Before I start this chapter, I'd like to know if you want me to do NaruMayo first, and then some Justicykes (or some other pairings), or should I do them at the same time? Also, I'm going to have to write some fluff sooner or later, so I felt like I should warn you, because I've never done stuff like this before.
Additionally, I'm going to have an update schedule. This will update every Sunday, starting on the 12th. I couldn't post this Sunday because of the Super Bowl (Come ON, Falcons!) and because of school. I have a lot of tests coming up and an organized schedule will allow me to produce chapters more efficiently.
I feel much more comfortable writing description and (inner) monologue. I decided to make this chapter from Maya's POV instead of from an omnipotent view. I feel like Maya and Phoenix needed some reasons to be an item instead of just sticking them together like some fanfics do. So, here goes nothing!
The rope tying my hands together was very expertly tied. Whoever this bellboy was, he was definitely a professional when it came to this stuff.
"Hey, do you happen to have any burgers out there? I'm hungry."
The door opened with a creak.
"That's the point. Do you think I would starve you for 12 hours and then let you eat?"
"But…" I really was hungry. I flashed him my best puppy eyes that always got Nick to buy me a burger.
Unfortunately, he slammed the door closed. Maybe I hadn't tried hard enough.
I didn't want to wait here much longer. Not only was I hungry, but there was virtually nothing else in the room except for some dust and a wine shelf. Drinking my troubles away was an option, but I'd never tried wine before. I had already escaped once, but the bellboy had shoved me back in here. I still had the card I had used to pick the lock. I looked at it.
Why would a kidnapping chamber have a card with a shell, of all things, on it? It was a mystery, all right. What could I do with this card other than anger the bellboy and possibly get shot by the .40 revolver he kept by his side at all times?
I know! I could draw on it! I had a pen in my pocket. I clutched it and brought it up to the card. I had never been an artist, and my wrists were tied, but it was something to do. And then came the other problem – thinking of something to draw. I need something uplifting, something to make this situation better.
My only hope.
October 13th, 8:13 AM
Fey Manor
Master's Chambers
I sat straight up, struggling to breath.
Why must my brain put me through all these traumatic situations while I sleep? God knows I've seen enough of them.
I stared intently at the stained-glass ceiling of the Master's Chambers, which was basically a bedroom. Being the master was tiring, but it had its rewards. The pay, for example, was excellent. I hadn't needed to steal Nick's wallet for burgers in a long time. Not that I could have any, as the village Elders had said that I needed to "eat vegetables every day." The Elders didn't understand the concept of multiple stomachs.
It didn't make sense why I kept having these dreams over and over again. They were all so… tiring. I got back from years of training in Khura'in, and this is what I get?
Sighing, I grab the brush on my bedside table and begin to untangle my hair. The dreams weren't that bad, because they all had a resolution. Performed by Nick, of course. Why did he always cause the happy ending? Was he really that distressed when these things happen to me (or because he's the main protagonist in all the games I'm in)? So many questions, but no answers. It was so frustrating! I released the brush and slumped back against the pillows.
*knock* *knock*
A teenage spirit medium entered the room, peeking out from the door.
"Master Maya, it's time for your daily caretaking."
A large groan escaped me. "Pearly, please, I don't need that. I'll tell the Elders that you did, ok? Just.. it's fine."
Pearl skeptically chewed her thumb, her eyes wandering around the room. "You don't look fine, Master Maya. What's wrong?" she inquired.
"Pearly, really, it's ok. I-"
"It's ok? I can carry out my job? Thanks, Master Maya!"
Oh God. "No, wait, Pearly, that's not what I-"
But Pearl was already ecstatically running down the hall to her "chamber" to grab brushes and makeup and other random things she needed to pamper me. The Master always got the best treatment in the morning, usually by servants. But Pearly had volunteered to do the job. No matter how much I'd tell her that she doesn't need to, Pearly always insisted. It was cute, in a way. Besides, it did feel good to be made your own coffee and to have your makeup done for you every morning.
The door blew open again. A stack of personal care supplies hid Pearly's face as she carefully staggered into the room. Placing them on the floor, she beamed at me. "Let's get started!"
"…and then the elephant turned to me and said, 'Happy Birthday!' before jumping into the ball pit, even though it wasn't my birthday. Pretty cool, right?"
Pearl had just finished telling her dream after suggesting the activity to pass the time. "Uh, yeah, that sounds really interesting, Pearly!" I said unenthusiastically.
"So what did you dream of?" Pearl asked, continuing to brush my hair.
"I didn't dream of anything."
"Huh, that's weird. I heard you talking in your sleep."
I froze. "Well, I just do that… sometimes… on random."
"Master Maya, are you sure about that? Any time that I hear you talking in your sleep, you have some crazy story to tell," Pearl pointed out.
It's not like she cares. She knows this stuff happened to me, so I guess it wouldn't make sense to keep hiding it from her. "I dreamt about the time I got kidnapped. You know."
This silenced my cousin. "Oh… sorry."
Awkward. "They aren't that bad, though. I already know how they end," I reassured, half-smiling at her.
Pearl gushed at this. "Mr. Nick is quite the knight in shining armor, isn't he, Master Maya? You're so lucky to have such a good-"
"Friend, and yes, he is," I cut her off, knowing what was to come. No matter how much I'd deny it, Pearl would never ditch the belief that we're romantically involved. I didn't want to deal with this, not again. Our relationship seemed to be a popular topic when Pearl was pampering me.
Pearl gave me a knowing look. "A friend, right…"
"Pearly, could you please just understand that me and Nick aren't dating?"
"No, I can't, because you guys are a match made in heaven!"
This was going nowhere fast. "Look, Pearly, we aren't together and Nick doesn't plan to."
Pearly picked up on my selection of words. "He doesn't? What about you, Master Maya? What do you want to do?"
I was getting angry. I was so tired of all this… thinking. "Pearl, please, just let it go."
The girl was ready to respond when an Elder knocked on the door, telling me to get to work in his gravelly voice. The perfect excuse! Work! I stood up from the bed and asked Pearl to leave so I could change. She looked at me suspiciously before leaving. And who could blame her?
I had a lot of work ahead of me, but it wasn't what I was thinking about while I changed.
What about you, Master Maya? What do you want to do?
Those two eerie sentences rang in my ears for the whole day. I spilled my coffee, broke my pen, and I even broke the sacred urn… again. Distracted by those 11 words.
Because frankly, I didn't know the answer to them.
Once again, sorry for the wait! This one wasn't even that long, but I promise you I'll get into the NaruMayo fluffiness next chapter. Thanks for everyone's support!
Brock's Geodude
Ugh, so close, but so far.. literally. I figured that Mia would pick an office close to Fey Manor, but I guess I forgot that. I hope that there will come a day that you won't find any problems in the chapter and you can have a nice reading experience without finding a contradiction and objecting to it. It is pretty fun though, so I can understand.
Yanmegaman
I'm really glad that you like this fic! Especially since it's my first one, it really helps when people give me reviews like this because tbh I have no idea what I'm doing xD. I do think it's extremely strange how Trucy and Pearl haven't shipped Phaya together yet in the main series. But that's what fanfictions are for, right? The Magshoe scene was also one of my better works with the NaruMayo being super, super subtle but it helps prepare for this chapter. I'm glad you wrote that, otherwise I probably wouldn't write anything and I'd just read. It was an epic collab, especially after just finishing SoJ and being depressed. Thanks for reviewing!
Sdarkynecro
I know, right? I hate how people think that Trucy is innocent like Pearl. I think she has a devious side, which is fantastic for the fic, as Pearl is literally the most innocent creature on the planet.
I'm happy you like where this is going, as it has so much potential! I just hope I don't blow it. :P
ThePudz
I know, I had a feeling you'd like the Magshoe side of the story. Even if the Narumayo was subtle, hopefully you liked this chapter, which had a lot more that the last. I'm tremendously happy that you think my writing resembles the characters. It's difficult because every single character in the AA series is interesting so that the gameplay isn't boring. And sometimes, interesting becomes… crazy (Ben Woodman/Trilo Quist).
I had no idea the review response system had such a deep history! I feel… honored!