I am so sorry I haven't updated last week! I had finals and work but I have a week off and next semester I have only two classes and the second one doesn't even start until June. So here's this chapter to keep you busy until me and my friend edit a bit more. Please enjoy!
Skelemandarin kicked several things around in frustration.
"I can't believe she got away from us because she's a Sueronian or whatever!" He yelled.
Sage rested back on a bench, watching him throw a temper tantrum.
"Come on, at least they're not here anymore."
"Yeah no thanks to you! Having us retreat and having us loose Diamanda like that!" Skelemandarin snapped.
Sage shrugged.
"We were losing. Diamanda would have given Willow control and we needed to escape to think of another plan." He said.
Skelemandarin turned to him, hands on his bony hips.
"And what is your plan? Remember I am still in charge so it better be good!" He huffed.
Sage put up a finger and smirked.
"Be patient, if we're going to take over Shuggazoom we'll need a foolproof plan." He said.
"And that is?" Skelemandarin asked.
Sage thought on it.
"Well we could just plan a full invasion and just use the girl's powers for our means." He suggested.
Skelemandarin felt skeptical.
"You know the girl's friends would come and rescue her." He said.
Sage chuckled and got up.
"I didn't mean Willow."
Skelemandarin frowned.
"If you're talking about her sister-!"
Sage groaned.
"No you moron, I mean Diamanda! There's still a chance to harness her powers!" He huffed.
Skelemandarin frowned. How? Since she found out she was a Sueronian wouldn't she no longer want to work on their side?
"Go on." He said.
Sage then began to pace around the room.
"Well think of it like this, Diamanda is in a state of confusion and identity crisis. She would want to split from Willow and try to find herself or some crap, right?"
Skelemandarin nodded slightly before smiling.
"Oh I see! Then we capture her and use her powers somehow to destroy Shuggazoom! That is a good plan!" He added.
Sage snapped his fingers.
"Now you're getting it! Now we need to figure out the rest." He said, a hand on his chin.
Skelemandarin thought on it.
"The army would have to be rebuild and that'll take a while...that and we would need a full battle plan for when we do invade. However we don't have that kind of time." He sighed.
Sage turned to him.
"Why don't we?"
Skelemandarin looked up at him and huffed.
"Because! I want to finish what I started in the war and I refuse to wait!" He snapped.
Sage leaned down to him and bopped his snout.
"You need to be patient. We'll win this battle, we just need enough time to make every detail perfect." He said then sneered.
"Besides, we should give those fools a few more months of peace. They are preparing for a child after all." He chuckled darkly.
The clone smirked, he was right.
"I suppose I can wait a little while longer. Oh the joy I will have once I have my vengeance!" He cackled as Sage sighed.
Bad guys and their evil laughs.
After a few calm days, the Alchemist was beginning to leave. Otto clung to him, sniffling.
"Don't worry Otto, I will return next year. Besides I'll still keep in touch with all of you." He said before looking at everyone.
Nova wiped her eyes but nodded.
"It was nice meeting you." Willow said, smiling a bit.
The Alchemist nodded.
"Same to you, I do hope to see you next year." He said.
He then walked to the tube after Mandarin took Otto away.
"And I do apologize that Mandarin's clone is causing so much trouble." The Alchemist said, a sad look on his face.
Chiro waved his hand.
"Don't worry, it's nothing we can't handle." He said with a smile.
The Alchemist nodded.
"I know...he could have been so much more." He muttered.
Mandarin perked his head as Otto wrapped his arms around his neck.
"What was that?" He asked.
The Alchemist looked up and chuckled.
"Nothing, nothing. Anyways see you all later." He said as he went down the tube.
Everyone said their goodbyes as Nova wiped her eyes. Sprx went over to her and wrapped an arm around her.
"He'll be back next year." He said and Nova nodded.
Mandarin sighed as Otto continued to cling to him.
"That was nice you got to meet him." He chirped.
"I guess." Mandarin said.
It was nice...but he couldn't help but feel that his time with the Alchemist would be short. Also what did he mean by 'he could have been so much more'? Ugh more questions.
"Well now what?" Willow asked, turning to Antauri.
Antauri put a hand to his chin.
"Hmmm, we could do some training. Then after that it's up to everyone else." He said.
Nova nodded and stretched.
"Yeah, I need to kick some butt today or I'll get antsy." She said.
"Indeed, we need to be prepared in case Mandarin 2 and Sage try anything." Gibson said.
Everyone agreed.
"I wish you could come Mandarin, but uh it'd be pretty dangerous for you right now." Otto muttered, patting his face.
Mandarin sighed, after the child is born he will really have to catch up.
"It's fine, besides I need to take my supplements anyway. Then I need to take a shower and put up my child's new ornament up." Mandarin chirped.
Gibson sighed.
"Your poor daughter is going to be so frightened by that thing." He said.
Mandarin rolled his eyes.
"Sure she will."
Otto leaned his head under Mandarin's chin.
"You smell good anyway. Like ginger cookies." He chirped, causing Mandarin to blush lightly.
"Otto, I feel gross, I have to."
"You still smell good." Otto chirped.
"Otto no." Mandarin wheezed.
"Otto yes."
Sprx snickered loudly.
"Come Otto we gotta get to training, you can play with your boyfriend later." He snickered.
Otto giggled and nodded.
"'Kay! See you later!" He said before kissing Mandarin's cheek and jumping off, leaving him and Gibson petrified in shock.
"What-?!" Gibson exclaimed as Sprx led him out.
"Training!" Chiro said, confused as hell.
After everyone left Mandarin stood in the command center, frozen.
"What was that?!" He questioned.
Several minutes into training and Nova and Amanda were sparring. Amanda backed up before charging at Nova with an ice pick.
"Great form Amanda!" Willow called out as the two kept sparring.
Otto guzzled down some water, exhausted.
"Man Antauri! You can really kick my butt!" He exclaimed.
Antauri chuckled.
"Thank you Otto, you have improved quite well." He said.
Otto nodded and kept drinking water before he felt Gibson poke him.
"Otto may I speak to you? Alone?" He asked, looking serious.
Otto looked to the others before looking at Gibson, feeling a little worried.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked.
Gibson's eyes softened and he shook his head.
"No of course not. I just wanted to ask you about something." He said.
Otto looked around before nodding slightly.
"Okay..." He said as Gibson pulled him aside.
Gibson was silent for a second before inhaling and exhaling.
"Otto there's something I want to know that's been circling the past few months or so." He said.
Otto blinked.
"Okay."
Gibson stared at him, right in the eye.
"What are your feelings on Mandarin?" He asked.
Otto moved back a bit, surprised by the question.
"What do you mean? He's my buddy." He said.
Gibson shook his head.
"No no no, I mean how you really feel. Describe it to me." He said.
Otto snickered, this was a weird question.
"Okay um...where?"
Gibson sighed, irritated.
"Start with the things you like about him!"
Otto smiled.
"That's easy! He tries to be a big mean jerk to everyone when really he's just a awkward sweetie. He really sells that personality and it's just so fun to watch him get flustered over the smallest of things." He began and Gibson nodded.
"He also is one of the most bravest and selfless people I've ever met, I mean who else would not only get pregnant but with a kid whose parents are gone, all for their family. I mean it's incredible and he's even going so far as to raise the baby by himself. That's amazing and I don't know if I could even do something like that." Otto softly said.
"Mandarin's also snuggly and just fun to be around. He's also super strong in every way and he makes me want to be around him and he makes me laugh so much." Otto went on, slowly beginning to realize where this conversation was going.
His chest began to warm up.
"He makes me so...happy." Otto breathed.
Otto was silent, realization hitting him. Just as Gibson thought, he's in love with him. He wasn't sure he was exactly happy with it, since Mandarin was such a brute. However, if it'll make Otto happy then it was fine with him.
Gibson smiled as Otto put hands on his face.
"Oh my god Gibson." He wheezed.
"I know." Gibson snickered.
"I just kissed his cheek as a joke, just to be friendly. But now-!" Otto's eyes were wide as Gibson snickered.
"I have a crush on my best friend what do I do?!" He wheezed, leaning on Gibson as they walked back.
"Telling him about your feelings is one thing." Gibson sighed.
Otto's eyes widened.
"Noooo I can't do that! Not yet!" He wheezed again as they sat down.
Jinmay looked over at him.
"Otto are you ok?" She asked.
Gibson sighed and patted Otto's head.
"He'll be fine, he just had a revelation is all." He said.
Otto stared at the floor as Gibson and Chiro were to spar next. Oh god, he really is in love with him.
Mandarin pondered as to where the cobra ornament at. He could put it over the playpen but he felt that it would look much better over the crib instead. It just looked so much cooler!
Mandarin drew small lines around the area he wanted to place the ornament at and made a mental note to have Otto help him set it up. He placed the ornament on the floor before wiping his face with the towel he had wrapped around his neck.
Things were finally starting to settle a bit, and that's good because he needed to relax for a while. Especially with the whole Alchemist thing. He then heard the door opened and he turned to Arwen.
"Oh! I'm sorry I didn't know if you were busy or not." She said.
Mandarin shook his head.
"No it's fine. What is it?" He asked.
Arwen walked a bit more into the room.
"I just wanted to see what you were up to. I'm sorry I couldn't come here sooner but I just got off work." She sighed.
"No that's fine. I was busy making measurements for the ornament." He said.
Arwen nodded and looked over at it.
"Are you going to put it over her crib?" She asked.
Mandarin nodded, smirking.
"It will look so amazing." He sighed.
Arwen laughed and nodded.
"I bet it will!"
Mandarin looked around the room a bit more, thinking if he needed to work on anything else for the moment.
"So um...I take it you knew about Willow being a Sueronian before the battle started?" Arwen asked.
Mandarin turned to her.
"Yes."
Arwen rubbed her arm.
"So I guess you were kind of suspicious of what was going on too, right?"
Mandarin gulped.
"I didn't mean anything by it-"
Arwen put her hands up in defense.
"Oh I know you didn't! To be honest I'd be suspicious too if all of a sudden a new member just came in out of nowhere with amazing powers and everyone seemed to like her a lot. When Sueronians come to a specific group of people or even one person, they tend to secrete an aura that makes everyone like them at first sight." She said before sighing.
"Willow is starting to get better at that as she grows older, but it still happens without her controlling it."
She then looked up at Mandarin.
"Then there are others who aren't affected by the aura and just tend to react to their behaviors realistically. Whether they grow to like them too, be suspicious and dislike them, or just get confused all together. You aren't effected, and therefore you had to be suspicious." Arwen explained.
Mandarin blinked, that would explain a lot.
"How am I not effected?" He asked.
Arwen sighed and shrugged.
"I don't know to be honest, I guess it just happens. Either way I'm not surprised you were suspicious, I mean it's a bit comforting."
Mandarin raised an eyebrow.
"Where are you going with this?" He asked.
Arwen bit her lip and closed her eyes before looking back at Mandarin.
"I just might need a little help telling her about her origins. She might not take it that well and I'll need you to help calm her down. I mean she really trusts you and if you try to calm her down, maybe she'll listen." She suggested.
That situation alone felt unsettling, there's really no telling how Willow will react. To find out all you knew and your whole past was just make believe? It would be quite unrealistic if you would act like it doesn't bother you.
Mandarin looked off to the side before looking back at Arwen.
"I can try to." He said.
Arwen smiled, tiredness clouding her eyes.
"Thank you, I plan to tell her soon. Hopefully before Mandarin 2 or...Sage...shows up again." She sighed.
Mandarin nodded.
"Hopefully, who knows when they'll strike again."
Arwen nodded and then bit her lip, almost smirking.
"You know what we need to do right now to get our minds off this?" She asked.
Mandarin burrowed his brows.
"What?"
She then smiled.
"Make mozzarella sticks, I haven't made them in so long." She sighed happily.
Mandarin was about to decline but then he thought on it. Mozzarella does sound good right about now.
"I'm in." He said.
Arwen bounced happily.
"Great! I'll go get the box from my place!" She said before darting out of the room.
Where did she get that energy from? Aw well, a snack does sound good.
Mandarin looked down at his round stomach and stroked it.
"Come on, let's get something to eat." He muttered before leaving the room, a small smile on his face.
The Manottos are a spreadin'! That's what I like to see! Also the Sueronian stuff is really fun for me to play around with and create ideas on so yeah. Thanks for reading!