Chapter 4- Her Decision
Morbucks woke up, replaying the memories of her childhood. Was this just her way of coping with uncertainty? No money, no suit, no... ... . She'd been thrown off her routine, and into a state of instability. Maybe that's why she clung so much to the past right now. The past is where her comfort was, where the world she lived in used to exist. It was nothing if not consistent, but what would she do now that it was over? Ragnorak came for me and following the end, what am I left with? What is Princess Morbucks without power, money, or the ability to influence people? I'm nothing more than a-The door swung open and Maia entered.
"Are you feeling hungry?"
Come to think of it...yea I was. Morbucks nodded her head. I must have been so deep in thought that I ignored the need for food.
"Eggs and sausage?"
"You got any milk too?"
"Yup".
After Morbucks finished eating, Maia asked her to talk outside the residence. Is Him finally going to pop out of his human skin and deliver his terms? She still doesn't believe it's really Him, but if it is, he has put on the performance of a lifetime. One could say it was his grand masterpiece, to keep up this charade for so long.
At this point...is there anything left for me in this life? I could search this world for the suit, but would Him let me strike out on my own? No, he wouldn't. I could try to find a way to escape this weird alternate reality of Townsville and collect whatever resources I have left, but Him would have his eyes on me at all times. I'd made so many enemies over the years, I doubt anyone would help me if I didn't toss cash in their face. Well, I won't simply let him have his way with me. The only way that I'd possibly be his slave is if he makes Brick date me. Otherwise, I'll do nothing. He may think that he holds all the cards in his favor, He's...dead...wrong!
Taking a deep breath, she stepped outside and awaited his reveal. The woman with long, red hair had her back turned to the little girl. She was waiting very patiently for her and it was as if she had transformed into a human statue. How many people could actually stand completely still like that?
The young woman spoke up before Morbucks did.
"I'm guessing that you're wondering what exactly happened after you lost consciousness the other day, correct?"
Morbucks remained silent. Seriously though, what did happen to Bernard and those goons?
"I have been observing you for some time. I first saw you on videos that had been posted online. People had been recording your battles with the girls, and I have to say...
Is Him about to pop out? I'm getting tired of waiting...
"You have a passion I've seen in few others, and you remind me a lot of myself when I was a young girl. I was very aggressive and I lived by my own rules. I wanted to actually meet you in person beforehand and get to know you a bit, but before I had the opportunity to, something horrible happened".
Morbucks thoughts came to a screeching halt. No...Don't say it...don't say it...As long as you don't say it, it isn't real...it's not real as long as she doesn't say those words...
"I knocked on your door, but it was locked tight. So, I used my powers to warp myself inside your mansion and...I couldn't believe what I saw".
Morbucks teared up, covering her ears. Don't say the words...DON'T SAY THEM!
"I waited in hiding and saw those 2 individuals abduct you and heard the crimes they admitted to. Using my abilities, I warped in and out of your reality until they stopped at that weirdos place. Once those thugs dropped their guard, I...took care of them."
She did what? How? It must be Him. How could a woman have taken those 2 down? They were huge, experienced, dangerous men!
" When the boss left his home, I ambushed the man and gave him the same treatment as the two punks working for him" Maia said coldly.
"Then...I found you knocked out on a wet floor...I'm so sorry I didn't make it in time. If I'd known about the connection your father had with these scumbags, I'd have..."
Morbucks was covering her ears again, and trying her best to contain herself. Him...it's gotta be that red bastard...
"Well...that's over now. I think that now, more than ever, I want to teach you what I know".
Here it comes...the spawn of evil is going to pop out any second and make me his slave. Well...not without terms he won't!
"I will give you two choices, Princess. I believe in a person's freedom, so I'll support whichever you decide. You can return back to your mansion in Townsville or you can stay here and let me train you".
Morbucks dried up her tears. "Train...me?"
"Do you know how I was able to save you? It wasn't merely because of my ability to transport between dimensions. I am a martial arts master, and..."she took off her clothes until she was wearing a bra and some shorts. There's not an inch of body fat on this woman! She had a feminine grace to her, but underneath those clothes she was hiding a muscular physique.
"Those 3 men are dead...but what will happen in the future should anyone catch you by surprise again? What are you without the suit Princess?"
"Why are you doing this?" Morbucks asked.
If she's some kind of expert, maybe she was just looking for new ways to earn money. I mean, she wanted to meet with my dad first. Everyone has a motive for what they do...no one is innocent or truly kind from the bottom of their heart...Maybe she wants to pass along her hidden dojo to a student?
"Because I want to" Maia replied.
This doesn't make a lick of sense. There has got to be an ulterior motive here. Does she want my resources? Does she want a successor to pass her knowledge onto? What in the world does this lady WANT!?
Maia waited for Princess to answer to question. I have...nothing to return to. The maids are gone...my father is...there's not enough money to build another suit...but there is probably enough to afford the lady's lessons. What did I have left to lose? What was I going back to? I no longer had the ability to take revenge...for the time being, I need to sort out all these feelings.
"How much do you charge for lessons?"
"Zero, kiddo".
Zero...what? WHAT?
"It's really no problem, I can just get what's left from my inheritance and pay the fees...everyone needs money" Morbucks said, challenging Maia.
Maia countered immediately. "Money holds no interest to me"
I can't believe what I'm hearing...everyone needs money...everyone uses it in our world. Mojo Jojo needed it for his diabolical plans, Him used it to buy his stupid Yoga videos, the Rowdy Ruff Boys robbed banks in order to buy illegal drugs, Fuzzy Lumpkins needed it for new weapons, Professor Utonium used it to pay his rent...how in the world does money not interest this person?! Morbucks wanted to pull her hair out. This lady was testing the limits of her sanity.
"You see...This alternative reality is not limited to Townsville. Technically, I own this entire planet. I grow my own food here, tend to a farm nearby, and have everything that I'd ever need. I only kept a little money in storage in the rare event that I'd ever travel to the other world. If I ever need any real money, I'd grow more food and sell it on the Earth we hail from."
"But what if you want to go shopping for clothes or to see a movie or buy jewelry?" Morbucks asked, genuinely confused at the person standing in front of her.
I've heard of people who lived in their own world, but this is taking it to the next level...Morbucks thought. What does she even do for fun? Is she some kind of weird hermit or something? I'd die if I didn't have someone to...talk to. She looked at the ground, and felt her heart drop. She didn't think she'd ever have the ability to look that cruel reality in the face and acknowledge it for what it was. If money didn't hold sway over this person, what did? If she lives in a separate universe, then the chances of her being a dojo master were far less. Morbucks clung to that possibility as if her life depended on it. Everyone acts out of self-interest...everyone is selfish, and we all have our price Morbucks would constantly repeat to herself, whenever she was confronted with anything that made her doubt the beliefs that had sustained her since that tragic day.
"Nea...I'm more of a farming gal. I get a kick out of mother nature herself. Even when I used to live in your world, I wasn't much for movies, or dressing fancy. She looked as if she'd briefly journeyed into her past, and a pained expression appeared on her face. Putting aside this weird loner persona, if she lived in my world to begin with, then how did she learn to travel between 2 different dimensions? If there had been any doubt before, it didn't exist now: This could not be Him.
Maia snapped back to her present and smiled at Morbucks. "So I take it that you want to stay here with me?"
Without hesitation, Morbucks replied "Yes".
"The heart can take a long time to heal, so it's much easier to start with your body. Once we've done that, we'll move on to the spirit."
Morbucks felt a bit excited at the prospect of having something to take her mind off of everything that had happened recently. It was a welcome opportunity to avoid the things that were hurting her the most. "So what's first...am I gonna spar with one of your students? Or wait...maybe I'll be sparring with you-No, you'll teach me how to fight first?"
Maia giggled a bit. "Hey, what's with the giggles?" Morbucks asked angrily.
"We're going to work on your body. I meant it in the most literal sense. You need to build up your body before doing anything else. That is your first step. Before we begin today's training though, I want you make sure that you understand something...it's about the human condition."
The...human condition. Where is she going with this?
"What do you think the relationship is between the heart, the body, and the spirit"? Maia asked pleasantly.
"Well...uh...aren't they separate things? To me, a body was always just a tool I used for fighting. The spirit is just your...oh I don't know...your aura or something, and the heart...well...those are your...feelings." Morbucks answered earnestly.
Maia followed up on the question. "They may be viewed as independent of one another, but they are all interconnected. In other words...the body has an effect on your spirit and heart. When we exercise, we release endorphins that make us feel good and aid in fighting mental health issues. Exercise also helps raise our energy levels, so that we can do more with our day. Serious exercise can make us feel good, and that, in turn, boosts your mood and elevates the spirit. The spirit...maintains your dedication to taking care of your body and your heart. I'm sure you've heard of the phrase DOWN IN THE DUMPS. This can be related to the heart, but it also has to do with a downcast spirit. When our spirit is low, we lack the motivation to do anything. Without motivation, we stop working our bodies and our hearts can be made to feel worse. The heart...is your emotional core. If your heart is in turmoil, it can effect...everything. If the spirit is your motivation, then your emotions are a form of energy all their own. These emotions can affect your mood and in turn, actually have an impact on your body. People who have suffered from emotional problems can actually suffer physical symptoms and develop lifelong illness. The heart is the most difficult to heal. Do you understand?
Morbucks thought she did, but it was kind of complicated. She nodded along, but it would take a long time before she fully comprehended what Maia had told her that day.
"Are you ready to begin training today?"
"Sure...but why do we need to start with my body first? Why can't we just jump right into learning martial arts? Wouldn't doing that be enough to toughen me up?"
Truthfully, Morbucks didn't see the point of training in the first place. She had fighting experience already, so what was the point?
"Let me guess...you think that because you fought the girls that you are ready for my training?"
Morbucks ignorantly nodded her head.
Maia let out a sigh, and then folded her feet, sitting down in front of the red-headed girl.
"Have you ever noticed that Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup never killed you, despite all the opportunities they had over the years?"
Morbucks thought about it. There some truth to Maia's words...she reluctantly admitted. She always seemed to be at their mercy-they always held the upper hand. She bawled her hands into fists, anger flowing into her along with all of her losses. She couldn't overpower them...couldn't replicate all their powers...she'd tried everything and they'd always bounced back. It was so infuriating!
"They've been holding back their true strength, in order to spare your life." Maia said.
"That's not true!"
"Then why are you still alive?" Maia countered.
"It's the suit that kept me alive...it's what put me on a level playing field" Morbucks said, sure that she was right.
"Those girls can lift airplanes, and battleships with minimal effort...does your suit boost your strength by such a degree?"
Truth be told, Morbucks never tried lifting any objects with her suit, so she didn't know its limitations. Could she really be right? Have those 3 little girls have been sparing her life this whole time? Just the idea of it was driving Morbucks into a rage. It can't be true...it can't! If she was right, then she'd never be able to defeat her enemies.
"Why...are you telling me this? What does it have to do with my body? Morbucks asked, her temper rising.
"Your strength came from the suit, but there's something else to it as well...you have never trained your body under critical condition".
Critical condition...what does that mean? Her temper was still there, but she kept it sufficiently in check. I never really did well with criticism, but she did save my life...I owe her. No one in her life had ever done anything like that before. She was the villain of townsville, an enemy of the powerpuff girls, a name on Santa's naughty list, but when you look past the labels, I'm just a...
"What is critical condition?" Morbucks asked, repressing her desire to scream or throw a tantrum.
"Critical condition is when you push your body to its limits. In order to build your muscles or improve your physical condition, you have to do a sufficient amount of work. In other words...you have to break down your body in order to build it back up again. If you don't do this, you won't get stronger or develop any of the skills that are necessary for your personal growth. If it makes you feel better, Blossom, Bubbles, and Buttercup have never trained under critical condition either."
"They haven't?" Morbucks perked up at the news.
"Because they are so strong, they rarely meet an enemy that pushes them to their utmost limits. As a result...they are actually worse off for it. Being a human has its advantages because our limits are easier to understand. If you can only lift so much weight with your body or can't pull yourself up or do a certain number of push-ups, it tells you where your actual strength level is at. I believe the girls don't even know what their upper limits are. As a matter of fact, neither do their counterparts. This is actually not a good thing for them. Since they rarely meet their match in combat, they don't do much more than police the streets. They aren't testing those limits often, so they don't feel the need to get stronger. There is another weakness that they have that human beings do not have...they generally do not fight as if their lives depended on it."
"They don't?" Morbucks was sort of surprised. Did they really roll over everyone this easily? Were they just toying with Mojojojo and the rest?
"No...and that is actually a problem. The way that you fight when your life is on the line is not the same as when you fight with the confidence that you'll win. Why do you think that is?"
Morbucks shrugged her shoulders. She had no idea at this point.
"Instinct. When we're confident that we can win, we feel more comfortable thinking out our actions prior, during, and after a confrontation. However, when you genuinely feel in danger of being harmed or worse, your instincts kick in. For instance, if someone came out of no where and chased you with a knife, what do you think the first thing you'd do is?"
Without missing a beat, Morbucks answered.
"I'd run away".
"Exactly! You're running away because of your survival instinct. Your first obligation in life is to see that you make it home alive and in one piece. The same can occur with fighting. There comes a point when you don't have time to think or devise a strategy, because you're more concerned with your immediate survival. You will fall back on whatever feels natural to you. Some people react to danger by punching or kicking when they are assaulted. Others will run away as quickly as they can. There are even some who freeze up, because they can't decide the correct course of action. Training you under critical condition will give you the ability to make efficient movement without thinking and to properly defend yourself in a pinch. This is the training you fall back on, when you are in a position where you have no choice but to react."
"But what does the training have to do with it?" Morbucks was confused.
"Do you remember all the fights you've had up till this point"? Morbucks nodded, thinking back on them. This wasn't helping her temper, but her attention was also captured completely by this woman. "Whatever you do, your body learns from it and it remembers those movements. You punch several times, and then your body remembers how to punch. Instinct is nothing more than the actions we have derived comfort in making naturally due to our wealth of experience as human beings. You wouldn't question how you could walk, because you'd been doing it since you were little. This is the same with fighting. In order to prepare you for critical training, your body needs to be able to handle training first. If you can't handle training, then training in critical condition could kill you".
Morbucks was trying to understand, but she didn't get most of it. She's saying the body is basically a brain or something.
"I don't really understand." Morbucks admitted, feeling insulted at her own inability to get it. She'd always thought that she knew so much because she was more advanced than the girls her age, but this was really something else.
"This is something you have to undergo before you get it" Maia said encouragingly.
"And one more thing, Princess" Maia said seriously.
Morbucks held herself in check again. She wanted it to be over already. The lady could really ramble on when she wanted to.
"It's okay to feel... frustration...and anger."
Morbucks expression changed from constrained attentiveness to surprise. Why is she telling me it's ok...weird. Most people hated it when I went on a rant or screamed or got really upset. They'd tell me that I shouldn't act like that...it was unbecoming of a lady.
Maia got up, and placed her right hand on Morbuck's shoulder, making eye contact. "I am not here to judge you. If there's something you ever need to talk to me about, let me know and I'll lend an ear.
Morbucks didn't know how to react to it at first. Most of her life, she'd be talked down to, called names by her adversaries, told that she was a bad person, made to feel as if she didn't belong, but this...I've never met anyone like Maia before. Most people in Townsville shaped their opinions of her the moment she challenged the power puff girls to a fight. She'd sort of resigned herself to the idea that she'd be hated by them anyways, and that she might as well embrace that. For once in her life, Morbucks felt feelings that she couldn't positively identify. Hostility, rejection, moral superiority were things she'd always had thrown her way and she'd grown so accustomed to it, that this new treatment was completely unexpected. I half expected her to lecture me about how I shouldn't fight the powerpuff girls because they're heroes or that Princess Morbucks should accept that she'll never be a power puff girl or that the rich girl needed to be a better person and help the community instead of holding grudges. She didn't do any of those things...she really is...special.
"Now...it's time to begin your training. We'll start off simple for the first couple of months. We're going to ease your way into things."
I really hope this isn't like those weird corny movies, where she gives me a task like painting fences or has me tending to her farm. I won't work for free, I'm not slave labor!
Princess followed the woman to an open field of grass. There was nature as far as the eye could see and it was...calming. Townsville was a really loud place, with all the people in it. Those folks made noise, their cars, the violent monsters who attacked the city and the girls who damaged the property while putting them down...it was so different without human beings. Princess stood at attention as Maia spoke.
"We're going to start with cardio. Before you can engage in other aspects of my training, I want you to do this."
2 months of cardio? Well, how hard could it be? I walk around town plenty, so this shouldn't be too difficult Morbucks thought.
"I will be along with you in your training, and I'll be motivating you every step of the way. We will run 1 hour a day, 5 days a week. We'll rest for 2 days afterwards. Running is not at all like walking, so you'll need to stretch appropriately beforehand."
Maia was showing me how to do proper stretching and then when I was mimicking her movements correctly, we began. After 30 minutes of running, Princess was huffing and puffing, sweating profusely, and felt like her chest was about to explode. She really hated herself and everything at that moment. It was difficult for Princess to admit that she was wrong or that she was capable of making a mistake. Running in a straight line for about 30 minutes is totally different than running around a block. You can twist or turn your body, which temporarily stops your momentum. Because there were no townspeople around, Maia and her were running in a straight line. Princess stole a glance at Maia and was absolutely stunned at what she saw. Maia didn't seem to be affected by this activity much at all and she wasn't tired in the slightest. Just how strong is this woman? It's starting to scare me a little...it's little wonder that those 3 men who abducted her met their end at the hands of this woman.
By the time she'd reached the end, she was gasping for air and collapsed into the field. She felt a burn unlike any she'd ever experienced before. It was an odd mixture of pleasure and discomfort. Her muscles were all on fire, yet at the same time it was as if there was some sort of happy drug being pumped into her body that was boosting her mood. She still held onto that anger from earlier though-that much hadn't changed. Her general response was to blame other people for her own faults, or deflect blame away from herself in some other way. She chose the latter, despite how much it ate her up inside. She always had this perception of herself as the best, and any time evidence to the contrary came along, she disregarded it or refused to acknowledge anything that would shatter that image of herself. She was of higher status, of greater nobility, and to be wrong about something was to be vulnerable and that was something she'd learned to hate-the weakness that others can exploit. That day...she'd learned that if she showed any sign of vulnerability, given anything away, others would take advantage of it and make a fool out of her. It was difficult to admit that you don't know something, because it meant relying on other people. Could they be trusted? Will they not use her ignorance to their own benefit? Most people in the real world are looking for a leg up on someone else, anything to get the edge. But for once in her life, Morbucks faced the uncertainty that came when meeting a person who defied conventional expectations and who didn't appear to be materialistic. How could a person be like this? Oh, it's driving me insane! She ripped the grass out from underneath her and squeezed it tightly. Even when it was obvious that she wasn't as strong as she thought or as trained, she'd never admit to it.
Maia carefully observed Princess while she recovered her breath. 15 minutes later, Princess felt her body relaxing a little.
"So, did it feel good?" Maia asked gently.
No lectures? No insults or attempts to lord anything over me? Not exactly what I expected.
"Yea...it did" Morbucks admitted.
"There are some things that are better felt than explained".
"If you need more time to rest, I'll carry you back to the home. Would you like that?"
Morbucks nodded her head. She was too tired and out of energy to walk back home. There was also another reason why she was okay with it, but it was buried deep inside of her. It was deeper than her fear of being hurt or being told she was wrong. It would be a long time before she confronted those hidden feelings of hers. Maia placed Princess on her shoulders and walked back home. When they'd gotten there, Maia poured her a glass of water and made huge lunches for the both of them. Now that training was over for the day, what should I do?
There's an entire day of nothing...doing nothing for a day sounds great and terrible at the same time. When she brought me into this world, there was a copy of Townsville. I'll bet anything...and then she felt pain. The only problem is...should she do it? Her body was aching all over and while she had the desire, pushing the body past its limits might be dangerous. Princess chose not to go shopping for the time being. At a later date...she definitely would. For now, I guess I can stick to reading literature. Surely...Maia has a book collection of some sort. I need...to do something to take my mind off these aches and...the other things...weighing on my mind. Standing up slowly, she walked around the house, looking for reading material. Nothing...
Maia was planning to warp to the farm, when Princess tucked on her shirt.
"Hey...where are the books?"
"Oh...yea I don't really keep any here. However...there is a place I can take you for reading."
Maia warped herself and Morbucks twice. It seemed like she had the ability to traverse any distance that she wanted to with this ability of hers. She warped back into the other world and then when she came back, they were inside the Townsville Library...well an imitation of the thing. She had been there a few times, but these days it was easier to buy online. Morbucks had a vast collection of books, though she can't honestly say that she was an avid reader. Video games, and the internet were far more entertaining than television or books. Yet today was a little different. She found that she was in the mood to do it.
"I'll be tending to the farm. I'll come back to check up on you in a few hours. Enjoy your stay".
Maia warped out again, and Princess walked the aisles, searching aimlessly. She wasn't exactly sure what to look for. Historical, fantasy, adventure...maybe there's a downside to living in such an exciting world. If she wanted to see something magnificent, all she'd have to do is step outside Townsville for a day and see what unbelievable things would unfold. Maybe Mojojojo would build some new, destructive machine and go on a rampage. Oh, or maybe Him would play mind games with the girls...Fuzzy Lumpkins is sort of an introvert and doesn't come out often. Perhaps the RowdyRuff Boys are looking for another showdown...
Brick...he was mean, immature, and lived a bad lifestyle, but...there was some kind of allure that pulled her to him like no other. Maybe it was just a natural attraction that she had to him? She couldn't put her fingers on it exactly, what was it that made her fall hopefully in like with this boy? I'd sure like to see him sometimes in the future...properly confess my feelings. I certainly won't lose to Blossom in the battle for his affection! I know she likes him...even if she won't fess up to it. Yea, those kisses destroyed them the first time, but I'll bet anything that she liked them. Also, they're counterparts so it makes sense they'd click up eventually.
I gotta do something before that happens...find a way to make some memories. Idk what to do...Normally I'd have...but...Now this looks like something worth the time.
"Sen's Tsu's Art of Warring"...The art of warring...? Well...love is a battlefield...maybe this will help.
She poured through the pages and got hooked. The knowledge was applicable to damn near any conflict...it was glorious.
The one her mind focused on was this line Believe in yourself. Well, I already do that don't I? I can win Brick over...but I don't have a clue how to do it.
Should I dress up a bit? Or maybe use my wealth? Nea...he doesn't care about either. What haven't I tried before...maybe she'll have an idea or two.
I think I'll hold onto this book...it may come in handy later. By the time Maia was done working at the farm, Princess had gathered 6 books to take home.
"Anything else that you want before we head on back?"
Morbucks shook her head.
"Warp"
"If you need to return to the library, just lemme know".
"I have a question".
"..."
"What is it?" Maia asked.
"...It's a boy...thing". Morbucks was blushing, embarrassed and beside herself. He was a druggie, a troublemaker, a foul-mouthed, Rowdyruff boy, but for some reason...she felt an attraction to him. It was stronger than the gravitational pull of Jupiter or a supermassive Black Hole. For good or ill, this little redheaded boy has stolen my heart.
"Let me guess...this is about that boy Brick, isn't it?"
"How did you know?!" Morbucks blushed even harder, hands rushing to her cheeks.
I don't remember ever telling her about this before now...can she actually peer inside my mind?
"Well I'd love to chalk this up to a good guess, but it has to do with those videos people posted of you online. There was an occasion that boy came nearby and I saw you turn several shades of red."
Oh wow...just how many people had recorded our interactions over the years? Kind of feeling a bit uncomfortable at this point...thousands...no millions saw...grrrrrrrrrrrr
"So what's your question Princess?"
"...How do I...What should I...When do I...Where do I..." Morbucks fell silent again. I'm such a wreck...I can't even ask something so simple... When did I turn into this timid creature? What is there to be scared of? I want what I want and that's all there is to it.
Maia remained silent out of respect, and not once did she interrupt the little redheaded girl, even when the opportunity presented itself.
"...I...li...li...I LIKE HIM!" Morbucks forced out at the end, feeling her heart palpitate. Why was that so hard to vocalize?
"I want to tell him somehow...I want my feelings to reach Brick." Even now, I can't ask such a simple question. Am I this afraid of relying on someone else for advice? Am I just too proud to admit that I don't know what to do? Why can't I do this? What's holding me back? Morbucks wanted to punch herself in the face, but at the same time she felt like she was fighting against herself.
Maia discerned exactly what was going on within the child and realized the direction she was trying to take this conversation in.
"If it's alright with you, might I ask you a few questions?" Maia asked Princess, who was still confounded as to what cat had her tongue.
"...Sure" Princess said almost inaudibly.
"Before I give you an answer, I want to know something first-what was your relationship with your maids, butlers, and parents?"
My relationship...with them?
"...Well...the maids and butlers never really cared that much. They were paid for their jobs, but they didn't really do anything else. They cooked, cleaned, escorted me to and from school. As for daddy...pretty much every day he was gone in the early morning and he'd return at night. He wasn't really much for talking, or engaging in diatribes. I figure he just expressed his love in his own, unique way. I mean, why would he hire maids and butlers to take care of me if he didn't..." Princess never wanted to finish that sentence.
"What about your mother?" Maia asked. Princess felt anger rising from Maia, even if she couldn't see it on her face. There was something that she'd said that was making the woman steam.
"I...don't know. I got a step-mother, but I never knew who my mother was. Daddy kept these old pictures and they always had holes where her face was supposed to be."
Maia was clenching her first, and appeared genuinely upset at what she was hearing. Why was this woman so mad? ...Better not to go there. As curious as it was to see the normally calm woman having an angry moment to rival one of her temper tantrums, Princess also had a healthy fear of her. She had killed 3 gangsters and was essentially a mountain of muscle. I still have no idea what her motives are...
Maia breathed in her nose and out her mouth.
"Alright...thanks. I think it might be easier to handle this if I explain how I dealt with a similar problem growing up."
Princess immediately felt her spirits rise a bit. Oh thank goodness, someone who doesn't need me to ask gets it! If only everyone were this perceptive in this universe...well my universe. Come to think of it...does Maia have her own universe?
"I had a boy growing up that I liked a lot. Naturally, I had a hard time expressing my own feelings. In many societies, the boy is expected to be the one to ask the girl out. I found this to be impractical, since the boy I liked was clueless. I wasn't so good at saying those 3 magical words, so I tried to express it in other ways. I cooked some sweets for him".
Cooking sweets...well looks like I'm screwed. I don't know how to cook.
"Eventually...he got the idea on his own without me having to say anything. Sometimes, for those who care about you, there are no words. You've probably read a lot of stories or watched shows where they always had these emotional confessions. Truth be told, I think there are other ways of showing that you care about someone without having to do what everyone else does."
Well if there's one thing I'm having a hard time doing...it's imagining a scenario where those words could be safely delivered from these lips into Brick's ears. I don't think I even know how to do it.
"I also think that it takes time for someone to grow on you. Love might reside in one person, but forming a true connection can take a lifetime...".
Maia winced in pain, and then there was silence.
What was it that brought that on? Do I dare ask? No...better not.
"So...what should I do?" Princess asked, trying to lead the conversation to a more productive place.
"What does Brick eat? Play? His hobbies? The answer lies there."
What does that mean? Is she saying I should cook for him? Could I even do it, without the maids to assist me?
"Goodnight." Maia yawned and went to bed.
The hardest part of running the first week were the body aches. I thought I knew all about pain, getting into scraps with those power puff freaks. Maia coached me on proper breathing, ran with me every step for every morning, and carried me back when I lost all my energy. By the time the end of the 5th run came, my legs were mush and the body aches were killing me. I got 2 days off to rest, and then this started all over again. Would it always be like this? Would I have to endure this for a month?
After the 2 days were up, she ran again. Her body aches were far less. What was happening?! Princess was thinking out loud as well, and Maia overhead it. She smiled gleefully at the news and explained what was going on. During those first 5 days, her muscles were broken down and worked to their limit. Then, after 2 days rest, her muscles grew and became stronger. It wasn't just her leg muscles either...her heart was stronger...she had more strength in her whole body.
For the first month, she ran, read books, and contemplated how to do some recon for Brick. Near the end of her first month, the run was hardly tiring her out at all. Her body had completely adjusted to it and Princess was utterly stunned at the transformation that was taking place. What was once so difficult had become nearly effortless. This...was...awesome!
After the first month had passed, Maia added something new to her training regiment. Later on, after lunch, she learned how to properly do push-ups and pull-ups. Maia started her off with a little in the first day of the second month of training. As the days went, she gradually did more push-ups and pull-ups.
By the end of the second month, she was running for an hour and then doing a lot of push-ups and pull-ups. Her body fat was being converted into muscle and her energy levels rose to heights she couldn't imagine.
Maia praised her progress. Then, her master prepared to introduce the next level of training.
"You're now accustomed to running and doing other physical activities. The final part of my physical training begins now. We are going...to rock climb".
Maia transported the both of them to a rocky mountain.
Morbucks gulped. It was one thing to train on the ground, but...rock...climbing. What if I fall off?
"I...I don't know..."
"I will catch you if you fall for any reason" Maia stated assuredly.
"I will climb with you. If you begin to fall, I can warp to any location below or adjacent to you."
To prove her point, within less than a second, Maia warped to a height far above her and grabbed onto the mountain side.
Taking a deep breath, Morbucks noticed that her hands were shaking a little.
Must be low blood sugar...yea...that's gotta be it.
She climbed a little bit at a time, being very cautious during her ascent. Sometimes, she'd feel like she could rely on her feet for stability. Other times, she felt like she was hanging on to dear life with an arm or two. If there were any immediate differences she payed attention to, it was these
A- She didn't know when, and if she was going to slip. That much was obvious.
B- Whereas a pull-up involves pulling your chin above the bar and then lowering yourself back down, mountain climbing was like doing the first part of pull-ups without the latter part. She was constantly pulling her body up against the force of gravity.
Imagine if I tried to do this without pull-ups first...No, I need to stay focused.
Princess grabbed onto a piece of rock, and then slipped. Before she fell backwards, Maia saw what was about to happen and teleported herself below Morbucks. She caught the little girl, and then helped the kid resume the activity. Princess managed to reach their destination before suffering any further mishaps. She was very tired, though not as much when she began running 2 months ago. This activity was very physically demanding...
"You've reached the 1 hour mark. I am taking you back down now."
"Warp!"
When they reached the ground, Princess allowed herself to fall on her back.
"That...was hard...and..."
"We'll be doing this for the next 3 months. In order to climb, the human body uses a lot of muscle groups. Specifically, the upper and lower body. Your back, abdominal, and leg muscles, as well as your shoulders, arms, and fingers. Guess what else this activity does?"
Princess thought about it for a moment, then shrugged her arms. What...does it raise my inner chi or something?
"It Improves Stamina, endurance, flexibility and agility. Rock climbing is a difficult activity, but there will come a time when climbing feels as natural to you as breathing. When that day comes, we will shift our focus to your spirit.
Wow...I didn't know it did all of that.
"Would you like to walk back home?"
"Sure...I'm up for it".
In that manner, 3 more months had passed. Something else changed in those 3 months. With Maia's permission, Princess had begun observing Brick and discovered he loved Chocolate Chip Cookies. She paid note of the other things he was into as well-The movies he watched, the video games he preferred to play, the things he liked and the stuff he didn't. Reconnaissance was something that took getting used to. Maia said the key to watching others is to make them think you're doing something else. She explained that human beings have sort of a sixth sense, a kind of ability to discern patterns and pick up on things without conscious thought. If you want someone to think that you're not observing them, you need to do 3 things:
A. Never follow someone for any serious length of time. The longer you follow someone around, the more likely they're going to realize it.
B. Always plan a destination in advance and walk as if you're heading to that location. If someone notices you and you conveniently keep walking in whatever direction they're going, it will tip them off that they're being followed. Always plan your route in advance, and if the person goes a separate route, keep walking towards your destination. Sometimes, you'll overhear some things and other times you'll be left out of what you want to hear.
C. Never wear the same disguise twice. Always appear to be a different person each time and adjust your physical appearance each time.
Once recon ended, Princess forced herself into the one place where her maids had reigned supreme: The Kitchen.
The maids weren't there to help her now...I should've paid more attention. Oh...how could I have known? I thought they'd always be there forever...cooking and cleaning stuff until I was old and gray. She observed Maia for a week as she cleaned the dishes. Then, when she sure that Maia was gone tending to the farm, she took out a clean plate and emulated whatever her master did. She used the dishwasher for spoons, forks, knives, plates, and bowls. However, when she was cleaning the colander, the pots and the pans, she used dish soap and rubbed vigorously.
This isn't that hard at all...Daddy wasted money paying for those maids and butlers. There's nothing to this! Once she got the hang of that, she emulated something else that she saw. The books and video games had gotten boring and there wasn't much else to do. The stronger she became and the more easy training was, the more boring the days became. She needed to do something-anything to stave it off. Also...she wanted more than anything else for Brick to return the feelings she had for him.
There were a few boxes of macaroni cheese on the shelf. It was now...or never. If I can't do something as simple as cook Mac and Cheese, how can I make Chocolate Chip Cookies? Princess was trying to rationalize her actions, but really-she didn't really need to do it. Maybe she just wanted to eat something she liked...or...there was something else at play here...nea...I'm probably just hungry...yea...that's it.
Let's see...what do I need?
...
Colander, 6 cups of water, 1 package, 1/4 cup of margarine, 1/4 cup of milk...I think that's all there is to it.
Princess poured the 6 cups of water into a saucepan. I wonder which dial is high? Is 7 too much? Maybe I need 9?
When in doubt...go with your best guess. She put the burner on 8 and waited for the water to boil.
Alright...now to place the macaroni inside for 8 minutes.
Having done that, she stirred a little more than necessary. What does stir occasionally mean anyways Morbucks wondered. If it takes 8 minutes to cook, am I supposed to do it every minute? Every half minute? How often is occasionally? Ugh...
Placing the colander inside the sink, she poured the hot water and macaroni into it. The water was drained, leaving only the macaroni.
"Okay...I'm good so far"...It's easy...no problem so far...why did we ever hire those maids? Gosh...what a waste of money...
Princess put 1/4 cup of margarine, 1/4 cup of milk, and the cheese sauce into the pan.
She stirred for a while, thinking of how to approach Brick and give him the sweets.
It looks creamy now...I think it's finished.
Maia warped back into the kitchen, startling Morbucks.
Maia took a look over to the little girl and saw the mac and cheese she'd made.
Princess wasn't sure how exactly to react. She felt entitled most of her life and thought that other people should give her things.
She settled on "...hello".
Maia grinned.
"May I have some" he redheaded lady asked.
"uh...sure".
Princess scooped up the mac and cheese into a bowl and handed it to Maia. She fished out a spoon from the drawer.
Maia took a seat and ate it in silence.
Princess was on the edge of her seat.
She's not saying anything...
Maia rose back to her feet. She patted Princess on the head.
"It was delicious...thank you".
"I'll need to get back to tending the farm. Is there anything that you need before then?"
Morbucks shook her head.
"Alrighty then..."Warp!".
Princess touched that same spot where Maia patted her head. What was this feeling? Why can't I put my finger on it? Why can't I identify it? Why am I...happy that she did that?
In that manner, months had passed. Morbucks had gotten used to all the physical training, had learning how to cook a variety of meals, and felt stronger than she ever had in her entire life. Something else was also changing too. The wound is her heart was still fresh, but something about Maia had captivated her.