Etrigan smiled as he entered his home, quickly ushering in the other three amused people with him before turning. Rakkid sat on the couch in front of him, one eyebrow quirked and arms folded over her chest, clearly questioning him with her gaze.
"uhhhh, hi Momma! The test went...Well~", Etrigan blushed and rubbed his hands together, stalling before deciding the best approach to the situation was simple, blame someone else.
"Ecklar used Bloody Branches on me! OH! We alsobroughthomeLadyTaneeandE ddga, BYE!", The words flew from the boys mouth before Etrigan was gone in a flash, not giving the others in the room a chance to contemplate the statement before he locked the door to his room. It was not until a good ten seconds later that Rakkid deciphered the verbal diarrhea and Ecklar became pale and twitchy at her glare. Tanee and Eddga were both on the floor laughing, a booming guffaw joining in with a quiet and shy giggle, further adding to the strange situation.
"YOU DID WHAT?!"
"Rakky, wait I-!"
"ECKLAR! START RUNNING NOW!", Etrigan peeked out of his room's keyhole to see two blurs suddenly fly through the house and back outside, the old tiger and the little girl on the floor rolling around.
"Severus! What is this thing?", Albus asked with a worried tone as he and his spy ran through the caves, trying to find the exit to the dungeon. They were being pursued by whatever came from the branch in fear of their characters lives as the thing tried to freeze them in it's snowstorm yet again. The beast that came out of the branch appeared to be a sort of giant ice salamander, and it was very pissed off at the two it was chasing for waking it. It's head was large and wide, made of hard crystalline ice with a non-forked blue tongue and exhaling thick frost in every breath. It's body was long and growing long spiny, craggy bits of ice, a cold blue flame ridging it's entire back. Under the flame was the only hole in the icy creature, a black abyss contained by the flames. And the danger level was amped up when the two magical men saw it's club of a tail, long and thick with a broad, spiked end.
"He's a boss monster, Albus! The branch you used is a rare item for summoning them, this one is called Ktullanux, usually you need a quest to summon him but the branch brought him right to us!", Severus said as he double-casted his lightning bolt spell on the thing they were running from, doing substantial damage but also putting him in the line of fire for another Storm Gust, freezing him in place. Albus chose this moment to abandon his pawn but was unfortunate enough to run right into the cave's original boss, Tao Gunka.
Tao was a floating rock with a face, mossy and ugly with four similar rocks orbiting around him. He did not look like much at first glance, but he was a very powerful monster in his own right, and Albus found out this fact when one of his attacks knocked him back right into a second Storm Gust.
Both professors were at maximum level, with hacking programs in place and impossible to attain weapons. They died in all of two minutes with the odd tag-team forcing them to be frozen then bashed repeatedly.
It was a full two hours later before Rakkid dragged home a heavily beaten and bruised Ecklar, whom was only able to make small pathetic whimpering noises. The sight that greeted the mother and heavily beaten "elite" assassin was little Etrigan sitting in the lap of Eddga, snuggling into his fur. Tanee was on Eddga's shoulder, carefully braiding his hair after releasing it from it's normal topknot style. The large golden tiger was taking the pampering in stride as he told Etrigan of his many battles in defense of his home-forest. Rakkid was hard-pressed not to grab her camera to take a picture of the peaceful and adorable sight.
Ecklar recovered enough from his "Rakkid Rage" injuries to stand and talk now as the gypsy sent a glare his way that nearly had him wetting himself. "You will tell me all about what happened during his test and I swear if my baby got so much as a bruise I will end the life of all your future children before they have a chance to be conceived!", This made Ecklar squeak and cover his groin in terror, Tanee looking to the gypsy in admiration of her strength and Eddga feeling pity for his fellow man. The moment passed however, when Carrigan walked through the door, "I'm ho-ho-ho-HOLY SHIT!" He yelled as he saw his son in the lap of the elder tiger and the little girl before attempting to grab his lute in defense of his baby boy. This plan backfired however when Rakkid snatched the string instrument off his back first and smacked it over the back of his hand for using naughty language around her "innocent little Etrigan".
The three on the floor giggled at the very confused look on Carrigan's face as he rubbed the feeling back into his hand while Ecklar forced the musical couple onto the couch to begin explaining what happened to cause the friendly monsters' appearance in their home. Ecklar praised his nephew's skill in battle as he talked about his defeat of the Bloody Knight, making Rakkid hug her boy in pride for his use of the Tarot. They became confused at the experience of the second monster immediately warping away until Tanee blushed and hid herself behind a giggling Etrigan. When Ecklar got to the point where Ifrit was summoned Ecklar, Etrigan, and Tanee all lowered their heads, two out of sadness, and one out of fear. Rakkid had to be held back from beating her brother again when he told her of Etrigan's near death, Eddga barring her way in a tight bear-er, tiger hug. The little Shade-dancer's parents let out calls of victory and pride when he told them how he and Tannee had defeated the flame fiend with the help of the Lady's tree.
"Then we cracked the fourth branch, and Eddga showed up..." Ecklar did not bother holding back his laughter now as he told his siblings of how Etrigan immediately tried to cuddle the old cat to death. Etrigan blushed furiously while the elder tiger grumbled good-heartedly, hugging his new charge close. This only caused Ecklar, Carrigan, Rakkid, and Tannee to laugh more before continuing the story. At the end of it all Rakkid and Carrigan were in a state of shock while Etrigan was having a quiet giggle-fit with Tannee at his uncle's rather abrupt ending of "Gloom owes him a favor now". The couple stayed that way for so long that when Carrigan snapped back to reality his son and brother were dangerously close to his face with big grins on their faces and a black marker in each hand before they disappeared out the door laughing with Eddga making tea for himself and Tanee. The clown ran to the mirror and saw a pair of awful circle-framed glasses and a large handlebar mustache drawn on his face in permanent ink. Walking back in the living room he saw that Rakkid was similarly marked. She had a large black spot over her left eye like a Dalmatian and a large drawn-on wart on her opposite cheek. Fortunately, the laughing fit that ensued between the two at their appearance was enough for them to forget a revenge play on their son and brother, for now.
"HOW COULD THIS HAPPEN?!", Severus groaned as Dumbledore threw his laptop off of the coffee table in his blind fury. They were about to leave the hotel room with Minerva when they decided to check Comodo island again for the Shade-Dancer only to find that their accounts had been banned for hacking. In a fit Bumblesores had thrown his laptop away from him where it cracked in half against the wall. Minerva looked at him in concern while Severus was pinching the bridge of his nose at the waste of 530 pounds. Albus ignored all of this as he told Severus to pack away his own laptop so that they may try again later, apparating away to Swine-boils with an angry CRACK!
Without so much as a "By your leave", Minerva and Hagrid portkeyed away as well, leaving Snape to himself, finally! He was quick to send a patronus to Albus explaining a complication with the computer and that he needed to smooth things out before coming back before he took down the screenshot of the ban message he showed the ancient cretin. The spymaster smirked as he logged back into the game, re-spawning on the shore of Comodo Island in front of the dock, if Lily's baby boy was here, it was his responsibility to warn him about Albus. He also might have to deal with that freaky ice lizard that was still wandering about in the cave... But first, Harry.
After Dinner, when Etrigan went to bed with Tannee using his arm as her pillow, the three siblings stayed up talking. The subject for their late night conversations usually varied but tonight it was on one subject, their little boy. Ecklar had a tumbler full of scotch at hand while Carrigan sipped his wine and Rakkid her coffee. They had pictures of little Etrigan through the years scattered about the table and they laughed with Eddga as they recounted the stories for him and themselves. The only interruption they had that night was from Tannee's tree sneaking into the house and somehow managing to hold the coffee pot to refill Rakkid's mug. Rakkid thanked the odd, moving foliage and gave it a smile that made it's bark darken a little before it skittered away to be with it's charges.
Eddga was about to tell one of his stories about his home-forest, wanting to bring his new humans to his pride as guests someday when a panicked scream from outside the open window gave them pause. They all stiffened in their seats as the heard a loud angry roar follow the scream accompanied by the coldest wind they had ever felt on the island. The four were shoving their chairs back in a rush to leave, Rakkid running to Etrigan's door and waking her son and Tannee, the tree slithering out of the window to defend the home. Something dangerous was on the island, and because Etrigan had earned his rite to be called a warrior today, he would finally stand with his parents and uncle on the battlefield. Tannee whispered quietly, "i'll stay here to heal you, but my Kraben can help!"
She seemed happy to be helping as she dug into the pockets of her dress and pulled out five little toy soldiers before dropping them on the floor. The little toys quickly grew to about a foot high, shirtless with dull yellow skin and blue pants. They looked very plain in appearance and on their arms were two wooden round-shields that looked like they would hurt when they struck someone. Tannee told the little monster-dolls to obey Etrigan before they nodded and marched out of the house in two lines like soldiers. Etrigan himself was quick to grab his whip and flute, tucking the instrument into the waistband of his pants in a rush to get outside. The boy walked out of his house shirtless and missing his shoes, which turned out to be a mistake when he felt the freezing winds rise up and smack into his bare chest. He repressed a shudder as Ecklar threw his cloak over his nephew before they all began to search in groups of two for the disturbance. The group of Eddga and Ecklar went towards the northern caves, Carrigan and Rakkid towards the eastern caves and Etrigan and the tree with Tannee's Kraben to the West.
It did not take Etrigan long to find the source of the first scream when he came to find a man in a fight with one of the biggest lizards he had ever seen! The man was dressed like a scholar of Yuno, and a very experienced and wealthy one at that. He had a black fox pelt about his collar like a muffler, and a black cable-knit vest. Around his forearms were tied flowing sleeves in a midnight blue color and draped away from his hands like a ceremonial kimono does. His pants were black and made of a shiny cotton for comfort and maneuverability and on his feet were the legendary Sleipnir boots! Etrigan had to do a double-take when he saw them and yet still the man struggled against the frozen salamander. The two combatants were just outside the Western Cave of Comodo, the scholar being pressed against the shore beside the cave by the beast's attack. The Scholar, however, was no pushover as he casted elemental magics in both hands and kept the beast from landing a clean hit by using his magic to conjure up a Blinding Mist and a Safety Wall for himself.
Tannee's Tree('I really should name him soon', Etrigan thought) rustled it's leaves to get Etrigan back on track, making the boy jump, but the already battling two stayed on focus. Etrigan whistled sharply to draw the attention of the lizard, giving the man a chance to scramble around him quickly to find a better position. Etrigan called to his forces as Ktullanux seemed to freeze at the sight of(what it considered) a child on the field of battle, and that was all Etrigan needed as he had the Kraben to charge on the much larger reptile. Etrigan looked to the man now at his side staring at the little monsters attacking before he readied his whip and spoke, "to whom do I fight along side with tonight?"
Severus was loathe to admit he was having a difficult time handling the lizard creature he counted as his responsibility. Albus may have summoned it but he could never tell the old meddler that the game was still working for him. No way would Albus get Lily's baby that easily. So naturally he was surprised when he was saved from a difficult situation, pressed between an ice giant and the ocean, by these strange yellow little men and a moving...tree? It took severus a moment, staring at the screen for his laptop, for the image to process, before he quickly moved his little character around the battle zone and circled back beside a player he had never seen before. The androgynous male had a character sprite totally unique to Ragnarok Online with his feminine clothing and long midnight black hair. He had only a whip and his hand which was a weapon that could only be used by the female Dancer class and when he finally spoke it was not through text but an actual voice spoke through the laptop's speakers.
"To whom do I fight along side with tonight?", Again Severus was stunned at the turn of events but was unable to type a response into his chat window before the yellow men were destroyed in a powerful Storm Gust courtesy of Ktullanux. Severus was quick to set himself and the apparent Shade-Dancer inside a pink Safety Wall for protection before typing, "I shall tell you if we survive this night!"
The potion master's hand flew across his keyboard, mouse clicking rapidly as he constantly distracted the frozen reptile, circling him and casting spells to get it's attention while using his thunder bolt spell to do damage to the giant Frost Titans the thing summoned for back-up. The Shade-Dancer and the tree worked in tandem, the boy using the whip to wrap around the tree's bough and letting the thing swing him at Ktullanux. Normally this was a dangerous method but Severus was surprised to find the boy bring out a crystalline flute of all things to smack the beast about for massive damage on each swing.
It was a good twenty minutes later when a loud shattering sound, like breaking glass, echoed through the speakers, the giant lizard disappearing in a spout of purplish-blue flames. Severus let loose a relieved sigh as he saw the thing disappear and in it's place, littering the ground, were it's dropped items. He ignored these however, in favor of moving back towards the boy and tree.
Etrigan gasped as the loud sound of Ktullanux being defeated was heard, the lizard letting out a pained keening sound that sounded like broken glass. The boy felt his heart break a little inside as the great ice beast stared straight into his eyes with it's last breath. The large flat head opened it's mouth slightly and finally exhaled, breathing a soft glowing blue mist at Etrigan that made his flesh tingle. The magic holding together Ktullanux finally ran out and, in a rush of mana-charged flame, was gone, leaving only items created by the remaining body of the creature. The beach was now silent of anything other then the lapping of the waves on the shore and the rustling of the trees' leaves.
Tanee's tree was quick to skitter about the battlefield, collecting the items that Ktullanux had left behind before Etrigan snapped out of his post-battle haze and made his way over to the human that had helped him defeat the giant.
"We have survived this night stranger, please come with me if you require medical aid.", The shade-dancer said quietly, as if afraid to disrupt the calm of the silent beach again, before calling out to the tree and heading back towards his home.
Severus stared at his laptop screen for a moment before he moved his mouse and clicked rapidly, hoping to keep up with the boy his lovely Lilly had produced. He was certain by now, from the way Harry fought the creature, that he was far more his mother's son then his father's; only Lilly would have such fierce tendencies, especially in battle. It wasn't until Harry led him to a house with no warp to go inside that he realized something, Severus could not enter the door that Harry had just gone through! He was about to make an Albus and throw his laptop away in frustration before Harry's arm popped out of the door and literally dragged him inside, forcing a warp to the supposedly uninhabitable house.
Once the loading screen had cleared Severus was shocked at what he saw, this house was definitely not part of this or any other game's world. It was like his character had been superimposed into a scene from a movie!
The wood of the floor shined a bright gold under the warm light provided by several glowing spheres of purest shaped crystal. The couch was a dark brown wicker loaded with puffy white cushions one could sink into and get lost. In the middle of the room between the couch and a matching chair sat a simple darkwood coffee table with a very soft looking area rug beneath it. Various instruments, from ancient looking wooden flutes to very intricate and elaborately designed harps. The family living here, Harry's adopted family, must have been collectors of the finely crafted instruments.
A throat clearing drew Severus' attention back to Harry, making him gasp, even he was no longer a low-detailed sprite of the game now. Lilly's beautiful gem-like eyes stared at him calmly while hair done up in many thin black braids shined under the light, seeming to draw it in so that it was made more stunning. His skin was a slightly tanned cream color and showed his time in the sun, as if kissed by the very light of it's rays. Severus was hard-pressed not to hug Lilly's boy when he looked into his eyes, he was simply adorable! Of course this action would have been considered at the very least strange and at worst hostile, which is why he supposed the strangely animate tree was now hovering behind him in case Harry needed his help. With a calm voice and a polite smile Harry said, "I believe we need to talk about what just happened, after all, a beast the likes of Ktullanux is never supposed to be in a tropical region. Care to explain?", Severus tried to think up a decent explanation while the trees leaves shook, laughing at him in it's own way.