Author's note: Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!
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C is for cat.
A small black cat purred from beside King Knight, who yelped in complete surprise. The cat's emerald eyes looked up at King Knight and hit him with an evil love beam of cuteness. King Knight awwwed, picked up the cat, and placed it on the table.
"Un petit chat! Come here, minou." Propeller Knight grinned fondly, coaxing the cat to come to him. The cat meowed in answer and started walking towards his direction.
"We can adopt the cat." Tinker Knight murmured. "After all, where's the harm?"
"The Enchantress might be allergic to cats." Plague Knight said, watching their cat guest look around the table and scratch its ears. "Remember the bubbles?"
Tinker Knight shrugged. "Well, that cat had to come from somewhere."
"Minou!" The Frenchman gestured, his arms up and ready to embrace the cat.
"Meooww." The cat walked past Propeller Knight, ignoring him.
"Kitten, where are you going?" He dramatically asked, his voice feigning sadness.
"Since when did you become a cat whisperer?" Plague Knight asked, rolling his eyes. Propeller Knight ignored the bird-faced alchemist behind him and followed the cat's motion.
The black cat went to Specter Knight, who only stared at it. It jumped onto the apparition's 'lap' and then purred softly.
"Go away." The ghost harshly commanded. "Shoo."
"Meeeoooooooww." The cat seemingly replied its protest and proceeded to defy the cruel knight's statement. It curled into a small ball on his lap and purred softly.
"Propeller Knight wants you on his lap." The reaper softly spoke.
Propeller Knight whistled again. "Minou!"
"Meow." The black cat snappily answered, becoming a tighter ball of fur.
"Shoo. Go away." He telekinetically lifted the cat off of him and placed it in Propeller Knight's waiting arms. The cat jumped back on Specter Knight's lap. He put it gently back on the Frenchman. The Spin Controller hugged the little black cat tenderly.
"I think it likes you, spooky ghost." Plague Knight injected as Propeller Knight fought the cat's efforts to return to the chilly lap of the phantom.
"Cats have nine lives, right?" King Knight suddenly inquired, standing up for emphasis.
"I suppose." "Mona and I have talked about it, and we're currently researching about it." "Oui!" "Right." "It's probably untrue." "Yes." "Is this another English proverb? I don't understand."
"I think the cat is only approaching its kind!"
The entire table stared at the monarch for a long, unblinking moment.
"OHHH!" Tinker Knight laughed loudly after another long minute of pondering. "It's because he's living his second life now!"
"Srr, frrllrrwrrng yrrr lrgic," Treasure Knight lifted his helmet for a moment, a confused look on his face, "Specter Knight is a cat?"
"Exactly!" King Knight cackled. The rest instantly followed in his lead. Polar Knight's torturous laughter was drowned by the collective chortling of the Order at the idea of putting cat ears on their resident apparition's hood.
Specter Knight was not amused.
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C is for calm.
The ghost maid pushed the fallen shelf back up. She grimaced after her master's telekinesis flung the same shelf across the room.
"First the banana, and now the cat. I promise I will kill you all, and kill you again and again and again and relish in the pleasure of your pain…"
"Now, now, master, please calm down." She gently told the apparition as she followed the shelf.
"How do you think I can calm down, servant?" Specter Knight hissed at his right-hand person.
"You've never been this angry since… that time. Look, master, the entire Yard is devoid of any form of life, living or undead, because of terror from your rage."
"Are you not terrified now?"
She twiddled her fingers. "Well, yes, and sad too. I-I had a couple of ghost friends and they fled just a while ago. I do want them back, and only if you calm down a bit."
"A cat chose to rest on my lap, and what do they do? They call me a cat, laugh at me, and try to put feline ears on my head, and you believe I can calm down?"
"We've been through this at least ten times, my Lord. You're hot-headed but at least you don't stay angry."
"Oh, I will stay angry for the rest of my life, dear servant. Mark my words! There will be no more parties here until they give up their lives and souls to me."
"I want the parties back!" She childishly protested, tugging at his tattered cloak. "Those are the only times you are happy! I can't believe something angered you more than the banana incident!"
"Do not make me start on that banana, servant."
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C is for careful.
"Faster! We're moving to the Potionarium!" Plague Knight screeched. "Now, hee, be careful, those barrels contain nitrogen triiodide and cluster powder. You know what those are! Those are very volatile! Cluster powder and nitroglycerin put together is a disas-"
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C is for careless.
Mona looked at the Explodatorium with melancholy in her heart. Plague Knight was there, experimenting. She didn't know how to feel – should she feel happy because he was researching? Or sad because she had always wanted him to dance with-
A sizeable explosion on one good chunk of his laboratory could be seen from the top of the Potionarium, followed by a several low booms. Mona put her hand over her gaping mouth in horror.
/later that day/
"You know… the bigger the explosion, the better the alchemist…" Mona said as she squeezed Plague Knight close to her. She wasn't exactly hugging the small alchemist. She was restraining a furious boss, whose rage immediately subsided at her touch.
"Hee… Mona, I suppose that's correct."
"We just have to worry about rebuilding the entire western wing of the Explodatorium." She smiled nervously.
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C is for consultation.
"Propeller Knight!" King Knight cried as he literally crawled out of one of the Flying Machine's ventilation systems, interrupting the Frenchman's deep thoughts. He fell in an un-kingly manner to the hard floor.
"You were in the ventilation this whole time?" Propeller Knight rubbed his chin. "So that's why it's searing hot inside the airship. I was about to order an excursion to the Clockwork Tower and have it fixed."
"Yes, I turned off your fans. I have a very big problem!"
"And what would that be? Did a woman catch your eye?" Propeller Knight gracefully spun around, seemingly forgetting the unholy temperature. "A fair maiden, whose eyes shine like stars in the sky? Whose grace is like a leaf falling in the breeze? Whose hair is sunshine gold? Whose voice serenades the birds that sing in the trees?"
King Knight gawked at the dancing fencer. "Why would you assume that? I have my own charm!"
"What is a man's problem when they are so desperate to crawl through my vents just to come to me for whatever advice he needs?"
"Earlier today, rocks were thrown at me!"
He slapped his palm to his helmet. "Ahh, mon ami, that would be about your reign. I do not give leadership workshops, although I do know how to rule."
"No, it is never about my rule!" King Knight angrily denied. "It's… it's my fashion! This," He pointed to his gold armor and red cape, "is a fashion disaster in my kingdom!"
"Try wearing purple this time. Replace the red. Purple is the color of royalty." Propeller Knight flatly answered. "Try to learn what charms the ladies. That is fashionable. Or try not to use armor this time. The human eye can only handle shining armor so much. Try using what I wear. Nobleman's garb."
"I am a king!"
"Kings are upper nobility, I think…"
"Royalty is separate from nobility!"
"Fine, let us consult Mole Knight on the matter!"
/a few hours later/
"So… is royalty separate from the nobility, Mole Knight?" Propeller Knight asked as he fanned himself. Mole Knight generously dumped a bucket of iced water on the unconscious King Knight, who had fainted in the heat.
"Well, that depends on the political system of the individual country." Doctor of Anthropology, Mole Knight, answered, scratching his head. "I've dug out several civilizations before that seem to have nobility that rule. Somewhat an aristocracy, we believe."
"Ah, so they are separate?" Propeller Knight groaned.
"Sometimes, sometimes not." Mole Knight shrugged and rambled on. "If you're talking about Pridemoor's social stratification and power distribution, it seems that nobility and royalty are only aspects of the same term. Both of them have absolute power to a degree, but the king has true total power. The high nobles appear to be able to command lower ranked nobles, which, of course, can be nullified by the king's orders. Taxes are distributed with the majority share to the King."
Propeller Knight thought. "So, they are the same?"
"I don't know! Which social group are you talking about anyways? I have digging to do!"
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C is for cold.
Tinker Knight shivered under two layers of blankets Polar Knight had provided. "It's… so cold…"
"Yrr orrright?" Treasure Knight asked.
"I think so…"
"Treasure Knight, build an igloo." Polar Knight ordered as he picked up the small person and warmed him with his large hands.
"I'm… thankful I'm small… small things conduct heat… faster… no resistance…"
"Drr I brrng him brrck tr hrrs Towrr?" Treasure Knight offered.
"When Plague Knight arrives with the medicine." He said with dripping contempt. "I never thought that wizard would be useful."
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C is for cold.
The little alchemist quietly crawled through the igloo's small opening.
"You are late." Polar Knight grumbled.
"I know, Beard Knight, hee, but I will have you know, I spread disease, not prevent it."
As if on cue, Tinker Knight opened his mouth wide as he fought off something that wanted to burst out of his body.
"Rrr noo!" Treasure Knight shouted in distress. "Not nrrw!"
"Achoo!" The toymaker sneezed right on Plague Knight's bird face.
Polar Knight glared at Plague Knight as if to say, 'did you just do that?'
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C is for courtship.
"You know, flyboy, what could have happened if I actually went to you years ago for courtship lessons rather than stealing your essence?" Plague Knight asked with an innocent tone. Propeller Knight gazed down at the alchemist and immediately thought up a fitting scenario.
"Um, hee, Propeller Knight, I… need your help…"
The Frenchman spun around gracefully and flashed his shit-eating grin.
"I heard the most delicious rumor… you envy my suave, daring nature?"
Plague Knight was flabbergasted. "What?"
"You come to me here for… looooove advice?"
"Where'd you learn that?"
"I am an expert on the subject, mon ami! I have a keen sense!" Propeller Knight boasted before sauntering handsomely towards the surprised alchemist.
"Well… hee, yes, I did come for that."
"Alright, then!" Propeller Knight snapped a finger. Several Hoverhafts flew in with a table, a bottle of wine, a red tablecloth, a grand bouquet of red roses, and two glasses of wine. They carefully placed the cloth, glass, and bottle on the table. The French captain pointed to a random Hoverhaft and gestured for him to stay in the room.
"Now, mon ami, your lessons start."
"That was fast, hee."
"Ladies look for grace. Ladies look for strength and willpower! A woman will love a man who jumps at the chance to elegantly sweep them off their feet!"
Plague Knight nodded like an obedient pupil.
"Women like their men dangerous!"
"Hee. I am dangerous!"
"Awkwardness will NEVER tolerated by women of class… assuming that's the type of lady you are trying to woo?"
The alchemist put his tiny hand under his mask's beak. "Certainly. She is… stunning."
"Women," Propeller Knight grabbed his Hoverhaft, who awkwardly stumbled, and danced the waltz, "want to be treated as goddesses by men, and what else do we do to snatch their hearts – mes dieux, assistant, such stiff movement! Danse avec moi!"
A male voice hissed back at him. "Of course, I vas never a seductive man like you."
"Oh, it's Albrecht! Anyway, my little student," Propeller Knight turned around while the Hoverhaft fumed in rage over his mispronounced name, "what do you do first to win her heart?"
"Uhh…" Plague Knight hesitantly walked to the table. The Frenchman smiled as Plague Knight advanced to the table. He watched him point his finger at the bottle of wine for a moment before the bouquet of roses.
"Pretend I am a woman." Propeller Knight kindly said.
Plague Knight nodded and picked up the bouquet. Mustering his confidence, he turned around and awkwardly handed the flowers to Propeller Knight.
"Ah, Plague Knight!" Propeller Knight squeed in a comically high-pitched voice. "How sweet!"
"Um, thanks, Mo- dear."
The Frenchman shifted back to his normal voice. "But that was not enough." He snatched the bouquet from Plague Knight's small hands and spun around dramatically. "Women like grace!"
"I know! But I… am not graceful!"
"Then let me show you!" He hovered to Albrecht, who had quit ranting. Albrecht gawked when his captain knelt before him and offered him the flowers with a flirtatious smile. "Mademoiselle, flowers… for you."
"Was machen Sie?"
"I don't know, but pretend to be a woman for a moment." Propeller Knight gloomily said.
"Nein!" Albrecht crossed his arms and started to hover away. Propeller Knight flew to follow the poor German, who accelerated in air. The knight only persevered and flew faster to maintain his distance from his annoyed servant.
"Ah, Plague Knight, see? Women like to be pursued by her men!" Propeller Knight laughed as he took advantage of the situation.
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C is for concert.
From the perspective of a young blue Liquid Samurai, everything around it worked in odd ways.
It observed the Tower where it was born in, and it seemed too tall, ugly, and outlandish, but it resided in it. It didn't really care.
It observed the blue horned person defend against its comrades with nothing but a glorified shovel. It didn't really care.
It heard of the blue horned person's adventures with a red person with wings on her head. It marveled at their influence and prowess, but in the end, it didn't really care.
It followed a being it couldn't truly comprehend, but it didn't really care. At all. Its comrades wondered about its lack of passion, but it didn't really care. It observed the peculiar eight warriors that also followed the being but were outside of the ranks of the samurai. At the end, it didn't really care about anyone in the Order of No Quarter, except for that flying person who used a weak sword. It was always disturbed at the sight of what the person called a rapier.
It did care about the gold person with a familiar string instrument and a funny headdress. When the person played his lute the first time it heard… it was suddenly filled with… inspiration?
Hai!
Inspiration! What it truly cared about was… music, and it was going to play its odd western instrument and sing its song with all his passion. No minding the entire group of knights eating on a nearby dinner table, he was going to have a concert whenever and wherever it damn well pleased. It started its song with highly energetic notes and sang its liquid heart out.
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C is for cash.
"Ngeh!" Propeller Knight's enraged German Hoverhaft grumbled as he put out the fire that ravaged part of the Flying Machine.
All of the perpetrators hid behind the stoic Polar Knight as they watched the servant pour bags of sand on the dying flames. Propeller Knight stared at the perpetrators, arms akimbo, his silent glare only meaning death and destruction. None of them had seen Propeller Knight like that. They were used to the carefree and charming Frenchman, not the current furious and vengeful knight standing before them.
"GAH!" Albrecht finally put out the last flame and then threw his bag of sand effortlessly across the room in pure anger.
The Order of No Quarter, hiding behind Polar Knight, pushed Treasure Knight forward. The pillager turned to his comrades in confusion, only to have Plague Knight sign for him to step forward. Treasure Knight gasped in realization.
"Mrr? Pay frr damrrge? Hrrll no."
"Oui. Pay for ze damage!" Propeller Knight barked, his French accent thickening as he hovered forward. Even Treasure Knight jumped backward. "Ze Flying Machine, my magneefeecent ship ees RUEEENED!"
"Rrkay, rrkay, rrkay, rrkay, rrkay!" Treasure Knight lifted his helmet clumsily and put his other hand up. "I'll pay, I'll pay!"
Up next: D is for death.
Translation/s:
un petit chat - a little cat (French)
minou- kitty (French)
danse avec moi - dance with me
was machen Sie? - what are you doing? (German)
hai - yes (Japanese)