Mao Mao: Heroes of Pure Heart: The Present
Mao Mao sulked silently on the balcony of his childhood home. He figured he and his friends would visit his family for the holiday and it all went swimmingly... for the most part. Sure, his mother, (surprisingly) his sisters couldn't be any happier to see him and that was mutual. No, what was getting him down was his own father, Shin. Ever since the day he visited Pure Heart, their relationship had been nothing more than awkwardly tense silence and not only that, he still hasn't forgiven him for ignoring him for most of his life. So here he was, sitting out in the cold weather, the temperature and snow being the last things on his mind.
"Hey, Mao. There you are." Badgerclops said as he and Adorabat sat next to him.
"Mao Mao? What's wrong?" Adorabat asked, concerned for her role model.
"Is it because of your dad?" Badgerclops asked.
"Yep, that's right on the money." Mao Mao sighed. "I don't know if we'll ever truly reconcile."
"Never say never, dude." Badgerclops said. "For all we know, he could be feeling the same thing... or not. Who knows?"
Just then, the eldest Mao sibling, Brunhilde, came up to them.
"There you are, squirt. Come on, it's time to open presents." She told them, ruffling her brother's head.
"We're coming." Mao Mao replied with a small smile.
That's one thing to look forward tonight.
Meanwhile, on the house's porch, Shin Mao sat in despair. Sighing to himself, the old hero contemplated the day his visit to Pure Heart Valley to see his son. In fact, he was even beginning to doubt if he could even call himself a hero anymore; what with realizing just how much of paternal failure he was and any hope up patching things up seeming more and more improbable.
he then heard the sound of the door opening followed by footsteps, flapping and two people sitting next to him. One of which was a tall black cat and other a teal green bat with large glasses.
"Shin, are you thinking about that again?" She asked.
"Yes, Ava." Shin replied. "Ever since Mao Mao arrived, we've been so distant. This just proves how much I failed as a father and I'll never reconcile with him."
"I know that feeling." Eugene said.
You read that right. Adorabat insisted that her father come along, mostly trying to convince him to come until he reluctantly did so.
"Eugene, was it? What do you mean?" Shin asked.
"Ever since, my wife passed and I had to start working multiple shifts, I was fearing I would start neglecting Adorabat. Now, look where we are now." He explained.
"That's easy for you to say. She's just a child. I neglected Mao Mao his whole childhood." Shin snapped, causing him to flinch.
"He's right, dear." Ava agreed. "It's all in the past and you can't fix that. But, you can always focus on the present and look to the future. Who knows? Maybe this will be the night you two will truly reconcile. Brunhilde and Adelaide already did."
"It'll take a Christmas miracle, but okay." Shin sighed.
"Father, come inside we're about to exchange gifts." Hinata, the golden scarfed sister, said.
"Coming, sweetie." Shin said.
Soon, everyone had finished gifts to each other as indicated by the wrapping paper that had littered the living room. They were all having a grad time, except of course Shin and Mao Mao. The two merely glanced at each other and promptly turned away in shame.
"Hey, there's one more gift under the tree." Minori, the golden hatted samurai, pointed out.
They was indeed a large box wrapped with silver wrapping paper and topped with a red bow.
"Who's it for?" Kiki, the sister with the golden bangles wondered.
The sorceress with the golden contacts, Adelaide, went up to it and read the label stuck to the top of the box.
"It says it's for Mao Mao, but it doesn't say who sent it." She explained. "I can't see what's in it, either."
Curiously, Mao Mao grabbed the box and lightly shook it. Undoing the ribbon, he was about to open the box.
"What's in it?" Adorabat asked with sparkling eyes.
As soon as he opened the box, a small thing zoomed out of the box with blinding speed, letting out high-pitched screeches as it did. They were barely able to get a look at it as it zoomed into the kitchen. This put everyone on high alert with everyone, except Eugene, readying their weapons.
"What the hell was that thing?!" Hinata asked.
"Whatever it is, let's get it." Brunhilde growled in determination.
"You guys stay here in case that creature shows up." Mao Mao instructed Badgerclops, Adorabat and Eugene.
With that, the Mao family crept into the kitchen, keeping a lookout for any sign of the thing. They found no sign of of it, but did find the kitchen an absolute mess. Deciding to ignore that for now, the family searched high and low through the rest of the house, sweeping to halls and every single room until all was left were the attic and the basement.
"Okay, the girls and I will check the basement. Shin, you and Mao check the basement." Ava instructed.
Before they could say anything, the girls had already ascended into the attic. The two Mao men looked at each other without saying a word before they slowly descended into the basement Turning on the light, they gripped tightly in their grasps the room with as they traversed the room that was full of artifacts the Mao clan had accumulated over the generations. It was eerily quiet as they watched for any activity. As they scanned the area, Shin decided to break the silence.
"Son..." He began. "...in case we don't make it out of here alive, I just wanted to tell you..."
"Now's not the time for conversation, Father." Mao Mao cut him off. "Save it for when we get rid of this thing."
Speak of the devil, the creature swooped down on them latched onto Mao Mao's head, proceeding to scratch and bite at him as the cat flailed around, screaming in frustration and pain. Shin was able to get a clear look at the creature. It had three red eye, three red horns atop its head and a short serrated beak. Its arms were sharp and resembled the forelegs of a mantis, it's feet had talons that dug into Mao Mao's shoulder's and it two different wings; one white and feathered, the other black and bat-like. As it continued its attack, the older Mao decided to do something.
"Get away from him!" Shin roared, swatting the creature away with the back of his sword's blade.
Mao Mao staggered back from his injuries and watched as his father tangled with the tiny terror. Shin swung at the creature as it dodged and blocked his blows. It then charged forward, forcing Shin to drop his sword and grab the creature in his hands as it squirmed violently in his grip, slashing at his face and hands. Just then, Mao Mao roared and roundhouse kicked the little monster away as it plopped onto the floor. Before it could recover, Mao Mao finished it off with Geraldine, pinning it down before retrieving his blade. Shin Mao was wide-eyed as his son walked up to him with a hand outstretched and a small smile.
"Come on, let's get outta here." Mao Mao said.
Shin accepted his hand as he helped him up. Suddenly, this moment was ruined when a cacophony of of screeches rang out behind them They whirled around to see several more of the same creatures closing in on them. Their eyes went wide with horror. Dealing with one was already enough of a pain, but a whole horde? That was just too much.
"Go! GO!" Mao Mao cried as they dashed up the stairs.
The creatures closed in on them, but they made it up just in time as they slammed the door behind them, locking it. There, they found the girls looking quite beat up themselves as they descended from the attic.
"Let me guess, there was more than one creature?" Shin Mao asked.
"Yeah." Brunhilde groaned. "Not my worst injuries, though."
"These things are tinier than even little bro, but, holy crap, they're tough nuts to crack." Kiki said.
"Really? REALLY?" Hinata said.
"You had to make that joke." Mao Mao deadpanned.
"Sorry, bro. Can't help it."
"Even I didn't see any of this coming." Adelaide added.
Suddenly, several of the creatures' forearms sliced through the door. The Mao family ran to the kitchen and stopped in their tracks to see Adorabat, Badgerclops and Eugene leaning against the door in a scratched up state.
"What happened to you three?" Mao Mao asked.
"Yeah, more monsters emerged from the box." Badglerclops said.
"This is so not how I pictured my Christmas going!" Eugene said.
"Agreed! Worst. Christmas. Ever." Adorabat added.
Suddenly, a creature smashed its head through the door only for Eugene to stab it in the head with a carving fork. Another broke through but slashed it with a knife she found. A third broke through, its forearm piercing Badgerclops' crybernetic arm. The shock caused it to turn into a blaster and and hit the stove, which in turn caused it to go up in a blazing inferno.
"SERIOUSLY!?" Everyone else griped.
"I think I have a fire extinguisher in here somewhere." Minori said as she rummaged around in her hat.
"No time! Let's get outta here!" Mao Mao exclaimed.
With that, everyone ran to the garage. Unfortunately, as soon as they arrived, they found yet another horde of creatures tearing up the minivan.
"Oh, come on!" Mao Mao complained as they ran back inside.
With nowhere else to go, the occupants clamored into the attic, barricading the hatch with heavy boxes.
"Adelaide, how long do we have?" Ava asked.
The sorceress closed her eyes for a few seconds to let her contacts do the work before opening them back up.
"Approximately 5 minutes before we're goners if we don't do something." She answered.
"Oh, this it! We're done for!" Eugene cried.
"Dad, don't say that. We're getting out of here." Adorabat said before turning to Mao Mao. "Right, Mao Mao?"
"I... I don't know if we'll even make it out of this one." Mao Mao said in despair.
It was at that moment, the attic slowly started to fill up with smoke as they heard the monsters screeching under them.
"Son, if we don't make it out of this alive, I just want you to know I'm sorry for everything!" Shin exclaimed, tears dripping both from the emotions and the smoke. "Truth is I really am proud of you!"
Mao Mao smiled.
"That's all I wanted to hear, Dad." He said. "I love you. I love all of you and I'm glad this like an actual family. This is really what I wanted for Christmas."
"We love you too, Mao Mao." The rest of the Maos replied.
"Hey, look! A window!" Badgerclops pointed out.
He was right. And just in time two. The smoke grew thicker and it grew hotter as the creatures tried to claw their way inside. Without wasting another second, they all rushed for the window and climbed onto the roof where they either flew down or slid down into the deep piled of snow to cushion their fall. Once they were all outside, all they could do was watch the house go up in smoke and hopefully kill the creatures. After a long pause, Shin spoke up.
"Now what?" He asked.
"You know, we could always spend the rest of Christmas at Pure Heart Valley." Adorabat suggested.
"Not a bad idea Adorabat." Mao Mao said.
"You know, I've been meaning to visit that place for some time now." Ava said.
"I guess it's settled then." Eugene said.
"Good thing Ava modified my suit so that its collapsible." Shin said, pulling out a small cube and pushing the button on it as it turned into his armor.
"Wait, the aerocycle isn't even big enough for all of us." Badgerclops said.
"Yeah, I mean Minori and I can't fly. Where does that leave us?" Brunhilde asked.
"Hey, Mittens." A voice greeted.
Mao Mao blushed and turned around to see none other than Tanya Keys in her aerotruck.
"Yeesh, looks like I missed a lot." Tanya commented.
"Mittens?" Brunhilde laughed.
"Oooh, this your girlfriend?" Kiki giggled.
"Probably. That's all I'm gonna say." Adelaide snickered.
"Quiet you!" Mao Mao snapped before turning to the tanuki. "And what are you doing here?"
"I thought I'd pay you a visit while you were visiting your family." Tanya explained. "Need a lift?"
"Yeah, we could actually. Thanks." Minori said.
It was settled. Mao Mao, Badgerclops and Adorabat would ride on the aerocylce, Ava would be caried by Shin, Adelaide and Hinata would fly themselves and Eugene, Brunhilde and Minori would ride with Tanya.
"Hold on tight everyone!" Mao Mao exclaimed as the all zoomed off into the sky.