Chapter 32 Tears part two
Jack and Poch were on the fields, starting their flight training. Jack had already summoned Dust and turned it to wings.
"Alright, Poch, wings out!" Jack told the hound.
"Klarna," Poch summoned his brother's shadow demon and was about to write for Shiva but Klarna stopped him. He raised his arms out, closed them in, squeezing his fingers inward a bit, and then stretched them to the side before dismissing. "Oh ok." He wrote for Shiva. "Shiva," He then mimicked Klarnas gestures, cringing to his back being pricked, creating his wings. "Ready!"
"Alright, let's start with floating," Jack knelt and flew up, "up here!"
Poch bent his leg and leapt, flapping his wings. He managed to stop in front of Jack, though a little bit off.
"Alright. Now we're just gonna float around, get you used to tilting for movement."
"Alright."
"Mirror me," Jack leaned forward, Poch doing the same. He went left, right, back, and forward again, repeating the movements randomly. Once he saw Poch start to ease into it he stopped. "Getting it?"
"Yeah," Poch kept moving to show proof.
"Good," Jack flew next to him, "now let's fly. Follow me and try to keep up." He flew forward, not going too fast but not going slow. Poch followed, having some experience from the cleansing. He managed to keep up as he turned, went down some, gained a little altitude, having little trouble with it. He made a few sharp turns, tripping Poch up but the hound managed to keep up and adjust. Jack stopped. "Good work!"
"Thanks! It's actually not that hard to get used to."
"Alright, then let's try a few dives!" Jack closed his wings and dove forward, Poch mimicking him. He gained speed and just before meeting the ground, he opened his wings and arched back, swooping back up. Poch did the same but skidded on the ground a little. "Little sloppy there. Let's try again."
They dived a few times and Poch came close to crashing but soon was doing it with ease. He thought he got a handle on it and when he flew up he bent back and swooped down, twisting and flying up, arching himself to Jack and flying around the imp before stopping in front of him. "Think I got it!"
"Yeah ya show off!" Jack reached back, "but…do you got combat!" He dashed to Poch, swinging his scythe down.
"Shit!" He drew his daggers to block but as soon as he pulled them out to do so he got a vision, an image of a blue imp, the one he's seen before.
"I'm here," he said. The area around him was the base and he swears he sees Stolas.
"RAGH!" Jack slammed his scythe down on Poch, slamming the hound into the ground. "Oh shit...started to rough,"
Poch rose up, not paying much to how he was just slammed down, bit cringing to pain nonetheless. "...he's...here…."
"Here what?" Jack said, having landed.
"Where was...it looked like...the Looby!" He quickly rose up and flew to the Base, jack calling out to him.
"Why are you looking for him?" Stolas asked the imp in front of him. It was the same one from his visions.
"You!" Poch said.
The blue imo turned to face Poch. "Ah...there you are."
"You're that imp from my visions!"
"Yes. That is I. I've been trying to reach out to you."
"Well...you reached me I guess."
"Poch, you can understand him?" Stolas said.
"Uh, yeah, he's speaking english."
"Interesting,"
Blitzø, Loona, and Jack came in, Loona looking at the blue imp like she's seen him before.
"I should introduce myself. I am Nure." The imp said.
"Oh, uh I'm Poch," Poch told the imp.
"Poch, who's this?" Jack asked as he, Loona, and Blitzø approached them.
"Oh, hey guys. Sorry I darted off like that. As for him," He gestured to the blue imp, "His name is Nure apparently."
"Greetings," Nure bowed.
"What he say?" Blitzø asked.
"He said hi. Can yall not understand him?" Poch asked.
"He speaks an ancient tongue. I understand him because I studied it a long time ago," Stolas explained, "But you apparently hear him speaking in English and I don't understand how."
"It's because of the weapons he holds in possession," Nure said.
"My daggers?" Poch looked back at his weapons.
Nure walked closer to Poch and reached for where his weapons were. "Yes."
"Wait!"
Nure took hold of the daggers and unsheathed them, the colors of them fading. Everyone was surprised that he was able to take hold of them without permission.
"How'd you do that!? I didn't give you permission!"
"I always have permission, since I am half of its creator."
"Half of its creator!?" Poch and Stolas exclaimed at the same time.
"What? Creator of wh-" Jack began.
"Jack!" Millie came down, "we found something!"
"Oh shit!" Jack ran up the stairs and dragged Millie.
"Who's that?" Millie asked about Nure.
"Tell later!"
"Hmmm," Nure inspected Pochs daggers, "I sense that there are two masters of this weapon. Where is the other?"
"Oh um...that would be my brother...hes...hes dead," Poch told blue imp.
"Ah. My condolences."
"It's fine. Part of his soul's still with me."
"That's good to hear. Now then, what can you do with these daggers?"
"Well I can make tears in space that lead to other places in hell with the red one and earth with the blue one. The tears act as walls to people other than me and I can only go where I can see or been."
"Can you combine them?"
"Yeah. I can form the Chaos Blade for a few minutes."
"Hm….have you learned to call them to you?"
"Wait what!? I can do that?"
"Yes. I actually came by to inform you that I can modify them in the lust ring."
"Modify them? In the lust ring?"
"Indeed I'd like you to come by to do so," Nure turned to Stolas, "you as well."
"You want me as well," Stolas wondered.
Nure nodded and turned back to Poch, giving back his daggers. "Your girlfriend can come too."
Poch blushed. "She's not my girlfriend! What makes you even think that!?"
"She's not your girlfriend? I swore I saw her during the first vision I gave."
"You did?"
"Mind explaining Poch?" Stolas smirked.
Poch glared at the owl. "Shut it!"
"Well, I'll be waiting at the ring regardless. See you soon." Nure walked away, opening a yellow gate in front of him and stepping through.
"Wait, how will I find you?"
"Your daggers will lead the way to me."
"They will?" Poch looked at his weapons.
"They will. Till next we meet." Nure left through his gate.
"Hm."
"So uh," Loona came closer to Poch, "wanna explain?"
Poch explained to them who he was and what he said before he went to soak his foot.
Poch laid there, still thinking about how Loona said taking a bath together would seem like a good time. He was surprised she thought and said that, trying not to think of bathing with her himself.
"Ugh I need a deterrent ...Shivarna!" Poch called his shadow demon. Once he appeared he walked into the tub. "What are you…" Shivarna sat down and leaned back, seeming to relax. "...can't tell if that's Celis's soul or just cause you're connected to me…"
"..comfy.." Shivarna said.
"Uh huh…" he took out his phone and snapped a pic, deciding to send it to Loona, while ignoring the bath thoughts.
-Summoned Shivarna to talk then he decided to soak with my foot lol- He texted her.
-Won't he get numb?- she replied.
-He's a shadow demon so it won't affect him-
-Oh nice.-
-How's the ankle?-
-Numb but like, that's supposed to happen-
-Well duh. Hope that helps it-
-Who you tellin?-
-A one legged jackrabbit-
-Watch it, I can still kick ?-
He chuckled to himself. He looked at Shivarna, who looked almost completely relaxed. "You comfy there?"
"Hm," Shivarna nodded.
"You're weird." His phone dinged, it was a message from Loona.
-Hey I think I have a mole on my chest-
-Oh yeah? Is it heart shaped?- he smirked.
-Don't think so-
He was about to reply until she sent a photo.
-you see it?- she asked with a photo of her shirt and bra lifted up, showing her bare breast.
Poch felt a rush of blood go up his head and his body jolted in shock, his phone bouncing out his hand. "Gyah!" He tried to grab his phone but it kept slipping from his grip until it jumped out to the tub. "Oh shit!" He reached out to it, slipping due to how far he reached. He nearly fell in but Shivarna grabbed him with one arm, holding him up from underneath, as his phone dropped in the water. "Fuck!...why didn't you grab my phone?"
"Oops," Shivarna said, reaching into the tub and taking out the wet device.
"Great...hope we got some rice in the kitchen."
Poch was looking around the kitchen for some rice to put his phone in, his leg a bit numb so he used his crutches to move around.
"Hey dude, whatcha doin?" Jack said from behind him.
"Hey Jack, I'm just looking for some-" he turned to face the Imp "RICE!" He yelped in shock after seeing his ally.
Jack had some bruises on his body along with a few bloody cuts. "I think we ran out."
"Forget the rice, what happened to you!?"
"Heh. Got into a fight with something and I won."
"What?"
"I'm fine dude. Whaddya need rice for anyway?"
"I uh...dropped my phone in the bath. I think I got some rice at home."
"Hang on, lemme see the phone." Jack wrote for Dust.
Poch raised a brow and handed Jack his wet phone.
"Dust," he summoned his shadow demon, "a little trick I learned with some help from Nala," he swirled Dust around the phone, encasing it. He brought it over the sink and had a tail slide out from the bottom, water drizzling out of it. He shook it a bit when the last few drops came out. He grabbed the phone and made a tube from the top. He breathed in and blew into it a few times, getting an odd look from Poch. He unwrapped the phone and dismissed Dust, handing it to Poch. "Here."
Poch raised a brow and attempted to turn his phone on. To his surprise it turned on. "Huh...it works."
"See, and you doubted me."
"Hm," He saw that he got a few more messages from Loona. He opened them up and felt his head heat up like a thermostat. "Oh my...fucking god."
"What?" Jack leaned in but Poch swiftly pulled his phone back.
"Nothing! It's nothing!" He ran off the best he could, "gotta go!"
"...alright."
Poch ran into his room, his heart beating rapidly. He looked at his phone again, looking at the screen of the assortment of tit pics Loona sent him. 'Why did she send me these!?' He screamed in his head. 'Heck some are pretty cute and sexy with those po- NO Bad Poch!' he shook his head, got off messages and sat on his bed, laying back. 'How do I respond!? Do I say nothing? I gotta see her tomorrow when we go see Nure! Uuuuugh Why must this be happening!?'
He didn't respond to her that night, but when she snuck in to sleep with him he tried his best not to stare at her chest, no matter how close she pulled him in.
Next day. Picking out weapons.
Stolas observed Poch and Loona picking out a substitute for Poch.
"He seems to fancy swords and such." Nure commented.
"Yes. He's quite talented with them as well, along with other weapons so it seems."
"Is he self taught?"
"With his late brother. They taught each other, I wasn't there when they took the training course but I heard those watching were quite impressed."
"I see. From what you've told me about these exterminators, they seem to quite the impressive group for humans, especially compared to demons."
"Yes...that's mostly why most demons don't know about the corps...if it were ever found out what they were then...I shudder to think the reaction."
"I agree. Aside from that I do hope one of the swords I have will aid him."
"I'm sure all he needs is a good katana….hm...oh!" Stolas gained an idea.
"Hm? Something wrong?"
"I just had a wonderful idea!" He quickly grabbed his phone and dialed. "Cmon pick up pick up….ah Rex! Where are you?...Perfect!" He hung up, opened a portal, and pulled in Rex.
"What the-!? Stolas!" Rex glared at the owl.
"You can be mad at me later! Right now Poch could use your help!"
"Wh- Why what's wrong?" He grew concerned.
"Well you see, he's getting his weapons modified thanks to this gentleman here," he gestured to Nure who bowed, "I'll explain that later, anyways, poch is in need of a good sword to act as a temporary stand in!"
"And?"
"And you would be the perfect person to help him pick out a good sword...and maybe...chat a little."
"Uh...I...I'm sure he can pick one out himself," He said, looking away with uncertainty.
"Maybe but it wouldn't hurt to converse a little, exchange notes, see how the other is doing?"
Rex sighed. "Stolas we already talked some before when we showed the cave where they were."
"You only talked for like two minutes and it was more so about Celis's soul which was in his shadow demon. You hardly got to talk to him at all."
"Well yeah bu-"
"Don't you wanna reconnect with him? It's been so long, and with what's happened and all...maybe it could lead to you telling him your-"
"What if he hates me?...I practically abandoned him and when I first saw him and his brother I...I don't know."
"You have to at least try….unless you're some wimpy quiter."
"...I know you playing me but still, fuck you for that…." He groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Fine."
"Yes! I'll get Loona out the way!" Stolas went to call for Loona with a made up excuse.
Nure turned to Rex. "What is your relationship with Poch? Oh wait I for-"
"...let's just say...it's something I'm ashamed I've forgotten."
"Hm? You can understand me?"
"I've studied some things on demons and let's say I understand the language."
Loona came in with Stolas. "Rex? What are yo-""
"Ask later!" Stolas grabbed her by the shoulders. "Let's go go go!" He pulled her into his portal. "Good luck Rex!"
Rex sighed before walking up to Poch.
"Multi blade? Cool!" Poch pressed the switch and it multiplied into several different blades, all falling around him. "Whoa!...oh...thought it'd come out the hilt not clone….how do I return it."
"You could try pressing the switch again."
"Hm?" Poch turned to see Rex, "Rex? What are you doing here?"
"Oh nothing just...passing by?"
"In Nure's place?"
"Yeah...a-anyway, I heard your blades are getting modified."
"Yeah," Poch flipped the switch and returned the blades together, "I'm gonna get some new forms for my chaos blade. A spear, kusarigama, and a shuriken."
"You know how to use all those?"
"I taught myself how to use a katana, Celis helped when it came to daggers and then I just went on from there."
"When did you...when did you start learning other weapons?"
"It was when I first became a hellhound. I wanted to...branch out and try different things so I started trying out other weapons. Celis would sometimes try things out with me...wish I realized about his overnight training."
"Overnight?"
"Well...it's nothing, you wouldn't care."
Rex looked at him compassionately and placed a hand on Pochs shoulder. "Tell me."
"...his last message to me….the last bit of consciousness he left inside...he told me about how jealous he was of how quickly I learned things...how he would train at night just so he wouldn't fall behind...wish he would've told me earlier...would've gladly helped him out."
"Im….sorry," he tightened his grip somewhat on his shoulder.
"It's fine….I've moved on from it."
"I see...im..glad to hear that...A-anyways what kind of replacement are you looking for?"
"Well, I want something I can replace my chaos slash with but also be able to click onto my combat brace, so I'm mostly going for swords and spears."
"Find anything good?"
"A few but their abilities are...eh. Something with a strong cutting wave would be good. Pretty much all I'd need to be honest."
"Hm...then...would this work?" He drew his sword and handed it to him.
"Your sword?"
"Try it," He nodded.
"...ok." He took the sword, it was lighter than it looked. He inspected it some before trying it out. "Shivarna!" He summoned his shadow demon behind him. "Hya!" He started slashing at Shivarna, the shadow demon effortlessly blocking each swipe of the blade. He did a spin and locked his blade onto his brace, kicking a flurry of bladed kicks, all of which Shivarna sturdily held his own against. Poch ended it with a straight kick, pulling back and unhooking the blade. "Not bad...but...I nee-"
"Pull the chain."
"Hm?"
"Pull the chain."
"..." Poch gave the chain on the hilt a pull. When he did the sword made a revving sound and something spiraled on the edge. What it was was tiny blades revving from top to bottom on the edge, acting like some saw. "Whoa!"
"Best part, it stretches out when you swing it. Be careful though cause keeping it on too long at it'll get really hot."
"Wow! Yeah something like this would definitely work!"
"Alright then I'll let you borrow it."
"Really!?"
"If," he pulled out his sheath and held it like a sword, "you can knock the sheath outta of my hand."
"Huh?"
"Take this out my hand, swords yours to borrow."
"Um..I...I'm not sure I ca-"
"Tell you what. I'll only hold it with one hand, wont move from this spot, if I do it's yours, and I won't attack you. You can even use the sword."
"...ok." Poch readied himself. He twisted his ankle, loading a dagger, focusing on the sheathe, nearly glaring at Rex. He pulled back and threw the blade at Rex, the veteran exterminator deflecting it. Poch warped right before the deflect, reaching for the scabbard. Before he could touch it, it faded away. "Wha-!?" He jumped back and noticed it was now in his other hand.
"Planning on warping it out of my hand? Clever."
"Howd you-?"
"Never said I wouldn't use my powers."
"Hmmm…" Poch twisted his right foot and tapped his heel twice. "Shivarna!" He summoned his shadow demon and kicked a dagger, warping Shivarna right at him. He swung down, Rex raised the sheathe up and sturdily blocked. While he blocked Poch warped behind reaching for the sheathe. It broke down and came to his other hand, he bent down, hooked the end on his shirt, and pushed him into Shivarna. "Waa!" Shivarna caught him and he was held upside down. "You said you wouldn't attack!"
"I didn't, I pushed." He smirked behind his mask and Poch noticed it.
Poch grumbled and looked up at Shivarna. "Hmmm...hm...hm!" He flipped himself around and got to Shivarnas ear. "Shivarna," he whispered something into his shadow demon's ear, the demon gaining a look of intrigue, "can you do it?"
"Mhm!" Shivarna nodded, setting Poch down, and barring his claws.
"Alright!" Poch readied his sword. "Charge!" The two dashed at Rex, Shivarna furiously swiping his claws at him and Poch wildly blade kicking.
Rex blocked them all with ease. "You really think brute force will-"
"Shiva!" Shivarna yelled while raising his arm up. Shiva and Klarna separated, Klarna grabbing his sword and slamming it down on Rex. He reached back and had Shiva form a structure. He swung up with it and Rex blocked, not realizing Shiva formed a hand, gripping the scabbard and yanking back.
"Oh no you dont!" Rex had it break down and form in his other hand.
"Shivarna!" Poch yelled. Shiva melded into Klarna, morphing into Shivarna. Poch grabbed the scabbard before Rex could figure out he was behind him, and kicked a dagger, warping the scabbard away and to his shadow demon, who grabbed it. "Yes!"
"Impressive," Rex said, "but just to be clear...I totally let you grab it."
"Heh, yeah I thought as much," Poch took the sheathe from Shivarna.
"Still though," he glanced at Shivarna, "that was a clever plan, didn't know you could do that."
"I had an inkling, but had to ask him anyway."
"You asked him huh?...the way I see it, the two of you are more like a pair than an exterminator and his shadow demon."
"Well, I guess it helps that he has his own consciousness."
"Because of your brother's soul….I...I heard that the two of you were planning to be a tag team."
"Yeah...then...shit happened."
"...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up."
"It's fine. I've moved on from it."
"Im… glad to hear that...well...I should get going...a new entry came in the book and I need to give it a read."
"Oh ok, keep us updated?"
"Sure thing," Rex nodded. Shivarna approached him. "Hm?" He was taken back when the shadow demon gave him a hug.
"Again? I think he likes you."
"Heh….I'm surprised he does," Rex returned the hug, patting him on the back before he faded away. "Well...I should be going," he walked off and paused for a bit, "...it was nice talking to you."
"Same. Thanks for the sword!" He waved him off. "Alright," he reached back and took off the sheathes for his daggers, putting them in his pocket. He slid the sword into its scabbard and placed it on the back of his belt, adjusting it so it would be both comfortable and out of the way. "Sweet! Nure! I'm all done!"
Nure walked in. "Nice of him to give you that."
"Had to work for it, but yeah. I guess I should get going," He took his phone out and gave Loona a call. He waited a bit then he reached her voicemail. "The hell?" He called again but got the same results. "Oh come on, don't tell me she's busy," He called again, voicemail again. "Crap," He shot her a text.
-Hey, I need a gate and i dont have Stolas's number-
He waited a bit, getting no reply. "Shit." He looked to nure, "Mind if I stay here for a bit?"
"Uh," Nure rubbed the back of his head, "I actually have to leave somewhere"
"Doubles shit. Do you have a way to the human world?"
Nure shook his head. "Sorry."
"Triple shit! Maybe the others can help." He attempted to text the team. Dundy replied he was already in the human world with his mother and Octavia. Shelly and Solis were on a date, Shred was with Gen getting something done with Echo, and Jack was apparently working with Bitzo, he did tell him that Stolas was supposedly at home right now. He attempted to call Loona again but with no luck. "Well guess this is my chance to learn how the ring lifts work….where is that again?"
Poch walked up to the booth for the ring elevator. "Um, excuse me, this is my first time doing this, but how do I get to the pride ring?"
The lady imp glanced at him from her newspaper and did a double take. "Oh hey! You're an Exterminator!"
"Heh, guilty. I'm trying to get to the pride ring but last time I used the elevator someone else handled all the transferring and such."
"Oh no worries, I can help! Are you gonna go with any sort of vehicle?"
"No, just me."
"Any weapons on hand?"
"Just this," he pulled out some of his blade to show he had it.
"Hmm as long as it's registered we won't have to sick security on you. Id?"
Poch pulled out his Id card from his wallet, showing it to her.
"Hm," She inspected it, "Seems like you do have a license to carry, that's good," She typed away at her computer, "You said pride?"
"Yep."
"Alright….thats gonna be...twenty dollars with an Exterminator discount!"
"Alright," He handed in a twenty.
She took it and gave him a ticket and his ID back. "Have a nice trip, an elevator should arrive soon!"
"Thanks!" He waved as he left for the lobby. As he entered and went for the elevator that was designated on his ticket he got a few looks and smiles from other demons, some greeting him and some pointing him out. He didn't pay much attention to it, glad that he wasn't treated like some sort of popstar, getting hounded by fans. He did however notice a couple of succubuses giving him an odd look or glance. He shrugged it off and waited in line at the elevator door, hoping no one would ask to see his shadow demons, thinking that would scare the security guards if he did. The doors opened and he walked in. He found a good place to sit and sat there. "Wonder how long this'll take." He took out his phone and texted Loona that he found a way to the pride ring, thinking that she may still be busy. He went to his insta, looking through photos.
"Hi!" A female voice said beside him followed by someone plopping down next to him.
"Hm?" He looked to his side and saw a six foot three inch tall silver hellhound with brown fur on her shoulders and down her back. Her hair was red and in a pigtail, her eyes were light red, her tail was long and smooth and she sported a cheery smile. She wore a black shirt with X's on it and jean shorts. She waved at him. "Oh, hi."
"I'm Tania!"
"Uh, I'm Poch."
"Nice to meet you!"
"Yeah you too," Poch smiled.
"So, I'm just gonna cut to the chase. Who are you looking for?"
"Excuse me?"
"You're looking for someone aren't you?"
"N-no."
"Yes you are. I can see a connection trying to be reforged."
"What are you talking about?"
"Lemme explain. I got this pretty cool power thanks to my shaman like dad, to see connections. Not only that but through those links I can help someone communicate with this person, or in your case, find them. I see a connection in you and I see the thread of searching, which means your looking for them. So, who is it? I wanna help!"
"Uh huh...so where's the camera?" Poch looked around.
Clair deadpanned, grabbes Pochs face and placed her forehead on his. He felt his brain tingle and everything became a blur.
Poch's vision cleared and he found himself in a dark gray void. He looked around and saw still images of his friends and family. The exterminators, the I.M.P. crew, his family that raised him, everyone he knew. Above them all were threads of different colors going up a short distance into some spool.
"The hell?" As Poch looked around he saw Shivarna next to him, also looking around. "Shivarna?"
"Huh. Is that that shadow demon thing?" Tania asked from behind.
They both looked behind and saw Tania. "You! Where are we!? Why's Shivarna here too!?"
"I like to call this place the inner connected world. As for your shadow demon, idk. Is he a living thing? Cause I can bring those living into other worlds."
"Well...technically he is...he has some of my brother's soul."
"Hm," Tania looked around, "I'm guessing that's him over there?" She pointed to a still figure of Celis standing next to Shivarna. "I see the threads of familial love, sadness, regret. May I ask what happened to him to make you regret?"
"He...I...I killed him a few years ago," he gripped his arm, "I was...it was…."
"Um...you don't have to tell me, I don't-"
Poch took a breath. "I wasn't myself...I was...drugged up and...hypnotized….it's the reason he died...he doesn't blame me though, which...I'm glad for."
"I...sorry that happened dude."
"It's fine...I've moved on from it."
"Cool...anyways um...who are you looking for?"
"Uh. My dad."
"Ah. Just gotta look for the parent thread." Tania looked around. "Friend, friend, close friend, oh a lover!" She said in front of the figure of Loona.
"Uh, no we're just friends!"
"I do see the denial thread tied to the love thread."
"Denial thread?"
"It's a thread that's present when you deny something you know is true. So you love her, but you're denying it."
"Moving on! We're currently looking for my dad, remember?"
"Oh, right!"
"There," Shivarna pointed to a hazy figure of Pochs dad. Threads above it were very loose.
"Oh boy, those are some loose threads."
"Is that a bad thing?"
"Well loose threads means something's blocking your connection with him. We have time so let's try to dive in."
"Dive in?"
"Yeah," she took Poch's hand and pulled him close, "there's some mental barriers blocking your connection with him and preventing me from finding him. Let's go through the first one now before we reach the pride ring." She reached for the hazy figure and paused, "this might...tickle."
"Huh?" As soon as she touched the figure he felt a jolt run up his body as a light clouded his vision. When his vision came back he found himself on a street near a cliff. It was in the aftermath of a car crash as one was against the railing and another was beside it with a dent in the front. Poch knew this area. "This is...the accident." He looked around and saw that Shivarna was also with him.
"Whaddya see?" Tania's voice said.
"Tania?" He looked around but didn't see her.
"I'm not there, nor can I see inside. I can only talk to you. So what ya seeing?"
"It's...the day I became Poch."
"Your birth?"
"No I...I was in an accident and lost my memories...my real name is Arnello...I became Poch cause my brother named me that when we got separated from our dad and got amnesia."
"Dang. That's rough."
"It's fine. Why am I here though?"
"Idk. I am sensing something. it feels like...a why."
"A what?"
"A why, as in this mental block has something to do with a why related to your dad. Like why did he leave you for example...not saying he did i'm just using a general ref."
"Why…I think I know."
"You do?"
"When Shivarna told me he was alive...I wondered why, after so many years, he hasn't found me or my brother...it's not like we flew far and if he asked around enough he'd find us….so why didn't he?"
"...what if...he didn't know?" Shivarna asked.
"Didn't know? That his own somes were missing? How would he not know?"
"Same reason… you didn't know."
"Same reason? Shivarna, Celis and I had amnesia, why would we know about…." Realization struck, "I'm an idiot."
"What? What'd you find out?" Tania asked.
"Why didn't I think about that earlier?...dad lost his memories too...but why was he listed as a john doe?...maybe he forgot his wallet again, but that doesnt matter….if he's forgotten then...I guess I'll just have him remember me again." The world began to collapse on itself. "What's going on!"
"Barrier broken! Pulling you out!" Tania announced, bringing Poch back to the world of threads. "Nice! Seems like you tightened the threads!"
"Really?" He looked up and saw the threads above have tightened but not all the way.
"We're about to get into the pride ring, so how bout we leave." Tania clapped her hands and Poch felt a tingle again as his vision blurred.
He awoke at the ring elevator, their destination being reached.
"We're here, cmon!" Tania pulled him off the lift. "So, believe me now?"
"Y-yeah, got no choice but to. So...you can really find my dad?"
"Yeah, just gotta get rid of those mental blocks!"
"Alright...how many are there?"
"Hmmm I'd say about five, not counting the one we just got. Though before we get another I need some time to recharge, I may not look it, but I got a slight headache and doing another is gonna make it killer!"
"Ok, but...why are you helping me?"
"Three reasons. One, a way of appreciation for slaying Angel's. Two, I could feel the connection desperately trying to be reforged. Three, I like helping cute guys."
"Gonna ignore that last one...but...thanks...I wasn't really thinking about finding my dad but...guess I now I know how I can."
"No problem. Though I did get a fourth reason."
"What's that?"
"It'd be a cool surprise to that hound you love."
Poch blushed. "We're just friends!"
"I did see a denial thread," She chuckled.
Poch groaned but thought about it. "Well...it would be nice to surprise her...I would like her to meet him...so yeah...guess I will."
"Sweet!" She grabbed her phone, "Let's exchange numbers to collaborate where we'll next meet. Sound good?"
"Yeah," He got out his phone, "Sounds great."
They exchanged before going their separate ways.
Poch rang the bell of Stolas' home. He waited and hoped it wasn't Stella that answered.
"Hello?" Stolas said through the comm.
"Oh good. Hey Stolas, it's me Poch. I hate to bother but I need a way home?"
"Oh! Come in, come in!" Stolas opened the gates for him, allowing him in.
Poch walked in, going up the steps and into the main room room where Stolas came in, wearing a robe, to greet him. "Hey Stolas," Poch waved.
"Hi! Did you find a go- Hm?" He noticed the sword on his hip, recognizing it, "is that...Rex's sword?"
"Yeah, he lent it to me while my daggers were getting modified. Had me do a test first."
"What test?"
"I had to grab the scabbard out of his hands. Managed to do it With Shivarna and Klarna's help."
"Oh? What else did you do?" Stolas asked with intrigue.
"Well we talked a bit, some about my brother, and well...Shivarna hugged him."
"He did!?"
"Yeah, second time he's done that too. Think he likes him."
"Well, I'm sure Rex likes him too," Stolas said in an oddly warm way. "Well anyways, let's get you home," Stolas opened a portal.
"Thanks."
"But before you go, would you like some suggestions for poses?"
"Poses?"
"For the nude you're sending to Loona."
Poch turned red. "Wha- How did you-!?"
"Nure and I aren't deaf, plus you and Loona aren't as quiet as you think."
"Ugh, just don't tell anyone."
"I won't, I won't. So I would suggest a-"
"Don't need it!" Poch rushed through the portal with Stolas giggling behind him as it closed. He sat on his couch and sighed. His phone buzzed. He got a text from Loona.
-Dude I'm so sorry! I was out with Millie!- She texted.
He responded. -It's alright. I managed to get to Stolas's place. Lucky for me Stolas was there so he gated me home.-
-That's good. Still I'm really sorry. I can make it up to you tomorrow.-
-Nah that's fine, plus I'm gonna be busy with Tom tomorrow. Gonna help him with something he's doing this week so I may also be busy on other days.-
-oh-
-don't be sad. It's just for this week.-
-Im not sad.-
-you're pouting-
-I am not! What are you, watching me rn?-
-yep. Hacked your camera.-
-as if-
He had a feeling she rolled her eyes -don't you roll your eyes at me-
-how the fuck!?-
He sent a "I'm watching you" Gif while laughing.
-stalker-
-lol. Well I gotta go.-
-guess I'll talk to you tonight?- He blushed remembering that they agreed to send each other a nude pic of themselves.
-Yeah guess you will-
-cutie- she messaged with a wink emoji.
Poch blushed. 'Did she just flirt with me!?' Poch was flabbergasted by the sudden remark. 'How should I respond...I...Guess like this,'
-alright ms sexy with a side of cute- He felt his face get hotter saying that. He's never flirted before. "Please dont respond please don't respond!" He held his breath and waited for hopefully nothing. He heard a ding and his heart jumped. He calmed down when he realized it was Tania.
-Hey Poch! Wanna discuss our next meet up?- She texted.
Poch took a sigh of relief and responded. -Sure. what time works for you?-
-hmm ?-
-How bout tomorrow? We can meet at a park I know.-
-Alright, see ya then- He got up and unsheathed his borrowed sword. "Time to get some practice in with this." he headed to his porch practicing with the blade, getting familiar with it.
Poch laid on his bed, looking up as it came time for what they agreed to do. 'Whyd i offer this? Whyd i suggest this? Why'd she agree to it too? Ugh Poch you dumbass!' His phone buzzed, getting a text from Loona.
-Hey- She messaged.
-You home?-
He messaged back.
-Yeah, I'm home. you?-
-In my room. Alone.-
-Same- He took a deep breath.
-you…..ready?-
-yeah just let me get my clothes off-
-wait-
-how bout this-
-once we both take a pic, we wait till the other is ready and send at the same time. Deal?-
-Deal-
Poch took another deep breath, setting his phone down and getting up, beginning to take off his clothes. He didn't really know what pose to do and was thinking about it while stripping. "Ugh, what pose should I make? Should I try to look brawny...suave...calm down Poch...just be natural I guess," Shivarna summoned himself in front of Poch, "Whoa!? Shivarna, what are you-"
"Camera man,"He said, taking the phone.
"...I...alright fine, just...no comments."
"Pose for your lover."
"Shut up!" Poch laid back and Shivarna got in front of him, raising the camera above his frame. He felt red in the face, bashfully looking at the camera, holding his arm.
"Smile."
"Mmm,"He smiled, feeling a bit stupid.
Shivarna took the pic. "Got it," He handed the phone back.
"Thanks," He said, still feeling hot headed. He texted Loona.
-I'm set-
-Same-
-on 3?-
-on 3-
"One….two...three," He sent the pic.
Hers came too and he felt like his nose was gonna bleed. Her picture was her laying on her bed, face down, raising her tail and butt up while keeping her face in her pillow, looking shyly at the camera, holding the pillow while blushing. She brought one leg forward and stretched the other one out, arcing herself in a way that made her breast visible.
"Holy...fuck…" He tried not to ogle at her but he was losing that fight quickly. "Respond idiot!" He mentaly slapped himself out of the urge. He typed things like -You look so sexy but adorable- but quickly deleted it. "Ah what do i sa-! Huh?" Shivarna took the phone from him. "What are you-" He heard a dial tone, "Did you call her!?"
"Yes."
"Why would you do that!? Hang up! Quick before she-" Shivarna pushed the phone to his ear. Loona had answered, sealing Poch's fate.
"Um...hey." Loona said.
"Heeey!" Poch nervously answered, taking the phone and glaring at Shivarna "...um...so...h-how are ya?"
"Uh...I'm alright."
"C-cool...um...so...guess now you gotta admit that you're the cuter and the sexier one huh?"
"Uh...well...I...I don't see how."
"Really?...I mean...how can you not?...you got that nice soft ass, those curves...that slender body….softer than you think ample breast...that look you give while looking at the camera just...makes your heart wanna explode know what I mean?" He processed what he was saying and felt like a major pervert, his face heating up and ready to pop. "Uhhhh, well that's just from an...honest perspective y'know? I'm just...saying what any other person would say if they saw this...heck I guess I should count myself lucky."
"Shut up." Shivarna was heard saying.
"Was...was that-" Loona heard the shadow demon.
"Y-yeah. He took the photo." Poch chuckled. "….anyways...im… I'm gonna go ahead and sleep."
"Nude?" Shivarna asked.
"Yes, I'm gonna sleep nude. Why?"
"...Kinky."
"Go away!" He dismissed Shivarna.
Loona couldn't help but chuckle.
"Anyways, I'll uh...I'll see you later."
"Yeah...see ya later."
He hung up and flopped back. He looked back at the pic she sent, his eyes drinking in her body. "Fuck, shes hot." He was trying not to ogle but it was a hard fight. He quickly went to his home screen puting the phone away. He sighed, he doubted that she'd sneak in to sleep with him knowing that he was nude. He pulled the covers on him and fell asleep.
He felt a warmth embrace him as a familiar scent filled his nose. There was a Strong but soft grip around him, holding him close. His hands also held the warm object in front of him, his hands feeling the back of it, feeling its soft fur. He was completely comfortable, but slightly unnerved by how familiar this felt but with something feeling a bit off. His hands went lower, shuffling through the soft fur of whatever he held. His hand came across some fluffy appendage. He slightly rubbed against it, getting a sharp breath in response. His hand then went lower, cupping a soft round orb. He gave it a soft squeeze.
"Ah!" Someone gasped.
"Hm?" Poch stirred slightly. He squeezed again.
"Mmn!"
"Huh?" He felt around the orb, getting a sense of deja vu as the breath above him became heavier. '...Please don't be who i think this is and please PLEASE tell me i'm not squeezing what i think im squeezing…' He was hesitant and slowly tilted his head up, opening his eyes to see a familiar face biting her lip. It was Loona, and she was biting her lip because Poch was squeezing her butt. '...FUCK!' He moved his hand away from her ass.
"mmm," She whined.
'Why are you whining!? Ugh god damnit Loona why are you here!? Isn't this weird, im naked y'know!' He looked forward and saw her bare chest. He felt himself get even hotter. 'And so are you! WHY!?' he quickly looked away, 'This is so weird! Do I have to keep my head up all night?...well...it's not like i haven't seen her nude...plus her being nude means i feel more of her soft fur...if i just keep my hands to myself then...it should be fine right?...I just...i'll just try that and...never sleep nude again.'
He slept his best, trying not to get too cuddly, waking up to watch her leave, feeling hot headed about it all. He sighed in his pillow, he had no idea how to process this or what the feeling in his chest was.
Poch was waiting at a park in the pride ring. He waited for Tania at a bench near the red lake. It was pretty late in the day.
"Hey!" Tania waved at him, running up to him.
"Hey," Poch smiled, waving at her.
She sat next to him. "Wait long?"
"Nah not really."
"Cool. So ready to start?"
"Straight to the point...Alright, let's do it."
Poch, Tania, and Shivarna approached the figure of his dad in the world of connections.
"Ready? After this we can get ice cream!" Tania said.
"Sounds good." Poch smiled.
"I want chocolate." Shivarna said.
"You can't eat!...can you?"
Tania laughed. "C'mon you two!"
Tania grabbed Poch and grabbed the figure.
Poch and Shivarna found themselves in a li ring room. It was the living room of the house Poch lived in when he was younger, before the accident. Around him were several broken silhouettes all looking like him and Celis when they were younger and their dad.
"What's all this?" Poch asked.
"What ya see?" Tania asked.
"Oh right, you can't see, Probably for the best," He said that last part under his breath, "I see me, my brother and my dad but they were all some hazy figures. You feel anything?"
"I feel some relation to the last one."
"Another why?"
"No, more like it's related to what you found out on the last barrier. I'm also feeling a 'what if'."
"What if?...Well I said he got amnesia like me and Celis but didnt i already say if he forgot then i'd just have him remember again. I guess these hazy silhouettes mean forgetting but like I said, I'll make him remember."
"...What if...you can't?" Shivarna said.
"What?...What do you mean?"
"What if...he can't remember."
"I mean...I remembered...so did Celis...how can he not remember?"
"It's possible he may have gotten a worse hit to the head. Like he had a worse version of amnesia," Tania said.
"So?"
"So then those memories could be permanently gone. He may have returned to a previous life or rather made a new one with no way of going back."
"...Then...I'll still tell him and if he doesn't remember...doesnt mean I can't make some new memories with him….still...I gotta try." Like last time, the world began to collapse.
"Barrier broken! Pulling out!" Tania brought them back to the connected world. "Nicely done!"
"Thanks. How are the threads?"
"Tighter, but still a few barriers left. Let's get back to hell."
The two awakened on the bench, Tania stretching.
"That went well. If it wasn't for the mental strain I'd have us do another but sadly I can't." Tania said.
"That's fine. We'd get weird stares if we did this too long." Poch got up, "Ready to get ice cream?""
Shivarna appeared. "Chocolate."
"You can't-! Ugh nevermind we can try."
Shivarna bit at his ice cream as he and Poch went to I.M.P. to get home.
"So how is it?" Poch asked.
"Yummy." Shivarna answered.
"Still can't believe you can eat...I gotta show Loona this." He took out his phone and noticed he missed a call and received a few messages from her. "Oh shit! I forgot I put my phone on silent!"
"Dummy."
"Shut up! Cmon, let's hurry!" They rushed their way to the office, Shivarna dismissing once finishing his ice cream, and made it to the office. He was about to open the door till he noticed the close sign. "Shit! They closed already!? Well it is pretty late." He groaned. "Should I text Loona for a gate home?" He was about to until he heard voices inside. He got his key and got his sword ready, entering the room. He heard shuffling in the meeting room, heading there.
"There you are!" A voice said.
"Hyah!" Poch jumped in, ready to swing.
"AH!" Octavia cowered, hiding behind her dad's grimoire.
Poch stopped himself. "Octavia?'
"Poch?" Octavia composed herself. "What are you doing here?"
"Was hoping the others were here to give me a way home."
"Can you use you- oh right. Modifications."
"Yeah. What are you doing here?"
"Blitzø left the grimoire here and I came by to get it. He doesn't like it being alone at the office."
"Ah alright. Think you could-"
"Sure thing." Octavia opened the book and opened a gate to get him home.
"Thanks," He walked through and waved her bye once the gate closed. He went to his bed, taking off his jacket, laying down. He gave Loona a call.
"Hello?" She answered.
"Loona?" Poch said.
Loona woke up and shot up. "Poch! Hey!"
"Hey! Sorry about earlier, I was busy."
"With Tom right?"
"Y-yeah. Sorry. I wasn't trying to ignore you, honest!"
"I know...sorry if I messaged too much."
"It's fine...meet me at the fields near the base tomorrow. I wanna show you the sword I was leant."
"I'd like that."
"Sweet! See you tomorrow!"
"See ya," She hung up.
He plugged up his phone and went to sleep.
Poch and Tania met up at the park again. Before they started, Poch wanted to know more about Tania first.
"So I was wondering, where'd you get this power?" Poch asked.
"Well, it's cause of my dad. He had this magic power to see relationships, like if two people were friends or more than friends, but he could only do it if they were close together. He was a succubus and my mom was a hellhound so when I inherited his power I was able to mix it with my natural abilities, thus creating the world of connections."
"Wait, you're part succubus?"
"Yeah but my hellhound side suppresses the...horniness…..but I may end up kissing you by accident."
"Wh-Why?"
"Well I have to get close to you for the whole getting to the world thing, plus, well...you're a cutie so...yeah."
"...o-ok, try not to?"
"Of course! Now, you ready?"
"Yep!"
The three entered Poch's connected world and approached Pochs father.
"So question, what's your dad's name?" Tania asked.
"Kenji." Poch answered.
"Ah Kenji...so why is it that we see him in his human form?"
"Uhhh well...ysee there was...I kinda...well…"
"You don't have to tell me if you dont wanna."
"Phew. It's complicated, sorry."
"It's fine. But I also noticed these other humans having a thread of family," She gestured to the figures of Tom, Ilas, and Greg, "Why are they human and not demons?"
"Uhhhhh," He looked to Shivarna for help. Shivarna shrugged.
"Were you raised by humans?"
"Y-yeah! I was...once sent to the human world when I was younger with my brother and because of our amnesia we were...raised by them."
"Ah they sound nice!"
"They really are." Poch smiled, mentally sighing in relief.
"Alright let's continue!"
She grabbed the figure and sent Poch and Shivarna to another mental barrier. They were back in the house where Poch grew up before the accident, standing in the living room. The living room had a couch in the center with a fifty inch flatscreen across from it, the front door being right beside it. Behind it was the stairs that led to the bedrooms and the way to the dining room and kitchen being next to it. On the side was the door to his dad's study, which is where he had his weapons and would practice his swordplay. Right now the room was dark, a dim light coming from the closed door of the study.
"What are you sensing in this one Tania?" Poch asked.
"I'm sensing...the unknown?" Tania answered.
"The unknown?"
"Yeah, I don't know the specifics but I do sense a bit of fear."
"Fear? Why would I-"
"Look," Shivarna pointed at the stairs.
Arnello was following Ralsin down the stairs. This was when Poch was eight.
"Ralsin, what are we-" Arnello started.
"Shh! Keep it down, dad might hear us!" Ralsin whispered.
"What are we doing?" Arnello whispered.
"Dads in his study again."
"So? He already showed us his...uh...curtlosses."
"Cutlasses."
"Yeah those."
"It's something else, Arnello. Know that box he keeps on the desk?" Ralsin explained as they got closer to the door.
"The one he tells us never to mess with?"
"Yeah that one,"
"I...remember this." Poch stated as he got closer to his younger self and brother, getting to the door along with Shivarna.
In the study, Kenji was at the desk across the room. It had a long locked chest on top of it. He sighed as he grazed his fingers across the top of it. He pulled out a key and looked at it unsure, rubbing it, and twisting it around in his grasp. He unlocked it and hesitantly reached inside. He pulled out a long sword, the length of the scabbard easily being ten feet. There was a chain surrounding the hilt, holding the blade inside its sheathe. His fingers gingerly ran up its pure black holder, to the hilt.
Arnello and Ralsin felt shivers as Kenji held the sword, even Poch was feeling it.
"Wh-what's that?" Arnello asked, feeling afraid.
"I dont know…"
"Ralsin...I'm scared!"
"It's ok, th-there's no reason to be scared," He said even though he was equally terrified of the threatening and deadly aura emanating from the sealed sword.
"C-Can we go back to bed?"
"Y-Yeah sure!"
The two rushed away, leaving Poch and Shivarna there. As they ran up everything froze.
"...Why did dad have such a...terrifying weapon?" Poch asked. "Better yet...where did he get?"
"Hm?" Tania noticed something on her end.
"...Y'know...thinking on it now….I didn't know much about his past...what he did before he met mom and before he had me and Celis…" Poch opened the door and walked in. "Tania...i think i know what this barrier is...Im…" He got closer to his dad, moving beside him, looking up at his face. "...Im...afraid of what he used to be...he never talked about it and whenever it was mentioned...he always looked...regretful about it….with his memories gone...maybe he went back to who he was….and...honestly I don't know who that'll be...will he be the same father i knew or...someone completely different."
Shivarna glanced at him, reaching out and holding his shoulder. Poch looked at him and saw his gaze, feeling somewhat like one of reassurance.
Before poch could say anything the world began to collapse.
"Pulling yall out!" Tania yanked them out and back to the connected world. "Good job!"
"Thanks...Guess we head back now?"
"You ok?"
"I'm fine...really."
"Hm...quick question, you said this shadow demon has some of your brother's soul?" She gestured at Shivarna.
"Yeah, it's why he's so...independent at times."
"Does he have your brother's memories?"
"Pretty much yeah. Why?"
"I'll tell you tomorrow,"
"Oh, I can't tomorrow. Got some exterminator stuff to do."
"Oh, next time then?"
"We can go the day after."
"Sweet!"
Poch laid on his bed, trying not to think about his dad's possible past, while also waiting for Loona. He didnt wanna admit it, but he'd actually like to cuddle with her, wanting her warmth and smell to drive the thoughts away. When she came, he held on tight, not caring that his face was in her chest.
Poch, Jack, Millie, and Shred exited the gateway.
"Good luck guys!" Blitzø said to them as the gate closed.
"Alright this is as close as we're gonna get to the place. It's around the corner but still lets be discreet," Jack said, going to his human form.
"Odd for you to say that," Shred stated, also going human.
"Shut it."
"Probably should've waited before changing Jack, Millie needs a dust dive to hide in," Poch stated.
"No she doesn't," Shred smirked, "Show em!"
Millie raised her arms and was engulfed by blue flames and the sound of a hooting owl emanating from the fire. When they dispersed, gone were her horns and tail, her red skin replaced with light brown skin and her eyes being yellow pupils. "Tada!"
"Whoa! When did you get that!?" Jack asked.
"Shelly thought that maybe the way yall turn human could be implied to human disguises in some way and turns out she was right! Still needed some help from Octavia and Stolas though."
"They got human forms too?"
"Yep! Octavia got one for when she and Dundy's mom next go grocery shopping."
"Those two are getting along great!" Shred said.
"I'll say. C'mon let's get to the place!" Poch said.
They all casually walked out the alleyway and down the road to the Dhorks facility. It was disguised as an abandoned warehouse and its front gates were broken through from when the exterminators rammed through with a truck. Nobody seemed to be around. They all snuck in through the front.
"Careful, we don't know if there's anyone inside," Poch whispered.
"I'll check!" Millie climbed up the pipe and crawled her way to the windows, peaking in. "I don't see anyone, and it's kinda dark!" She told the others.
"Think we should go to that large room where we met up with Albest?" Shred asked.
"It's our only lead, but let's stay human, we could probably jump someone and disguise as a Dhork," Poch suggested.
"Sounds good, plus I'd look hot in their suits," Shred said.
"Suits are hot, I would know," Millie said, jumping down and entering the place with them.
"Why, cause Moxxie wears a suit?"
"That and cause I look hot in a suit," She smirked.
"Wed need to find one tiny enough to fit you, shorty," Shred smirked
"You're just jealous I'm smaller yet hotter than you. Size doesn't always count."
"Oh! Nice one!" Jack high fives Millie.
"At Least I'm softer to cuddle," Shred fired back.
"Oh! Return! Nice!" Jack high fived Shred.
They entered the room, jumping down the platform. They made their way to the door.
"I swear, there better not be another trap. They set up heavenly gates here and everything," Shred said.
"How'd they set that up?" Jack asked.
"No idea, maybe the crusaders set it up."
"There's no Halo's, guess that means there's still people here," Poch surmised. He came to the doors, cracking them open to peak in. He gave the all clear sign before walking in with them following.
"What's this room used for anyway? Doors too small for anything small," Jack asked.
"Look up, you'll see a shaft. Think they had helicopters here at some point," Shred answered.
They got to the end of the hallway where an elevator is. It was near a coded keypad.
"Try one one one one," Millie suggested.
"Ok," Poch typed that in, getting a red flash and a buzz, "nope."
"Huh. Worked in the last place."
"Here," Jack reverted to his demon form and wrote for Dust, "Dust!" He has the mist shadow demon form a large handle bar and pry open the elevator door open enough for him to grab hold and pull it all the way open. "Cmon, I'll Dust dive us down." They gathered around Jack and they entered his Dust dive, sliding down the shaft. They got to the elevator at the bottom, Jack pulling them all out.
Shred looked inside through the top hatch. "Noone inside, but there's a camera."
"I got it," Jack still had Dust summoned and sent some of it in to cut the wire, "clear!"
They hopped in and Shred was about to open the door until Poch stopped him.
"We don't know what to expect or who's behind this door, so now may be a good time to turn back," Poch suggested.
"Nah, let's try and stealth this," Jack stood in front of the door, bringing out a small thin ring of Dust and forming a concentrated ball of it with the rest. "A trick Nala thought up that actually works." He pushed the ring through the cracks of the elevator door and made movements with his hands. The orb he made started to take form, forming hallways and rooms, looking like a map. It only formed one passage at a time, as if there was some scanner with limited range going through the building. It ended with one large room being in the middle. "Done, now we got a map. I sensed some people too but none close by so we can sneak in with some ease at least, but watchout for cameras."
"When you learn this?"
"Nala likes to test theories with Dust."
"Cool," Poch took a pic with his phone and so did the others, "Alright, let's split up and see what we can find."
"I'll Dust Dive around, since you guys are still human, try and head here," He pointed to a room on the far left, "I think this is a locker room."
"Since you'll be Dust diving, try and look for a computer room, might have something on the machinery we've been finding," Shred said.
"About that, once yall get your clothes, go to this big room cause there's a gate at the end and it's definitely gotta be hiding something cause that room gots some power tools and shit. Would inspect but I was reaching my range limit."
"Big enough to hold a boss, but think you can find a map? I'm curious how big this place is, especially since we haven't found the area where we were held," Poch said.
"Will do."
"Alright! Break!" Millie opened the door.
Jack dived in Dust and slid away to the left while the others made their way to the right, keeping hidden from the cameras. They had to stop a few times while a camera was panning so as not to get caught.
"Why didn't we have Jack just cut the camera lines?" Shred asked.
"That'd be suspicious," Poch answered. They were close to a room and heard chatter.
"I hear something," Millie said, peaking in with Shred and Poch. There were two agents talking.
"It's so confusing!" One agent said.
"It's not that confusing. Think of it this way, same area, different space." The other agent said.
"That doesn't make sense, if it's in the same area it's in the same space!"
"Then how bout this. It's in the same spot but the dimension it's in is different, like ehhh...that dc movie with the alternate worlds except yknow..it's in the same place just...different world. Get it?"
"I think so, but how does one go about creating one?"
"Well Toket says it ain't an easy process, he's gotta use up alot of his angels for fodder and even then, the place doesn't last long, nor is it a big place."
"Toket!?" Poch whispered in exclaim.
"That crusader yall fought when Blitzø and Moxxie got kidnapped?" Millie asked.
"Yeah, the one with Nugen."
"Think he's here?" Shred wondered.
"I don-"
"What the-!?" A voice from behind them said.
They looked back and saw a different agent had come out the adjacent room, spotting them. He was about to pull out his gun until Poch closed in on him, kneeing him in the gut before spin kicking him in the head, knocking him into the wall, taking him out.
"What was that!?" One of the two from inside heard the commotion and rushed out, seeing him. They reached for their weapons only to get knocked out by Millie and Shred from behind, the disguised imp and cat knocking them in the head.
"Quick! Drag them inside!" Shred said, pulling them inside the room. They hid them in the corner and he observed the three before he started to take off the clothes of one.
"What are you doing?" Millie asked.
"This guy's my size. Go ahead to the locker rooms to find your own pair.
Millie and Poch shrugged at each other before making their way to said locker room, leaving Shred alone to change. Poch took out his phone to check if they were going the right way. The room was just up ahead.
"Alright, It's up ahead," Poch told Millie. The two looked in and saw a split pathway, one for females and one for males. "Guess we split up here. Good luck!" Millie nodded at him before she went to the females. Poch went into the males locker room. He peaked in, seeing a few guys change from pedestrian to their agent clothes.
"Any luck finding it?" One asked.
"They've been kept secret for nearly five decades, I doubt it'll be that easy," Answered another.
Poch snuck by, leaning on the walls, hiding behind a bin. There were about five guys in there, all he could easily take out even without his powers, but he had to be cautious as there was an alert button on the wall. 'Ok...I'll wait till enough of them leave, then look for a sui-' His thoughts were interrupted by a loud sound emanating from his pocket. It was his phone. He froze for a second, himself filled with dread. "Shit!" He hurriedly grabbed it. It was Tania calling. "Why is she calling me!? I told her I ha-" The bin behind him was pulled out the way. He looked back to see the scowling face of an agent with a taser in his hand.. "...Hi," He awkwardly smiled.
"Intruder!" He thrusted the taser at Poch.
Poch swayed to the side, grabbed his arm, flipped him over to behind him and punched his face. Two ran up on him, both jabbing their tasers at him. He jumped and swiped his leg at their heads, knocking them to the side, their tasers dropping as they lost consciousness. One tried to run up and grapple him, his response being to fall on his back and double kick the agent's chest, knocking the wind out his chest before he rolled back and kneed his chin. The last one was hesitant, raising his fist, ready to fight. Poch ran up to him dodging his first swing and hard punching him in the stomach before slamming his fist into his face, knocking him out. "That takes care of that." Poch dusted off his hands. His phone rang again, Tania attempting to call him. "For fucks sake, Tania." He was about to answer but the sound of an alarm took his attention.
"Everyone! The dog, that's actually a human, is here!" said a guy on the intercom who also sounded near Poch.
Poch looked behind and saw an agent had pressed the alert button and was calling it in through his communicator. Poch sighed. "Hellhound, not dog!" He lunged at the man and rolled downward, slamming his heel into his head. He ran out.
Millie peeked out, putting her clothes back on. "Poch, what happened?"
"Dont wanna talk about it!" Poch ran out the locker room, attempting to make contact with Jack and Shred.
"Dude, what'd you do?" Jack asked.
"Don't ask. Meet us in that big room at the end!"
"Alright."
"Mils owes me ten!" Shred gloated.
"What? Why?"
"We made a bet on whod mess it up first. I bet Jack," Millie explained.
"Sunnuva, Really!?"
"There he is! And he's got a little girl with her!" An agent yelled from the hallways.
"Hey!" Millie yelled while Poch snorted.
They ran after them, Poch and Millie meeting up with them, beating them down. They rushed to the main room, taking out any in the way.
"Hey guys," Jack called in, "I think I broke through their passcode, some idiot had it written down. I'm gonna try and acce-"
"Everyone, that red imp with the scythe is here too! He's messing with our computers!" Someone yelled on the intercom.
"Fuck!" A scream was heard with what sounded like a head being impaled, "Alright, ive been found! I'm gonna leave a Moxxie here to scope through while I lead them away!"
"Sounds good!" Poch said. He and Millie rushed to the room. In front of the door that led to it were two agents.
"It's the dog and child!" One yelled.
"Oh for fu- Throw me at em!" Millie shouted at Poch. Poch grabbed Millie and launched her at them, her hands wringing around one's neck. "Im! Not! A! Child!" She headbutted her.
The other one reached for her but got a foot slammed into his face. It was Pochs foot. He kicked him out the door, making him roll back.
"Hey guys," Shred waved at them in a suit jacket.
"Why do you still have that on?" Millie asked.
"Cause it adds to my swagger."
"Mines better!"Jack yelled, crashing in. He had blood on his scythe. He reached into his Jacket, pulling out Millie's bat and Pochs sword and brace, tossing it to the two.
"Sweet! Now we can rip some-" Millie started.
A buzzing alarm cut her off as several hatches opened up from atop. From it fell several spider bots. They were twice as big as Millie, mostly their abdomens with three rings of spikes, completely gray, they had six legs, the front two being blades, their eyes were visors, and from the end of their abdomens was a bullet nozzle. There was a small army of them falling from the ceiling, surrounding them.
"Call me crazy, but I think these were modeled after those spider angels," Shred surmised, turning demon.
"You're crazy but maybe right," Poch said, going to his hellhound form, putting his brace on.
"But they're not angels, right?" Millie asked, taking off her disguise.
"Nah, you should be able to break these Mill!" Shred said, cracking his knuckles.
"Spider bots! Attack!" Someone yelled through the intercom.
The first ring of bots turned, aiming the gun at them. Shred grabbed Millie before the bots started firing. Jack spun his scythe, deflecting the bullets while Poch mostly dodged, following where the muzzles pointed to track the bullet, occasionally using his sword to block, and Shred swiftly avoided all the shots coming, using the same method Poch did, making sure Millie avoided them too. They moved towards the bots, Poch stabbing through one before slicing the three beside him, Jack swinging his scythe through a row, and Shred clawing their backs so Millie could follow up with a swing of her bat. The bots went for more close range attacks, swinging their bladed arms at them and trying to hit them with their spiky abdomens.
"First to use Shadow Demons owes everyone fifteen bucks!" Jack betted.
"You're on!" Shred agreed, throwing Millie at a few in front while ripped his claws into the ones around him.
"Fuck it, why not!" Poch leapt forward, cutting through multiple bots in a few swings. Some tried to jump on him from behind but a swift blade kick behind thwarted that attempt.
Jack twirled and spun his scythe around him as he maneuvered around like he was in some dance, creating a space of cuts and slashes to all that entered, which was quite a few. He slammed the end of his weapon on one's head. "Ole!" He felt something. "Hm?"
Millie bashed the head of one in, blocking its swipes before quickly smashing its head off. She swung up on the one apracoing behind, jumping up and impaling its abdomen with her bat before knocking one up and bating it to another, destroying both. "Home run!" She looked at the others' progress and saw that the exterminators were tearing through multiple bots at a time without the use of their shadow demons. Shred was clawing all that he came to like a ferocious lion, impaling some, tearing a few apart, even using one as a club. Jack didn't let a single one get near him with how wide he swung his scythe. Poch cut all that came to him into pieces, swiftly slashing with his blade, sometimes blade kicking, showing how well his balance was on one leg along with his flexibility and acrobatics when flipping and hand hoping of his arms, surprisingly not using any ether daggers. She thought it was weird how little she was fighting, they were the main focus, now it didn't feel so odd. "Sometimes I forget how powerful they are." She said to herself, wacking on that attack from behind.
Their T-watches rang, it was Blitzø calling in.
"Hey team! How's it going?" Blitzø asked.
"Doing good, fighting off some spider bots!" Jack called in.
"How the others doing?" Poch asked.
"We're fine," Dundy said.
"Oh, you connect us all. Cool!" Shred mentioned.
"Solis and Moxxie found a computer, and were downloading data which would go smoothly if Shelly hadn't alerted everyone," Echo reported.
"It wasn't my fault!" Shelly defended.
"We're fighting off these spider bots which kinda look like angels."
"You guys too?" Shred said.
"You have the same issue?"
"Yeah, Poch got caught while we were sneaking around and I'm having shadow Mox look over their computers, well I was but im having him come back cause i felt a disturbance," Jack told them.
"Poch got caught first? Huh I betted Jack," Moxxie stated.
"Fuck you too. How long's your download?"
"It'll be done in like five minutes," Solis stated.
"I'll see what my shadow Mox found then we can head home, sound good?"
"Sounds good to me!"
They ended communications and continued their fight. The number of spider bots were dwindling as less were coming out the top.
Pochs phone rang. "Oh my fu-" He grabbed it and answered. "Not now Tania!" Poch said.
"Tania? Who's Tania?" Loona answered
"Oh! Loona. Sorry, Tania's a friend of Tom's that keeps bugging me about their project. What's," He saw Jack's scythe coming at him. He ducked and managed to grab it. "WHOA! Jack, watch it!" Poch threw it back.
"Sorry!" Jack said, catching it.
"Anyways, What's up?"
"Well...is it ok if I go to your place for a bit? I...need some...space to call someone," Loona asked.
"Who you calling?"
"..." she paused, "my mom."
Poch was taken by surprise. "Whoa really? You sure you wanna do that?"
"...yeah...I'm sure."
"Ok... I'll see you there soon ok?"
"Yeah ok….thanks."
"No prob." She hung up and he looked at his phone, concerned for her.
"Hey Mills!" Shred called out.
"Yeah?" Millie answered.
"Strike out?"
Millie's eyes lit up. "Hell yeah!"
Shred ran to her and wrote for Ripper. "Ripper! Armatize!" He armatized Ripper and began to roll towards Millie.
Millie pulled back and swung at him with might. "Strike one!" she yelled as he rammed and tore through many machines, curving to roll back to her. She swung again, this time with more force, his rolled up self crashing past and pushing many away, once again curving back. "Strike two!" all that was left was a big group in the middle. Shred jumped up and so did Millie, pulling far back, the flames on her bat raging.
"I think we should move," Poch mentioned.
"Yeah," Jack said, nodding with Shadow Moxxie.
"When did Dust-?"
"Ask later!" Jack pulled Poch.
"Strike," Millie slammed the bat down with all her might, Shred grinding against the bat, the flames of it rolling onto him before he was launched into the group of bots, crashing into them, the flames he gathered exploding off him, destroying, and burning, the rest of the spider machines. "Three!" Millie cheered as she landed.
"I felt that," Jack said.
"Same," Poch looked up and noticed no more reinforcements, "guess that's all of them."
"Mils," Shred rolled to the imp, dismissing his shadow demon, "up top!" The two high fived.
"Think any agents are left?" Poch asked.
"After that, they probably left. Anyways, let's see what Mox found," Jack faced his Shadow Moxxie.
The Dust clone brought his hands up, bringing up some of Dust to form an armored lion.
"Oh so this is where they made it?"
Shadow Moxxie shook his head no. He showed the spider bots they just fought.
"They made those?"
He nodded. He showed the armor again but with an arrow pointing to a file.
"They had a file of the armored lion," Poch surmised.
He nodded again. Moxxie showed other files but placed a lock icon on them.
"There are other ones, but they were locked?" Millie quessed.
"Were they all for something similar to the Armored boss?" Shred asked.
Shadow Moxxie shook his head yes.
"How many you find?"
He formed the number five.
"Five!? Jeez. I wonder which they chose."
"No clue," Jack shrugged, "Anything else?" He got a no. "Alright, thanks." He dismissed Dust.
"Let's check up with the others," Poch called them in, "Hey guys. How's it on your end?"
"We just got to the office, we left as soon as the download finished," Shelly radioed in.
"Nice, what's on it?"
A portal opened up next to them. "Come in and well tell ya!" Blitzø said.
"So what we got is at least five bosses with some modifications like the Lion?" Blitzø reviewed.
"Yeah, and we couldn't access the other files so we don't know which they chose," Jack reported.
"We also heard some talk about Toket and something about a separate space. I feel like they mean what they use during the purge but I don't know," Poch added.
"Well we downloaded a few things that they definitely didn't want us having, they were panicking trying to stop us," Echo said.
"What's on the hard drive?"
"Well it's encrypted but I can work on that with my computer at home," Solis told them, taking the flash drive out of the computer.
"Still wonder why they made those bots," Shred asked.
"Security? I mean they'd be effective against non exterminators. By the way, Shred you lost the bet, pay up!" Jack said.
"Actually you lost the bet as soon as you started it," Shred smirked
"Huh?"
"You already Dust out when you started the bet, so thus you lost it from the beginning."
"Th- that wasn't- I didn't use him in the fight!"
"Ah ah ah! You said first to summon! You were first to summon!" Millie told.
"Yeah so pay up sucker!" Shred demanded.
While Jack groaned, getting his wallet Poch's phone rang again. He left the room to answer.
"Hello?" Poch started.
"Hey dude!" Tania answered.
"Hey Tania. I was busy,"
"Oh right! Exterminator stuff, sorry!"
"It's fine. What's up?"
"I wanted to talk about where we will meet up tomorrow!"
"Oh yeah? Where?"
"It's a secret! Just meet me at the address I sent!"
"Ok?"
"See you tomorrow!" She hung up.
Poch got a portal home and heard the end of Loona's conversation with her mother, leading to her staying over the night and cuddling with him.
"Cmon!" Tania pulled Poch down the sidewalk.
"Where are we going?" Poch asked.
"You'll see!" She brought them to a big house down the street, stopping in front of a large house were multiple groups of different demons. "Here we are!"
"What is this?"
"It's a party I got invited to!"
"A party? You think that's a good idea?"
"C'mon! It'll be fun to unwind after a mind dive!"
"I...I guess...alright fine."
"Sweet! Cmon!" She yanked him.
"Whoa!"
She pulled him to the backyard of the place. "Let's find a good spot to mind dive then liven this bash!"
"I'm not summoning a shadow demon before you ask."
"Damn!" She looked around and found a couch outside with multiple others. "There!"
"Who puts couches outside?"
"Cool party people!" She sat on a free couch and tapped beside her, "Have a seat patient!"
Poch rolled his eyes and sat next to her, his face getting grabbed. "What are you doing?"
"Making this quick!" She tapped her head on his.
"Look I know you're excited to party, but warn me first, that stuff tingles!" Poch said while they were in the connected world.
"Sorry," Tania gave a smile.
"It's fine," Poch sighed, walking to the figure of his dad till Tania stopped him.
"We're not going there. I got a question,"
"Yeah?"
"For him," She pointed to Shivarna.
"For Shivarna?"
"Me?" Shivarna pointed to himself confused.
"Yeah, what are you exactly?" Tania asked.
Shivarna looked to Poch, who shrugged, before looking back to Tania. "...I am a fusion of Klarna and Shiva and a holder of a part Celis's soul and last wish."
"Who's Klarna and Shiva?"
"Shiva's my unique shadow demon, Klarna was my brother. After I moved on and reached my second stage they well...fused," Poch answered.
"So is he like...a reincarnation of your brother?"
"I...uh,"
"I...do not know," Shivarna said, "I am half Klarna, hold a part of his soul, and have his memories...but...I think differently...I...do not think I am him...I honor his last wish, but...I am not Celis."
"Hm…Alright!" Tania smiled, "But today were going to a mental block on Celis!"
"On Celis?" Poch asked.
"Ysee last time I noticed a thread appear between Shivarna and Celis, one based on the thread of regret."
"Regret?"
"Cmon!" Tania pulled them to it.
"Alright alright!"
She grabbed the figure of Celis and in they went.
Poch and Shivarna found themselves at a balcony, one covered by glass that could only be seen through from the inside.
"Hey, I know this place. It was the dorms we stayed in when we first got our demonic forms," Poch noticed.
The door to the balcony opened and out walked celis in a white shirt and exercise shorts. He headed to the rails, leaning on them. He sighed and looked at something he held. "...How should I even tell him?"
"Tell him?Tell who? What is this?"
"...Celis….wanted to tell you about Arnello," Shivarna spoke.
"About me?" Poch looked at Celis and went closer to him, looking at what was held. It was a picture of Kenji, Ralsin, and Arnello. It was taken when Arnello was six. They were all on the couch, smiling for a photo. "I know this photo….where did he...?"
"He got his memories back a year before you did. Remember that day he left one morning and didn't come back til close to the night?"
"Yeah...is that because he went to our old home?"
Shivarna nodded.
"So that's how he got the photo...that's when he remembered Ralsin…"
"He's been wondering how to tell you for years, afraid of how you'd react, especially not knowing about dad. That's why he looked for him."
"Oh...did...did us becoming Exterminators….did that hold him back?"
"...No...it...did not."
"Oh...I always wondered when he knew or why he didn't tell me...this is why...huh...I feel...less confused now...thanks Shivarna."
"Block clear! Pulling all the way out!"
"Hmmm," Poch slowly opened his eyes, his vision being blurry. He felt the couch so he knew he was yanked into the real world. "Mph," He tried to say something to Tania but something was on his lips. As his vision cleared he could see Tania's face being closer than usual. That's when he noticed why it felt like something was on his lips. Tania was kissing him. "MMPH!" He pushed her off. "Tania!"
"Sorry! Part succubus remember!"
"So you kiss me while I'm dazed! Why was I dazed!?"
"Cause I yanked us out of that mental area and straight out back to the real world. It's kinda stressful to the mind so you were dazed because of it."
"Oh...you still kissed me though."
"Again, sorry," She sheepishly smiled.
"Ugh, just...let's keep some distance, I'm getting a drink." He rolled his eyes and got to the drink table, going through the selection.
"Uh, scuse me?" A random imp approached Poch.
"Hm?" Poch faced him, "yeah?"
"There's this hound asking for you. Right back there," He pointed to the side of the house, "She's tucked away in the corner."
"Oh jeez, I swear it better not be someone wanting to get lucky."
"I don't know dude, she seemed pissed."
"Pissed? Why?"
"I don't know," He shrugged.
"Hm. Well thanks," He walked to where the imp pointed. He was curious who he'd meet and why they were supposedly mad at him. He turned the corner. "He-" his ears dropped along with his composure, "..shit."
Standing in front of him with her arms crossed while holding a drink was a very pissed Loona. "Hey, how's it going!?" She nearly snarled.
"I uh...I'm ok...y-you?"
"Oh I'm fine, Tex invited me here, tried to get you here but I guess you were busy with coming already!"
"I...can expl-"
"You told me you were with Tom and his friend Tania!"
"Well I-"
"Hey Poch," Tania came around, "I know you said distance, but I was-"
"Tania, not now!"
"That's Tania!?" Loona got angrier.
"Y-yeah, look I can-"
"So let me get this straight, you lied to me!" Loona counted one.
"Well I-"
"Second," She held up a second finger, "you ditch me!"
"Ditch you? Hold on!"
"And finally," She held up a third finger, "You do all that just to hang with some girl!"
"Hey, she's not some girl!"
"Oh I guess not if you're kissing her!" She said, gripping her cup real hard.
"She kissed me! I didn't ask for it!"
"Why'd you kiss for so long then!"
"I- well it's not like I enjoyed it! She surprised the fuck out of me! Besides, it's not important! I-"
"Not important!? Its fucking important! Anyone else you supposedly kiss!?"
Poch groaned. "No one!"
"And I'm supposed to trust you how!?"
"Look, even if I was, which I'm not, what's it to ya!?"
"What?" Her eye twitched.
"Really it's none of your business!"
She nearly broke her cup as she reached back and splashed it on his face. "Fuck you!" She stomped past.
Poch stood there, frozen in shock by what she did, fruit punch in his fur and trickling down his eyelid, forcing him to close an eye. as she stomped past he felt a growing fiery rage inside him as he bared his fangs. He grabbed her tail, yanked her back, grabbed her collar and pulled her into his face. "Listen here! I'm not entitled to tell you shit about what I'm doing! What I do by myself is none of your fucking business! Even then I lied for a goddamn reason! I'm looking for my dad and she's helping me!"
"Y-you're looking for your dad?"
"Yeah! and I was planning on surprising you with it! I wanted you to meet him first, since you helped me so much when dealing with my brother and sorting things out when it came to finding out he was alive! I Thought it'd be great if he met you first!" He grit his teeth and his fist, "But you know what….forget it….I don't even be around you, Bitch!" He yelled before pushing her away, turning around and walking off. Before he could turn the corner, he looked back, "...Just so you know...I liked kissing you more than anyone else!" He stomped off.
Tania looked at him walk away and looked back at Loona who was against the wall, tears starting to go down her eyes as she slid down her knees, beginning to cry. She looked back to Poch and rushed to him. "Poch i think-"
Poch glared at her, water gushing out his eyes. "What!?"
"I...I uh.."
"Leave me alone!" He huffed off, calling Stolas.
"Hello?" Stolas answered.
"I need a way home. Now."
Stolas could hear him holding back tears. "Are you alright?"
'Please!"
"...ok, i'll send one right to you."
A portal opened up right next to him. "Thanks…"
"If you need to t-"
He hung up and walked through, going straight to his bed, laying down. His breath was shaky and he couldn't see clearly due to all the tears he tried to wipe away. His pillow was wet that night.
End.
Next chapter Ozzies part two. Reconcile.
A/N: Hey guys. I'm thinking about making a Discord for readers of Helluva Exterminator. If you think I should DM me on Discord, , or FA (My discord is in my profile).
