Ashaki and her Analyses
Snugglemane yawned into his hand, it had taken these past couple of days spending time curled up in his duvet, guzzling whole pints of rocky road to come down from all the excitement. He couldn't fathom why the sheriff and his family would indulge themselves in such barbaric activities.
Up ahead, Snugglemane couldn't help but noticed that the door to the archive was left ajar. Letting his curiosity get the best of him, he peeked inside, his expression turned sour. In the center of the room, Ashaki sat at a table, tomes and texts towering over her head, threatening to fall on her.
Snugglemane was infuriated with this woman, every day she was gliding through the castle, and every time their paths crossed, she showed no proper etiquette that is required when stood before a king. Despite how much he hated interacting with her, he wouldn't let that get to him. He approached the table, mug of coffee in his hand.
"You're still here?" Snugglemane spoke, looking at some of the books in the pile. Mostly a bunch of informative stuff, too boring for him to look at.
"Pure Heart Valley has been deemed a lost kingdom throughout history," Ashaki stated, turning the page of the book before her. "Now that I'm standing in it, I want to learn as much as I can."
Snugglemane rolled his eyes. "I would've assumed you'd be with the sheriff as well as your sisters."
Ashaki turned another page. "I'll reconvene with my sisters when the time comes, until then, I'll be here, reading up on the mysteries of Pure Heart."
Snugglemane could barely believe this. The green clad Mao sister had no intent on leaving his castle. He could order her, but if what Mao Mao said was anything to consider, she won't listen to authority.
While he was lost in thought, Snugglemane noticed something on Ashaki's head. Her fur was barely parted, allowing sight of the string that had been threaded into her skull.
"Goodness, that looks like a nasty injury," Snugglemane spoke aloud without meaning too. Ashaki finally looked up to see where the king was looking.
"It's no matter, a little work on it here and there and it will be like it never happened." Ashaki reached up a brushed her finger over the tissue.
"Can't you just heal it like you did with the sheriff and the tanuki woman?"
Ashaki let out a sigh, she hated to repeat herself, and everyone always asks the same questions. She even considered just writing it all down in a sheet of paper to hand out to people. "No I can't, if I were to attempt such a thing, the bone won't heal correctly, and then I'll have a misshapen skull."
"If you say so," Snugglemane turned back to the door of the archives, wanting for nothing more than to go about his day and indulge in a pastry puff.
Left alone in the archives once more, Ashaki went back to flipping through the pages of the book, finishing in a matter of minutes now that the distraction was gone. That was the last book she had in her current pile. By her estimate, it would only take two or three more sessions to finish reading the vast amount of tomes.
Gliding between the towering shelves, she floated before the final aisle of books. Ashaki found a row of books that caught her attention. The lack of detail on the covers compared to all the other books allowed the to stand apart from the rest.
Grabbing the first one, she flipped it to the first few pages.
The community has grown much larger than I had ever hoped. When we settled in this valley, it was a large forest fraught with mysteries. But now, we slowly learn and master them.
This village will need a name. After being driven from our homes I want it to have a great name. One that people can say is their home with nothing but love and pride in their heart.
Ashaki flipped a few more pages into the book. This was the journal of the first king of Pure Heart! Then that would mean the other tomes belonged to the following rulers. Such important tomes, and they were merely suiting in the archives, collecting dust. Ashaki looked back to the book in her hands.
This year's crop harvest is possibly the most bountiful one yet. We've come so far from the small village we were all those years ago.
But I must begin to think of our future. Our success wasn't earned without failures. We've lost so many people over the previous winter. We will lose more if we don't seek out allies.
I've studied the charts and gathered intel on other kingdoms surrounding ours. I believe I can call them to our aid. But I must be completely sure. These are kings and queens I'll be meeting with. Odds are they won't meet with a mayor such as myself, so I'll have to offer something.
Unfortunately, we haven't come far enough to have developed any main exports.
I may have to do something drastic.
Studying the texts in this tome, Ashaki believed that this was a good king, unlike the current one. The current king's first worry is about his looks, and what desserts will pair well with his entrée. Whereas the first king was looking out for his people and willing to make sacrifices for them.
Ashaki let out another sigh. Snugglemane has a long way to go if he wants to be a true king.
The walls of the ship echoed with the belches of Orangusnake and his crew. How long has it been since they had full stomachs?
Ratarang slurped up the last of the spaghetti. "Oh, it reminds me of the 'ghetti my Ma used to make."
"Now I say, ever since that martial artist came to the valley, we've been eatin' like nobles," commented Boss Hosstrich.
Orangusnake wasn't in a position to disagree. But he still couldn't wrap his head around why she was going out of her way for them. To constantly be making meals for someone who for the first time meeting tried to kill you, they would need to be a saint or a fool. That martial artist definitely wasn't a saint.
"Let's not get used to this," Orangusnake said colder than he meant. "Something tells me she won't stay here forever."
"Exactly! That's why we need to savor and enjoy this food while it's here," Ramiraffe replied, biting into the last drumstick.
Orangusnake sat in silence for a moment before finally chuckling to himself. "I suppose your right." He looked back up to his crew, his friends. "What would I do with myself without you all by my side?" His smile was returned by his crew's own.
Returning back to the circle Orangusnake, for a moment, let himself be. Surrounded by his greatest friends, having an amazing feast, was there anything that could make this better?
Like a thunderclap, the sound bounced off the metallic halls of the turned over ship. The crew of the Sky Pirates keeled over, covering their ears. The vibrations felt like they were jumping off the walls and onto them, causing them to feel their bones shake against the vibrations.
Orangusnake jumped to his feet, sprinting on all four of his ape appendages. Finally coming into sight of the entrance to the ship, he saw the origin of the sound. He couldn't believe his eyes, his mouth hung open.
Three massive silhouettes blocked the door, casting long shadows. Orangusnake only formally met them once, when he initially recruited them. Then they flew out here, where Mao Mao and Badgerclops blew their ship out of the sky, sending almost every single crew member overboard. Now these three stood in front of him once more.
"No way," Orangusnake stepped forward. "It's not possible."
"Oh it's possible alright," a deep booming voice replied. If Orangusnake remembered correctly, this guy was Beefmaster. A large purple bull with two gigantic swords resembling butchers cleavers. "Long time no see boss."
"B-but how? I saw you fall!"
"But you never saw us perish," said a pink ape. This one's name was Thunderfist, his reputation told how his punches turned boulders into piles of gravel.
Orangusnake racked his brain trying to wrap his head around it. "Wait does that mean the others are okay?" The three returning pirates bowed their heads in silence. "Oh, I see."
"We were the only ones to make it," this time a green dragon with large metallic wings, named Steelwing. His voice had a hiss to it that Orangusnake didn't recall him having. "But we were heavily injured in the fall, and the river's current carried us all the way outside the valley." That was when Orangusnake noticed the scars on Steel Wing's throat.
"It took us a better part of the year just to nurse our wounds," continued Beefmaster. "Wasn't until a few weeks ago that we began making the trek here."
"What can I say except, welcome back!" Orangusnake motioned them into the ship. The three of them followed him into the ship.
Mao Mao swung Geraldine, going through the forms he had practiced since he was a child. Moving from a block into a counter, Mao Mao let himself get lost, his body moving entirely on muscle memory.
Having finally being released from Camille's workspace, he and Minori walked back to Sheriff HQ together. Walking through the door, Mao Mao was greeted by the sight of Badgerclops and Adorabat, throwing themselves at him, tears streaming down their faces.
"I'm so glad you're okay," blubbered Badgerclops. "You know I can't be bothered to be sheriff!"
Adorabat buried herself in Mao Mao's shoulder. "I'm sorry I didn't come with you! I ju-" Adorabat spiraled into a series of hiccups and sobs.
"Guys, I'm fine! I was just exhausted from everything happening back to back," Mao Mao struggled to push them back. "I've gotten rest, I'm all better."
Looking past his sniveling friends, Mao Mao spotted Tanya and Violet sitting on the couch, watching the scene before. Violet with her iconic impassive look, and Tanya with an amused one.
"Your okay."
"More or less," Violet replied.
Tanya raised a brow. "Were you worried?"
"N-no!" Mao Mao's face grew warm. "I knew that you would pull through."
"One of his first questions was if you were okay," Minori said quickly, causing his face to get even warmer.
"Aw~," Tanya crooned, placing her hand over her chest. "You were worried."
"I-I was not! J-just give me an update on the valley while I was out." Mao Mao rubbed his temples trying to bring himself down from the excitement.
Violet picked up a couple of papers from the coffee table, compiled with a rough list of the events of the couple of days he was out. "Overall, there has been a mild drop in monster attacks. We still haven't seen hide or tail of the Sky Pirates. And as for the towns people, it's been a series of mild disputes where the biggest issue was Pinky-"
Mao Mao had to stop her there, anything with Pinky was a headache. "Thank you, Violet. I appreciate you doing that. So who's shift is it today?"
"Badgerclops and Minori," Violet answered.
"I just got back, I have to leave already?" Minori whined. Violet glared from beneath her hat, daring Minori to go against the schedule. Grumbling beneath her breath, she grabbed Badgerclops by the arm, pulling him off Mao Mao. "Fine, come on you big lug."
"Wha-?!" Badgerclops began to protest before Minori whispered something in his ear. "You know what, we'll catch you guys later."
Afterwards, the day gradually shifted towards the norm. Ever since, Mao Mao has taken to solitary training in the woods, playing the events of the Almost-Moon Moth-Massacre in his head over and over. Imagining the things he could've done different, Mao Mao always came back to the same conclusion, if Ashaki hadn't been there, things would've gone terribly.
He was pushed to go against Minori and Violet, and barely came on top. If it hadn't been for his ingenuity, Violet would've surely landed a vital strike if he hadn't destroyed her spear.
His skills needed to be sharper, more precise. Next time there won't be an deus ex machina to save them. Mao Mao's thoughts began to focus on his sword and its abilities. He was able to carve through the spear as it were butter, and he probably could've done the same thing with stone if it didn't burn his hands. Was there anything else he could do with Geraldine?
Mao Mao stopped performing his form midway through, eyeing a tree to his left. He was far enough into the woods that no one would hear any commotion. He'd be free to try any techniques in peace. Mao Mao tightened his grip on Geraldine, ideas for new techniques began to trickle into his head.
The monsters haven't been getting easier, and his sisters won't stay in the valley forever. Mao Mao lowered into a fighting stance, Geraldine began to glow.
The sun set hours ago, and Ashaki was only on the fourth book of the Kings of the Past. Reading about how the kingdom came to be, Ashaki had found the tale to be an inspiring one.
However, her exhaustion was threatening to send her back into the unconsciousness. Ever since she came into the valley and slayed the moon moth, she hadn't slept a wink, and had no intention to do so. She was going to need some assistance for what was bound to happen. Thankfully, she had just the hero who could help her.
Standing before Sheriff HQ, Ashaki slowly opened the door. Doubtless that everyone had already gone to bed. Just from the foyer, her suspicions were confirmed. Minori was slumped on the couch, quiet snores released with each breath. In the office just beyond the living area, Tanya slept in a comfy bed, potentially made by her tanuki leaves.
Ashaki strode over towards the couch, leaning her weight on the back, gazing down at Minori. Her sister was positioned in a weird sleeping position that looked like she fell from a seventh story floor, a string of saliva, trickling from the corner of her mouth and onto her pillow.
Her eyes locked onto Minori's bangles, remembering that while under the moth's influence, Mao Mao had gotten her to bleed. For as long as she knew, the bangles had always protected Minori, so she was curious what made them stop.
Ashaki held out her finger, the claw glowed a dim emerald green light. Pushing chi into the claw, the light elongated making an emerald needle. Her golden contacts glazed over as she looked into the next few seconds of the future. Satisfied with the information gleaned, Ashaki thrusted her claw at Minori. The emerald needle struck into Minori's chest, penetrating her pajamas, but no further.
In response to getting attacked in her sleep, Minori shot up, throwing a punch at the dark silhouette behind the couch. Ashaki stepped to the side, avoiding the punch she foresaw. Before Minori could pull it back, Ashaki grabbed her wrist, keeping it locked it place.
Still groggy from her sleep, Minori's eyes slowly adjusted to the low light. "Ashaki? Did you hit me in my sleep?" Minori pulled her hand from Ashaki's grip.
"I was testing a theory, but that's besides the point," Ashaki placed her hand on the back of the couch. "I need you for something."
Minori bursted out laughing. "Pfft, you are joking, right? The only time you asked me for anything is to act as decoy or bait." Minori tucked herself back beneath her blankets. "The answer is no."
Ashaki rolled her eyes. "Do you remember that time I had a nightmare after watching that movie?"
Minori sat back up on the couch. "Yeah?"
"Well, I've had a recurring nightmare that is worse than that one."
"Now I know you're joking, how could it get worse than that?" Minori's voice held a hint of concern. Ever since Ashaki learned to manifest her mystic arts properly, things tended to get weird whenever she had dreams.
"If things escalate, I need you to take me down." Ashaki held Minori's gaze, her tone low and more serious than she usually was. "Can you do that?"
Minori trapped herself in her own thoughts. What kind of dream is Ashaki having? Even so, Minori has gone toe-to-toe with her elder sister before, and she's never beaten her. It was just too difficult for a martial artist to fight against mystic arts.
Ashaki's voice broke Minori out of her concentration. "Minori. Can you do that?"
Minori swallowed. "Yes. I can do that."