Special thanks to Zeshika again for her awesome review. Alright, this chapter was supposed to be a chapter where the king is introduced and two new members of Critic's team are introduced also but since I REALLY wanted the characters to bond a bit more, this is a exposition/development/bonding chapter.
Also, the reason behind Joe being so positive and cheerful then becoming deeply angry when provoked is of course a huge inspiration of Angry Joe, I watch his reviews a lot too and he's really fun. He's cheerful with good stuff but angry with shitty stuff. You know how it is XD. Also, to give you exposition and demons bound to be revealed, Spoony gets some more dark stuff shown out to him.
Also Random Thought: Critic, I just realized, hasn't gotten his glasses, hat and tie yet. Aw well. I'll explain them throughout the story, no worries
XXXXXXX
The winds were roaring. The lighting crashed loudly. Fire was everywhere. It was a nightmare. Spoony's hair blew fiercely with the wind, his clothes were tattered and dirty but he was not paying attention to either. He was trying to awaken his friend Linkara, who got attacked and was in a coma. He then heard a familiar voice.
"Noah"
Spoony turned, hearing his birth name; only one person called him that. He turned and saw the very man he thought he would never face. It was his teacher and master and his successor in the arts of assassination. No. Malachite got to him. His master was now possessed by the enemy.
The man smirked darkly and walked forward. His clothes were black as night, his eyes glowing a deep bloody red, the man's hair was sweaty and seemingly bloody but his face was full of crooked teeth. The man laughed a dark, demonic and completely disgusting laugh.
Spoony's face shattered in horror and he replied "No. It cannot be! "
"Oh but it is. You never should have listened to Linkara. You should have stayed killing your clients enemies"The man's voice was like a chalkboard being scratched by nails.
Spoony raised his sword and called out, his face both horrified and angry "How dare you?! This has nothing to do with him, Malachite!"
The man frowned and from the flames received a huge axe. The man growled "You dare tell me what I can and cannot do? You are nothing more than a wasteful mortal"
"In the name of the King, I will kill you and prevent you from hurting the innocent ones" Spoony snapped, raising his sword higher and getting into a fighting stance
"So be it… You will be the first to witness the very power I possess. Let me know how it feels when you impale the man who gave life to you… Noah" The man then ran straight for Spoony with the axe and aimed for Spoony's chest.
Spoony defended himself; he took the sword and clashed with the axe. Spoony then pushed the man away, trying not to hurt him but still defend himself. He pushed the axe down with the red-eyed possessed man he cared too much for to kill.
"I know you are in there!" Spoony cried to the man's inner and trapped soul. He replied louder "Do not be deceived!" The man harshly pushed down on Spoony and caused the assassin to fall to the firey ground.
When Spoony looked up, there he was, the man's eyes glowed even redder. Spoony then backed as the axe aimed right at him. It aimed and went down quickly
In fear and self-defense, Spoony's next act was the one he would regret for the last of his life. He used his sword and….
SHUNK
Spoony widened his eyes in pure horror then. The man coughed and spattered, as his eyes turned from red to their regular blue. The man allowed Spoony to pull out the sword in haste but it did no good. The man went down with a very light thump.
Spoony ran and held the man "NO! What have I done?! I… Do not die! Please do not die!" When the man coughed up blood, Spoony's eyes held huge tears and Linkara was running over to help but spoony did not care. He stabbed him. Killed him in cold-blood
"NOOOOO!"
XXXXX
Spoony awoke with a jolt and a gasp. Spoony's hair was full of sweat and his hands were shaking. Spoony received the same nightmare he had for the past two years. Spoony sighed, knowing the inner demons he possessed would possibly never go away. He turned to see Linkara fast asleep and Critic sleeping as well. He groaned, got up and went to clear his head
When alone, Spoony went over to Yuna, who turned at his arrival. Spoony could not help but smile at Yuna, and patted her out of slight amusement over the horse. Yuna bobbed her head up and down and Spoony replied "Yes. I know, you want to get going but we need rest"
"Why are you awake then?" Angry Joe asked. Spoony turned and saw the thief, leaning against a tree and staring at the assassin concerned.
"That is none of your business, Angry Joe" Spoony replied, feeling in no mood for story telling
"You are correct but you seem very off-edge" Angry Joe replied, walking to the assassin
Spoony sighed impatiently "I do not wish to explain why I am awake. Let us just say something personal came into play and leave it as such" He then sneered to the thief "Why are you awake?"
"Nightmare" Angry Joe replied, slightly embarrassed to admit but felt the need to anyway. He then smirked to Spoony "It was just a dream though. I wanted to clear my mind of it"
"Really?" Spoony said intrigued "Care to tell a curious old fool like myself?" He felt amused again, apparently talking to someone meant wonders
Angry Joe shrugged and sniffed "If you wish to know Bard, I had a nightmare that I was attacked by a dragon"
Spoony pondered about it then replied "A dragon? How bad was it?"
"Quite bad" Angry Joe admitted "It was gigantic, red scales, breathing fire and it's roar was like a demon!" Angry Joe showed a look of child-like fear then
Spoony chuckled and nodded "Well, like you said it is just a dream. It cannot hurt you" Spoony felt a huge sense of irony as he said this. He had a nightmare but it was different it was based on real life, a memory, Angry joe's dream was just imagination and nothing more
"Are you so sure? What if a dragon comes by to attack us?" Angry Joe replied, having his teeth chatter after asking that
Spoony rolled his eyes. Angry Joe throughout this journey was going to have a very harsh reality check on him. Spoony replied, trying his sincere best to be patient "It will not because it was just a dream and nothing else. You worry too much"
"You mean that, Bard?" Angry Joe asked, giving a hopeful look
Spoony rolled his eyes again "Yes. I mean that. Also, please no need to call me that, we're allies now. Call me spoony"
"Alright! Spoony! I like it! See you in the morning!" Joe replied happily, feeling a bit better now talking to Spoony. The thief went to then go to sleep.
Spoony went to Yuna and chuckled "That poor innocent fool. He will have much rude enlightenments ahead of him" Yuna bobbed her head again, as if in agreement
"I should get rest but that blasted nightmare just haunts me. Should I perhaps not worry about it?" Spoony asked Yuna, seeing her as the only companion he felt the need to talk to. Yuna looked at him with deep eyes, as if trying to think of something to help Spoony but couldn't.
"I must focus. I need to prevent Linkara from sharing the same fate" Spoony replied, more to himself, he then patted Yuna before going off to bed. Yuna neighed softly at that.
XXXX
The next morning was rather calm and pleasant. Well, at least it WOULD have been if not for Critic constantly sneering at Angry Joe. Angry Joe, knowing the Critic did not trust him, tried to reconcile with the bitter hunter. Angry Joe cheerfully spoke "Excuse me, I do not believe I caught your name when we met"
"Critic. Nostalgia Critic" Critic said, bitterly and quickly
"Strange name. Why call yourself this?" Angry Joe asked
"Well… My land was called nostalgia and I was born into a tribe called Critics. After my land was burned and my tribe scattered, I call myself what I am in honor the land I was born in" Critic replied, frowning still but his tone patient and explanatory
Angry Joe frowned in sympathy "Oh. I apologize. I did not know"
"Of course you didn't" Critic responded harshly "You would not ask if you did not know"
"Critic. With respect, what happened yesterday was intended only for my survival. I ask that you understand I needed food, if I had enough food I would not come for yours" Angry Joe replied, losing his tolerance of the Critic
"You could've asked" Critic snapped, then raised a hand when Joe proceeded to explain. He turned with a hasty attitude "Don't. I know. You felt no need to. I get it"
"Why must you be so harsh with me? It is over now. I apologized nonstop. Do you wish me to kiss your feet?" Joe replied, getting angrier
"No. I expect you to know who and what you are dealing with. You asked to be here now you need to understand what we're coming up against, which sadly as of now you don't" Critic replied back, not caring of Joe's increasing anger
"Well, I would know, if you had the patience and actual kindness to tell me!" Angry Joe spat back
"Impudent street rat" Critic sneered, getting more and more tempted to punch the thief
"Arrogant fool" Angry Joe spat again, narrowing his eyes
"Enough!" Linkara replied, getting between the two quickly. Linkara may have tolerated Critic's attitude towards him , due to not knowing or understanding the mission, but it was another thing to start being rude and disrespectful to a new and innocent ally. Linkara, unlike Spoony, was completely patient with Joe, also he already forgave the thief for his pasts deeds unlike Critic obviously. Also he strictly thought that the thief was a good-hearted person who just needed the right push.
Linkara turned to Critic "We will not have any more nonsensical arguing. The thief's past deeds are in the past and should be kept there. Whatever is in your heart, Critic, leave it there. You honestly must stop being so noncompliant and allow Angry Joe to prove himself. Besides, Joe has been very kind sharing his information with us and willing to risk his life. I expect you to at least try and be patient"
Critic at first sneered rudely to Linkara but as the discussion progressed, he realized Linkara may have been patient and kind but even HE had limits with people. Critic was admittedly shocked of how stern and hasty Linkara could be and felt the need to not bother arguing anymore. Critic gave up and nodded patiently to Linkara, then with a slight glance to Joe, huffed away to Casper.
Joe sighed and replied "Linkara, I did not mean to start my part of the argument. I know I must be tolerant but-"
Linkara patted the man's shoulder "It is alright. The Critic is just misunderstood. He is a good man with a good heart, but he has much bitterness in his heart. He will warm up to you through time. Trust me; I have been with him a bit more than you"
"I believe that" Joe responded, glad at least Linkara liked him
"I am glad you do. Well, once we get to Tandem, Spoony and I shall train you to fight as well as get you a weapon of some kind. Also, the king will explain to you the detail of what Critic was snapping to you about" Linkara replied, making sure to stick to a plan he himself made.
"I am perfectly fine with that. Thank you" Joe excitedly replied
"Good. Well, we must be on our way, we have a long journey. Where shall we go next, Joe?" Linkara asked as he and Joe went onto their horses
"We go near the lake of nimue, once we get there we go straight to the left and there will be the autumn forests. It is quite a lovely place, I've been there once and only once" Joe replied gently and calmly
Linkara nodded then Critic, trotting over to the two others, went over and asked "Linkara? Do you know where Spoony went?"
"I do not. Is he still asleep?" Linkara asked back to Critic
"Last time I saw him, he was awake because… well he did not tell me but something kept him awake last night" Joe replied
Critic paled; unsure of how spoony was "Do you think he went to hunt?"
"Possibly. Quickly, we need to find him" Linkara replied, trotting Arthur to the woods, with Joe and Critic behind him
XXXXX
Spoony slashed a tree, practicing some of his skills. His nightmare got him to want to practice more. He was determined to train so hard, he forgot to mention this to the other three men. He didn't really care at the moment; he just wanted to clear his head over the events of last night. Try to prevent those inner demons from taking over. He let out a cry of anger as he slashed air with his long sword, pretending a enemy was there even though there really wasn't.
Spoony then heard horse hoofs trotting and male voices calling his name, he stopped training and while keeping his sword open, allowed his three allies to find him. He didn't go off too far so it should have been easy to find him, hopefully. As he patted Yuna, he heard his friends get closer. He smirked as the three men spotted him and he replied to them "Worried about me already?"
"With our upcoming events, we could assume the worst for you" Linkara replied, sighing impatiently
"I am a grown adult Linkara. I would have come to you eventually" Spoony replied, playing innocent over his small disappearance
"You could have gotten killed" Critic replied, trying not to lose his temper since Linkara's spat at him.
"Yes sir, we think it was needed to find you" Joe replied, adding his own point
Spoony's eyes twinkled with delight "Oh how charming. You all care so much" His amusement turned to seriousness "Alright, you are correct; I should have given you a warning"
"Well, now we have a firm grasp on the obvious" Critic snapped, causing Linkara to glare at him which made Critic shut up again.
"We were getting ready to leave. Please Spoony, next time, let us know, there is danger around us" Linkara replied, worried for his old friend
Spoony, seeing Linkara's actual concern, walked over and patted the wizard's shoulder "Yes Linkara, I assure you, I will be alright"
Critic felt admittedly pleasant with Spoony and Linkara talking to each other. They were both so determined to protect each other from harm and were rather really close. Something told Critic that these two had many previous adventures together which was why they constantly worked together. As Spoony got on Yuna, Joe replied cheerfully "Now with that settled! Let us get ready to go to Tandem!"
"Well then… Lead the way. Angry Joe" Critic replied, calmer with the thief now. Joe nodded and clicked Jasper to go on, Linkara, Spoony and of course Critic going right after him.
"Well Angry Joe, do you really think the king is as mighty as people have claimed?" Critic asked as the four men went into the woods
Joe beamed to Critic and replied "Oh yes. He is kind as well, a very good king as well as a powerful one"
"Also Critic, the king has yet another good friend of mine" Linkara responded, his tone for some reason growing excited
"Really who is he?" Critic asked
"Not he Critic. She. Her name is Marzgurl and the rest you will see once we get there" Linkara responded, clicking Arthur to go faster. Critic smirked amused, this new ally should be interesting indeed