Hello hello! Part of W would not have been possible without Lyxine! Lyxine helped me out a LOT with W is for wings. I wasn't exactly in the best mood while I was writing so I got help!
And thank you for waiting more than two months. I'm in the darkest part of my life and still feeling severely depressed.
Also, some of the ideas here are inspired by crazy chats with Spincontroller, Channel, Biovyx, and Neo Yi. Blame them for some of the weird stuff.
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W is for wisp.
"Juicy little wispy, hee hee hee!" Plague Knight giggled as he held out a tiny spoon of warm milk.
Specter Knight, somehow smaller in size and held down by cuffs on the table, growled and pouted under his visor. "No."
The rest of the Order of No Quarter except for Polar Knight let out an 'awww'. Their little baby boy was being very cute. Of course, the reaper was not happy.
Little acts of revenge against the one that forced the knights in this dark, evil, and moody Order of No Quarter brought the best feelings for the majority. As for King Knight, he just simply enjoyed tormenting people.
"Come on, petit choupinou! Wispy wisp! Very healthy for you!" "Just drink your fucking milk." "Language! We can't let the baby learn such curses!" "Hee hee, little baby boy!" "An infant Specter Knight doesn't seem so bad. Let me take some notes." "Hah! The ghost is a child!"
"Please leave me alone." Specter Knight half-begged, half-ordered.
He stared at the rest of the order of ruthless knights, who paused for a moment, before breaking out in a tirade of "cute baby boy awww" for the umpteenth time.
.
W is for wind.
"Albrecht!" the young captain called out to his new crew member, twirling around on the ball of his foot. His hair flew freely in the wind. "I have something to show you!"
The German raised his brow and awkwardly walked to his new friend. Propeller Knight was grinning widely, his smile full of mischief.
"Yes, Herr?"
"Look at me!" The captain dashed to the railing on the deck and stepped over. Albrecht grew alarmed as he stood at the edge of the deck, with nothing to catch him.
"No, do not ju-"
"Whee!" Propeller Knight let go of the railing and let himself fall. His scream as he fell was not of terror, but of pure carefree attitude. The new Hoverhaft gasped and sprinted to the edge to look where his captain had fallen.
Only for said captain to fly back up in a gust of strong wing, shocking him so much that he fell backwards. Propeller Knight gracefully landed on the floor a few steps from Albrecht, a content smile on his face.
"Was that magnificent, mon ami?"
"Zhat vas… please don't do zhat…"
"It's my own little way of welcoming newcomers!" He laughed as he pulled the German back up on his feet and led him to the railings again. He leaned his arms on the rail, savoring the air that made his hair fly. "Of course, I don't victimize zhose wizh problems of being surprised as a joke. I do a little background study."
"I zhought you vere dead!"
"Ouais. I know. But you should know, we are high above zhe land. And you must learn to ride wind as soon as possible! You can do it! Nothing is impossible!"
Albrecht raised his brow at his sickeningly sweet and optimistic boss. "Vhat?"
"Ride ze wind!"
"I don't understand."
He briefly held his friend's hand, and closed his eyes. "Just enjoy. The sky is free."
.
W is for what the fuck.
His furious eyes were set on the happy bunny rabbit currently sheltered in the arms of a blue Hoverhaft. The smug bunny snuggled in his second-in-command's arms, its tail twitching a bit and its ears flopped downwards in contentment. Albrecht enjoyed petting its head, still resembling Propeller Knight's helmet.
"What do we do with one of our members apparently turned into a rabbit?" Mole Knight sang. He belted out his sentence like he was in an opera. He was somehow attempting to sing a lead soprano part in the aria that is King Knight's dream.
"Well, hee, we could still ask him stuff. Can I pet you?" Plague Knight, now apparently an oversized crow stuck on top of a spinning stick, hopped over to the bunny and reached his right hand out to pet him. Its ears whirred like propellers and almost shredded the bird's hand off. Plague Knight yelped and retreated.
King Knight, still with a bit of sense in his dream, looked around and observed the dinner hall. The room's candles and lamps glowed orange instead of violet. He was seated on the right side, and everyone was seated in reverse order. Propeller Knight was a bunny. Specter Knight was absent. Polar Knight was eating ramen. Mole Knight looked normal except that he was singing everything he says in a rich tenor or even alto voice. Plague Knight was just weird. Tinker Knight was sitting on the table, munching on a sandwich and not paying attention to the happenings around him. Treasure Knight's helmet was off and he was happily eating a chicken leg-
Wait just a moment, the usurper narrowed his eyes and thought hard to himself, things are always purple, and that phantom bastard is never absent. I'm supposed to be sitting on the left. Treasure Knight doesn't take his helmet off like ever, only lifts it up. Polar Knight never ate anything other than turkey, at least from what I've seen. Tinker Knight always pays attention. Plague Knight doesn't look like that. Mole Knight has a nice voice but he's never showing it off. And that French bedswerver isn't a bunny! Why is everyone so weird? Am I weird? What is weird? What defines the border between normal and weird? Who defines social constructs? Is there a universal truth? What is life? What is the purpose of life? Where is my roast turkey and wine?
Suddenly there was a lightning strike, and two warriors appeared. King Knight glared at them.
"Perhaps we may be of help?" Phantom Striker brandished his cape around, not minding that the spikes on his helmet were replaced by carrots.
Reize, still looking normal but with his daredevil persona suddenly gone, looked around cautiously and wide-eyed. "Striker, I don't think we should be here."
"We are required to be here, young warrior."
"But I get nightmares from this place!"
The bunny somehow yipped happily, and everyone awwed in adoration of the bunny rabbit. Propeller Bunny hopped off Albrecht's arms, binkied to the end of the table, and took off. Its ears spun around rapidly and flew straight to Carrot Striker.
"Ah, bunny rabbit." Carrot Striker chuckled to himself and bowed his head to let Propeller Bunny land on his carrot farm of a helmet. The bunny grabbed onto a carrot and started nibbling on it, its ears perked up in joy. Striker reached up a hand to ruffle its fur. King Knight's anger simmered.
Reize squeed. "Cute! Can I pet you-"
King Knight banged his fist on the table, stood up, and pointed an angry finger to the rabbit. "I hate that bunny!"
Everyone gasped. Even the normally unflappable Polar Knight brought a giant hand up over his chest in pure shock.
Reize's lips quivered. "B-but he's cute…"
"No!" King Knight stumbled forward, his feet tripping on his long cape. He stood up as quickly as he could, his hands held out like claws. The bunny yelped in fear and hopped to Reize's head, burrowing under his thick wild hair. Carrot Striker pulled Reize back and pushed him around.
In short, the three idiots ran around in a wild goose chase around the table. And the bunny was crying again. King Knight was able to grab the bunny's ears and prevent it from spinning. Reize also yelped because some strands of hair were yanked out.
The monarch glared right into the bunny's terrified eyes. "You think I would let you go after rubbing in my face about how rich and noble you are?"
A hard object hit his back. The pretender monarch looked behind at the grave offender with the worst scowl he could manage, but his fury dissipated when he met the crimson red gaze of a black and red terror staring back at him. The Hoverhaft's propellers turned into pitch black wings, spread out behind him. Albrecht glared at him, a broken chair in one hand.
Without any kind of verbal warning, lightning struck the pretender king.
"ARGH! What the fuck?!"
Everyone in the Order turned their heads to look at their panicking teammate. The monarch was sweating profusely.
"Welcome back from la la land, hee." Plague Knight, now with a feminine voice and a witch hat, chuckled. "You look great in your gown, by the way. Mona thinks it's fashionable, for once. Hee."
The monarch looked down, eyes wide at her red and gold gown. "WAIT, WHAT THE FUCK?!"
.
W is for woman.
Plague Knight rolled her eyes. "Yes, your Majesty, you're a queen now. Everyone is a girl. We're having a meeting about this. You know our leader? He's a dude now. Hee."
"I didn't fucking notice until now!"
Plague Knight dropped her happy act and banged her left fist on the table. "Why did you come to this meeting, then?"
"Fuck it, I'm going back to sleep. This is all just weird dream. Like that fucking bunny and that carrot man."
The rest of the Order of No Quarter, now all female, watched as Queen Knight put her head back on her arms and slip back into slumber.
/*earlier that morning, Explodatorium*/
"Mona?"
Mona looked down, puzzlement written all over her face. The little alchemist was a bit smaller, with a feminine voice. She almost squeed at the cute hat attached to the hood, if it weren't for the concerned gaze Plague Knight had.
"Mona, did an accident happen last night? With the gender swap potions?"
"As far as I know... no?"
"Huh. Someone probably entered my room and dropped a vat of it on me. And I didn't notice."
"But your door's always locked."
Plague Knight blinked. "... shit." She bomb bursted up to the top of the stack of books they always had stocked in the building. A giant primed bomb materialized in her hand and she threw it up, letting clusters upon clusters detonate in midair. All Plague Minions yelped and turned their undivided attention to their boss.
"Which one of you broke in my room?!"
/*Hat Shop*/
"... dad?" Reize muttered, sitting up. "Dad? Wait, what? I sound like a girl! What's ha-"
"Oooh, you're a girl!" Baz came in. Reize squinted at the large, rope-swinging warrior, who turned into a bulky, muscular woman. "You look great!"
"You look fine! Although a hat would make you look better." A familiar person, clothed in a long black gown with feathers sewn on the high collar, patted the young girl's head. "Something yellow will suit you."
"Woah, I'm a girl!" Reize laughed along, and stood up. "Hurry! The mirror!"
"Right there! Reize, you look so much like yourself!" Baz cheered on with a goofy smile.
"Baz, you look awesome! As always!"
"You look cool, too!"
"Aww, you're cool."
"No, you're cool."
"No, you."
"Just look right there to see who's the coolest." She turned the smaller girl's head to the mirror with a big smile.
The warrior-in-training faced the full-body mirror and giggled at her own reflection. "Well, maybe the hair should be a little messier."
"And maybe you can stop wearing your bandanna." The hatter pursed her lips. "I don't know, but it looks good."
"Fashion really is your forte, no?" Baz elbowed the older lady.
"Yes. You are a fashion disaster, Baz. Too much spikes! And that makeup!"
"Hey guys, I want messier hair." Reize pouted, her lips quivering and her puppy eyes demanding attention.
"I'll do that for you, little kid." Baz put her giant hands on her younger teammate's hard and started to ruffle it so hard. All of them laughed.
"You, too?" A low feminine voice called out. It had a supernatural reverb to it. All of the chortling Travellers stopped and turned to Phantom Striker, also turned female. Her arms were crossed. Her spikes were a bit smaller, and her blue cape was fashioned into a blue skirt.
"You, too?" Both Baz and Reize chorused together.
"I was merely puzzled. I thought the change to my body was limited to myself. I am genderless, after all… and I have become a woman many times in the past."
"Woah! You're genderless?" Reize gasped. "Striker, you're so, so cool."
"Heh." The stormbringer shrugged. "I am a child borne of man and lightning. I am an anomaly in this world, yet I continue to survive."
"You're too awesome to die."
"I am born, I live, and someday, I will die."
"You're so pessimistic." Lady Hat commented and then shrugged. "Hey, check yourself out. You look nice. Although… I have a problem."
Phantom Striker raised a brow. "Yes?"
"I miss your cape."
"Ah." The blitzy fencer looked aside. "Well, part of why I prefer my masculine appearance is the cape. It looks more intimidating."
"Well, we are enjoying being girls. You... enjoy being a girl?" Baz shrugged, glancing awkwardly to Reize.
Phantom Striker paused to think for a long moment. She went silent for a time. "They say I resemble my mother in all of my forms… I love my mother very much… therefore… I enjoy this appearance as well."
"Well, maybe you also look like your mom in your woman form?" Reize tilted her head, brows up.
"I… have never seen myself in a mirror. Perhaps I do look like her."
"Well, there's a mirror there. I bet you look beautiful." Lady Hat blushed and smiled.
"Thank you. My mother is the most alluring woman in the world and I resemble her. I shall let her know you think she is stunning."
"Hey, by the way!" Baz wedged herself in, interrupting the heartfelt moment. "Why don't you turn the skirt into a cape? So you look more awesome and more like the Striker we know?"
"Ah, I agree. I shall remove my skirt." Phantom Striker dug her thumbs in the waistband of her skirt and then slightly pushed it down.
"No!" "Oh gods!" "Reize! Close your eyes!"
Striker halted, her waistband only tugged a bit downwards. "What is wrong? I have done this before. Why do you protest?"
"You don't undress in the presence of others!" Lady Hat grabbed her socially inept teammate's shoulders and maneuvered her to the fitting room.
"I... how do healers survey the bodies of their patients to make sure they are well? How do referees judge that a game is fair without stripping the participants of their garbs and gear? How do people join together in love and for the creation of new-"
"Social etiquette of normal people in the modern times, Striker." Lady Hat shoved her into the fitting room and pulled the curtains together.
"This… is not enjoyable. I wish to return to my mother."
/*Flying Machine*/
Propeller Knight hasn't gotten outside of his quarters for so long. It was noontime. Everyone was worried. Hoverhafts were whispering. Hover Meanies were already trying to peek in the windows but the curtains were drawn together.
But the galley crew already sent up his breakfast… and the graceful captain got it.
What was happening?
Albrecht knocked, and tapped his foot on the floor. He placed his halberd against the door and crossed his arms.
"Mhm. Amazing." A low feminine voice chuckled.
His ears perked up, and the alarm bells in his head clanging so loud. That low voice was a woman! Unforgivable! And no one knew about this affair? I will kill both of them!
Albrecht balled his fists, sexual images flashing in his mind. His eyes burned with blue fire as he pulled his helmet off and threw it aside.
That idiot never even said he would spend so long with a woman in bed, dammit!
Without even thinking of his friend's privacy, he kicked the door open, destroying the newly installed hinge and doorknob in the process, and marched in with the most furious face he could muster. The hook of his halberd was ready to hold some poor woman's neck, haul her out of the captain's quarters, and hurl her overboard. And his angry speech was already prepared for some poor naked captain who would hide under the blankets and cry. And maybe some rope to dangle him off the edge of the ship.
But to his surprise, there was only one person inside.
The person was a woman standing in front of a full-body mirror, her soft hair long and brown, like the captain's. She was clothed only in a green towel wrapped around her torso.
"Oh, bonjour, Albrecht!" She turned and held her arms out to him with a chipper smile.
The German only pointed his blade at her. "Vhere is zhe captain? Vhere is he?"
"Albrecht! "I'm your captain! It's me! Ce n'est qu'un changement d'apparence! J'ai des attributs féminins et j'en profite!"
"Nonsense, intruder! Impostor! You're even a girl as far as I can see! Do you zhink you can fool me? Propeller Knight zertainly does NOT haff zhat bust size! Nor those smooth legs!" He shrieked at her, his accent thickening with every word. "Don't eefen try to zay you are my captain because I am sure he-"
"Would you believe me if I said I woke up like this?" The mysterious woman narrowed her eyes.
"No."
"Come on. I can prove it to you! I love everyone in this ship!"
"Zhen tell me what you got for me for my birzhday."
"I made you a bunny toy!" She chuckled, looking up thoughtfully. "A bunny toy that you thought was a real bunny! And then after I gave you that bunny, we spent a lovely morning together under-"
Albrecht interrupted her with a laugh. "Propeller Knight. It is you, and-"
"Oui."She smacked her lips, wiggled her hips, and let her fingers glide over her thighs. "Qu'en penses tu? Je suis plutôt séduisant non?"
Her seductive words flew right over the Hoverhaft's head. "Huh… vhat?"
"In English," she drew out the last vowel and walked towards him, "what do you think? I am quite seducing, don't you think?" She gestured to her hourglass figure, and then he kept his gaze fixed on her eyes.
Bad idea.
"I-I guess..." He replied as flatly as he could. She laughed, and sauntered toward her best friend to tease him more. She ghosted her hand over his chin, and then grabbed it.
"Admit it. I'm absolutely beautiful!"
"No."
"I'm not beautiful?"
"Doch..."
"Then what am I?"
"JUST PUT ON SOME CLOZHES!"
"No need to yell at your captain like that!" She stood up and walked to the folding screen. She flung her towel, and it landed right on Albrecht's head. He paused before noting the floral scent on the fabric.
"Hey-!"
"And don't you dare look!"
"You zhink I'm a pervert?"
"Well, yes! I know you! And don't even get me started on the secret book stash I found under our table in the library!"
Albrecht laughed. "You really are Propeller Knight. Käsekuchen, you did worry the crew so much-"
"Who do you think I am, you idiot potato? Patate! You are the dumbest potato I've ever met in my life!"
/*Stranded Ship*/
Polar Knight looked down and examined herself with a blank expression. Her body had become female overnight, and there was one pressing problem.
"Clothes." She grumbled. She grabbed her blanket and tied its ends together to cover her body properly, making sure she could move around comfortably. The old knight looked down, tilted her head to the right, and began wiggling a bit to see if her work was alright enough.
"Sir- Ma'am," The Tundread corrected himself upon seeing his boss, turned around on his heel, and leaned on the doorway, "I have a report."
"Go on. I only need to sew a new set of clothes."
"I suggest something. A big cape may work, ma'am. Something white, with cords like braids around your neck."
"Thank you for your suggestions, Tundread." Polar Knight sat down on her chair and pulled out the drawer containing cloth, thread, and needles. She began to insert brown thread in the eye of the needle. "What is your report?"
"Shovel Knight has also been turned into a woman."
Polar Knight looked up from her needle and thread with narrowed eyes and an open mouth. She raised a thick brow. The Tundread shrugged, cleared his throat, fished out a piece of paper, and then handed it to her.
Dear Polar Knight,
Hi.
It's been a while. No puns today. I have an emergency. Help me. I'm a woman now. Shield Knight never told me what to do if ever this happens. Maybe you know what to do. Should I worry about anything? Black Knight isn't helping me. He- scratch that, I mean, she is very uncooperative and looks so much more intimidating than before.
Thanks. Help me, please.
Sincerely yours, Shovel Knight.
"Is Shovel Knight here?"
"Indeed. She is currently halfway and defeating the other guards."
Polar Knight hummed. "Can you tell Shovel Knight I am still making clothes?"
"Much obliged, ma'am."
/*Iron Whale*/
Treasure Knight looked at her new outfit. Her diver's suit was replaced with a diver's coat. She chuckled and faced the Gulper Mage floating beside her.
"Wrrh. Lrrk rrt thrrs. Rr lrrk grrd!"
"Uh… I can't understand you, captain." The Gulper Mage sheepishly said. She shrugged. "Sorry."
Treasure Knight looked at the mage. "Whhrrt?"
"I can't understand you. What are you saying?"
"Whrrt rr yrr srrying? Crrn yrr reprrt thrrt?"
"You should take the helmet off."
"Hrrh?"
"Take the helmet off!"
"Hrrh?"
"Helmet. Off."
Treasure Knight squinted her eyes at her. "Whrrt?"
/*Lost City*/
Mole Knight adjusted her armor to write on the scroll of paper.
"The Attitudes of Pridemoor Valley Society Towards Women Warriors." The knight-anthropologist jotted down on the paper. "It is… known… that many legendary women… have become knights. For a time, my archival research shows that the entire valley was ruled by a powerful woman from the far east… and she was a sorceress who has guardians made of water… and magics of flame. According to texts in this Lost City, written by scribes named-"
"Hi, Mole Knight." One of the students waddled up to her. He adjusted his glasses and stared at her armor. "I heard boys became girls and girls became boys! And… you look… umm…"
"I know I look somehow atrocious. I am a bad designer."
"Aww, Mole Knight… it's okay. You're still the same Mole Knight I know. I love you!"
Mole Knight grinned so widely.
/*Clockwork Tower*/
"Umm… Tinker Knight?" The Cogslotter shyly spoke up from behind the blueprints of the Destroyer.
"What?!" She pulled up her welding mask.
"You… are aware you're a girl now, right?"
"Yes! Don't ask that now! I have work to do! Just hold those prints up!"
"Uhh, and the Order of No Quarter are all girls now-"
"Do you think I care?!"
/*Lich Yard*/
Specter Knight rose from the dead.
Actually… Specter Knight groggily got up from under a mountain of small white pillows and two thick quilts. Reapers required rest. This particular reaper needed a good week's sleep and the warmth of two dozen pillows because no one would be friends with a self-loathing but drop-dead gorgeous ghost.
The apparition's eyes looked up at the slightly brighter sky. It was still dark, but it was a shade of deep blue typically there minutes before sunrise. Groaning, Specter Knight grabbed a random pillow and pressed it tightly against-
What on earth is on my chest?
She put the pillow down and stared at her bust. Panic filled her mind as her trembling hands slowly went up to poke her chest.
Poke.
She gasped in terror.
Grab. Squeeze.
She stared at her own body with a completely frightened expression. She hastily threw her blanket to cover her head and face while she screamed the only name she knew she could call upon in times of the most urgent of emergencies, like an episode of severe depression, or a realization that Specter Knight became a woman during her sleep.
"MITZI!"
The ghost maiden materialized in her room in a swirl of white, a scowl on her face and her rusty sword at the ready. Mitzi screeched, swung the heavy two-handed weapon, and because of the sword's weight, fell down the floor with a thud. Normally, Specter Knight would have criticized her and admonished her for being weak, but the apparition was too busy being hysterical over having a woman's body. And it all happened sometime while she was off in her ideal world of happiness, rainbows, sunshine, a spouse, and a farm.
"Mitzi!" Specter Knight cried out. "Mitzi, please!"
"Wait. Master, is that you?"
"It is me! Help me! Help me!"
"With what?"
"I have boobs!"
The ghost girl gawked at her master's last uttered word. That wasn't something Specter Knight would say out loud like that. Poor girl never dealt with her master completely losing it, except those times he was called a Banana Knight, a baby boy, and a cat-
"Mitzi! Help me, help me, please! I am now a female, I cannot function being a woman!"
"Master, Master! It's okay! I can help you!" She dropped her sword and sat on the bed to try and calm down the quivering spook.
"But you are only sixteen!" She screeched. "How can a-"
"Master, listen to me! You're not going to die!"
"My entire world is falling apart, servant!" Specter Knight wailed, grabbing all the pillows she could reach just to tightly embrace them. "The last time I felt that the the world is ending and everything is crumbling, I was mere moments before dying! I am going to suffer a second death! I know this already!"
"Master, no! Please listen to me! This might just be a spell gone awry. You know this, right?"
Specter Knight closed her eyes, buried her face in a pillow, and whimpered.
"Maybe it's just a test of your worth or something. And you're cool. You got this, master. You're awesome." Mitzi laughed nervously as she continued to feed her master's ego. "You can get through the hardships. I can help you with adjusting until we find a way to get back to your former self."
More sobbing. "My former self was alive, Mitzi! I used up most of my power and I was lured to sell my soul and I am forever bound to a loveless and hopeless eternity!"
"Master, ssh… okay. How about we learn about this new problem? Like you always do?"
She lifted her head off the pillow. "Learn…?"
"Yes." She beamed inwardly. Wow, calming down the second most-feared person in the land is a nice job to have. Comes with a lifetime employment, too! "You always scouted and stalked your enemies to know more about them, right?"
"Of course. What kind of idiot oak barrel would go into war uninformed?"
"Why don't we learn the differences between a male body and a female body for you? So you can adjust."
Specter Knight paused for a long moment before nodding.
"Good. Okay, so first, you have those." She pointed at her bust. "They're squishy and soft when you use your human appearance. You have to properly handle them."
"Yes, I will do as you advise."
"Next, you might notice yourself a little smaller than before."
Specter Knight nodded obediently.
"You might want to change costume for a while. You like to look cool, yeah? I'm thinking of a big, balloony skirt, with bones as your crinoline!"
"That would be good."
"And then we can decorate your skirt. Your sleeves can extend-"
The apparition began to shake again.
The ghost girl patted the reaper's shoulder. "No worries, master. The only difference is something in your anatomy. There's nothing to be afraid of, ma-"
And in a flash, Specter Knight was back in her frenzied terror. She started to wail again.
Mitzi gaped at the apparition. For someone who can obliterate entire armies, Master doesn't know this? it's really stupid of me to expect Specter Knight to know anything about women. Literally anything about their psyche and bodies.
"Gods have mercy, please, I would rather be a banana!"
.
W is for walk.
The rivalry between Propeller Knight and King Knight did not just involve the two fancy knights duking it out with fashion and insults. It involved their subordinates as well.
"My captain is better than your king!"
"Our king possesses the wealth of a kingdom!"
"And what's your kingdom to the French Empire? Our captain will inherit ownership and rule of land ten times bigger than the entirety of Pridemoor!"
The Goldarmor hissed. He was losing to the young Hover Meanie.
"Well, we are a kingdom and we can go to straight to the French king!"
"Oh no, our captain totally hasn't met him before!" The Hover Meanie stuck his tongue out to the angered metal can. "Our captain is the best master in the world!"
"Well, you're just arrogant people! Two hits and you have to go to the sick bay! I have armor, a sword, and a shield with me!"
"Walking is for losers! We can fly and avoid attacks!"
.
W is for write.
Mitzi knew something was off when her master's hood was pulled off and his visor up. She could still see his human eyes in the cloak of shadow covering his handsome face. There was a pouch hanging on his left hip.
Something bad had happened. Of course… he was defeated by the tiny blue knight with a weird shovel. The Enchantress… wasn't nice to her master at all.
"It hurts." The apparition spoke softly, rubbing the back of his clenched left hand. Mitzi had a glimpse of his hand, and found the telltale sign of his entire hand and wrist turned into an unnatural and bright white color. It shone in contrast with his pitch black form.
She gulped. The last time she dealt with this was a time ago, when the Enchantress shot him with the enemy's light wands. The first time was a few weeks ago, when Five, the poor lady dying in the dungeons, landed a hit.
And Specter Knight had been in hellish pain all the while.
"What… happened to you, master?" The young ghost girl gasped, taking Specter Knight's hand into her own hands, looking back up at him with worried eyes. He avoided her gaze.
"Punishment." He murmured to her.
"For what now?"
He refused to speak. His stare was fixed a thousand yards away.
She enveloped his discolored hand with her chilled palms, and gently led him to the nearest pond of evil water. He simply floated along with her, not uttering a thing. She sighed, and simply pulled him along.
Normally, he would have snapped at her to stop holding his hand.
But he just… wasn't talking at all. He usually couldn't afford to be seen holding a girl by the hand.
When they reached the pond, she motioned for him to sit. Mitzi watched as Specter Knight wordlessly descended to the ground, folded his knees up, and sat down on the red ground. She gently put his injured hand into the cursed undead water.
He hissed in pain as the cold water made contact with his hand. It bubbled in response to the light. Mitzi pursed her lips when he started choking back his cries and his healthy hand began to claw at the ground. She swore she could see tears on his face, although the shadows clouding it made it all hidden.
"Just a small prick, master. Please stay strong."
"It burns. It burns… I will burn in hell..."
"No… you have good in you."
He turned his head away from her.
She sighed, and watched as his hand gradually turn back into its normal color. When she tapped his shoulder to tell him his hand was alright, he only withdrew it from the water and stared down at the bubbles.
There was a long and uneventful pause.
Specter Knight rose from the ground without a word, and floated away. Mitzi hurriedly stood up and followed him close behind.
Normally, he would have scolded her to stop following her. He couldn't afford to show anyone he cared.
But he was just not minding her presence.
He entered his secret quarters, and then sat on the bed. He didn't seem to mind Mitzi's presence in the room. He turned his back on her, brought his legs up on the mattress, and hugged his knees.
The ghost girl turned to his desk and saw a piece of paper. There was a quill and an ink bowl resting on top of the paper, and then out of curiosity she approached to read it.
As you are, I was. As I am, you will be.
Sometimes I long for something to rewind time. To just have accepted my would-be death. To have never gotten down the path of anger and childish impulsiveness. I was a fool. It has given me nothing but shame and a special hell reserved for me, the vilest creature on earth. The dance of death is my being.
The beautiful world...
Sometimes I wish that fate is not cruel. Life was lovely. It had been filled with smiles and laughter. It twinkled with the dreams I had. It had been overflowing with passion and love. I was at the top of the world.
The sorrowful world...
How was it… that my soul would be bent and broken and hastily put together to become who I am now? Why is it that my entry into the unknown would be like this? Why did I have such a pathetic fate…
.
W is for warbled.
"What do you mean their speech is not understandable?" Specter Knight raised his brows at Mole Knight, who gawked at the former with an equally confused expression.
"The Liquid Samurai speak in either a warbled voice or in Japanese, Specter Knight!" The anthropologist's voice almost cracked in protest.
"What do you mean? I talk to them almost every other day!" The apparition grabbed a passing blue samurai, and plopped it between them. The blue liquid person stared up at them with inquisitive pinprick eyes.
"Hrrh?" The Ao samurai sat down, wondering if it should turn into a blob and seep away through the cracks or to stay and entertain these weird warriors.
Specter Knight knelt down. "What is your name?"
"Ao!" It cheerfully answered.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Hai! Ahhh! Hai!"
"That is good." He reached out to pat the samurai's head. Specter Knight faced his teammate again, whose jaw was on the floor. "Speak not of this gesture to anyone."
"Sure, sure." Mole Knight shrugged. "Stays between us. No problem. Wow."
"Alright. Now, little Ao, what kind of advice would you give to a person who is not lightweight but wishes to run as fast as you can?"
The little samurai quieted for a moment, before letting loose a string of garbled words. Mole Knight gaped at Specter Knight, who seemed to understand every single word of gibberish. It passionately detailed things like rockets and magic, decorating its speech with wild arm gestures.
"Ah, so one has to attach a rocket to his feet?" Specter asked afterwards.
It replied, this time stomping its foot in annoyance.
"Ah, and with magic?"
It nodded.
Specter Knight snickered, then faced the anthropologist again. "See? I understood."
Mole Knight almost clawed his eyes out. "Then dear gods, why didn't you tell me soon enough? I could have had an easier time conducting ethnographies on them with you as a translator!"
.
W is for Wandering Travellers.
Once upon a time, there was a group of knights that came together. They were called the Wandering Travellers.
And they travelled the world, always ready for battle.
Well… not really always ready. Sometimes two of them would jump in battle without consulting the rest of the squad.
"We can't win this fight, Hat! Striker, dammit, don't encourage fights!" Baz bellowed at the attacking and outnumbered mad hatter. Mister Hat and Phantom Striker were currently up against nine rogue warriors who happened to have a lot of peculiar and useful hats and a lot of team-based skill in battle.
"Come on! There are nine of them and only four of us!" Reize reasoned out. "Please just stay away from them! Gods, even their healer is a vicious killer!"
"But… HATS!"
"I must fight! Worthy opponents!"
"Oh yacht gods, save us." Baz and Reize chorused together.
/*another day, in a random garden*/
"Striker. What are you doing in this poor man's lawn?" Baz looked at his teammate. Beside him was a terrified man and his wife.
Well, what would someone do if they suddenly found a man with a weird and damaged helmet buried all the way up to his neck in his carrot farm?
Phantom Striker did not respond. His head was unmoving.
"Oh no, what happened to him?" Reize knelt down to touch the broken spikes on his helmet. "He looks like he's recharging. Something might have happened to him in his nature stroll. I mean, look at all his broken spikes! There are only two whole spikes left!"
Baz turned to the couple beside him. "Did you see him at all?"
"No! I just woke up this morning and there that guy is!" The man pointed a finger.
"Maybe we should leave him behind first?" The woman shrugged. "If what the kid says is true…"
"Can we stay here? Just in case he's back up." Baz politely asked with a big smile. The man happily ushered them in.
"Does he always do that, though?" The carrot farmer raised a brow.
"Yeah, he recharges. His mom grounded him since he's very tired, and his mom has quite the high expectations so..." Reize explained with a smile and a shrug.
Baz stared at him with a puzzled look.
"Um… he explained it to me."
"No. Grounded."
Reize blinked.
"Get it?"
"Ahh! Oh gods, haha!"
/*later*/
Phantom Striker walked into the couple's house, looking as if he clawed his way out of the ground. His entire body was covered in damp loamy soil. His white garb was now brown and his helmet…
"Holy ship!" Reize and Baz stared at their enigmatic and awesome teammate with a silly helmet. All of his spikes except for two had been replaced with large orange carrots. The two burst into laughter, leaning on each other as their stomachs started to hurt from the chortling.
"Why are you laughing?" The stormbringer asked, genuinely unaware of the carrots sticking out of his helmet.
/*Village*/
The Bard arrived, a puggle following him happily. The musician was pushing along an odd wheelbarrow with a box on it.
"Ice cream and popsicles! Ice cream for sale!" He called out. "I need some income and god damn, no one is paying me to make music, so I'm selling this stuff."
"Ice cream!" Reize bounced up and dashed to the Bard, who stopped. Phantom Striker chuckled softly to himself, then stood up to follow the young warrior. Reize took a good look at the white box. "What's ice cream?"
"Just taste it. Twenty gold." He got out one orange popsicle and handed it to his customer.
"How do I eat this cold treat?"
"Lick it and sometimes bite."
Reize licked the popsicle. The next moment, he let out a satisfied hum. "Mmm! Delicious!"
"Yep. Came from my world. Best ice cream ever."
"I don't have any gold, though…" Reize stuck his bottom lip out and turned to Phantom Striker. The latter met his gaze, and then sighed at his puppy eyes. A bag of forty gold coins materialized in a spark of electricity above his hand.
"I am the son of man and lightning, and I want some cream of ice." Phantom Striker's voice boomed.
"What flavor do you want?"
The stormbringer peeked into the box. Inside was a lot of popsicles in different colors, and square plastic containers. It looked like it contained more than it should physically have.
"Erm…"
The Bard began to enumerate all his flavors. "I have cookies and cream, vanilla, chocolate, pistachio, purple yam, coconut, Double Dutch, sweet milk, French caramel, mango, orange, banana, banana split, coffee, almonds, cashew, cheese-"
"Cheese." Striker interrupted. The bag of gold pieces turned into a sack of gems. "Take five thousand gold. Give me all of the cheese creams of ice."
"Dude, there are only ten cheese pops in there. I only need-"
"Give me all of your creams of ice for five thousand gold."
/*Hat Shop, again*/
"Oh man, this tastes so nice, and Striker bought everything!" Reize happily sucked on another orange ice popsicle and hugged the stormbringer, who was silently eating his cheese-flavored ice cream. "Thank you!"
"You are most welcome." Phantom Striker ruffled the boy's hair.
"Ah, this banana ice cream tastes nice." Baz devoured the banana ice cream's container's contents with a big smile. "Thank you for buying all of this."
"Just how rich are you, Striker?" Mister Hat dug out a small chocolate popsicle. "Oh, this one is brown."
"There are some things in this world that mortals should not know." Phantom Striker muttered.
"Alright, then." The mad hatter unwrapped the film around the chocolate popsicle. "So, what say you if we duel for the ownership of your spiky hat-"
The chocolate popsicle slid out of the hat man's grip and somehow flew up. Both Reize and Baz screamed, their eyes following the popsicle.
The choclate popsicle got impaled into one of the lower spikes on Phantom Striker's helmet.
Three of the Traveller's squinted at the chocolate ice pop. Mister Hat was paralyzed.
"Your hat… is tainted with chocolate." The hat man muttered. "Can I still eat that?"
Phantom Striker sighed. "Please take it out of the spikes."
Mister Hat leaned in close to the spike, thinking that the stormbringer couldn't see him. But Phantom Striker notices everything.
"Please do not lick my beloved helmet."
/*Wilderness*/
"Don't… tell me we're lost." Reize sobbed.
"We are not lost at all, little warrior." Phantom Striker lied. "We are going the correct way to Pridemoor."
"We came from the Flying Machine. We had a view of the castle. Where are we?"
"We are nearing the keep."
"But I've already seen that log with mushrooms for the sixth time!" Baz pointed at the said log. Red and white fungi were growing on it. "And Hat already collapsed in exhaustion!"
"He spent the whole night trying to steal my helmet, Baz." The stormbringer with no sense of direction narrowed his eyes. "He did not get sleep."
"Yeah, right." Baz sneered.
"Well, Striker… I want to confess something to you." Reize sighed. "The feeling of getting lost isn't really unfamiliar for me, you know. I always get lost. And I know when I'm lost."
"You cannot read maps, child."
"Well, yeah, but I think I know where we are. Reize pointed to the view of the eastern ocean, and gave the others a death glare. "Pridemoor. Is. Nowhere. Near. The. Ocean."
"We're lost, Striker." Baz agreed with his best friend. "Admit it."
"Never." Phantom Striker growled.
Storm clouds suddenly gathered over the group. Lightning struck the ground, the trees, and the log of mushrooms. The two youngest knights jumped and ran to the nearest safe zone, which was the area immediately surrounding Phantom Striker.
"I'm sorry I insulted you! Please accept my hug as an apology!" Reize tugged on his teammate's cape.
"That is not me, Reize-"
Baz cowered under the cape, dropping Mister Hat's unconscious body to the ground. "Striker, make it stop, we didn't want to-"
Lightning struck the group, and after being hit, they found themselves outside Pridemoor Keep's battlements and ramparts.
Mister Hat was in Phantom Striker's arms, half-conscious. Baz was still hugging his teammate's legs and feet. Reize's legs were wrapped around the stormbringer's waist and his arms around the shoulders.
"Striker, I think I just heard a woman's voice telling us not to let you lead the way again. Because you get lost on your nature walks and you get into fights." Reize spoke rapidly.
"That was my mother… she also scolded me for getting lost again. Ah… we did get lost. I admit it. I apologize to everyone. Ah… she is going to ground me again..."
"What's your mom's name? She seems... nice."
"Orage."
"And what's yours?"
The stormbringer looked at Reize with the most confused look on his face. "Phantom Striker… you already know that."
/*in a pub*/
Mister Hat leaned in towards Reize.
"You're too young to drink." The elderly hatter said in a low voice.
"Please…" Reize sighed, and pulled on his hair out of habit. "I'm a warrior. A warrior in training!"
"Whatever you wish, boy. I actually want to ask a question." Hat gestured to their spike-helmeted teammate, who was standing at the entrance of the pub. "Was the story about his parents being a lightning bolt and a human man true?"
The young warrior shrugged. "That's what he told me. He told me the other night he had another reason to be here in Pridemoor Valley, other than challenging warriors."
"And…?"
"It's to find his dad. He's really feeling down about it. The only thing he knows about him is that he's a powerful mage. Striker wants to meet his dad." Reize sighed, staring at the glass of lemon water he requested.
"We have to find his father."
"I haven't seen my dad in so many years, Hat. I get how he feels."
He gasped. "I'm so sorry, little boy…"
"Hey, Hat! Do you want to help me find my dad? I remember that he went here to Pridemoor to get something. He hasn't come back home in years."
From inside his coat, the mad hatter whipped out a piece of paper and a pen. "What did your dad say?"
"He wanted to get a pretty jewel." Reize raised his brow at the suddenly serious Mister Hat. "A gem for me."
"And do you know where he went?"
"He said he wanted to go to a tower. Which…" Reize pointed to the general direction of the Tower of Fate. Mister Hat's eyes widened, and he pat the boy's shoulder.
"I hope we can find him. Now, let's hatch a plan to invade that ugly Tower… do you know that horns are very bad fashion choices?"
/**/
"Striker!" Baz approached the brooding stormbringer with a couple of mugs full of frothy beer. Phantom Striker's head cocked to the direction of the other lightning warrior with a miffed glare.
"Yes?"
"Join us inside! I know things aren't always happy and fun for you. Never saw you smile, you know."
"I have nothing to smile about." He scoffed, and crossed his arms.
"Not even your friends?" Baz' voice softened, a little hurt by his teammate's reaction.
Phantom Striker's frown dissipated. He breathed in, guilt washing over him. "I am sorry…"
"Is anything bothering you, Striker? I don't really want to leave you alone, I guess. I'm pretty sure something's in your mind. You haven't spoken for days."
"You noticed I am moody."
"People call me dumb. But I know when my friends are feeling bad."
He sighed, and sat down on the ground. He put his back against the wall.
"You can always tell me when you're comfortable, 'kay? I'm going ba-"
"Is there a worth to my existence, Baz?"
The burly man almost dropped his mugs at the sudden shift of mood. He scanned the stormbringer for any sign of anything. His heart raced in panic. "Yo, Striker… are you okay?"
"I feel that, as an anomaly that never should have existed, as the son of a human and a force of nature, I do not have worth at all."
"No, gods help me… please don't say that."
"I believed that finding pleasure in battle and being unattached to humanity and my place of birth was the best for me. I am not truly human, and I am not truly lightning. I journey to this land to find out who my father is, to give me some sort of respite from my sense of worthlessness." He sighed, and hugged his knees. He sniffled a bit. "I have so many years left to live, before I disappear. Like a storm that has hit the land."
"There is still happiness in life. I hope you find it. I would love to help you find it. For now… you don't have to think too much about it. You deserve a break, Striker."
"I agree… I need to place my feet on the ground, and still cling to hope."
"That's good… but it's really okay to feel sad. Now, let's get in. I hope things would be fun for you." Baz smiled again, this time, he softly beamed at his friend. "Beer. Want to play a drinking game?"
"A… game of drinking? What is that?"
"We play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser has to sip. Who gets hammered first, loses."
"What is the game of scissors, paper, and rock?"
Baz gave him a long tirade about the history of rock-paper-scissors before actually explaining the game. Phantom Striker nodded along, and thought about how paper could be crumpled anyway, how scissors could scratch softer rocks, and how rocks could disintegrate in his fist if he willed it…
.
W is for war.
"Heard of Shovel Knight?" Cecille tapped Siegfried's shoulder. She gazed into his hopeless and empty gray eyes, and sighed. "Siegfried."
His hand reached for the wine bottle in the shelf, but he stopped midway. He looked down to the floor. "I shouldn't rely on drowning my sorrows."
"You shouldn't fall there. You shouldn't." Cecille spoke softly, her low and serious tone gone and replaced with gentleness. "You still have a war to fight."
"I know that I risk all I have in this fight. Just… not my sister." Siegfried clutched his chest. "It's like, with her disappearance, I feel that my heart has been ripped away. I… would gladly take her place if I knew."
Cecille gently rubbed his back. "I hope she's still alive…"
"I don't know. Anyway… yes, I heard about Shovel Knight. Mainly through the news of Specter Knight's defeat." Siegfried snickered. "Makes me feel like I have my revenge. I'm going to get my sister back."
"Me, too. I'll get the Lich Yard back and hopefully find your sister." She smiled to him. "Shovel Knight has rekindled the morale of the troops that we still have. And Irma would have jumped at the chance to attack Pridemoor again with King Knight already defeated by shovel… and you know her love for passionate fighting."
Siegfried turned his head away from the direction of the shelf and to Cecille. Cecille chuckled inwardly at the spark of hope in his eyes.
"My sister would love to fight with this."
"Then would you do it for her? In her memory?"
Siegfried finally let a smile tug at his lips. He looked at his comrade. "I'll do it, even if only for my sister."
"Fight for what Irma fought for. Your little sister will be proud of you."
.
W is for worth.
"Hand hol- no." Specter Knight pointed his scythe at the demoness hovering before him. "No. I am not a demon like you. I am human. I will never be your puppet any longer, Enchantress!"
"Then you rid yourself of the impurity that is humanity. And tell me, after such a beautiful night with the other incompetent knights of my Order, did you suddenly change your mind? After such a nice time with your drunk friends that are my useless knights? I know of all the plans to defeat me. Do not tell me you abruptly decided to go against me after they started to go up and fight me."
"We are not useless. We have our own kinds of worth, Enchantress. All those years of closely watching them tells me I recruited powerful knights. Powerful enough against you.
"The sorcerer working with Mole Knight surpasses your power. You forced his mind to be his enemy. Mole Knight has discovered your origins, and he seeks to find a way to bring you down. Propeller Knight loves his crew as his family and will stop at nothing to get you to never lay a finger on them. Tinker Knight values his work and inventions, and you made the people look at his helpful machines as evil. Treasure Knight is finding peace with working as a humble servant, and dare not take away his peace. Plague Knight is already one of the most powerful, and his science has so many uses that you continue to suppress. King Knight needs his healthy mind finally granted to him and you continue to nurture the problems he has. You have taken everything away from me, Enchantress! I will never let you take what they do not deserve to lose!"
Specter Knight stood his ground, defiant. His will resurged, and he happily drank in the renewed vigor that had been lost to despair over the years. It was like the past decade or so was a whirlwind of emotions like sorrow and anger, and never true happiness, and it was as if in this moment he finally touched the solid floor. There was something good about having your feet on the ground.
"I am the most powerful here." She growled lowly, the flames on the candles growing.
"Yet I will never stop resisting you." He hissed, the memories of loss threatening to send him flying uncontrollably. He clenched his teeth and still held his weapon up.
"The world will kneel before me. And I shall start with you. I have something in mind."
Violet flames appeared on her palm, and in a swirl of violet energies appeared between the two. A human figure materialized, and after a short while energies disappeared.
Specter Knight's grip on his weapon loosened slightly in his shock. "Irma!"
The former Fifth Knight and Seventh Knight of Pridemoor's rebellion hovered between them, their heads down and their limbs hanging. The demoness laughed.
"She is your childhood friend, I see. What is something were to happen to her? And as for Seven, is he truly that disposable?" She laughed, as two light wands appeared over her palm.
Irma opened her eyes for the first time in weeks, lifting her head. Her gaze met his, and she looked at him in confusion. "Specter Knight… you're… the garlic bread ghost… and… my… you're..."
"Irma... " The Enchantress hovered before Five, pushing the light wand in her hand while chuckling. Her eyes glowed with evil magic, stealing Five's frightened gaze. She entered her soul and fixed her stare at her eyes. "I command you to fight your friend and kill him."
"Enchantress!" The reaper, in a rush of judgment, flew up to the Enchantress to slash at her. The latter stopped him, her magic freezing his body and spirit. He struggled against it, watching helplessly as Irma succumbed to her mind control.
Seven regained consciousness. His eyes cracked open, but he was still oblivious.
"Irma…" He reached out to touch her arm. "Where are we…?"
The sorceress turned to him, and smiled. "Become my knight, Arthur of Pridemoor."
Seven's eyes glowed violet, and his stare was fixed on the demoness' eyes.
"Seven! Do not listen to the Enchantress! None of you listen to her!"
"I command you to be my knights. Kill and replace the one who has dissatisfied me."
"Enchantress! Do not touch my friend! Do not corrupt her soul! Do not harm her comrade! Stop doing this!"
She ignored him. "Forget your lives."
"Irma! Arthur! Do not listen to her! Fight her! Arthur, remember your love for her! Irma, remember why you are fighting in the first place!"
Irma's eyes fell on Specter Knight. "No…"
"Obey my commands, valiant knight. Your cunning can be useful to me."
"My loyalty…"
"Irma! Listen to me!" Specter Knight's voice cracked. "Hold on to your soul!"
"Enchantress… you're right in front of me…" Irma muttered, her eyes glowing violet. "You're right here."
"Right here…" Arthur repeated, his eyes on the demoness. "She's right here, Irma."
"Yes… and I am now your master."
Both of them gripped on their light wands tighter.
.
W is for wages.
"I'm going to die sooner or later, Anthony." The old bird person chuckled sadly as he took out the pot of brewed tea out of the fire. "If the yacht gods wish it, I may finally reunite with my late wife."
Treasure Knight looked up from the diamond he was examining. "I hope she is in heaven."
"I hope so, too. Do you also wish someone was in heaven, too?"
"Yes. I wish he's in heaven." He sighed. "I had a puppy when I was around fourteen. He was beaten to death by older people."
The bird person gasped a bit. "I'm sorry."
"You're not the one who killed him. You don't have to say sorry."
He shrugged, and went to his cabinet to pull out two porcelain cups. "Well, you don't have to talk about it if it reminds you of something terrible. Only when you're comfortable, young man. For now, why not have some tea?"
"You're a nice old man. I haven't had people give me tea."
"Tea is one of the few things that I find useful from wandering the earth. Also, this nice old man hasn't also introduced himself to you." He laughed heartily, and patted Treasure Knight's shoulder. "Anthony, my name is Darwin. It's nice to meet you."
"Darwin…"
"Well, I'm going to live up to my name, young man, and be a dear friend to you."
Treasure Knight looked down to the floor, falling silent. A friend. Really…?
"I've seen that kind of stare. You're pondering so deeply."
He ignored the old bird, who let out a wistful sigh and turned to fetch something from his quarters. When he returned, he found the younger one still sitting in his spot, frozen in his overthinking mind.
"Anthony. I decided to at least still pay you for your help."
Treasure Knight blinked, and looked up awkwardly. Shit, have to react more to this name. He squinted at the small bag of copper coins. "Well, that's not minimum wage."
"Yeah… I know. Business is dying. But I still want to at least thank you. I've given you the statue, too." His smile faltered for a moment. "You can sell it to one of those snobbish antique collectors."
"No, no…" Treasure Knight held his hands up and shook his head. "Didn't mean to say I expected more. I just said it was below minimum."
"Never really said something about wages, young man. I can't really employ you here. This is like a donation. You might need something like money."
His mind went to the Iron Whale, full of riches found and plundered. "I don't need it… but thank you." He took the bag of coins. Around only a hundred pieces of copper coins were inside, but Treasure Knight felt a foreign feeling of warmth radiating from the bag. He peeked inside. Nothing anomalous was inside, all were normal shiny copper coins that were all cool to the touch.
Yet Treasure Knight couldn't shake this odd warm feeling from it.
.
W is for well.
"Mademoiselle, here he is." The Flying Machine's lead medic opened the door for Mona. "And here, you can stay."
She nodded, then entered. As soon as the door was shut, Mona dumped her sack on the floor, sighing and fighting back her hurt tears. All that work to earn his trust and affection, all thrown into the sea, never to be recovered from the waves.
As if love was the single most important thing to me. She scoffed and kicked the sack a bit. She breathed in, and refocused her attention to her dying patient. Forget about Plaguey. You have someone to take care of.
"Tag, Mona." Albrecht said in a weak voice, lacking his usual ferocity and anger. He was pale, and a fleeting smile on his face. He breathed in and out with difficulty. His blue eyes were bloodshot, and she could see the telltale signs of tears on his face and pillow.
"You're so sick… I kinda miss you yelling at everyone." Mona held his clammy hand and noted how cold he was.
"I zhink keeping it a secret from Propeller Knight vas a huge mistake." He sheepishly admitted, and looked at the window where he could see the overcast sky. "Now look at my healzh. I'm veak. Dying. And my- I mean…"
Mona raised a brow at him. "What were you going to say?"
"My captain is furious at me. Doesn't he know I just… really vanted him not to vorry?"
"You know, keeping secrets from loved ones is a good way to ruin relationships." Mona replied bitterly. She frowned for a moment until she noticed Albrecht's wide and frightened gaze. "Are you okay?"
"Vhat you just said…"
"You two are really close, aren't you?"
"Ja…"
"And you kept secrets from him."
"Zhe only secrets vere ze times I fought tooth and nail to secure supplies for zhe crew, and keep it safe. I ordered everyvon to attack all intruders and have no mercy. I almost died once to Treasure Knight, when he zhreatened his safety, and I didn't stop until he vas safe again."
Mona straightened her posture and tried to think of a way to respond. "Well, you did these things for him, yeah?"
He nodded.
"And I do remember you telling Plague Knight," she clenched her teeth as she said his name, "not to dare attack. Which he actually broke. And I apologize for that."
"Vhat did Plague Knight vant? If only I was healzhy enough to defend my captain."
"Essences. A potion to be stronger than the Enchantress."
"Does he vant to overzhrow her?"
"I wouldn't know."
"Propeller Knight told me zhe ozher day zhat he vants to be out of zhe Order, now." He chuckled dryly. "He has been zhinking about it for a long time."
"None of us really wanted to be here, you know. Only that pretender and the ghost. Although… I did hear rumors that the ghost also never wanted to be there, too."
"Vhatever." He scoffed. "All I vant is for him to visit me here. So I can apologize."
Mona thought deeply. Will Plague Knight apologize, too? That selfish, eccentric, idiotic little bird who just has the most adorable beaked mask… and the cutest laugh...
"Do you zhink zhat he'll forgive me?"
"He's Propeller Knight. Everyone knows he's a drama king. He'll forgive you." She blurted out, and watched his pale face brighten up almost instantly.
"He'll forgive me…"
"Now, we need to get you on antimony again, and I prepared health potions for you."
"Hey, vould you be as kind as to… help me get to zhe Tower of Fate? So I can talk to him immediately and-"
"Okay, hold that thought. I'm under the impression you're placed in infirmary arrest. I'm not in the position to-"
"Mona… please… I have to get to him."
She sighed. "Oh well. At least I wouldn't be blamed. Blame me, and you blame Plague Knight." Mona muttered under her breath.
"Please…"
She moaned. "Alright. I'll give you a temporary health tonic, and that will work for only forty-five minutes. I'll also give you a dozen teleport potions. As soon as you get to him and do whatever you want, I want you to be back here. And to be sure of that, I'll be in the Tower of Fate thirty minutes after I give everything to you."
"How… do I… use zhe…"
"Gods, just chuck it really hard to your feet and think about where you want to go. It's not difficult." She rolled her eyes. "If everyone just had an idea about real alchemy, then I wouldn't be lecturing you."
"You have all my zhanks, Frau Mona."
"And I better not get along with this mess you're getting yourself into."
.
W is for whisper.
The forbidden arts are sorcery, necromancy, and alchemy… they can tap into the darkest energies of the world and harm us…
Morally good sorcerers are still vulnerable to the temptations of darkness.
Alchemists have to be burned on the stake.
Mona clenched her teeth at the lies being whispered by the folk in the juice bar. It took her a large amount of will not to explode. Or make things was a wonderful art, the science of magic was just as important as any other science… if only they could see.
"Plague Knight… get those essences now…" She muttered under her breath. "We need to free all alchemists…"
"What was that, green-skinned witch?" The drunken men laughed at her when she sighed, both as the bored persona she always used as a mask and as the irritated member of a minority.
"I'm not a witch. I'm just a woman."
"So why are you green?"
"I told you before, I fell into a vat of icky stuff. Whatever. I don't think you'll listen, so why not play my game?" Mona snapped her finger with a devillish grin.
"Let's have fun, witch! Show us what you've got!" They threw her hundreds of gold, and crowded around her. One of them grabbed her chin and shoulder to force her to look at his bloodshot eyes. She grimaced at the strong smell of liquor in his breath.
"Eugh. Get off of me."
"Show me what you have, witch alchemist. Rumors are spreading in the village."
Mona's rage bubbled. Harassing me in my turf? Stupid, vile men...
"I'll give you what I've got." She defiantly muttered, clicking her tongue to close their exit. With one snap of a finger, flasks of dangerous and multicolored liquids appeared over their heads. The drunk harassers appeared to sober up in that moment, terrified of her, and intimidated by the flasks.
Mona stood up, a twisted smile on her face. "Let's play a game. If you manage to survive hundreds of flasks of acid, tracers, cascades, and sparklers, all of which are combined with cluster liquids and regular cannon powder, I'll let you free. If you don't survive, then say hello to my client, Specter Knight. Just pray to the gods he doesn't get angry at you for harassing his favorite boredom breaker."
/**/
"Mona? Why… are there lots of ashes here?" Plague Knight looked down at the floor, which covered in the soot of his nitroglycerin and cluster powder. He squinted at the surfaces that were corroded by acid. He looked up at her. Mona only shrugged.
"Don't tell me someone tried to enter the Potionarium."
"No one found out, don't worry."
"So… what happened?"
"Well, they did attack me and started to harass me. So I had no choice but obliterate them." She looked aside to grin in triumph, and when she looked back at the little alchemist, she could see his horrified gaze from under the mask. His empty eyeholes betrayed his wide eyes.
"M-Mona, are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?"
She smiled at him, and pulled the lever. The torque lifts turned up from the floor. "Yeah. Can't you see, Plaguey? I'm all fine."
He clutched his chest and inhaled so deeply. "I'm so worried for you."
"Plaguey. I can handle myself. Stop worrying and get the essences, okay?" She pushed the lever. As they entered the Potionarium, she saw him tremble a tiny bit. When they got in safely, he twiddled his thumbs and hopped to her.
"But… w-will you be fine while I'm gone? Here, have the big boom arcana… and Berserker's Brew..."
"Plaguey… I have a lot of bombs with me. And poisons. Even your old plagues are at my person. I can do fine."
"Did anyone hurt you?"
"Only my feelings, actually. I'm hearing people say alchemy is evil." She crossed her arms and frowned.
Plague Knight sighed. "I know it really grinds your gears, Mona. Do you trust me? That I can save all alchemists and you? That I can be strong enough for you?"
She pat his hooded head, and chuckled. He always takes my fury away. He's so cute. "Of course, Plaguey. I trust you."
/*Lich Yard gates*/
Four damned souls moaned and shook the gates of the ruined village, interrupting Specter Knight's beauty sleep. He had been dreaming of waking up from the nightmare that was undeath. The reaper teleported to the gates, scythe in hand. He glared at the now silent souls, more than mildly annoyed at them. He saw his personal assistant with her arms crossed and a frown on her face. He raised a brow at the lack of dumb cheerfulness she usually had.
"You are quite the bumbling breadsticks." He growled at the souls, not expressing his disdain for being awoken. He then turned to his maidservant. "Mitzi, servant, what are their causes of death?"
"Mona literally dissolved them in acid. They attacked her and started to… umm… I don't want to make you… mad…"
He filled in the blanks, and he felt a tranquil fury. He was relieved that his favorite game maker was safe and at the same time, he was livid at the unforgivable attempt to debase her.
In a rush of judgment, Specter Knight phased through the gates and slashed their souls to oblivion.
.
W is for winter.
The war outside was raging. Fires razed houses and buildings to the ground and there was so much screaming. Knights and horsemen shouted for the citizens to follow them. The hollow voices of cursed knights with shields and swords were followed by heavy footsteps and enraged war cries, both from rebels and living metal armors. The low thrumming of magic echoed all throughout the village of flames.
The two children cowered and trembled behind their weakening house walls. A little girl's hands were clasped together around the music box the tiny but kind engineer gave her.
In the midst of battle, the tinkling music box played a tiny song. She held the box close to her face and closed her eyes, in an attempt to escape the chaos around her hiding place.
Her older brother clutched her close, wiping away her tears of fright. Despite the fires in nearby houses, the winter wind chilled them. The windows were open, and the brother gazed out, wide-eyes at the sight of the cruel Goldarmor right outside their house. It was turning its head around, and the blaze of fire around it made it look more frightening. The boy trembled in place, eyes on the Goldarmor, whose head was cocked in their direction. The cursed armor brandished its sword and posed to smash the wall of the house.
The boy looked down at her sister, her face still pressed on the music box that was playing. He looked back up at the Goldarmor smashing its metal fist on the wall.
"Little sister… we're going to heaven soon." He stroked her hair and held her tightly.
The Goldarmor burst into the house, the wall between it and the children collapsing into mere pebbles and dust.
The music box continued to play its ethereal song.
"Children of subversives must die." The Goldarmor's hollow voice was more unforgiving and harsh than the winter. It raised its sword over the two children's heads, preparing to kill. As it brought down its blade, there was a sudden bright light, and when they looked back up, the Goldarmor was gone and there was only a knight holding a black wand.
"You two, quick." The blond man looked at them with tired gray eyes. "Get to the horse people. Run as fast as you can."
The big brother pulled her sister up and ran to the knight. "Thank you, Mister Knight."
"Siegfried." He chuckled mirthlessly. "Now get to safety. We're going to save all of you."
"Are you one of the guys from the Society? Will you get him out of the throne?"
The commandeer paused, scanning the boy and his sister. A bit of warmth touched his heart, as well as a momentary stab of pain and regret. "Yes… we'll save you and free Pridemoor. Now go. Go. Go!"
.
W is for water.
Anart could not register much of what was happening around him. Everything burned, drying out everything around him. He could hear nothing but her taunts and cackling and his own screaming. It was as if the world turned from his own private merry-land into a living nightmare-hell.
Ice-cold liquid was splashed on him. A respite from burns but not all pain was taken away. Yet as he felt the tears roll down his cheeks, and the water come into contact with his fingertips, he finally found the power to negate her magic. Muttering a spell under his shaky breath, the dark streams of fire wrapping around him disappearing in sparkling vapors. The wizard opened his eyes, his vision blurring. His tiny fairy and flying unicorn friends crowded around him. His knees gave out, and he collapsed unconscious.
Mole Knight caught him before the wizard could fall to the ground. "Give Anart more water! Quickly!"
Mole Minions and even some moles immediately followed his orders and scrambled to get all the water they could find. The student with him approached the wizard and helped loosen the latter's hood and prevent it from choking him. The two were careful not to touch the badly burnt skin. Anart's eyes opened a bit, his eye color changing rapidly. The colors of emerald, gold, orange, lavender, carmine, black, pink, scarlet, and violet cycled as he looked around his surroundings. He took more pained breaths before his eyes stopped changing color and settled on his natural grayish-blue.
Anart looked up at the ceiling blankly, barely breathing.
The moles and the minions returned with buckets and glasses of water. They watched as tiny droplets of water floated out from their containers and floating to the dying sorcerer. The drops hovered over his wounds and burnt clothes, gently touching his skin.
"Anart. Sorcerer." Mole Knight called out. "You still have some dreams. You still have to help us…"
The drops of water glowed dimly before being absorbed in his skin. Anart began to breathe in deeper, but his body was beginning to lose its physicality, flickering between cohesion and intangibility.
"Anart, look at me."
He didn't respond. Mole Knight looked at his young student, and sighed.
"We have to get him to more water. He's dying."
"H-how did you know?" The young one's eyes started to well up. "He seemed to be nice… but a bit insane…"
"Yeah. I know. He's nuts, and from the first letter he sent me he already seemed like it. But he needs our help. And we need his, but… I'm not sure when he'll come back."
.
W is for wings.
Sometimes it just itches, but it's always annoying.
Black Knight stirred awake, his bonfire already extinguished and the sun slowly rising in the sky. A day like an another, yet, deep within him, he felt wrong. Awfully wrong. Standing up slowly and cleaning his small camp, he then washed himself in the nearby river, his weapon still within reach. He thought he could get rid of that feeling by cleaning himself up.
He scrubbed at his skin and back with the hope that it would be washed away...
The wings borne of her dark magic still gave him some stabbing pain. The wings still wish to spread.
.
W is for world.
"Hello, Polar Knight." The demoness greeted as she appeared before the Stalwart in a thunderclap. The old knight didn't flinch, and only glared up at the evil spirit possessing her body.
"Good evening." He managed to contain his anger. He glanced down to the ramparts, where he watched Black Knight transform into a monstrous being by the dark powers of his so-called master.
"My knight. My most stalwart warrior. You have always proven your loyalty to me. I never ordered you to protect me." She hovered around him, her index finger on her chin and a smug smile on her face. "Why is it that you are always watching over me?"
"You do mean the world to me."
"Oho!" She laughed, putting her hand over her mouth. "Then would you like to me my loyal dragon? My current Order is despicable and worthless. Specter Knight is useless. The others are buffoons."
Polar Knight stayed silent.
"Black Knight refuses to join me. All those who fight me will become ashes at a whim."
"I'd rather become ash than be your knight."
She gasped, her eyes wide in genuine surprise. "What? You fool! I was wrong to expect your subservience!"
"You can expect that you mean the world to me." Polar Knight held the handle of his shovel tightly, his eyes on Shield Knight's face and not the Enchantress'.
.
W is for wobble.
Albrecht coughed a little, and he knew he had to hurry and bring his best friend back on the airship. He still couldn't taste blood, and he steeled his resolve. Just a little distance. There are Hoverhafts everywhere… we'll get noticed, he thought to himself.
"Mmm… I want... to sleep…" Propeller Knight slurred. He wobbled in his steps, and could have fallen down if it weren't for Albrecht supporting him. His entire weight rested on the Hoverhaft. Albrecht decided to keep silent and focus on trudging through the hallway. The Frenchman draped his arms on his shoulders and breathed in deeply. "I haven't t-told anyone, but I really… w-want to go... back to maman…" He suddenly sobbed. "I miss her. It's b-been too... long."
"Ve'll go back home. Zhat's vhat you've wanted." He murmured to him. "You'll go home. Zhe past years haff been hard on you."
"Albrecht."
Albrecht's eyes widened. "I had no idea you can still recognize people vhile drunk."
Propeller Knight let out a bitter laugh. "I know your voice… by heart… patate."
"Cheesecake."
"Why are… you out of… mmm…" He closed his eyes again, his world spining around.
"I came here to check on you-"
"I o-ordered you to stay in your room... Merde…"
"You know I can't-"
"EXCUSES AGAIN?!" The captain let go of his hold on him and stood on his own feet. His face was red, furious and intoxicated. His hazel eyes only showed rage and hurt, tears of anguish rapidly forming.
Albrecht could rarely be fazed by anything. This time, he was completely terrified of his friend, his heart racing and his mind producing thoughts that never settled. Propeller Knight gripped the German's shoulders and started to shake him violently.
"Did I deserve this? There was n-never a time I didn't care about my ship, my crew, and you! Mais bordel de merde! Qu'est-ce que j'ai fait au ciel pour avoir un tel second?! Je voulais juste le bien de tout le monde putain!" Propeller Knight screamed at him, and Albrecht was helpless. "All I've w-wanted was bring you all back to s-safety!"
Albrecht coughed, losing his own balance for a moment. He quickly got back on his feet, as Propeller Knight leaned his whole body onto him, sobbing on his shoulder and wrapping his arms loosely around him.
"J'ai vraiment fait que de la merde...: patate… patate Albrecht… I h-hate you..."
"Stop calling me a potato for a moment…" Albrecht's eyes grew wide at the sight of an ominous purple orb floating towards them.
His chest and throat suddenly itched so badly, and it was getting worse as the sphere hovered closer. His body's response was to cough violently. Both men fell to the ground, one complaining about dirt and the other vomiting blood onto the floor. Albrecht struggled to breathe, questions running in his mind. He looked up at the purple thing, and as it floated closer and morphed into a figure of a demoness, he felt his life draining.
He looked at his captain, alarmed at the ribbons of blue magic encasing him in a cocoon.
Propeller Knight opened his eyes, his gaze meeting his friend's, but the Enchantress was changing the way he saw his world. He saw his beloved friend literally fade away in the shadows. He couldn't see that he was actually just on the floor nearby. Dark magic made him blind to reality.
"Albrecht! Reviens ici espèce d'Allemand coincé! Je veux te garder auprès de moi, toi et ton balai dans le cul!" He started to shout, tears falling from the corners of his hazel eyes. He began to sober up in terror.
"Cheesecake…" Albrecht coughed, his mind struggling to fight his sick body. He could understand every word his friend was saying, and so he reached for his halberd and gripped it tightly. "Ich bin hier! Um für dich zu kämpfen! I'm here! Can you hear me saying things to you?"
"No, you aren't! Where are you? Please come back!" He started to cry hysterically. "Albrecht! Reviens! Pourquoi est-ce que tu m'abandonne?"
"I'm here! Vhat are you doing to him, you vitch?!" Albrecht yelled, his anger driving him to ignore the agony in his chest and throat. He flew up and straight to the laughing sorceress, lunging at her with the modified spike of his weapon.
The Enchantress simply held her hand up and shot barrages of harmful magic to him. In his sick and delirious state, Albrecht wasn't able to avoid her attack, and he was sent flying and tumbling back. He landed on his side on the cold floor, breaking his gear. The impact hit his head and body hard, and by the time he stopped moving, he could only barely open his eyes and taste blood trickling out of his lips.
He helplessly watched as Propeller Knight was finally encased in blue, screaming in pain.
Up next: X is for example.
Translations:
Ce n'est qu'un changement d'apparence! J'ai des attributs féminins et j'en profite! - It's just a change in appearance! I only have the features of a woman and I love them!
Mais bordel de merde! Qu'est-ce que j'ai fait au ciel pour avoir un tel second?! Je voulais juste le bien de tout le monde putain! - What the hell! What the hell did I do to deserve such a second-in-command? I just wanted the good of everyone, dammit!
J'ai vraiment fait que de la merde... - I fucked up everything...
Albrecht! Reviens ici espèce d'Allemand coincé! Je veux te garder auprès de moi, toi et ton balai dans le cul! - Albrecht! Come back here you stuck-up German! I want to keep you with me, you and your broom in your ass!
Ich bin hier! Um für dich zu kämpfen!- I'm here! To fight for you!
Albrecht! Reviens! Pourquoi est-ce que tu m'abandonne? - Come back! Why are you leaving me?