The journey towards Moshu market was a silent one. Both myself and Viper heading in one straight line. I had no idea where we were at this point, and I certainly don't remember Moshu market being this far away. Of course, I had taken a lot of wrong turns so it was rather likely that I had created some serious distance from the place. Looking at Viper, she was in front of me as she led the way. Even though I couldn't see her face, I could almost feel her anger towards me. Pretty much the only reason I haven't dared to say a word to her. Fair enough, I was being a bit of an idiot... but honestly, how could I have predicted this? As if I didn't have enough problems to deal with. I was beginning to get more and more tempted to say something, just to try and ease the tension and try not to be afraid. So simple, yet for some reason, so hard. Still, I guess there's one subject I could try talking about.
"Hey, uh, Vipes"?
"Hmm"? She muttered without looking back.
"Just out of curiosity, where where you this morning? How come you didn't wake me up"?
Seemed like an innocent enough question, yet it was as though my words had some effect on her as she almost stopped dead in her tracks causing me to nearly run over her tail. She waited a second before turning her head barely, enough for me to see most of her left eye and mouth. She no longer seemed to be angry.
"I... think it would be better to tell you when we have everything under control, okay"? She turned back round and slithered away once more.
Okay, well that was... a little odd. Was she just trying to avoid talking to me now? Great.
Not a single word was exchanged afterwards. We slithered for perhaps two, three minutes max before coming across our destination. Moshu market. Place sure looked different during the daytime. Not as much business. Not to mention the blue lanterns that were usually hung up were nowhere in sight. Course, not that they were needed. A few of the places happened to be open while others remained shut. In my head I prayed that the stall I was looking for would be open otherwise my life would be over.
As Viper remained silent, I rushed ahead of her, eager to find that warty pig before more girls see and fall in love with me. Hopefully said pig won't do the same *ack*. The thought was enough to make me gag on the spot. Still, I rushed down the left side of the market and noticed the same stall that the potion had come from! It was open, thank God! Even though I should have felt relieved, I was more angry since she had deliberately sold me the stupid thing without even bothering to warn me on what it would do! If I wasn't a warrior of the Jade palace I'd just take her neck and-
"I see you have returned".
Before I could finish off my violent thoughts, I heard an all too familiar voice from the tent. I turn to my left towards the target stall. It was her! She wore what looked like a smug look on her face. It caused me to grit my teeth.
"Seems that you are not happy with your purchase".
Not happy? You're damn right I'm not effing happy!
Still, I did my best not to snap and breathed in and out gently before speaking.
"No. No I am not. And I would very much appreciate it if you could reverse the effects".
i was so focused on keeping myself calm I hadn't noticed that Viper had caught up with me, now standing at my side listening to the conversation.
"Very well, for ten yuan I could"-
"Oh no. Nononono, you owe me for everything you put me through".
The pig smirked at this.
"And if I decide not to fulfill your request? What then"?
"Then an army of crazed obbsessed girls will soon come pouring out through those trees, ripping apart everything and everyone that dares to stand between me and them. And when that happens, I'll be sure to be sitting on your head".
Despite her neutral face, I could tell she was nervous from my words of truth. I didn't have too long to wait until I recieved an answer.
"Very well. It will take a minute to prepare".
I smiled. No big deal.
A series of crashes sounded from the front of the market. Loud crashes. I slowly turned to see what it was that was causing it. Standing there was a feline in a red combat vest surrounded by pieces of bamboo stalks.
"MIKE"!
Scratch that! Big deal! Huge Massive deal!
"Viper, do you think you could maybe"... I asked, my voice shaking a little.
"I'm on it".
She raced towards Tigress and did what she could to slow her down. Negociating was long out the window so instead, Viper did what she could to bind Tigresses limbs together while the large furious cat did what she could to break it, both of them trying their hardest not to hurt each other. And all I could do was just coil up here on the spot, my tail drumming against the counter impatiently as I did my best to ignore the struggling not too far away.
Thirty seconds to go.
Still drumming away furiously as the pig inside kept on brewing whatever it was that would help me. The two warriors were still struggling.
Twenty seconds.
Come on, come on already! Hurry up with that thing!
Ten seconds.
Shit! Tigress just got free and is heading this way!
"Please tell me you're done"?
"Just a few more seconds". She replied calmly.
5 seconds.
"Done".
She quickly passed me the bottle.
3 seconds.
I pulled the lid off. Why the hell did she put a bleeding lid on to begin with?!
2 seconds.
Tigress lunged at me!
1 second.
I wasted no time drinking as much of the potion as quick as I could. Whether I was meant to drink it or not I had no idea. Too late now.
Tigress tackled me and I lost my grip on the bottle, causing it to fly into the air and smash open on the ground, destroyed as quickly as it had been made. Now I found myself pinned to the ground by Tigress, she remained furious! I closed my eyes, waiting to be pummeled. It never came. A moment passed and I found the courage to open my eyes. Instead of seeing her in flames, she looked down at me confused.
"Um, Mike? Exactly why am I pinning you down like this"? She asked, looking to see her paws gripped round my neck.
"Uh... you don't want to know".
Really, she didn't.
Gently, she let go of me and allowed me to get back onto my stomach.
"My apologies if I hurt you". She calmly spoke.
"Eh, just my pride. Nothing that can't be fixed".
She nodded.
"Perhaps we can... discuss this later when we have the chance"?
"Sure".
Tigress nodded, showing no emotion and left me be, rubbing the back of her head. As she did, I silently celebrated.
Yes! I'm safe! Who's the king, huh? That's right baby, I-
My joy was quickly ended upon staring at an angry Viper.
Oh dear...
...
MANTIS POV
"Another Ice cube Mantis"?
"Yeah, pass it over".
Boy did my head hurt. Guess that's what's expected after being trampled on by several dozen women. Least Crane came along and scraped me out of the dirt, after stepping on me by accident. Now here I was in the barracks being nursed back to health. Seriously, dude would make a good nurse if he wasn't one of the five. Heck if I knew where I'd be.
"So, you still never told me what exactly happened". Crane interrupted.
"Simple. I wake up, run into Mike, dude looks like he's hiding something, I open the door and next thing I know, several shoes trample over me, leaving you to find me in a horrible state".
Crane looked at me with one eyebrow raised.
"The villagers did that? Why"?
"No clue. The only thing they seemed to care about though was getting to Mike".
"And did they"?
"Didn't seem so. Eventually they left after barging down his door and finding that he wasn't inside".
"Do you think we should"-
"Owowowowow... not the fangs"...
What the...?
The door to the barracks opened and slithering past the kitchen doorway was Viper, boy did she look mad, followed by Mike, who's fang was being held by Viper tail as she pulled him along against his own will. Me and Crane only watched as they headed into their room before the door slammed shut.
"Dang. What do you suppose that was all about"?
"No clue. Nothing good, that's for certain".
"Yeah... wanna listen in"?
"Mantis"...?
"Aw come on, it'll be fun! It'll take my mind off the stress I've been feeling. What'chu say man"?
"...Well"...
...
MIKE POV
Oh God, my left fang was in pain. Being pulled for some time did not do me any good for both my teeth and my pride. The second the door was shut, Viper was about ready to sat God knows what. The only thing that stopped her was the knocked down cupboard at the side of which she had just noticed. She looked back up to me, her face demanding an answer.
"Yeah... I may have been forced to use it as a barricade... heh". I chuckled nervously, looking to the ground.
"Putting that aside, I'm still waiting on a full explanation. Why did you drink a love potion"? She slightly hissed. No doubt she felt hurt about it to my regret.
"To be fair, I didn't know it was a love potion until this morning". I tried defending myself. "I thought it was something to help numb my feelings".
"And you didn't do it because you felt like I hated you? So you could forget me"?
Was that what she was thinking? Oh Viper, you may be a smart girl but sometime you can be so... silly.
"No. Of course not Vipes. Do you really think I would do something like that"?
I slithered a little closer and moved my tail up to her face, stroking her cheek to reassure her.
"I never would. Especially when you may be pregnant. What kind of person would I be then"?
Vipers face softened up. Instead of it being cheerful like I had hoped, she seemed more saddened at my words. It seemed kind of suspicious.
"Vipes"?
She sighed, looking me in the eyes. It always made me feel queasy inside, not knowing what she would say when ether she acted like this.
"That's... what I need to talk to you about".
Talk to me about what?
"What do you mean"?
"While you were still asleep, I snuck out and headed into the Valley of Peace... towards the hospital".
The hospital?
"I thought it would have been best to check if I was... well, you know".
She looked down to her stomach. My face flashed red once I realized what she meant!
"Oh... Of course". I half smiled.
Is this it? Is this where my life changes forever? Am I actually going to be... Oh my God, I don't even know what to think! I don't know anything about taking care of babies! Especially snakes!
But still, the positives were higher than the negatives... Kids of my own?... Wow. I mean, the thought was scary, yes. But, imagine me being a parent. Being part of a bigger family... I couldn't help but give a smile to the thoughts. But... even through those joyful thoughts... Where would they live? It'd be frustrating for the others if they were woken up every night, not to mention-
"Mike"?
"Wha- Oh. Sorry Vipes. I kind of got caught up in my own thoughts... Y-you were saying"?
"Mike"...
Here we go. Moment of truth. The next few words to pop out of Vipers mouth could possibly change me forever. She even held my tail for comfort. I was scared, no doubt about it. If it wasn't for Vipes holding onto me I might have ended up shaking a little. I felt like a balloon was inflating inside my chest. This is it...
"... I'm not pregnant".
She's... not?
The balloon burst. I calmed and relaxed my posture. I kind of felt glad. I was still rather young to have children. Yet, I had to admit. Part of me was kind of looking forward to having kids to call my own. Guess it wasn't meant to be just yet.
"I... I see... Thanks for telling me Vipes". I smiled, tightening my grip, in which she slowly looked down glumly. I knew she was thinking the same thing I was.
"Viper"?
"Sorry Mike. I... just this morning I thought of how wonderful it would have been to"...
"Be a mother"?
She nodded. My heart went out to her, the poor dear. I gently pulled her closer and allowed her to snuggle herself into the side of my head for comfort. Neither of us said a word. I just held her until she was ready to let go When she did, she gave me a small kiss and opened the door to leave.
...Is that Crane and Mantis on the other side? Oh they are so dead...
...
Welp, there you go guys, it's confirmed. Viper is without child (Even though most of you probably predicted it anyway). Hope this chapter was worth the wait.
P.S. I've now opened up a Twitte account along with my Deviantart account for those interested. PM me if you want to know where to find either one