Note; technically, this is the plot to Parental Bonding, but due to my changes, that title won't make sense. This won't happen to often (I think), so I'm just saying that to prepare you guys for this.
Also, guess what I found online to help me to with chatlogs! .io/homestuck_quirk/ is a website that provides you with a way to translate a sentence into the typing quirk of your choice. It certainly makes things much easier on my side and keeps things in character.
Hopefully you all enjoy this chapter and I'll see you all later!
Karkat was thankful to say there'd been lull in ghost activity after Horuss became a regular at the portal. Whether it was the fact he stayed near the portal's opening with Muelin enough to capture any ghosts before they got out or their mere presence was a deterrent didn't really matter to him. All he knew that it provided him ample time to get some ghostly research in.
Nepeta was spending the rest of her grounding time explaining random things about ghost culture to him. It was a weird thing to consider, but there were a lot of things to consider about the Infinite Realms/Ghost Zone that probably most wouldn't consider.
For one thing, ghosts can have kids. He'd heard about it before, but he got some more confirmation about it from Nepeta that ghosts can breed and gain traits from their parents like any human baby would. However, they could form in two other ways.
The first was obvious; ghosts form from dying humans. But to be exact, they formed if a human, animal, or otherwise died near a place where the natural barrier dividing the Ghost Zone and the human world was thin or had high amounts of ecto-radiation. It also depends on the mental state of the dying human; they'd have to be in significant emotional distress, positive or negative, in order to form a high enough resonance that would attract ectoplasm. It almost explained Karkat's situation to the T.
A second, more surprising one, was that ghosts could form if something caused a great disturbance in the Ghost Zone. Whether it was a natural/artificial portal, a large number of ghosts dying in one place, or even a high amount of power usage, ghosts can form from that disturbance. There were plenty of ghosts out there born without human intervention that formed out of basic concepts. Ranges from simply forming ecto-puses to creating ghosts that could possibly shape the earth if they wanted.
Big threats if they ever got out with less than pure intentions. Something that Karkat didn't intend to happen.
They were currently talking about a different subject through the chat.
CG: EXPLAIN QUADRANTS TO ME. YOU MENTIONED MOIRAL'S AND I'M STILL FUCKING CONFUSED.
AC: :33 calm yourself, young padawan. i will teach you the ways.
CG: THEN LAY IT ON ME, FURRY YODA.
AC: :33 the fuck is a yoda? is it edible? anyway, let's get back to moirallegance.
AC: :33 how did i explain this befure?
CG: AS A MORE PLATONIC RELATIONSHIP INVOLVING CALMING THE OTHER THE FUCK DOWN IF THEY'RE GOING OBSESSED CRAZY.
AC: :33 you're not wrong, but it's a little more nuanced than that.
AC: :33 it is purely platonic and k33p each other grounded to purvent giving in to their obsessions. we call it 'pale' beclaws there's no actual sexual tension involved. we symbolize it with diamonds.
CG: SO, I'M RIGHT, IF ONLY SLIGHTLY UNDERSTATING IT. WHAT ABOUT THE OTHERS?
AC: :33 let's go onto the flipside then. matespritship.
AC: :33 it's purtty close to human romance, with two people wanting a sexual relationship in a romantic sense. that's the pawsitive side of the sexual relationships. it's represented by heart and usually called the red quadrant.
CG: PRETTY SIMPLE SOUNDING. CAN'T SEE HOW THAT'S DIFFICULT.
AC: :33 oh, karkitty, we haven't even started on the complicated stuff. that's child's play.
CG: I REALLY WISH YOU WOULD STOP CALLING ME THAT.
Karkat wrote what could into a notebook, looking over it. He'd been doing this whenever he could get any kind of information on ghosts, big or small. At this point, he honestly couldn't help but feel like he was the only true expert on ghosts just from his notes alone.
It was ironic, really. He never saw himself going into his dad's field before and now he could probably be called a lead researcher. It's too bad he couldn't publish any journals right now since he was a fucking freak, he'd be famous.
AC: :33 alright. let's get into hard mode here and talk about kismesissitude.
CG: IS THAT EVEN A WORD?
AC: :33 it is. this relationship is a lot like those love-hate relationships humans s33m to like.
AC: :33 a kismesis is essentially mutual hate, a sense of rivalry and respect, with a dash of sexual tension. symbolized by the spade and called the black quadrant.
AC: :33 it's honestly one of the most complicated ones since you have to not only hate the annoying parts of your partner, but also actually have some appurciation fur their good sides.
CG: THAT SOUNDS LIKE A CONFUSING NIGHTMARE OF EMOTION, HONESTLY.
AC: :33 it's hard to k33p up, honestly. most of those relationships either change to another quadrant or turn sour. good luck on that.
CG: WHY DO YOU ASSUME THAT I'M GOING TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS?
AC: :33 instinct! anyway, ashen quadrant. otherwise kmeown as the nightmare quadrant.
CG: THAT PUN WAS A STRETCH AND YOU KNOW IT.
AC: :33 don't interrupt. auspisticism is similar to how humans have marriage counseling or diplomats. a little bit more involved, but same function.
AC: :33 it's the most flexible quadrant, but it's important as it makes sure any blooming relationships don't get in the way of existing ones. it's not really 'romantic,' but it serves a purpose.
CG: IT'S REPRESENTED BY THE CLUB? THAT'S THE ONLY ONE LEFT, I THINK.
AC: :33 good job! nice to kmeow that someone's learning from me.
AC: :33 oh shit, my mom's coming. thanks fur listening to me, it's nice to have something to do while i'm grounded. my own moirail can't hang out with me right meow, so i'm really bored.
CG: NOT A PROBLEM. HOPE IT ENDS SOON. CAN NEVER TELL WHEN I'LL NEED BACKUP AGAIN.
AC: :33 just got one more day! anyway, s33 you later karkitty!
Karkat sighed, closing up the notebook and exiting Ghostian. There were probably better things he could ask Nepeta about ghost stuff, but he had to remember that she is his age. She doesn't know everything about ghost culture or ghost development since she, to her own admittance, lived in a cave.
As far as his power's development goes, all the ghosts he knew said that they developed over time. They did mention a few that, if he didn't find a way to fix all of this before then, he could look forward too. Ecto-blasts, duplication, and various other stuff could come to him depending on how his 'obsession' and general experience as ghost shaped them.
He made a note to find out what his obsession was. If it developed at all, that is.
"Is something wrong, Karkitten?"
He jumped at the sound of Muelin's voice, startling him out of his train of thought. Despite being somewhat similar to her sister, he didn't exactly have a good read on her personality just yet. He made a note to rectify that.
"Nothing. Just got done talking to your sister about quadrants and I might need some Aspirin." He stretched, getting the kinks out of his back. "It's not the weirdest thing to figure out about ghosts, I guess. It's up there, though."
"Yeah, I get that." Muelin shrugged, playing with some ball of yarn she found. It was strange how much she and Nepeta acted so stereotypically like cats. "But since we're pretty much souls made out of ectoplasm, we're pretty emotional. That's gotta go somewhere, right?"
He couldn't argue with that logic, making sure to nod thoughtfully. Muelin seemed satisfied by that and caught Horuss's attention. She signed at him carefully, smiling gently as he responded with his own.
Ghosts can be deaf too and apparently had their own sign language. Another thing he should've considered.
Something Spades probably never would.
Shit, he made himself depressed again.
"I'm going to head to school." He picked up his backpack, slinging it over his shoulder. "I'll need you guys to clear out for now. I'll see if I can get this place open for the afternoon and message you on Ghostian."
"Fair enough." Horuss got up to stretch too, muttering to himself. "I've yet to decipher half of the wiring your father has done to the portal. However, I hope to get a breakthrough in soon."
"Plus, a friend of ours is celebrating today." Muelin lifted herself off the ground, waving at Karkat. "We'll see you around. Hope no one attacks the school today."
"That makes two of us." Karkat saw them off as they slipped into the portal, closing it behind them without a word. He yawned as he headed to the stairs of the basement. Thinking things over for today. He wondered what they were going to celebrate with their friends for today.
…He really hoped that 'attack on the school' comment wouldn't come to bite him in the ass. He really didn't want to deal with that today.
In the depths of the Infinite Realms, floating islands stood there with little support. Some drifted from their original spots, while other orbited bigger islands in concentric circles, their orbit varying depending on their distance. It was a quiet place, far away from any known ghost populations.
"Hello?! Anyone?! Come on, you guys, you know you can't hide from me!"
Until Nepeta came along, however.
The ghost girl floated towards the islands, huffing. As fond as she was of games, she didn't want to stay out here too long. Her mom had lifted her grounding since she'd been relatively well behaved, and she wanted to see her friend. She hadn't told her everyone about all the crazy shit she'd involved in and she was dying to explain everything after the ritual was over.
Nepeta landed on an island, scratching her head. "Now, where did she go?" Her cat ears twitched, searching for any sound. "She said she'd meet me here. I really hope she didn't start without me."
She searched the islands carefully, keeping her wits about her as best she could. Despite this, she failed to notice as a shadow with pure red eyes began to rise from behind one of the islands, moving quietly. The cat ghost didn't hear the shadow move over behind her until it pounced…
"Gotcha!"
Landing on the ground of one of the islands, the two figures toppled over with Nepeta being on the bottom. She blinked at the smiling face of her friend before rolling her eyes. "Fine, you got me, Terezi. Mind letting me get up?"
The figure smiled, getting up and grabbing Nepeta along with her. "Fine, but you have to admit that I got you good."
The figure was revealed to be Terezi Pyrope, a scaly girl her age with pure red eyes that Nepeta knew saw nothing. The girl's hair was a bright orange, set off by pale skin and teal scales going down her face. She wore a teal jumpsuit that covered her body, a red vest with a high collar, red skirt splitting on each side for her legs, and long red boots laid over it. She held a red and white cane with a dragon head as the handle.
"I still don't know how you do that. I can actually see, and I can't ever sneak up behind you." Nepeta gave a friendly punch to the other girl's arm, sticking her tongue out at her.
"Helps when you have a nose like mine." Terezi's own forked tongue came out as well, showing sharper teeth then Nepeta's. "Oh, and blind jokes now? I guess being grounded really changes a person."
"It's been pawsitively brutal." Nepeta floated onto her back, putting the back of her hand on her forehead dramatically. "I don't know if I recognize the outside world anymore. Anything important happen while I was imprisoned?"
"Jack shit, if we're being honest." Terezi flipped the cane to hold over her shoulders. "Mom's been kicking ass when it comes to getting criminals, but nothing noteworthy. What I want hear is why your mom decided to put under fire."
"Long and pawesome story. I'll tell you later." The cat girl ghost moved closer to her draconic friend, practically bouncing in front of her. "Tell me that you got it, first."
"Yeah, yeah, don't worry. I got it." Terezi fished something out of her pockets, smiling widely to reveal a gold necklace. The necklace itself glowed a greenish hue, only muted by their surroundings. The strange aura of the necklace was only punctuated by the fact it had a gold, dragon head with red eyes at its center.
"Oooh, cool." Nepeta hugged her friend, laughing wildly. "I can't believe your mom finally let you have it! I almost thought she wouldn't let you have your own amulet."
"Me too, for a bit there. She kept training me with hers for so long, I thought she was trying to make me give up." The scaly girl looked at the necklace nervously, chuckling. "I almost don't want to put it on right now. I went through hell to get this thing; I don't want to fuck it up somehow."
"Don't be like that." Nepeta slapped the girls back with gusto. "You put in the effort to get that thing. It's yours! Kick some ass with it or something. Aren't you going on about justice all the time?"
"Pretend to execute your stuffed animals when you're thirteen and that's all anyone remembers about you." Terezi mumbled, rolling her eyes. She put her hands on her hips. "Besides, I'm barely allowed to do anything with this that isn't practice or self-defense. Otherwise, it'll be 'confiscated.'"
"Then wouldn't you say that this is a perfect time to practice?" Nepeta swept a hand over the lonely islands with cat-like grin.
Terezi let out her own mad laugh. "Well, I can't say that you're wrong. Maybe it's about time to use this bad boy." She unclasped the back of the necklace, putting it around her neck carefully. She looked hesitant for a second, taking another look around her. "You sure nobody else is around here?"
"Pawsitive." Nepeta ear's twitched searching for some kind of sound. She stopped for a second, smile tightening. "Wait, I think I just heard something."
Before either could make a move, a shot could be heard as something flew at Terezi, hitting her in the shoulder. She recoiled instantly, grabbing at it, and pulling it out, throwing it to the ground as she hissed.
It was, strangely enough, a needle filled with some red liquid. It looked like some of it was missing, most likely put into the scaly teen before she had ripped it out.
"The fuck is this?" Terezi's sniffed the air, trying to discern the substance. "Whoever shot me had a needle sharp enough to pierce my scales. I don't what was in there, though."
"Who would have something like that?" Nepeta questioned, before she immediately concluded who it could be. She growled and turned towards where the shot came from. "Skulker! Come on out here and fight me like a man, you metal coward! And don't drag Terezi into this, I want to settle the score!"
"I think he's gone. I can't smell him from here." Terezi tried to float towards her friend but drooped a little in the air. It felt like her chest was on fire for some reason. "Jeez, what was in the needle?"
Nepeta growled to herself but looked over at her friend with concern. "Are you feeling okay? It can't be deadly, otherwise that asshole would've stayed here." She floated down to the slowly drooping body of her friend, reaching out. "We should take you to your mom. She might now what he-"
A snarl suddenly broke out from Terezi, causing the cat girl to back off. The scaly teen hunched over, hacking, and heaving as her body reacted to the drug. Nepeta noticed that the scales on her were beginning to increase, spreading all over her body.
Nepeta back off slowly as the body of her friend grew bigger and bigger with every moment, having only one thing to say.
"Oh shit."
"So," Karkat sidled up to Sollux at his locker. "Any idea what you want to do tomorrow? Been a while since we've had a Friday to ourselves. I don't think Aradia's got anything planned either."
"No idea. Been wanting to play Doomed for a while, but there's been so much shit going on." Sollux picked out his books. It was about to be free period soon, so he was taking his time sorting things out. "Don't really have much else planned other than that."
"Me too. I've been pretty much dodging all of my dad's ecto-detectors lately and I've been wanting to get out of the house though." Karkat looked over a corkboard, trying to discern the various posters from age. One caught his eye, though, causing him to recoil. "Shit, we're that having that stupid dance tomorrow night? Time fucking flies…"
"Shit, I knew I was forgetting something." Sollux growled, closing his locker with a grimace. "I think Aradia's doing some shit for that. Not sure how she convinced the school to do that, but that makes her MIA for tomorrow."
"That sucks." Karkat really did forget about all of that. He hoped the ghost shit hadn't taken too much time away from Aradia from this. He did get a devilish idea though, smiling a little as he shoved Captor. "Hey, maybe this is the perfect time for you to ask her to it. Might be fun~."
Sollux made sure to give his friend an extra hard 'tap' on the shoulder for that. "Shut the fuck up." The heterochromatic teen was blushing, face red. "We went over that shit already; I'm not doing that."
"Come on, it's not like she'll say no. She'll have to suffer the dance alone otherwise." Karkat made sure to poke him in the ribs in revenge for the punch to the shoulder. "She'd be grateful to have some company."
"I'd be grateful if you shut up." Sollux sighed, putting his head against the locker. "Besides, you remember how that all went down, right? Plus, it's not a great time to try anything she might not like."
Karkat sighed. Yeah, he remembered.
Back when they were thirteen, the worst time in anyone's lives, Sollux had a pretty bad crush on Aradia. Whether it was hormones kicking in or simply because he liked her, it was hard to say. He leaned towards the latter because, if Sollux's reaction meant anything, it didn't necessarily go away. He did ask her out once. Just once though.
They never got to go out since Aradia's mom died sometime after.
Sollux never complained about it, but it made sure a lot of things went on the wayside before anything happened. He and Karkat just focused on trying to be there for her, even when they split for over year after that. They did get back together in a sense when they were fifteen and have been going on strong for two years since.
Sollux never asked her out again, though, which Karkat figured was a crying shame. Figured now would be a perfect time.
Then he again, he almost died not that long ago either.
"Maybe you have a point there." Karkat adjusted his backpack, getting his back off the lockers. "But I wouldn't put that off any longer. Worst case scenario, she says no, and we move on with our lives." He lightly elbowed him as he passed. "Come on, I don't want to be late. Aradia'll get pissed if we don't make it."
Sollux sighed behind him, trudging behind him sullenly.
Until Karkat coughed, a small amount of smoke passing his lips.
As they stopped to wonder if they actually just say that, the speakers spread across the hall crackled to life.
"Students of Casper High, we have just received news that a fire has broken out in the woods near the school. While officials say the fire should not reach the school, we ask that students go to any classrooms they can find and wait until further information comes in."
The two barely registered the shuffling of people around them, looking at each other with wide eyes.
"Do you think that might be ghost related?" Sollux asked, starting to move to find an unattended classroom.
"I really fucking hope not." Karkat groaned, catching up to him. It didn't take long to find an empty classroom, with the halls of the school practically empty by then. They felt their phones buzz, pulling them out quickly.
AA: guys? is there s0mething g0ing 0n? did s0me idi0t try t0 sm0ke in the f0rest 0r s0mething?
TA: karkat puffed out 2ome 2moke. not much, though. could be 2ome a22hole gho2t fuckiing around iin there.
CG: WHATEVER IT WAS FLEW OVER THE SCHOOL. MAYBE IT WAS AN ACCIDENT OR SOMETHING.
They all jumped as another beep came from Ghostian, notifying them that someone else joined in on the chat.
AC: :33 guys, i don't kmeow if you've heard anything, but some shit kind of went down.
CG: WHAT SHIT?
CG: WAIT, ARE YOU INVOLVED WITH THAT FIRE GOING ON OUTSIDE?
AC: :33 kind of. skulker kind of did something to a friend of mine while we were in the infinite realms. i don't kmeow what, but she's all aggressive right meow.
AA: any idea h0w t0 calm her d0wn?
AC: :33 nothings working! she doesn't have a moirail either, so we're screwed on that one.
TA: do you have any iidea how two 2top her then? ii'd rather not have the 2chool burn down today.
AC: :33 i might kmeow a way to stop her, but i'm at least going to n33d phantom here to help me.
AA: what ab0ut me and s0llux? we can't let y0u guys deal with it al0ne.
CG: NO. I APPRECIATE THE IDEA, BUT NEITHER OF YOU CAN BREATHE SMOKE, SO THAT'S A NO GO.
CG: STAY HERE AND TRY TO PREVENT A PANIC OR SOMETHING. TRY NOT TO DRAW ATTENTION TO YOURSELVES.
"Dude, you can't be serious." Sollux looked up from his phone. "I mean we could take some of those extinguishers from the- Wait, where are you going?!"
Karkat may or may not have already been phasing through the glass window. He gave an embarrassed wave towards his direction.
"I'll ask for reinforcements if I need it. Unless you can learn to live without breathing, stay here." Karkat said, slipping out fully. He transformed, turning invisible as soon he did. "See you soon!"
Sollux let out a groan, turning his attention back to the phone.
TA: "phantom" ii2 comiing two help. a22hole told u2 two 2tay put two.
AC: :33 thank god! sorry to put you out like this, but you guys n33d to breathe. just let us ghosts handle it.
She ticked off the chat too, leaving the two humans to themselves. Sollux sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Those two were idiots, that was for sure. He felt his phone buzz again.
AA: i kn0w y0u're pr0bably pissed at them, but they've g0t a p0int. i'm sure they'll be fine.
TA: probably. tho2e a22hole2 have 2urviived wor2e, ii gue22.
There was a moment of silence before Aradia sent another message.
AA: i highly d0ubt it's anything t00 bad. i mean, h0w terrifying c0uld her friend really be?
"…Nepeta?"
"Yes, Karkitty?"
"WHY IS YOUR FRIEND IS A DRAGON?!"
Karkat wasn't sure if this topped the sight of the robot ghost, but it certainly ranked as the one of the weirdest things he's had to deal with lately. He'd expected rampaging ghost, sure, that was something he was slowly starting to get used to. The ghost didn't mean it either, so he'd be able to help them hopefully calm down.
He just wasn't expecting a ghost dragon.
God, his life officially jumped the shark at some point.
"To be fair, she isn't always a dragon. She's just one right now." Nepeta watched a teal dragon shoot fire out of its mouth at some trees, burning a bright red and yellow. The dragon's spines were a darker color then the rest of its scales, while the underbelly was a shade lighter. It still had the pure red eyes that signified that it was Terezi. "You see the necklace, right? That's the reason why she's a dragon."
"You have cursed artifacts in the Ghost Zone?" Karkat questioned, eyebrow raised.
"Yes and no. Curse artifacts are a thing, but what she's wearing is a family heirloom. It allows people in her family turn into dragons with enough effort. And unfortunately, Skulker shot her while she was wearing the thing." Nepeta fidgeted where she stood, watching the dragon stomp on a tree "We need to stop her before she does anything too bad."
"Any idea for plan of attack? I could probably distract that thing if you can get that thing off of her." He didn't like the idea of going up against a dragon, but he figured that he was quick enough to dodge anything it threw at him. Hopefully. "I don't exactly have shield and sword, though, so we're shit out of luck if defeating her is our only option."
"I can't say that she'll expect it." Nepeta floated upward for a second but stopped to give him a side-eye. "You said you breathe smoke whenever one of us shows up, right?"
"Pretty much." He drawled out, taking out his ecto-gun and a sickle.
"Good. You might survive if she sets you on fire." The cat girl ghost provided no other explanation and zipped off near the dragon ghost.
"Might? Wait, are you saying I'm immune to fire?! I highly doubt that's true!" Karkat didn't receive any response from her as she flew at top speed, leaving him behind. He sighed, cursing to himself.
Karkat messed with the gun, setting it a middle setting. He didn't know what would actually hurt a dragon hide, but he certainly didn't want to find out. He looked down at the dragon rampaging below and wondered briefly what she was like when this wasn't happening.
Guess he would figure out pretty soon.
"Hey!" He yelled at the dragon ghost, catching its attention. "Yeah, I'm talking to you! You have any idea what breath mint is?! Because I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to be breathing fire!"
Karkat had to immediately dodge as it fired at him, a stream of it going past him. He growled, shaking his fist at it. "It was only a suggestion! No need to get all pissed about it!"
It notably didn't provide any more banter as the dragon charged at him, swiping at him its claws. Karkat had to focus on dodging, moving from side to side as he the dragon tried to turn him to ribbons. When he had a moments reprieve, he shot at the dragon several times, hitting it in the snout and cheek.
This caused it to roar, shaking the leaves of surrounding trees. Karkat noted that Nepeta wasn't far behind the dragon, desperately trying to get at its neck. He sighed, turning up the juice on the ecto-gun and fired at the thing's chest.
This caught the dragon's attention once again, causing it to growl. I launched another wave of fire at him, making sure that he was a good distance from it.
"Okay, I get it, you're pissed off! That doesn't mean you have to piss on Smokey the Bears reputation by burning this place down!" He dodged another wave of fire, sending a few shots to his own. "Sort of ruins your point, to say the least!"
He automatically dodged another swipe aimed at his head. A quick look towards Nepeta showed that she wasn't that much closer in grabbing the necklace off of the dragon. He mentally groaned in his head.
"I'm seriously wasting banter here, aren't I?!" He chuckled. "I'm really getting sick of this game of chicken, by the way! Try and get me, bitch!"
Cranking the ecto-gun to its highest setting, he fired and hit it in the forehead, causing it to stumble back at that. The dazed look on its face didn't last forever though, roaring once again and leading into another pursuit.
Nepeta had finally gained purchase on the necklace, pulling at it with all of her might. She couldn't find the clasp on it either, feeling that it was locked tight against the dragon's neck. Karkat say this, mentally calculating another plan.
He seriously didn't want to risk any actual damage to 'Terezi,' but there was enough damage going around already. It would end up being worse if it got near the school. They needed to get that necklace off and fast…
He looked towards the ground and thought of something that would make getting it off a cinch. If he got it right, however.
It was a pretty big if.
"Nepeta, I'd suggest holding on tight! I'm about to do something stupid!" He sent a few more shots the dragon's way, taking a nosedive towards the ground. The cat girl ghost seemed to heed his warning, holding onto the necklace for her un-life.
Karkat made sure to dodge multiple swipes sent his way, along with another torrent of fire. He narrowed his eyes as the ground rose up to him faster and faster with each passing moment. Counting down the seconds, he sped up towards the ground in a near suicidal way.
At the very last moment, Karkat took a sharp turn around and move around the dragon, slicing at the necklace with his sickle. The jewelry came off with a snap, being flung off of it with a quick throw. It disappeared into the distance as the dragon hit the ground at full force.
Karkat took a minute to breath, turning around to watch the dragon slide across. A tree or two was knocked down in its wake, though the damage was mitigated as it grew smaller and smaller, the stretch of destruction thinning. He noted that Nepeta flew up for a few seconds before moving back down as the body of the dragon fully shifted into the what he assumed was Terezi's true form.
Flying down next to her, he looked over the new ghost. "Is she ok? I didn't really want to do that, but that was the only plan I could think of to get the fight over fast."
"A little scraped up, but she's been worse. You should've seen what it was like the first week she was blind." Nepeta slowly turned the girl over onto her back, wincing. "Even if she was, I think she'll be happy to not have killed anyone today."
"You say that like she would like to kill someone on her own time." He tried to laugh, but felt the exhaustion creep in. Karkat noticed Terezi twitch, causing him to get alarmed. "Shit, she's waking up. She's not going to freak out, right?"
He was answered by a loud groan and fluttering of eyes from Terezi, who looked blankly at the sky. She didn't say anything for a second or two before sniffing the air. She turned her head to Nepeta, duly looking towards her face. "Nep?"
"Yeah, Terezi?" The cat girl teen said, moving closer to listen to her friend.
"Why do I smell so much blue?" Terezi's voice was dazed and confused, easing Karkat's tension by a fair amount. "The green smells off too. Too dark. Not bright enough."
"It's a long story, kitten." Nepeta stroked the girl's hair softly. Her ears perked up at the sound of sirens nearing the area. "We can't stay here, though. I'll explain later."
At Nepeta's questioning glance, Karkat floated a little higher. "I think there's an abandoned house nearby we can use. I'll message Aradia and Sollux and see if we can meet up there."
She nodded, moving to pick up her friend. Karkat moved in closer as well, grabbing the girl carefully as he did so. As they floated in the direction, he was leading them, Karkat looked down at the destruction below and wondered just how people were going to explain this to themselves.
He really hoped they came up with a good enough answer themselves. He sure as hell wasn't providing one for them.
"I can't fucking believe this shit." Trizza stomped off of school grounds with a grumble. "Seriously, is our school fucking cursed?! The cafeteria blows up, our fieldtrip to the zoo is screwed over by faulty power, and now we have a forest fire?!"
"Considering our school is named after Casper the Friendly Ghost, our town is named after the Amityville Horror, our school mascot is a raven, I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner." Ardata Carmia, a social media personality and Trizza's 'friend,' commented. She sarcastically went through her feed. "To say the least, we do run quite a few red flags when it comes to cursed property. We'll have to hope it wasn't built on an ancient burial ground, at this point."
"Ha, ha, real funny." Tethis growled, kicking at the ground in an unladylike fashion. "It just better not effect the dance tomorrow. I've been preparing for that shit for weeks and I'm not even letting Vantas's dad ruin that shit."
"You've really been focusing on that guy for way too long. It makes it seem like you're expecting him to bomb the school or something." Ardata arched an eyebrow in her friend's direction.
"He might, for all I know!" Trizza seemed particularly worked up about this, hands making exaggerated movements as she talked. "His dad's been too quiet lately, working on some kind of project. I'm half expecting that he's going to blow up the fucking town before the weeks over."
"If he does, it'll certainly boost my follower count." The girl in cerulean clothing grinned maniacally. "He's always good for a laugh."
"And for a headache." Trizza kept stomping forward before her foot caught on something in the dirt, causing her to almost trip. She stopped to glare at the offending object before her eyes widened. Picking it up, she looked it over. "The fuck is this?"
Ardata barely gave the necklace with a dragon center a glance. "Looks like the shit the goth kids would fuck around with. Might be dirty too. I'd put it back where you found it."
"Why? I kinda like it." The girl in pink looked at a broken clasp and frowned. "I think I might have jewelry making shit in my room to fix it. It'd go perfect with my outfit for tomorrow."
"Fine." Ardata walked past Tethis. "That thing does look cursed, though. You really want to be another horror movie trope at this point?"
"Fuck off. It's a necklace." Trizza laughed, putting in her bag without a second thought. "The fuck can it do to me that the school isn't sending our way?"
While the two continued to walk and talk, they failed to notice the bag give out the occasional red glow as they walked.
Well, that website was a big help, don't you think? Certainly makes it all the more accurate. Hopefully you Homestuck buffs out there appreciate it because it is free and can be used for own fics if you want them.
Also, quadrants will be used in the fic, but it will take time for Karkat to fill his own. He needs to get his shit together first before that happens. I won't say who I've got planned for right now, but feel free to send suggestions on what kind of pairings you would like to see in the future and I might pick a couple.
Either way, I'll see you all later and hope you have a nice day!