I do not own Kamen Rider Ryuki or Ever After High.
Knights of the Otherworld
By Ten-Faced Paladin
Chapter 5: The Crab Knight and the Fairy
We come once more to Ever After, and our newest set of heroes, the Knights of the Round Table.
Despite the excitement they find in their duties, even they have time to settle down and just have a mundane morning.
Uh, Mom, Dad, I don't like that grin on Darren's face…
(***)
Book End - LIbrary
The communal breakfast had begun again as the group of teenagers who claimed the title of Knights of the Round Table began their day after their morning workout routines. Several picked out what they wanted, or waited for their turn at the cupboards so they could get their food together.
Lance was munching on his cereal, not really paying attention to anything as he ate. Harry, most in tune with his twin, sat down next to him with his oatmeal, "You're in a mood. What's got you down?"
"Ah, Apple's still a little down because of how Legacy Day rehearsals went," Lance answered. "She's worried since Raven doesn't want to be the next Evil Queen and tried to get out of it, she won't get her Happily Ever After with Daring."
"So, you're down because she's down?" asked Gabe, munching on his fruity marshmallow cereal.
"Yeah, but also because Daring is stealing her attention!" Lance grumped. "He's got such a huge lead on me, and Apple's been mentioning him all the time with her Destiny talk."
"So, you're upset because Apple is happy to spend time with you, but she's splitting that kind of attention with this Daring guy?" asked Kevin, idly peeling an orange.
"Sounds like you got sunk into the friend zone to me," Gwen commented.
"No, I'm not there yet. I know how to get out of it," Lance shrugged. "But when she's getting into her Destiny talk, she focuses on Daring since supposedly he's the next Prince Charming of her story. She's more on it now since Raven's gone on the record of how she doesn't want to be the next Evil Queen, who is a key player in Snow White. Your girl did a number on Apple's nerves, Arthur."
"Raven and I are just friends," Arthur pointed his fork at Lance. "Unlike you, I can be friends with a girl and not try to date her. Platonic friendships are a thing you know. And Raven didn't mean to upset anyone, but this is her future she's worried about. Her mother isn't exactly in the best place right now."
"Sure, sure," Lance rolled his eyes.
Rob finished collecting his toast and sausages before coming to the table to sit with the others. As he got closer to the table Darren began to grin widely. In a flurry of movement, he lashed out with his arm and connected with Rob's crotch with an audible thud. Rob himself let off a wheeze before he collapsed to the ground, dropping his plate and food.
"HA! Seven to two!" Darren laughed. "Still doubting my nut punching skills now?"
Rob wheezed for several moments before he crawled up to the table, "Why…why did I agree to this stupid game?!"
"Because you never turn down a dare, even if everyone else would consider it a good idea to not do it," Kevin deadpanned, showing zero sympathies for his brother.
The majority of the group blinked at the sudden attack, and the follow up which came afterwards. Gwen blinked, her orange slice halfway to her mouth. She didn't even have the parts in question and she still felt that blow, "...what the blue fudge are you guys doing that for?"
"Well, Darren's gotten all sorts of hype for his epic nut punch on the Deadlemur," Gabe explained, stirring his cereal. "It's cemented him as one of the craziest knights ever. Rob said there would be no way Darren could repeat it, so Darren challenged him to a game of Ball Tag."
"Ball Tag? Isn't that where you just throw balls at someone instead of tapping them like in regular tag?" asked Max in confusion.
"That's the kiddie version," Gabe snorted. "Nope, this is the man's version. You have to take each other by surprise and whack each other in the gonads. First to a certain limit of points, or whoever cries uncle last, wins."
Rex's face fell as he sighed at the antics of his teammates, "Really? Something as juvenile as that?"
"We can't all be spoilsports like you, Rex," Darren shrugged while Rob gingerly limped back to the kitchen to replace his food.
"I'm not a spoilsport. I'm just aware that we have a reputation to maintain," Rex retorted. "We're the Knights of the Round Table. A certain level of decorum is expected of us."
"But…we're high schoolers," Kyle pointed out. "We're expected to be wild, crazy, and do stupid or immature things. Doesn't that even things out?" His answer was a deadpan stare from Rex, just making him chuckle.
(***)
I would think Sir Rex has a point. As Knights of the Round Table, and being knights in general, Darren and Rob should show a little more restraint and maturity.
Oh Mom, don't be a spoilsport too!
They may be knights, but what's the harm in letting them act their age? I'm sure they'll grow out of it as they mature. Everyone does.
(***)
Ever After High - Halls
"Ugh…never feels right for hours," Rob grumbled as he pushed his books into the locker for his next class.
"You only have yourself to blame," Kevin retorted, doing much the same as his brother. "So, now that you've probably limited your ability to have kids in the future, are you going to let the dumb game go and just let Darren have his victory?"
"Ha! No way! Not when he challenged me!" Rob retorted. "No, I've got a plan already. I might be behind, but I know how I can score a three-pointer when he least expects it!"
Kevin blinked, "A three-pointer? Rob, it's a game where you guys nut punch each other. How can you get a two-pointer, much less a three?"
"It's complicated, and it's tricky, but it can be done," Rob insisted. "You see, you get one point for a standard jab. You get two points if you can get it in front of witnesses like housemates who know you when the target has their guard down. A three-pointer is if you can get it done in front of strangers, upping the humiliation."
"And let me guess, four is when you shout 'nut punch' out loud and they can't defend in time," Kevin sighed, knowing his brother's style.
"Yeah! Darren's too crafty to fall for that one, but I figure a nice three-pointer when he's talking to some of the library customers or something will work," Rob nodded.
Kevin sighed, and returned to collecting his books, "How are you my brother again?"
"Ask Mom. She says I get it from Dad," Rob shrugged.
BRRIIIIIIIIING!
"Oh shoot!" Rob gasped, snapping up at the sound of the bell. "I'm gonna be late! The gym is all the way on the bottom floor!"
"Good luck," Kevin nodded as Rob hastily stuffed the rest of his books into the locker and yanked out his gym bag.
Rob took off running down the halls, dodging and weaving through the many students who were populating the school. Ducking past one student with a group of sheep with her, and then taking a flying leap over three pigs in school outfits, Rob skidded to a halt in front of a set of stairs. Seeing a number of students on the stairs and enough to get in his way, Rob impulsively sat on the railing and began to slide down, "Gangway!"
As he slid down the railing, people quickly moved and for good reason. One look at Rob and you knew that he was someone who preferred action over standing still. He was athletic, and muscled, preferring contact sports like football. He wore a leather jacket with an orange shirt, jeans and red sneakers. He sported black hair, but he had white streaks running through it to show his 'electric' personality. It matched his electric blue eyes after all. His brother said it made him look like a comic book character, but that was even better.
Some students yelped as Rob slid down the railings, jumping out of the way. Some had a good-natured chuckle at the scene and others looked on in surprise. Rob hit the bottom and made a swift turn before continuing to slide down the next railing. Yelps and laughs followed him before he finally reached the bottom floor, taking off for the Grimmnasium, "Feet, don't fail me now!"
Charging down the hall, Rob quickly made a swift turn to try and keep going and beat the bell.
"Ah!" A soft gasp met him as he found himself barrelling into a girl. Rob gasped and tried to stop himself, but found his feet failing and he started to tumble from his momentum. He tried to swerve, wave his arms, anything to keep from crashing into the girl. Sadly, he ended up falling forward to crash into her…
…and she disappeared in a flash of gold before Rob fell to the ground with a loud thud. He groaned, his face muffled by his own gym bag. "Owwwwww."
"Oh gosh! Are you okay?"
Hearing the voice, Rob lifted his head up. To his surprise, he saw a tiny girl run in front of his face, looking for injuries. She was the size of his thumb, wearing a green dress with a yellow petal-shaped skirt. Her hair was a flaxen blonde which was almost white and her skin a rich dark tan.
"..." Rob blinked. "Uh…I think I hit my head. Weren't you taller a second ago?"
"Oh, yes, I was," the girl smiled. Rob blinked but began to push himself up. The girl concentrated for a moment before she flashed gold again and grew up to her normal size. As Rob got to his feet, he saw that the girl was still petite, at least a head shorter than him, if not more. "See? Just my magic touch."
"Oh cool," Rob nodded, accepting the explanation. "Um, I don't think I know a fairy tale that can do that."
"My mom's Thumbelina, the girl born the size of a thumb," the girl explained. "Oh, I'm Nina Thumbell. The next Thumbelina of course."
"Rob Bray, the next Sir Bors," Rob nodded, reciting his introduction. "Can't say I ever heard of Thumbelina."
"Really? Hm, well, there are so many stories you can't hear them all at once," Nina shrugged, apparently unconcerned that someone hadn't heard of her mom. "Anyway, you sure you're okay?"
"Sure, I've taken worse hits," Rob shrugged, but then blinked, "Oh shoot! I'm gonna be late!"
"Oh! Don't let me stop you!" Nina nodded, quickly getting out of the way. Rob nodded and started running for class again, "Nice to meet you!"
"You too!" Rob shouted as he continued to run.
Nina smiled and continued to keep walking towards her class. Today was looking good if she was already on her way to making a new friend.
(***)
Wait, that's it? That was a perfect chance to set up the next pairing and they didn't even seem interested!
Now, Brooke, you can't try to control what the characters do. Nina is a very get-along type if you recall and not looking for her Prince Charming yet.
And Rob is clearly more of a living-for-the-moment type who doesn't have eyes for romance like Lance, but instead on his next adventure.
Such a waste of a good meeting…phooey!
(***)
Ever After High -
Heroics 101 was considered a prime subject, a necessity for any future hero to take so they would be able to complete their destinies and rescue their damsels. It taught the uses of swordsmanship, horsemanship, and how to stay brave in the face of danger.
But to Rob, who was utterly bored, the first few classes seemed more about looking heroic instead of really being heroic.
In Rob's defense, he was being trained by Merlin who had served with the greatest of knights. He had already gotten experience fighting monsters when he'd be on patrol and find some Sheerghosts poking at the barrier between worlds. Actually living the experiences like that made the classroom lectures, especially the ones focusing on how to give a sparkling smile and make sure your hair looked right, terribly boring to Rob.
Then again, Rob would have been deathly bored anyway, being more about action than lectures in the first place.
Rob rested his chin in his hand, barely paying attention to king Charming explaining the importance of a proper charming and heroic smile. Rob didn't get it since why would anyone care how good he looked in the heat of the moment when they were busy fighting monsters or villains.
The sharp ringing of the bell heralded his release from the class and Rob was first out the door. He was swift to get to his locker so he could grab a good spot in the lineup for lunch. All but tossing his books into the locker, Rob took off to the Castleteria.
Finding the line, he swiftly got into the cue, finding he was a few people away from taking his turn. Coming to a stop, he picked out his wallet and collected his money for the meal he wanted that day.
"Oh, is that you? Rob, right?" someone suddenly asked.
Rob looked up, realizing a familiar petite girl was in front of him, "Oh, hi! Yup, that's me. Nina, right?"
"You got it!" Nina smiled. "Wow. I didn't think we'd run into each other so soon."
"Funny that," Rob nodded. Finishing counting his money, he stuffed his wallet back into his pocket, "So, I was a little curious since you brought it up. Just what is the story of Thumbelina?"
Nina smiled, "Well, Once Upon a Time…"
(***)
Huh? Hey, come on you two! This is a perfect chance to get all charming!
Brooke, did you try to change the story to make them meet again?
Um…of course not Dad.
Brooke, you know the rules.
Honest! Not changing anything!
(***)
Ever After High - Castleteria
Rob got a short version of the story of Thumbelina from Nina while they waited for their turn in the lineup. Passing through the available food, they made their orders or took their plates and helped themselves. Rob asked some questions, half distracted by building his lunch. Finally, they reached the dessert section and Rob saw several brownies up for grabs.
"Yum!" He grinned, reaching for one brownie. He found his way unintentionally blocked when a dainty hand beat him to it and he captured it on his own by accident.
"Huh?" Both he and Nina looked at each other, surprised to have been going for the same brownie. Realizing he had accidentally grabbed Nina's hand, Rob let go with a chuckle, "Whoops. Sorry. I didn't know you were going for it first."
"That's okay. I didn't exactly call dibs," Nina laughed.
"Yeah," Rob nodded and took another brownie as Nina claimed her own. Both then moved their trays to the register where they could pay for them, already moving on from the flub.
(***)
Oh, come on! Do I have to spell it out for you?!
I knew it! Brooke Paige, you ARE trying to change the story!
Ack! But, but Mom! All the signs are there! Rob and Nina are totally couple material! I'm just trying to keep the narrative going!
Brooke, you know better than that. We read the story AS WRITTEN and not what we interpret it to be. Now, we're going to continue the real story and you cannot read it.
Uuuugh, yes Dad.
(***)
Ever After High - Castleteria
Rob finished off his plate before pulling out his phone to surf some sites and see what was going on to pass the time. He looked at some clips but didn't really watch anything. He was bored and was just amusing himself until the bell rang.
"Hi, you're Rob Bray, the next Sir Bors?" someone spoke up.
Rob blinked, looking up and seeing a new girl standing opposite him at the table. She had long brown hair, decorated with some kind of vine plant woven into it that sported small flowers. She wore a pink shirt with a long green vest which had gold vines woven through it and mahogany pants. Her skin was a rich tan from a life lived constantly outdoors and she had an adventurous spark in her eye, one that Rob recognized.
"That's me," Rob nodded. "Uh, do I know you?"
"Oh, no. My name's Jillian Beanstalk, the next Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk," the girl introduced herself.
"Oh cool! I know that story," Rob grinned. "So, what's up?"
"Well, part of this is I just wanted to meet one of the next Knights of the Round Table. I mean, you guys have some of the most epic adventures! AND I saw streams where some of you guys were fighting real monsters!" Jillian admitted. She had a thirst for adventure and even hearing stories about it was exciting, "But I heard today in my Heroics 101 class that you never turn down a dare!"
"Oh, never," Rob grinned. "Who told you?"
"Ah, heard your brother mentioning it when someone asked him about some game you invented called Ball Tag," Jillian shrugged. Rob coughed and looked to the side for a brief moment of embarrassment. "Anyways, I decided if I couldn't interest you in a dare."
Rob felt the rush of competition begin to run through him, his adrenaline junkie side starting to flare, "What's your contest, Jill?"
"I dare you to race me up a beanstalk," Jillian smiled back. "I want to see how I stand against trained knights."
It was an impulsive dare. Jillian had been seeing streams about the new Knights of the Round Table and seeing them in action against real monsters. Her sporty, adventurous side couldn't help but make her wonder how she stacked up against people who did real heroics instead of practice like all the other students did. Still, logic would have, should have, told her that knights usually didn't climb beanstalks in their adventures. They were more suited to long, endurance-testing quests, jousts, and fighting knights or dragons. It may have crossed Jillian's mind, but she was too into the thought of the challenge to really consider it.
And Rob just didn't care since it sounded fun and he had never turned down a dare yet.
"Let's plant the magic beans, right now!" He laughed, standing up from the table. "You are on Jill!"
"Got them right here," Jillian lifted a small pouch.
(***)
What?! No, no, no! Rob, you're supposed to be with Nina!
Brooke, what did we say?
Sorry, Dad…
(***)
Ever After High - School Grounds
It was said that the fastest way to let word of anything spread was to tell a teenager. With their savvy for social media and all-around gossip, it would be in only a few hours that everyone inside of a school would learn of some kind of happening or event.
That had nothing on Blondie Lockes.
She had been in the Castleteria and when Jillian Beanstalk began marching with resolution in her eyes, she smelled a story. So she snuck close to hear her challenge to Robert Bray. His quick acceptance was all Blondie needed to pass the message along to her blog.
So this was how a sizable gathering of students stood outside of Ever After High where Rob and Jillian were stretching out and preparing for their little race.
"Godmother dang it, Rob!" Kevin groaned. "Didn't your stupid contest with Darren teach you anything? No, didn't the loop-the-loop skateboard trick teach you anything? The tire swing? The freaking noodle incident? Ringing any bells here?"
"Yeah, I just need to get good," Rob twisted his waist. "Besides, how hard can it be? Jack did it and he was just a farmer kid."
Kevin groaned "You are going to get destroyed by this, you know. This Jillian girl has probably trained at climbing beanstalks her entire life while you never climbed anything higher than a garden tree in our yard!"
"Nah, I scaled the school flagpole back home," Rob insisted.
Kevin blinked, "Wait, that was you? How did you -oh nevermind," Kevin rolled his eyes. "Nothing I'm trying to say is going to get through that thick dome of yours."
Rob laughed as Blondie came over, holding up her microphone as Dexter held a MirrorPad to record it, "Robert Bray. This is certainly a surprising dare you're undertaking. Are you aware Jillian holds the school record for the fastest beanstalk climb?"
"Nope! Doesn't surprise me though," Rob shrugged. "Just means I'm going to have to go 110% to match her."
"No fear!" Blondie giggled. "Well, what else can we expect from the next Sir Bors? Still, what kind of stakes are you betting on? It is a dare, so someone has to do something if they lose."
"Uh, I don't think we talked about that," Rob thought for a moment before he shrugged again, continuing his stretches, "I guess we'll find out after someone wins."
"And he never considers the consequences," Kevin groaned, rubbing his face.
"Place your bets!" a familiar voice came through the crowd. "The knight or the adventurer? Ten to one odds Jillian wins! Who wants to root for the underdog or for the champion? Place your bets!" Kevin and Rob turned to see Max with a notebook at a table with a big piece of paper showing the odds of Rob or Jillian winning their match. Despite the odds, some people were still betting on Rob, or to be more exact, how badly he'd lose or if he would fall off.
"When did he get here?" Rob pondered.
"Don't know, but I don't like those odds," Kevin frowned. He'd have to talk to Max about betting on his brother's well-being later.
Jillian finished her final stretch and walked over to Rob, "Right, now we're stretched and ready. Are you ready Rob?"
"Let's plant some beans!" Rob grinned, earning cheers from the audience.
"I like the cut of your jib," Jillian laughed. Turning, she pulled out a small trowel from her vest before digging a small hole in the grass. She then retrieved a small bean from her pouch and tossed it in before burying it. Everyone quickly backed away, waiting for the beanstalk to grow.
They did not have to wait long before the ground almost erupted and a large vine the size of a redwood tree rose up to the sky. Kevin's jaw dropped in shock as the beanstalk continued to grow before the tip reached into the clouds above.
"Cool," Rob grinned.
"You are gonna die," Kevin gaped. "And I'll have to explain to Mom why you died."
"Nah, it'll be fine," Rob chuckled, slapping Kevin's shoulder.
"Alright, rules are simple," Jillian explained. "We both take one side of the beanstalk and try to climb up the fastest. Whoever gets to the clouds first wins."
"Sounds fair," Rob nodded.
"Uh, question!" Kevin raised his hand. "Once you two get up, how do you plan to get down?"
"Well, I always carry a parachute," Jillian gestured to a pack she was wearing. "But you can usually slide down the outer vines. It's like a high-speed slide. I loved it when I was little."
"Oh, hex yeah!" Rob cheered. "Win or lose, this sounds so cool!"
"..." Kevin grimaced. "You are so gonna die."
Jillian and Rob quickly took a side of the beanstalk. Both made last-minute preparations, or just to hype themselves up, before Jillian began the count, "Three, two, one…GO!"
Cheers erupted as Jillian and Rob jumped at the beanstalk. Jillian, being trained, already could tell where the best handholds were and was quick to take advantage of them, hopping up the outer vines which coiled up the beanstalk. In fact, she made it look easy, almost hopping from spot to spot.
Rob…was not nearly as graceful. What he did have though was his raw muscle. Rather than go around looking for the best spots like Jillian, he just decided to brute force his way. He would leap up, dig his fingers into where he could find purchase, and pull himself up. So where Jillian had to zig-zag her way up, Rob was going in a straight line straight up.
Still, Jillian was enjoying a firm lead, but Rob was exceeding expectations so far. He wasn't completely left in the dust, but the race was only just beginning.
"He's gonna die, he's gonna die," Kevin bit his fingernails.
"Nah, it's a fairy tale world here," Max shook his head, counting the bets that had been made. "I'm sure the school has some kind of safeguard for this kind of thing. I heard Jillian does this all the time."
Everyone watched with glee as the race continued. No one really doubted that Jillian was going to win, but everyone loved an underdog. Rob gripped a small sprout and pulled himself up to another level of the beanstalk. Huffing, he felt the sweat pooling on him.
"Man, this is a little tough," Rob muttered, but his grin was showing that he was clearly enjoying himself. Coming up to a ledge, he huffed before he absently pulled off his shirt and tossed it aside. "Okay, let's keep going!"
"Ooof!" Dexter yelped as fabric hit him in the face. Pulling it away, he blinked, "Hey, isn't this Rob's shirt?"
"Shouldn't he be freezing that high up?" Kevin blinked.
"He's shirtless up there?" Blondie gasped. "Dexter! Zoom in! Now!"
Rob continued to pull himself up the beanstalk, not really noticing how high up he was. He enjoyed the view, but he was more focused on winning than anything else. He dug his fingers into the tough plant material as he continued to climb. The higher altitude breeze kept him cool as he continued to climb the beanstalk.
Climbing a beanstalk was no easy feat, so it still took some time before Rob felt the trunk of the beanstalk narrowing as he got closer. His limbs felt sore, especially his fingers, and he was huffing for breath. It was definitely the most exertion he had done in anything save his training.
"Guh," Rob grunted, grabbing a leaf and stem before pulling himself up onto a large leaf which was at the top of the beanstalk. "Made it!"
"Not bad, for a rookie," Rob blinked and looked to the far end of the leaf where Jillian was sitting with a victorious grin. She looked like she hadn't put any effort into her climb where Rob was sweaty and lost his shirt. "I still win though."
Rob blinked, but then laughed as he pulled himself onto the leaf. Walking over the leaf he sat down with a sigh, "Well, looks like I have something to shoot for. That was fun."
"Yup! Nothing beats the thrill of a good beanstalk climb," Jillian nodded. She looked back out to the view of Ever After, "The view's really nice too."
"You said it," Rob nodded. "So, you won. What did you win anyway?"
"I was in it more for the thrill. I'll think of something if you insist," Jillian shrugged. Glancing to Rob, she looked him over and saw a long line of a scar on his forearm, "Oh wow. How'd you get that?"
"This?" Rob lifted his arm. "Oh, I was trying to do a loop the loop on a skateboard and I didn't get enough speed. I fell and cracked my arm on the edge. Needed stitches."
"Yeouch," Jillian winced. She patted her thigh, "I have a few little nicks from the first golden goose I tried to handle without Dad's help. Mean little thing she was."
Rob laughed, "I'll raise you from goose bites to the burns I got when I made noodles explode."
"Oh, I think I can top that," Jillian grinned. "But how do you make noodles explode?"
"Well, it started on home ec day…" Rob began to explain.
(***)
What? No, what about the Rob/Nina pairing? Is it going to be Rob/Jillian instead?
Brooke, it's only their first meeting. It's too soon to tell in that sort of thing.
But Daaaaaaad!
(***)
Ever After High
With the excitement of the beanstalk climb over and done with, the day continued on with all the students. Rob's image certainly rose a little with his stunt. Not many really expected him to win, considering Jillian's expertise with beanstalks. Still, he gave a good showing and wasn't left completely in the dust.
"Ahhh, talk about a good day," Rob grinned as he, Kevin, Jillian, and Nina were walking out of the front doors of the school for the day.
"Your arms are going to be killing you by tomorrow," Kevin warned as he walked with his brother.
"No worries. Just a few good stretches before bed and you'll be fine," Jillian advised. "Trust me, I do it all the time."
Nina giggled, "You really did a good job though Rob. Lots of people were really impressed."
"Yeah, but I'll win next time," Rob shrugged. "Although everyone seemed more interested in how someone had turned Headmaster Grimm into a chicken though."
"I heard about that," Kevin nodded. "He was running through the hall yelling about how he didn't want to be a chicken man. People are blaming Raven Queen for it."
"Meh, they blame her for a lot since her mom's a villain," Rob shrugged. "Arthur can tell us if it's true or not since they're besties."
The four-headed out the school gates and down into Book End to relax after another day of school. They chatted and Rob was quick to be friendly with Jillian and Nina, Kevin feeling a little like he was just a tagalong. Rob was definitely the more social of the brothers, not being afraid to put himself out there, even if he risked doing something dumb if someone dared him to do it.
The four reached Hocus Latte and Rob ordered something sweet as a personal reward for his daring that day. Sitting down with a sigh, he rotated his arm. The stiffness was setting in from the intense climb, but he was used to that kind of soreness. He just had to keep moving, stretching, and he'd be able to avoid the worst of it.
"So, Rob, just how did you get the courage to just climb a beanstalk like that?" asked Nina as she took a seat outside after getting her cup, leaving Jillian and Kevin in line to wait for theirs.
"I dunno. It just didn't scare me," Rob shrugged. "Dad says I got it from him, just being naturally brave. Mom says I'm just a bonehead who doesn't know when I shouldn't do something. She also says I got that from Dad."
"Well, it works for a knight," Nina giggled. "Aren't they always charging into danger?"
"Exactly!" Rob agreed. "Gotta be daring to go and do the stuff we do. No time for doubts or being afraid."
Jillian and Kevin soon joined them, Jillian sitting next to Nina and Kevin next to Rob, and the four just chatted and talked about whatever subjects came up. Jillian was a sporty and adventurous type who kept up with the sports scene in the school and how that year's teams were shaping up. Nina on the other hand was more environmental, which made sense since her father was a fairy prince. It turned out she and Jillian were roommates in the dorms so they ended up hanging out a lot.
Despite being in a fairy tale world, and his new friends being the children of famous fairy tales, Rob couldn't help but feel like he was just having an ordinary day.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
"Ow! Sonuva-!" Rob grimaced, a sentiment shared by Kevin. "Not again!"
"Gotta mo-!" Kevin was getting up from his seat…
"SHYAAAAA!" the glass to Hocus Latte's front window rippled almost violently before a monster emerged, lunging at Jillian. Jack's daughter gasped and scrambled back, protecting her friend as the monster smashed her chair.
The monster was a humanoid, having a streamlined body with red panels covering its front. Large bolt-like studs were set in its sides and shoulders. Its arms were metallic with thick fingers. Tubes extended from its back, leading from its shoulders and down into its back, where a large slit in its back. Its head was smooth, sporting a red faceplate with two, black, hollow-like eyes and a gold lower jaw.
This was the Mirror Monster known as a Gelnewt.
The Gelnewt snarled and stood straight to try and make for a second grab, staring hungrily i Jillian and Nina's direction. It didn't get the chance as it was unceremoniously tackled by Rob knocking it flat on its back. It hissed and thrashed, taken by surprise by the sudden attack.
"Go! Get out of here!" Rob shouted. "I'll-OW!" He was cut off as the Gelnewt swatted him aside. It scrambled to its feet and snarled. Seeing Kevin pushing the girls back, and more people running away, the Gelnewt snarled and jumped back through the glass to the Mirror World.
"Oh no, you don't!" Rob grunted, pulling himself up to his feet. Digging into his pocket, he fumbled with his Advent Deck before lifting it up to show in the reflection. His V-Buckle appeared, wrapping around his waist with a snap.
"Rob, wait up!" Kevin called, running to follow his brother.
"Just keep an eye on the girls! It might have help or it'll sneak around," Rob told his brother, his goofy persona switching to his more focused mindset. It was one he rarely used, save for high-pressure moments like on the football field. "Come help once the others get here!"
"Rob, don't even think about it!" Kevin frowned, already going for his deck.
"Never do," Rob retorted, throwing his free hand out, palm facing the glass, "Henshin!"
He slid the crab-faced Advent Deck into the buckle, triggering the activation. His bodysuit was black with orange torso armor and a silver panel in the middle. His shoulder pads resembled crab legs curled over his shoulders. His helmet was mostly orange with a band across his eyes, sporting silver eyepieces and a silver mouthguard. Oddly, a pair of stalk-like horns rose from the top. Mounted on his left arm was a claw weapon that looked like a set of shears on a thick orange base, his Scissors Visor.
Sir Scissors, Knight of the Crab had taken the stage.
"Here I go!" Scissors declared, jumping into the glass. As expected, he phased through and out of Book End.
Kevin grimaced but knew his brother had the right idea. At least he could see his brother through the glass and make sure he was okay…
(***)
Mirror World - Book End
Scissors emerged from the glass, landing on his feet in the empty Mirror World. He looked around, finding it unnerving that the streets were so empty, "Come on you ugly sucker. Where did you go?"
A hiss from above had Scissors look up, seeing the Gelnewt sticking to the wall and staring down at him. It made a gurgling noise before spitting a glob of clear fluid down at the orange knight. Scissors jumped to the side, rolling away before stopping in a crouch. The fluid splattered on the sidewalk, although it didn't seem to react to anything.
The Gelnewt shrieked and jumped down from above. From the slit in it's back, dark slime began to flow before it hardened, forming into what appeared to be a giant shuriken. Gripping the weapon, the monster swung down hard at Scissors, prompting the knight to roll out of the way, letting the edge of the shuriken gouge the road where he had been standing.
Ignoring his sore shoulder from the roll, Scissors reached to his deck, fumbling with it for a moment thanks to his fingers being sore still, but he managed to draw a card. It depicted a large metal crab claw. The title above labeled it as 'Strike Vent'.
Gripping his hand, the shears closed, their base opening up to reveal an empty chamber. Scissors slipped the card inside before releasing the grip. The chamber shut, and the hinges of the shears flashed.
[Strike Vent!]
Scissors lifted his free arm before an orange blur came down and covered his arm. Once armed, it revealed a large metallic crab claw with jagged edges and appeared to almost look hydraulic like the jaws of life.
"Oh yeah!" Scissors grinned. Lifting the weapon, he charged back at the Gelnewt.
Scissors swung his Scissors Pinch against the Gelnewt, but it felt painfully heavy as he swung it. His arms burned from the exertion of the fight. The claw smashed against the shuriken the monster created, blocking it quite easily. Scissors grunted, trying to thrust with his Scissors Visor, keeping the Gelnewt from retaliating quickly, although Scissors felt like he was going slower than he normally should have.
As the two traded blows, Scissors grunted, feeling like his arms were falling off. Because of this, he was not striking as hard as he normally could. He had been confident that he could have knocked the Gelnewt back rather than just pin it down. Quietly cursing the fact he exerted himself so badly in the beanstalk climb, he did his best to ignore the pain and charged, shoulder checking the Gelnewt and knocking it back, crashing against a table, knocking it and the coffee on it over.
"Gah! Sonuva-!" Scissors groaned, letting his arms hang. He gritted his teeth and reaffirmed his stance, "Okay, tough it out. Just finish him off."
Scissors tossed his Scissors Pinch aside and clumsily tried to draw another card, hoping for his Final Vent. As he tried, the Gelnewt managed to scramble up to its knees, covered in hot coffee and foam. Getting its senses back, it made a gurgling noise before it spat out a glob of slime at Scissors.
"Huh?" Scissors looked up to see what the monster was doing but got a wad of slime in his face. "Ack! Ugh, gross!" He reached up and tried to wipe the slime off, but found it solidifying into a thick, sticky gel.
Scissors grunted and ripped at the slime, made more difficult since his left had was covered by his Scissors Visor. He managed to rip off the gel and get his clear vision again, but only saw that he was alone again.
"Oh no," Scissors groaned. Looking around, he saw that the Gelnewt had vanished. Groaning, he flaked his hand and flung off the last of the slime on his hand. "Kevin's not going to let me hear the end of this one." He grumbled and turned towards the window of a nearby building, "And my arms aren't going to let me forget this one either."
(***)
Book End - Library
Rob returned to Book End, finding his brother, Nina, and Jillian in short order. Rob reported what happened and with the situation in hand, the group made tracks to the library to try and figure out their next plan.
The group was using a sitting room to meet with the others who were quick to call a meeting with Rex in the lead. Rob was leaning back in one of the armchairs, his arms sporting cold packs for his aching muscles. He relaxed in the chair as he tried to take part in the new strategy meeting.
"Okay, so a Gelnewt," Rex began the meeting, "Merlin, how much do we know about this particular breed?"
"Not one of the craftier breeds from what I've been able to tell," Merlin answered, conjuring an illusionary Gelnewt on the table for the others to see. "Nor are they the aggressive types either. What they do have are dirty tricks and a versatile slime."
"It spewed some stuff from its back and it made a weapon out of it," Rob reported. "Then when it had the chance, it spat some of the stuff in my face and then ran for it. It's some seriously sticky stuff."
Arthur tapped his chin, "So it's not going to go for an all-out attack, and it's not going to be super cunning either."
"I'd say it would look for an opportunity to get at Jillian," Max added his two cents. "But that gives us an opportunity."
"To do what?" asked Nina, worried for her friend.
"We set a trap," Max explained. "Mirror Monsters won't stop hunting a target until they get it, so we know the Gelnewt is going to come back for round two. All we have to do is set a trap and let the monster come to us and we bring it down."
"B-But wouldn't that put Jillian at risk?" asked Ben, not liking the risk associated with that plan.
"She's already at risk," Max replied succinctly. "This just has a good chance of ending the risk sooner rather than later."
"Before we try and commit, we can at least ask Jillian what she wants," Arthur frowned. He looked at the so-far silent brunette. "Well, what are your thoughts? Max has a good point, but this is your health and safety on the line."
Jillian hummed as she rubbed her chin. She was actually taking the thought of a monster-hunting her much better than anyone expected. Jillian certainly didn't lack in courage, being able to traverse beanstalks as quickly as she could. She lived for adventure, but adventuring did bring the undercurrent of risk. Jillian knew this and was ready for it. The situation with the monster just made it a different kind of risk than she was used to.
"I think we should go for this trap," she nodded.
"Are you sure?" asked Gwen, surprised and concerned for the other girl. "This is a bigger risk than climbing a beanstalk. This thing is going to come at you with all it's got."
"All the more reason we need to stop it," Jillian reasoned, shaking her head. "I was in the dorms when those other two monsters rampaged through it."
"A hungry animal is a dangerous one, and a hungry monster would be more so," Nina agreed, albeit reluctantly. "If this gets drawn out, the monster may put more people at risk when it tries to hunt Jillian."
Rex sighed, dropping his head for a moment, "As much as I don't like to put someone at risk, this is sounding like our best plan. Let's try to find a good spot to set this trap and stop the Gelnewt before it tries something else."
"Okay," Rob nodded, starting to stand up with a grunt, but winced when jabs of pain ran through his arms, "So…ow…where do we start?"
"Oh no," Kevin frowned, pointing at his brother. "You are going to sit this one out. Your arms are way too messed up now. You even admitted it was hard enough to lift your weapon in the fight. You're in no shape to go running into a second fight."
Rob shook his head, "Hey, I'm a knight too, remember? I'm not sitting out something this serious!"
"For the love of…Rob, will you stop and think for once?!" Kevin snapped, gritting his teeth. "You have strained your arms to the limit! They aren't going to function normally! You try to fight, you'll just be one big target! Stop thinking with your adrenaline addiction for a change!"
"I'm not going to just sit down and wait when my friends are in trouble!" Rob snapped back.
"You can't even lift your arms!" Kevin pointed out.
Rob gritted his teeth and did lift his arms, but the pain spiked through him from his strained muscles. Try as he might, there was no way for him to hide the pain which hit him from the strain. He did try, but Kevin wasn't having any of it, "Rob, enough! You can't fight like this!"
"But you can't just bench me!" Rob tried to argue. He couldn't just sit back and do nothing!
"Robert, there is conviction and then there is stubbornness," Rex broke the stalemate between the brothers. "You are in no shape to fight. You can't lift your arms, much less draw cards. Just get some rest. We'll take care of the Gelnewt. With the thirteen of us around, it won't be a contest."
Rob scowled, but he didn't see any support his way. With his arms hanging loosely, there was no way he looked like he was in any shape to fight the Gelnewt again. With no one on his side, he turned and began to stomp out of the library. His footsteps echoed through the large room, showing just what he thought about the group's decision.
Pushing the doors open with his shoulder, Rob walked out into the open air with his temper boiling and nothing he could realistically do about it. He knew his arms were messed up but did everyone really expect him to just kick back and relax when a Mirror Monster was gunning for his new friend? There was plenty he could still do! He could…he could…he'd think of something! He didn't have to be sidelined just because he couldn't throw a punch anymore!
"Rob? Wait, Rob!"
Nina's voice cut through Rob's temper, stilling it for a moment as he turned to see her exiting the library behind him. She watched Rob with clear concern, no doubt because she saw how much pain he was in just by trying to move his arms after putting so much strain on them throughout the day.
"Aren't you going to stay with the others where it's safer?" asked Rob.
Nina shook her head, "No, Jillian said it would be better if I stayed away. She didn't want me to get caught up in the excitement by accident."
"They kicked you out too?" Rob sighed. "Man, this sucks so hard."
"Oh don't be so grumpy," Nina huffed, rubbing Rob's left arm. He winced, which made her stop. "Sorry. Still though, I know it's not fun, but so many of the other knights are helping to protect Jillian and beat that monster. Is it so awful that you have the chance to recover from the fight you saved me and Jillian in?"
Rob grumbled as he and Nina began walking down the street, "It's just…I'm a knight, you know? This is what I'm supposed to do and I hate the idea of just being told to kick back and relax when people are in trouble. It makes me even madder that Kevin seems to think I'm more in it for the excitement than anything else."
Nina watched Rob grumble as they walked, sympathising with him. While he was clearly a daredevil who liked to live life on the edge, he did have a streak of responsibility in him. He was taking his duties seriously, even if they did fall in line with his preferred way of life. Now though, Nina could clearly see it was tearing Rob up inside that he wasn't able to help and it made him angrier that his own brother was dismissing his desire to help for just another thrill.
Nina pursed her lips as she thought about what she could do to help. She certainly didn't like to see her friends upset over things. Rob clearly hated leaving Jillian to be protected by others, even if he understood he couldn't with his arms in the shape they were in. She wanted to help, but she wasn't exactly versed in dealing with injuries and Baba Yaga might not help since the injury didn't happen at school…
"Oh!" she gasped as she suddenly got an idea.
"What?" Rob blinked, turning to her.
"I might know a way we can at least get you back in fighting shape and help you feel better," Nina offered.
"Really?!" Rob gasped.
"Yes, follow me!" Nina exclaimed, starting to jog down the street. Rob watched her go before he started following, taking care to not fall over since his arms wouldn't cooperate in saving him.
(***)
Yes! Nina gets ahead!
Brooke, it's not a competition.
Ack! Sorry, Mom!
(***)
Book End - Park
The plan was simple, which the best plans usually were.
The knights had moved out to the park, a place with few reflections to use for transportation. The knights would use the lack of view from the Mirror World to place themselves in ambush spots while Jillian would be out in the open, acting as bait. She would be visible from the fountain or polished metal from statuary plaques although not in easy reach either. When the Gelnewt returned, it would have to charge for her, leaving it open for ambush from the other knights.
Jillian sat on a bench, keeping her breathing calm as she anticipated the monster coming for her. It was taking a lot of her courage to go through with the plan. Still, she knew it had to be done if she was going to be safe and keep Book End safe from one more moster.
Ryuki stayed hidden behind a tree, his Drag Clawat the ready. Knight was behind another, flipping his Nasty Vent card in his hand, preparing to use it to distract the Gelnewt when it arrived.
Others were hiding in other spots depending on where the monster would come out. Some were keeping the park clear of bystanders, using some excuses like a knight exercise or something.
'Come on, come on,' Ryuki thought to himself. 'How long is this thing going to make us wait?'
"One thing no one ever tells you about hunting monsters," Knight lamented, "The waiting."
"No kidding," Ryuki nodded.
They waited for what felt like ages. Part of it was clearly the anticipation, waiting for the monster to appear. Ryuki just wasn't sure how Jillian was able to keep standing still for so long. He would have had to get up, maybe take the fight to the monster if he could. For Jillian to keep sitting on the bench, not even using her phone thanks to the reflective surface, had to take a lot of courage and self-control.
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
"Showtime!" Knight perked up.
Ryuki dared to glance out where Jillian was still sitting. Nearby, a statue of some Prince Charming or King had its plaque ripple. With a burst, the monster emerged and charged for where Jillian was sitting.
[Nasty Vent!]
The fountain water erupted as Darkwing emerged. Flapping in the air, it screamed loudly, causing Jillian and the monster to clutch their ears to keep the noise out. Ryuki was quick to emerge from his own spot. Pulling his Drag Claw back, he ignited the mechanisms inside before launching a blast of fire at his target. The fire seared through the air before it crashed against the monster, making an explosion that threw the monster back before slamming into the ground in a smoking heap.
"Got it!" Ryuki called, himself and Knight charging onto the scene. "Jillian, get back!"
"Don't have to tell me twice!" Jillian yelped, quickly getting back from the scene of the fight.
The two knights came to where the monster was struggling to get up. As the smoke cleared, the monster managed to be seen.
A Sheerghost.
"Huh?" Knight blinked. "Weren't we hunting a Gelnewt?"
"Yeah," Ryuki blinked, just as dumbfounded at the sight.
The Sheerghost made a grumble before it saw who was facing off against it. It did not hesitate before it turned and began to run away, snapping Knight and Ryuki from their stupor. Grasping their weapons, they gave chase after it.
[Final Vent!]
The monster did not get far before, with a Tarzan yell, Verde swooped onto the scene, grasping the Sheerghost in his Death Punish attack. They both flipped through the air before Verde piledrove it into the ground with a loud slam.
"Got it!" Verde announced, leaping back. Dusting off his hands, he eyed the monster before stopping, "Uh, wait, didn't Rob and Kevin say it was a-!"
BOOM!
The monster exploded in a fiery haze, making the three knights step back and shield their faces. Verde glanced to the flames, "...Gelnewt?"
As Biogreeza appeared to claim his snack, the other knights, Jillian, and even Mira approached as the smoke from the destroyed monster drifted into the air. Everyone removed their armors with the monster dealt with, but the mood was far from celebratory.
"So, did we get it?" asked Gabe. "Why isn't anyone cheering?"
"Because it wasn't a Gelnewt," Arthur reported. "A Sheerghost came and triggered the trap."
"Okay," Tristan frowned. "So a Sheerghost tried to poach the Gelnewt's meal. We reset someplace else and try again."
Mira shook her head, "Mirror Monsters aren't the type to steal. They always respect another's meal."
"Always?" asked Max and Mira nodded. "Then why would a Sheerghost come after Jillian if a Gelnewt already made a claim?"
"Maybe because the Gelnewt isn't here?" asked Gabe. "Mira, are there any more monsters around?"
"I looked into the Mirror World to see, but it all looks quiet to me," Mira shook her head. With her unique nature, Mira could always see inside of the Mirror World and keep an eye out for anything strange.
"Then where'd the monster go?" asked Gwen with confusion. "Monsters don't give up and it Rob didn't seriously hurt it, so it couldn't have gone to lick its wounds for a while."
"Backup?" Gawain suggested a rare moment for him to speak.
"Gelnewts aren't communal like Zelles," Kevin shook his head. Unless they were the same breed, Mirror Monsters tended to not work together.
"So what does it all mean then?" Rex frowned. "Why would the monster show up to attack at Hocus Latte but not here where its target was so clearly vulnerable? It couldn't have sent that Sheerghost as a test."
Kevin frowned, but then paled, "Wait…the monster jumped us at Hocus Latte, and charged at Jillian who was the closest person there, but she wasn't the only one there…"
"But if it's not after me…" Jillian frowned, her eyes widening as it hit her. At Hocus Latte where the monster appeared, there was only one thing different from the trap the knights set now… She and Kevin looked at each other in shock, "It's after Nina!"
(***)
Wait, the monster wasn't after Jillian at all?!
Indeed Brooke. Remember, Nina was sitting beside Jillian at Hocus Latte when the monster appeared. Jillian was just the closest person to it when it lunged. Naturally, the knights assumed she was the target.
But Dad, that means…Rob and Nina are alone with a monster following them!
Yes, yes it does…
(***)
Enchanted Forest
"So, what are we doing here?" asked Rob while he followed Nina on a path through the Enchanted Forest.
The Enchanted Forest was the large forest that made up a lot of the green space past Ever After High. It was the home of all sorts of magical creatures and plants. Fairies, dragons, and all sorts of creatures could be found and plenty of magic materials could be harvested from there. It was also a popular spot for the students of the school to hang out when they wanted peace and privacy. Spots such as gazebos and other open spaces were set up for just such a purpose.
At this point, Rob and Nina were walking down a dirt path that was winding through the forest. Nina walked with other confidence, being entirely used to the forest. Rob was a little more hesitant but slowed down as he was looking at everything or the odd noise that he heard.
"The Enchanted Forest has all kinds of magical herbs and flowers which can help people," Nina explained. "One of them is the Life Lilly. It's a special plant that can heal aches and pains when its nectar is applied. I think that might be just what the doctor ordered to help your arms."
"Oh," Rob nodded. "So, what do they look like?"
"Like lilly flowers, but they're pure white and glow from the inside," Nina answered. "But they grow close to the water so we're not going to find one out here."
"You know a place?" Rob asked, curious and hopeful that he could get rid of the dogged pain in his arms.
"Yep, but I hope the fairies are willing to let us use them," Nina answered.
Rob blinked, "Fairies?"
Nina led him through thicker and thicker foliage before they emerged into a small clearing. In the middle of it, sparkling thanks to sunlight peeking through the tree branches above, was a little pond. It was crystal clear and had several lilly pads all over the surface. Growing from near the edges and some shallow portions were several lilies that were pure white but glowed golden when the shade would cover them.
Surprisingly, the pond wasn't empty. In fact, it was seeing a lot of use. Fairies, little humanoids with a rainbow of skin colors, long ears, and gossamer wings were flittering about. From what it looked like to Rob, the fairies were using the pond as a kind of clinic. Several fairies looked like they fluttered in with scrapes and bruises before they were checked out by another fairy wearing a white coat. Once they ascertained the injury, a nurse fairy would fly up to a lily, scoop out nectar into a small jar, and bring it back to treat their patients. The nectar worked almost instantly with a soft green glow, and the fairy would dart off again with a happy smile.
"Woah," Rob gasped softly, seeing real live fairies right in front of him.
"The lilies are important to fairies since they can help with a lot of injuries," Nina explained. "It's why we have to be respectful. Hopefully, all we have to do is wait for our turn and they'll let us use the nectar too."
"Well, you know fairies best," Rob nodded. "I'll let you do the talking."
Nina led the way to the pond and many fairies took notice of them. Many seemed ready to bolt, but they seemed to recognize Nina and relax. She smiled and waved before she shrunk down to their size. Rob gingerly sat down on the grass, letting Nina take the lead. A nurse fairy had flown up to her and they began to talk. So far, it seemed like the fairies were being receptive.
"So, that's why my friend needs treatment for his arms," Nina explained the story as to why they came for the nectar. "We were hoping you might have some available to help him?"
The nurse fairy pondered the request. She waved over other nursing fairies and they flew to Rob. Coming to his arms, they saw the bruising forming on his biceps and forearms from the strain he had been under that day. Conferring, sounding like squeaks and chimes, they poked and prodded the bruises, making home wince as they tried to see the extent of the damage.
"Give it to me straight, doc," Rob tried to joke. "Am I done for?" The joke seemed to make the fairies laugh as they finished going over his arms. They flew back to Nina and spoke to her, which seemed to make her brighten up.
"You can?" she gasped in delight. "Rob, the fairies say they can share the nectar with us!"
"That's great!" Rob grinned. He'd be back to fighting fit in no time-!
Eeeeeeeeeeeeeee!
The pond suddenly erupted as the Gelnwet returned, lunging for the shore. Nina let off a shriek of fright as she ran into the grass. The Gelnwet landed at the shore, tearing at the grass to try and find her, snarling in frustration and hunger.
"Hey, butthole!" Rob called, charging into the fray. The Gelnewt looked up before it got Rob's foot in its face in the form of a powerful kick. The blow knocked the monster back, splashing in the water as it gripped its face.
"Run Nina! Wherever you are!" Rob called, like the Gelnewt, unable to see Nina as she ran through the grass in her tiny form.
Nina was already running, trying to get to a spot where she could be safe from the monster. As she burst forth from the grass, several fairies zoomed into the fray, helping lift her up before flying her to a tree with several knotholes in it where the fairies were removing to hide. Once set on her feet, Nina ran to the edge of the hole to see what was happening.
Rob grimaced, the pain in his arms flaring up again. He ignored it, forcing himself to reach into his pocket and produce his Advent Deck. Running to the edge of the water, he pinned the Gelnwet down with his foot and pointed his deck at the water. The Gelnewt was quick to reach and try pushing Rob back, but not before his V-Buckle appeared on his waist.
Rob moved back, his arms screaming at him, "Henshin!"
He slid the deck into his belt, prompting his transformation into Scissors. Huffing, the orange knight glared down at the Gelnwet, "You don't know when to quit, do you? Fine. Don't care. I'll just smash you anyway!"
The Gelnewt snarled as it got back to its feet, secreting more slime which hardened into its shuriken. With a gurgle, it charged at Scissors, swinging wildly with its weapon. Scissors huffed and dipped back to avoid the strikes, keeping his footing. His arms kept protesting, stinging with every rapid movement.
Huffing, Scissors ducking underneath one blow before he lunged, shoulder checking the Gelnewt in the torso. He stumbled back, but Scissors kept pushing. Scissors kept pushing until both crashed into a tree. Grunting, Scissors lifted his Scissors Visor and jabbed at the Gelnwet, bringing sparks and some damage, although not as much as he could have with his arms in their current condition.
The Gelnewt snarled and grabbed his arm after the third strike. It began to pry his arm back to make an opening to strike. Scissors' muscles screamed in protest, so the orange knight grunted and headbutt the monster in the face. The Gelnwet yelped and clutched its head and let go of the knight's arm.
Scissors drew back, "This isn't working well." Groaning, he fumbled and drew another card. Opening his Visor, he dropped the card inside before activating it.
[Strike Vent!]
The Scissors Pinch flew from the pond and equipped to Scissors' arm, which he suddenly let hang from the added weight and the new pain in his arm from holding it. Up. Scissors groaned, but ignored it, trying to bring the weapon to bear.
The Gelnewt managed to get its senses back and with a growl, went back into the fray, swinging its weapon with abandon. Scissors raised his arms to defend himself, lifting the Scissors Pinch, and the shuriken crashed against the metal surface. Scissors grunted, slightly staggered by the force of the blow and his own body not quite ready for the blows in its condition. He tried to retaliate, stabbing at the Gelnewt, but the speed was not what it should have been and the monster dodged, spinning around before catching Scissors across the chest with its weapon.
"Gah!" the knight cried, stumbling back. Scissors huffed as the Gelnewt snarled, approaching him with victory in its hollow eyes. The Knight of the Crab growled and got his footing back. He knew he was in a tough spot, but he wasn't going to just give up!
'Well, if I can't lift my arms, maybe I can still swing!' Scissors thought to himself.
Digging his feet into the ground, Scissors suddenly twisted his body and spun, leaving his arms loose. As he spun, his arms lifted and his Scissors Pinch came crashing into the surprised Gelnwet's head. The centrifugal force from Scissors' spinning allowed him to lift his arms without using his already strained muscles and distracting himself from the pain.
"Come on!" Scissors roared, spinning a second time, slashing the Gelnewt across the chest with his Scissors Visor. Sparks flew and the Gelnwet stumbled back a second time. His arms still throbbed in pain, but it was way less than if he tried to lift them himself.
The Gelnwet roared and lifted its shuriken before promptly throwing it at Scissors. The knight yelped and dove out of the way. Scrambling to get up, he tried to get his defenses up but roared in pain when something got him in the back. Falling over again, he tried to see what it was only to find the Gelnwet's shuriken falling to the ground.
"Wh-what is this? A boomerang?" Scissors groaned.
The Gelnwet hissed victoriously and started to approach, pulling its shuriken from the ground to use again. Scissors groaned, slipping his hand from the Scissors Pinch and grabbing at his belt. Fumbling, but getting a card out, he slapped it into his Scissors Visor and let it activate.
[Advent!]
The pond splashed a second time, heralding the arrival of a new monster. This one had a humanoid shape, covered in thick layers of the orange, metallic carapace. Its chest was white and its arms ended in large orange claws not unlike the Scissors Pinch. Its head was a large armored dome that gave the distinct impression of a crab, having white mandibles and short eye stalks tipped with dark green eyes. This was Scissors' Mirror Monster partner, Volcancer.
Volcancer let off a shriek and charged into the fray, claws lifted menacingly. The Gelnewt changed its target as Volcancer crashed into it, both starting to tear at each other. Scissors groaned and rolled onto his back, his arms feeling like they were on fire.
With all this going on, Nina watched in fear as her friend was clearly getting worse. Rob was trying to be tough, but his arms were just getting worse with all the strain he was putting on himself to fight the Gelnewt. Frantic with increasing worry, she turned to the fairy doctor from the clinic.
"Please Mr. Fairy!" Nina pleaded to the fairy hiding with her. "Rob's going to get hurt if he keeps fighting! If you can do anything to help, please!"
The fairy rubbed his chin, but then lit up as he got an idea. He whistled sharply, bringing many of his friends out of hiding. He gestured to them, which seemed to get his idea across. All of them rummaged inside their hollows before retrieving small pots. Once armed, the swarm of them flew down to the Life Lillies. Sticking the pots inside of the flowers, they filled them with the nectar.
The lead fairy nodded before whistling, letting the entire swarm fly towards the scene of the fight. Coming above the scene of the battle, they flew to the downed Scissors. Nodding, the fairies turned the pots over, letting the magical nectar fall and begin splashing on Scissors' body.
The effects were almost immediate. A green glow began to cover his body. Scissors' head perked up as he felt a new a vitality began to rush through him. Every ache, pain, and ounce of soreness soon was flushed from his body. Vigor returned in a flood and Scissors jumped to his feet with a roar, "NOW I'M REALLY FIRED UP!"
The Gelnewt kicked Volcancer away, turning to try and find Nina, but received a Scossir's Pinch to the face for its trouble. Gurgling in pain, it stumbled back as Scissors advanced on it, "Payback time slimeball!"
The Gelnewt gurgled, lifting its shuriken before charging at Scissors once again. It swung once, twice, but Scissors, no longer inhibited by his pain, was able to dip back and away. A third swing had Scissors lift his ar, catching one of the weapon's brings in his weapon's grip.
"Okay pal, you had your free shots at me. I'll let you have them," the Scissors Pinch began to hiss like hydraulics and the claw began to put pressure on the Gelnwet's weapon. "But no one, and I mean no one, goes after one of my friends!" He gave a clench of his hand and the Scissors PInch hissed before he yanked it. A snap announced the shuriken breaking, unbalancing the Gelnewt as its weapon's mass suddenly lightened.
"And you know why?" Scissors growled, pressing on his attack. The Gelnewt swung again, but caught another barb and snapped it just as easily, "Because I'm a knight of Camelot! I'm the next Sir Bors." Another swing and another barb was broken. "I'm the Knight of the Crab!" The Gelnewt began getting desperate and tried to stab him. Scissors just caught the center of the shuriken and his Scissors Pinch began to crush the weapon, "I AM SIR SCISSORS THE BRAVE!"
A final clench shattered the shuriken, and the Gelnewt screamed in pain as shards tore into the monster's arms.
Scissors saw his chance, swinging his weapon several times, smashing the Gelnewt several times before he struck it across the face in a heavy blow. The monster was knocked back, clutching its head in pain from the blow.
"Okay, doing it right this time," Scissors huffed, letting go of his weapon. He confidently drew another card, this one showing his emblem on an orange background. He quickly opened his Scissors Visor and slipped it inside, "Volcancer! Let's do this!"
[Final Vent!]
Volcancer moved fast, coming up right behind Scissors. The orange knight jumped straight up, lifting his knees to his chest. Volcancer quickly brought its claws underneath, letting Scissors land on them before a mighty push sent Scissors into the air. Sailing through the air, he tucked his body into a ball, starting to spin as he was launched at his target.
The Gelnwet hissed and gurgled, managing to uncover its eyes. All it saw was an incoming orange blur it had no time to try and escape from before Scissors impacted with it. The Gelnewt's scream echoed through the area as it exploded in a bright blast of heat and flame.
Scissors rolled out from the explosion before coming to a stop. He unsteadily got onto his feet with a groan, "Wooo, dizzy."
"Rob!" Nina called, prompting Scissors to turn. A flash of gold announced Nina's return to normal size. She was on the knight in an instant, checking him for injuries, "Are you okay? That monster hit you so many times!"
"Right as rain," Scissors reassured her, "That nectar did the trick," he looked up to see the fairies above, watching the excitement and gave them a hearty salute. The fairies smiled and cheered, happy to see the knight in shining armor win the day.
A flash of light made everyone tense, but it revealed the Gelnewt's energy core which Volcancer eagerly gulped up. Rumbling contentedly, the crab-like monster turned and headed back to the pond, sinking into its reflection.
"Yeah, sure, not like you didn't help save the day too," Scissors chuckled.
"Happily ever after for everyone then," Nina sighed with relief.
(***)
Book End - Library
Rob did Nina did return to the library, only to be on the receiving end of copious amounts of worry. The others had been trying to contact them several times, but thanks to the lack of reception in the Enchanted Forest, neither of them received the news of what had happened. Everyone was shocked to hear the story of how the Gelnewt returned and how the fight went.
"You…are so incredibly lucky," Kevin rubbed his face. "I can't even begin to get it. Just what you needed to recover and win, you were right there to get it."
"Lady Luck just likes me I guess," Rob grinned. "But having a friend who fairies likes can help."
"Well, Mom is considered a fairy queen, so I do tend to get some access other people don't," Nina humbly shrugged.
"Good thing you did, otherwise you'd both be monster chow," Jillian smiled. "Glad to see you two are okay though.
"Never better!" Rob boasted, flexing his newly healed arm. "Still, if I'm going to race you up the beanstalk again, I'm going to train for it first. Having my arms hurting so bad sucked."
"Well, at least you learned something then," Kevin rolled his eyes.
"Still, it's good to know that this monster is taken care of and Merlin can begin repairing the damage to the barrier," Rex nodded. "Although with how many times this Gelnewt broke through, I worry if the barrier is losing effectiveness."
"It is a worry," Arthur agreed, arms crossed in thought. "Still, all we can do now is just stay diligent, keep training, and put down any monster that crosses over."
A chorus of agreements came from the other knights, all of them knowing things were going to get worse before they would get better. Darren sighed and stood up, "I need my daily infusion of nonsense. I'm going to the Haberdashery to soothe my nerves."
No one argued and Darren got up to leave, others doing much the same. Rob watched him go past and waved… "NUT PUNCH!" Darren's eyes widened, but he couldn't react fast enough as Rob's fist collided with his family jewels with an audible impact. Darren wheezed and groaned, collapsing in a heap on the ground. "HA! Seven to six now! I get the epic four-pointer! Who's got the skills now!?"
Darren groaned, curled up in a fetal position, "Guh…ow…epic…good one."
"Rob! That wasn't very nice!" Nina gasped.
Rob winced, but quickly tried to explain himself, "Hey, Darren challenged me…"
Kevin groaned and palmed his face, "My brother. How is he my brother?" He looked up as Rob tried to explain Ball Tag and Darren's challenge only for Nina to keep scolding him for doing something so mean to a friend.
Well, maybe now he would have some backup in keeping him in line.
(***)
And so ends the first tale of Sir Robert Bray, the next Sir Bors. A young man who…er…certainly lives up to the impulsive legacy he volunteered for.
*snort* he's still playing that game?
Well, no one declared a winner yet. Who knows how long they might keep going?
A knight should have more dignity than that…teenagers, I suppose.
To be Continued…
OMAKE CORNER
The Knight's Armory
Sir Scissors, Knight of the Crab
The armor of Sir Robert boasts higher durability than some of the other knights. The torso armor is thicker along with the shoulder plating, allowing for more endurance and the ability to tank more attacks than others. With the bright orange color of the armor, it draws attention and makes for a target for enemies rather than the lightly armored abdomen and legs, left that way so as not to sacrifice mobility.
The main weapon of this suit is the Scissors Visor, a pair of shears set on a gauntlet that acts as Scissors' primary weapon. The shears are quite sharp and work well as a baseline weapon, although a drawback is that the gauntlet covers his hand entirely, leaving Scissors with only one hand to use in battle.
The Mirror Monster that is paired with this armor is Volcancer, a monster that takes the form of a humanoid crab. While not one of the most powerful of monsters, Volcancer boasts the versatility of being able to fight on land or in the water and having the ability to breathe underwater.
So far, the weapons seen associated with this armor is the Strike Vent, the Scissors Pinch. It is a version of Volcancer's claw which is equipped to Scissors' free hand. It is a large metal claw that holds considerable crushing power thanks to the hydraulic mechanics hidden within. The claw is also heavy, making it an excellent bludgeoning weapon.
The Final Vent of this suit is the Scissors Attack. This attack has Scissors launched from Volcancer's claws using them as a platform while the monster pushes to add height. Scissors then curls into a spinning ball which comes crashing down on the target as a spinning attack. Again, it is not the most powerful of attacks, but its simplicity makes it hard to escape from.
Beyond the Looking Glass
Gelnewt
Gelnewts are an amphibious Mirror Monster who, while lacking in cunning and power, make up for it with their opportunism. Gelnewts hunt by looking for opportunity and waiting for the best moment to strike, lacking true strength to overpower enemies or the intelligence to outmaneuver them.
What Gelnewts possess is a versatile slime they can generate from their bodies. In its basic form, the Gelnewts can produce this slime and throw it at targets, using its sticky and viscous form to pin them into place. They can also use it to blind or pin down enemies to make an escape. By excreting it from their backs, possibly with other body chemicals mixed in, the slime turns hard like steel, taking the form of a shuriken which these monsters use to fight if necessary.
A/N: Well, sorry for the late update. I badly underestimated how much time I had left and how much I could write at a time between work and the exhaustion of daily life before my deadline. Still, I hope you all enjoy this.