replied, "It will be many years before he returns, if he chooses to return at all."

Sasha nodded slowly, "But why me? Why not someone else?"

"You are more than qualified for this mission, Sasha," Her father said, "But most importantly it is because of your link to Ratchet."

Sasha blinked in confusion, "Link? What link?"

"You didn't tell her, David?" Magnus questioned.

"Not yet, I was waiting for the right time, Magnus," David explained, "But I suppose now is a good a time as any," He turned back to Sasha, "Sasha, Ratchet is to be your fiance."

Sasha stared in shock at her father, "Fiance?"

Magnus nodded, proud of his and David's decision to unite their families through their children. He looked curiously at his wife, to gauge her reaction, and when he saw her angry visage he gulped.

"I suppose you conveniently forgot to mention this to your wife, didn't you?" Lidia said with an even voice, though if looks could kill Magnus would've been a simmering puddle of something on the floor.

"I,uh...I,uh...um...uh..." Magnus intelligently explained. He paused for a second before turning to his daughter, "I'm in trouble aren't I?"

"You think so? I would have never guessed, Father," Anastasia said sarcastically. She would've been angry at him for setting her brother up with a total stranger, but she was sure her mother would punish him enough for the both of them. And I'm slightly grateful it was him and not me, I'm not sure if I'd ever forgive Father if he engaged me to a complete stranger.

Magnus turned in his seat and ran his hand over his face with a heavy sigh, "I am so going to regret this..."

"Oh, that's a promise, Magnus," Lidia hissed. Her ears were now pressed flat against her head and she was unconsciously baring her teeth.

David gulped and slowly backed away from the thrones, "I think it's time I retired for the night. I'll, um...just go find the guest room," David turned and ran...face first into the door. He shook his head as he sat up and tried again, this time opening the door first.

Sasha stood where she was, still in shock, "Fiance?"

Anastasia took pity on the shellshocked Sasha and got up from her seat to go over to Sasha. She waved her hand in front of Sasha's face a few times before she got her attention. Sasha gave her a curious look.

"It's about to get ugly over there," She gestured towards the throne where Lidia was now literally hissing at a cowering Magnus. The only reason she hadn't jumped him yet was because there were still people in the room, "Why don't I show you around a bit before you go to the guest room?"

"Uh, sure..." Sasha said. Still half out of it. A fiance? How could Daddy do this to me?

To Be Continued...

Reviews welcome. Flames will be used to threaten Gamestop stores for free video games.

-Lov3the3vil

"You're insane!" He shouted in exasperation.
"That has yet to be proven in a court of law!" A pause, "Granted, I skipped town the day of my trial..."
"...I can never tell if you're joking when you do that."