Lidelle decides to take matters into her own hands and kidnap Carbuncle for her big brother. Requested by curlyquiz on tumblr!

Catch and Burst

It was the perfect scheme despite the little voice in her head telling her it was wrong.

Lidelle peered out from her spot in the bushes. Across the field was her target comfortably sleeping on his dear friend. Carbuncle turned on his side, nestling against Arle's lap as they rested. The tree they slumbered against provided a fine, thick shade, defending them both from the oppressive heat. Even in her sleep, Arle still patted Carbuncle who uttered soft, subdued "gus" as his own form of quiet snoring.

Pursing her lips, Lidelle shifted out of the shrubbery. She brushed off small bits of wooden stems that clung to her hair with a quick shake of her head. Taking a breath, she inched her way over to the sleeping duo, her heart rattling in her chest with each step.

She knew it was wrong. Her mind berated her plan despite making no attempt at stopping her body. With her splayed fingers hovering over Carbuncle, she thickly swallowed down her fear and reached for him.

"Gu?"

Carbuncle cracked open one eye, and Lidelle lunged behind the tree. He wiggled and rubbed his eyes. He blearily peered around, the sun filtering in from the heavy branches above. Hearing Arle yawn in her sleep, he smiled and returned to cuddling against her lap, sleep lulling him in to close his eyes once more.

Sucking down a breath, Lidelle covered her mouth and stilled herself. Her heart continued beating faster and faster, threatening to pop right out of her chest. She quivered, feeling a cumbersome chill race down her spine as she listened to the wind carrying Carbuncle's snoring all the way to Primp Town.

Kidnapping Arle's companion was certainly going to earn her ire. Waking up to find her beloved Carbuncle missing would lead to her own great guilt, but what Lidelle rationalized counterbalanced her regret. She knew Carbuncle belonged to her big brother Satan, and he was always prattling on about how Carbuncle was supposed to be a gift to his future bride. If Arle had somehow stolen Carbuncle from him, then it was Lidelle's duty as his self-imposed little sister to return him.

It's not like she ever told me how she became Carbuncle's guardian, she thought, chewing on her lower lip. Maybe she really did take him. Oh, I should've asked first, but I can't go back now.

Stepping away from the tree, Lidelle observed her surroundings. No one else was in sight. Only the birds that chirped above her head provided her company. It was the perfect time to rectify the wrongs her brother endured, and if she was lucky, he would welcome her with open arms for returning his precious pet.

Wiggling her fingers, Lidelle reached down for Carbuncle once more. She carefully scooped him up by his stubby arms, and as she smiled, she straightened her back. Holding him far out in front of her, Lidelle pivoted on her heels and took one step forward.

"Hey, no, Schezo, you pervert. How many times have we done this?"

Yelping, Lidelle promptly dropped Carbuncle and dashed behind the tree. She clapped her hands back over her mouth as Carbuncle harmlessly flopped onto his face, the grass obscuring his tired expression. She furrowed her brow and peered over her shoulder, finding Arle grinning to herself.

She's talking in her sleep?

"Can't you change up your vocabulary? It's why me and Rulue make fun of you," Arle mumbled, a smile stretching into her cheeks. Her head lolled to the left, a bit of drool now leaking past her lips. "Ehehe...no, you're stupid. Let's just have curry."

Lidelle let the moment settle. Her brief moment of stupefaction let Carbuncle roll back over to Arle like a ball carelessly pushed by the wind. He nudged into her thigh, and Arle's hand lazily caressed his face. Lidelle watched her scoop him up into her arms as if he were a plush toy, and her chances of kidnapping him swiftly dropped to zero.

Shaking her head, Lidelle knew she could not surrender. Her big brother was fighting for the return of his dear Carbuncle. Even if Arle was now securely pressing him to her armored chest, Lidelle drew her courage and marched in front of her.

Rolling her shoulders back, she crouched in front of them. She maneuvered her fingers around Carbuncle's ears and slowly raised him out of Arle's grasp with little resistance. Watching Arle's fingers slip from his round body, Lidelle carefully pressed him to her shoulder and grinned.

With no more distractions, Lidelle quickly turned and began racing down the curve of the hill. Victory secured, Carbuncle positioned in her arms, she knew Satan would truly welcome her as his little sister.

Carbuncle yawned.

Immediately, a powerful beam fired off from his gem, cleaving the hill in half.

Lidelle smiled a wide, open-mouthed grin as the explosion rocketed her forward and blasted her into the sky. Smoke and heat shoved against her backside, and the wind slashed at her face. Carbuncle wriggled in her arms and leaped off her shoulder, Arle's shocked cries echoing behind her. Lidelle stared vacantly at the sunny sky above her, not bothering to even look at the fire now scorching through the tree Arle had once slumbered underneath.

"Wh-what the-? Carby! Carby, did you-? Did you fire off another beam in your sleep again? I thought I told you to work on that!" Arle shrieked, dashing down the now decimated, burning hill. To her bewilderment, Lidelle came crashing down from the sky and landed in a crumpled heap at her feet. "O-oh, no! Lidelle! Hey, Lidelle! Are you okay?"

Her eyes spinning in her head, Lidelle let the sweet release of unconsciousness consume her. As Arle shouted her name, Lidelle decided it was for the best that Arle be Carbuncle's true caretaker.