SPD: In The Shadows
Chapter 29: A Fresh Start.
A/N: THIS IS THE FINAL CHAPTER! :DDD
I hope you enjoy it! This chapter is very long, but it's supposed to give a slow and steady drop to the end and make it satisfying.~
So, kick back, get something to drink or maybe a snack on occasion, and take a break if you need to! :D
I love all of you guys and thank you for reading up to this point! I hope this short story has given other people cool ideas they could use for their own kind of villain romance and has inspired someone out there. I plan to write a Mesogog romance soon, a short story, and that's probably my last short story villain romance
Maybe :D!
Good luck and I love you all! :D
His heart ached to see her face like that, to hear her beg for him not to go, and for once in his long reign, he finally said the one thing that he would've normally choked over. I love you, a sentence only used when two love each other dearly and in his case, he even surprised himself when it came out of his mouth.
The longing in their eyes before he fell into the rubble, neither of them wanted to be separated. The only thing left now was to sate the last bit of rage he had left, his grudge, for he hadn't completed his goal to get his revenge nor did the last fight with Cruger last long enough. To be with Feige- I need to end this! Beneath the crumbled debris, crimson glinted through the shadows and a low growl echoed. To be with the one woman who was willing to go the distance and understand him. The only person who cared enough to get mad at him over his well-being. The one who reignited a long-lost flame he thought was put out throughout his reign and by Omni's demands.
If anything she brought back a memory of someone he had forgotten about. Someone so dear to him that Omni took from him that day, his Mother. Suddenly, as though strength returned to him, chunks on top of him were kicked up and his voice boomed throughout the air. "Cruger!" With enough power, he leaped out of the debris and heavily landed on the pavement. Crouched on one knee as his staff was held behind him, he saw the startled faces of the citizens as he stood up and switched his weapon to his other hand.
"Forgive me... For being late, to your celebration- Cruger!" He wanted it, he needed it, to be completely free was his new goal and to settle the score with Doggie. He didn't care to hear the Dog's conversation with his Rangers, for he cautiously made his way closer, prepared to fight. As he saw Cruger ready his blade, Gruumm turned his staff to hold it with both hands and sprinted when he did.
Their battle cries reached the sky, which was where Feige floated, and his staff lifted to block a strike from the dog. Swinging left then right, metal clanked as their grunts reached the many people around them.
When he swung, he turned around once Cruger stepped past him and lifted his ax staff. Blocking countless times and waiting for an opening to strike the dog. After getting hit, he did a quick roll but tried to block again only to earn himself a slash to his chest. It didn't take long for him to retaliate and lunge, however, when he did, Cruger brought down his blade.
Gruumm had to lift his staff to block, yet, it was futile, for Cruger had cut through the metal and broke it. On one knee the Emperor groaned from the damage he had endured and watched the Dog raise his blade one more time. "Show me no mercy, Cruger. No mercy!" As he said this, the dog's growl reached his nonexistent ears and expected the worst. But none came, only the removal of his other horn, which he lopped off, made him grunt. "Noooo!" With both hands holding the stubs of what used to be his dignity, he didn't get much time to say anything else.
"Now they match!" No time was wasted when Cruger used his Morpher to shrink him into the containment card. The very thing fell on the ground and his fingers picked it up, ignoring the threat he heard from him. "Justice is served!" The moment he said that everyone cheered, clapped, and earned a few words of praise from his beloved.
~~~~
Feige floated high above the crowd and watched them celebrate, tears trickling her skin as shaky breaths escaped. Slowly but surely, behind Cruger, she landed and picked up what remained of Gruumm's horn. Her fingers tightened around its sharp ridges, as the other hand lifted a distant shard that could cut and held that tightly in her hand.
Her throat clenched, tears worsened, and her body shook both with anger and emotional pain. She cared not if the crowd grew quiet, not even their faint gasps and whispers stirred her. Her eyes were fixed on the back of Cruger and not once did she move.
"Feige! You're okay!" Z, without hesitation, ran to her and made the Dog turn around to smile in her direction.
She didn't do or say anything. Silence, not the soft hug from Z she received or the concerned look on the other Rangers would quell the emotions that ran through her. To have everything taken away, first, her fear took her parents and forced her into a life of seclusion, and now life decided to screw her over more by taking away the only person she had ever gotten close to.
The prolonged silence didn't go ignored, for Cruger could sense it and see that she was not just scared but infuriated. "Z, let go of her a minute. Look in her eyes," Now everyone quieted down. Z did as he ordered and stepped away, pure worry etched on her face but Feige didn't look to see it.
"Feige..." Cruger began with slow steps toward her and sheathed his blade. "Come back to base with us," Softer, his voice became, for he knew that the brunette was a kind soul and understood that she was probably conflicted.
But what Feige did made everyone freeze and hold their tongue. The shard in her hand was lifted to her neck when her fingers tightened on the horn in her other hand. "Give him back," Demanding, glaring daggers at the Dog who kept the card between his fingers. No one else would be able to hear her quivering breaths and rapid heartbeat, except for Cruger with his heightened senses. "I said give him back!" She didn't notice the blood from her hand when it clenched tighter on the shard, her shaky limbs were more noticeable now and it made Cruger sigh.
"I can't... And I won't! You and everyone else know just how bad he is! You have no right to demand such a thing when he kidnapped you and kept you on his ship! There is one thing I wanted to know... Why were you freely walking about and not caged like the rest of us? Why did you treat Gruumm the way you did, when you pulled him out of the room by his horn?" There it was, the question that he wanted an answer for. His slow strides towards her made her press the tip of the shard further against her neck, enough to make blood trickle down the metal. This stopped him, he didn't want someone's suicide on his hands.
"You... Are all so stupid!" Screamed the brunette, as more tears strayed from her violet eyes. No one made a sound and it encouraged her to continue. "Have any of you ever stopped to think... The possibility, as to WHAT made him so evil?!" Again, her question was met with silence. Her face burned hot from the anger and tears that welled up. It made her so mad that they only looked at how evil he was instead of what caused him to be that way.
"You and Gruumm are similar... Gruumm lost someone too! I saw it! Not just that- he lost his world! His planet, just like you! He was forced to serve under that THING! The entity I managed to free him from! He was bound by chains!" The brunette wanted to tell them all so badly, how much he went through and all the things he was forced to do. Everything that eventually turned him cold and made killing like a second nature to him.
"Feige... What is he to you?" Cruger's stern gaze hadn't faltered, nor did his stance waver from her outburst.
"He's my EVERYTHING!" Quiet, it was, no one dared to move or speak. They knew how dire the situation was since a woman approached them and threatened him with suicide. "Do you know what it's like... To be afraid? To have FEAR take everything from you? Fear... Can control and change a person!" Feige didn't notice the emotional look in Bridge's eyes when he used his power to see her energy. "My anxieties, my fear, took lives that I didn't ask for! Forced me to run away from people in fear of killing more! Imagine, the very thing, the very person who managed to endure your power and comfort you! Who helped you control your power that ended up killing hundreds? I had NOTHING! NO ONE! I lived In. The. Shadows! I was controlled by fear of my anxiety and Gruumm was controlled by fear of Omni! He was made to do all of that and in the beginning, it hurt him! Over time it was numbed and became almost second nature! I know what it's like to be called a Monster, I know what it's like to have everything taken away!" She ranted and was tempted to push the shard further to prove her point.
The second Cruger made his way closer to her, she pointed her shard to him and took several steps back. "Stay away from me!" No, he didn't. He kept moving and when she was about to walk backward, he pulled her into a tight hug, to which she thrashed about.
"No. You and I both know he had every chance to get away from that thing," Doggie knew better than to be hostile towards her. There was no reason to detain her since he believed she was manipulated into thinking such things and feeling that way. "He manipulated you. How can you not see that?" Feige became more furious at his words, however, her attempts to push him away made his hold tighten. "Someone-! Grab the piece of metal in her hand!" She hasn't stabbed him yet or attempted to do so and he wanted to make sure she wouldn't.
When the shard was quickly swiped from her grip by Z, who stood closer to them and ran back to the crowd, it pushed the brunette into using her power. Cruger's arms were forced to open, so when she walked back an inch or two, her dangerous eyes bore into surprised ones. "You would think that, wouldn't you?" Through gritted teeth, she spoke and released her hold on him. Right away, she flew to meet him at his eye level and placed her hands on his face.
The gasp she heard was ignored as she poured her memories and Gruumm's memories into his mind. If she couldn't explain in detail, she was going to show him the proof. From the time when she was in school, up to her supposed parents dying by her anxiety. From the alleyway where she used to live, to the beginning of her friendship with Gruumm that eventually blossomed into romance.
Everything, from day one to now, she made sure not to let an ounce of their memories out and when she let go, the look on his face was that of pure shock. "The real monster... Was Omni! Not Gruumm! Grimly... He was just being controlled by a puppeteer, tormented... Tortured. You saw it all. P- Please... Give back my Grimly," Whispers fell from her lips after her eyes lowered to the ground and stared at his large feet.
He remained speechless, quiet, at her request, and she didn't look up to notice the change in his expression. "I'm sorry... I still can't. Either way, he has to deal with the consequences. From what you showed me, you were starting to change him. There's nothing I can do about this, Feige. It would be against the rules to release a criminal, especially him," She heard it, his once harsh voice softened when he spoke and the gentle touch to her shoulder indicated he had pressed his hand on her.
However, the next words didn't come from Doggie or her, but from Isinia who walked up to his side. "Doggie. She loves him, she shared with me everything that has happened too and I can understand her to an extent. At least speak with the higher-ups about this," Her request made the brunette gasp and whip her head up to see the tanned dog staring up at the big blue one.
"Isinia- not you too," Cruger groaned and placed a hand as close to his face as he could, facepalming. "Fine- fine! As much as I hate the idea... I still think it's a horrible one! I'll talk to the higher-ups, but, Feige- you will be responsible if anything goes wrong!" When his finger pointed to her, she slapped it away and bore her eyes dangerously into his.
"No. Nothing will. You know what- Just watch me. I don't care how long it'll take... B- But I'll free him legally if that's what it'll take! I'll become a singer and use every bit of money I can to pay for the fee! All he ever wanted was to be free from Omni, from fear, from pain! And that's exactly what I'll do... Watch. Me," With that, several steps back, she looked at all of the Rangers who had sympathetic faces, and Piggy who shared the same expression as them.
Slowly into the air with a newfound determination, her gaze returned to Doggie and Isinia. "I will then," Cruger spoke. Albeit louder since she grew further away, Feige nodded to his words and looked at the tanned dog with an appreciative smile.
Seconds later, she took to the sky and broke the sound barrier. Everyone covered their ears when she did, but looked at the sunrise on the horizon and watched the woman become nothing but a spec.
~~~~
In the Command Center, Cruger was dressed in a similar outfit that Commander Birdie donned before and pondered Feige's words carefully. Growling, anger boiling under the surface, he hated how she got caught up in all of that and ended up falling in love with the cold-hearted beast. But from what she showed him, he began to feel emotionally conflicted. "I can't believe this. No one would've been able to handle her like he did. We certainly tried when he had our chance... But now, she's dead-set on freeing him by legal means," Behind his back his fists clenched and his eyes closed.
With a single hand, he pressed a button so he could command his Rangers. "Rangers! Meet me in the Command Center!" As soon as he let go of the button, minutes passed, until everyone appeared, including a female ranger in silver who stood by Omega. "I've called you together to hear this. Jack Landers has left SPD!" His announcement left everyone confused until Bridge spoke up.
"He resigned?" Blinking, worrying, he was, as he asked.
"But why? He didn't even say goodbye," Syd spoke up.
"Doesn't surprise me. Once something's over, he's gone," Z smirked and almost laughed at the news.
"Rangers. For your true courage, heroism, and valor in the face of seemingly insurmountable odds- I am elevating you to A-Squad," He announced, walked around the center, and stood before the group who shared confused glances. "Didn't you hear me? I'm promoting you to A-Squad," He hoped his words got through to them but it was Bridge this time, who answered.
"No. We heard you, sir. But, we talked it over and you know what? We are B-Squad. That's who we are, that's who we want to be," His explanation made several of his teammates smile and quietly agree with him.
"Very well. B-Squad it is. There will be no A-Squad, but there's still one problem. You have no red ranger... You have no leader," From there, he moved his head to Sky. "Sky Tate, step forward," Upon his words he watched the blue ranger do so and moved to get in front of the blonde. "If I were to appoint Syd as Red Ranger, would you follow her into battle?" His question was probably a dumb one to Sky, nonetheless, he received his answer.
"Sir. I'd follow anyone into battle, you felt worthy of wearing the color red," It pleased the Dog to hear that, thus, he nodded.
"Congratulations, Sky. You are the new Red Ranger!" From his decision, everyone clapped at the new position he put Sky in and approved. "Your father would be very proud of you," After he saw him smile and step back, a time portal appeared, and they conversed with everyone before the futuristic Rangers stepped through and said their goodbyes.
"Hey- I'm looking forward to seeing what Feige can do. She said she was going to become a singer," Syd chimed in with a smile and looked at Z.
"Same. I wonder how long it'll take," Doggie overheard the two girl's conversations and gave them both an annoyed sigh.
~~~~~
Six years later...
Grimly.~ I did it again! I reached another planet! Her excited voice filled his mind as Gruumm sat inside the containment card, hidden away along with the rest of the criminals.
Ah... That's good, Feige. Your voice is the only thing keeping me sane, these days. You've been keeping a secret from me, haven't you? I can sense it. Through his mind, he answered, albeit with suspicion, and tilted his head a little. The pure white environment around him was normal by now, but, if he wasn't able to hear her voice, he would've gone insane.
Ah- nothing! No! Not at all! Hehehehe! As much as they were before, he found her giggles cute and if he had a mouth he would smile.
You're horrible at lying. He paused for a moment and sighed. Feige. I miss you... My grudge wasn't worth losing you. He complained and sulked as regret filled his heart. How long has it been since I've been in here? I lost count... Over the time I've spent here, my anger just became pointless. I should have listened to you when you warned me about my obsession over Cruger, and how I wanted to exact my revenge. You were... Right. In the seemingly endless white void he sat in and stared at his hands, he pondered the many times she had scolded him.
Grimly. It's okay... You've been saying that for the past five years now. The entire first year you were locked up in that card, you kept stating how you were going to make Cruger pay; now look at you. And you know what? Feige's thoughts reached him when she answered and all he did was hum curiously for her to continue. Cruger gave me a call and said that you will be released soon! My method has worked! This time, his head jerked up and his words were stuck, he couldn't think straight to answer her properly.
W- What?! Finally, after a minute or two, he managed to say and stood up hastily.
Yeah! Now... Don't be stupid! Do as Commander Cruger says, follow every demand he has, and agree to whatever conditions or terms there are! Everything will be explained when you're out of the card. Stated the brunette, who spoke in a rather stern voice.
F- Feige? What are you talking about? With my kind of reputation, he wouldn't dare- Before he could continue, her words overran his thoughts.
Don't argue with me and do as you're told! I told you... That'd I'd find a way to set you free. I wanted you to be your own person again, to be free from shackles and war. If you do everything he tells you, then you'll be in for a few huge surprises! I didn't work hard for these past six years for nothing! Cheerful, and excited, she was as she playfully scolded the Emperor.
Fine. Yes! As long as I can see you again... I don't care. Again his bony head dropped and his body shook with an excitement he hadn't felt in years. Feige... You never did answer me. For the past years you've been talking to me- you never said that you loved me too. Sulking now, all went quiet, until he spoke again. Feige? Feige! Her name was repeated in his mind and gasped when a blinding light shone. Everything disappeared and the next thing he knew, he found himself inside a room with a metal table and two chairs.
There near a door stood Commander Cruger with the most disgusted scowl on his dog mouth. He watched him take some steps closer and growl, behind his back came handcuffs specially made for his level of strength. "Gruumm! As much as I hate to say this- but you're being released! Feige went to great lengths to get you out! She explained to me that you will do everything I tell you! So- I'll put these on and you best sit down!" His anger for the Emperor was evident, but it wasn't nearly as bad as it used to be.
He didn't say a word, for he did as he was told and let the dog place the cuffs on his wrists. After that, he sat down and stared at him, waiting for him to continue. "Now. You are being released, as I stated but only under certain conditions, will you be allowed to be free!" Cruger stood next to the corner of the table and placed a fist on the metal.
"What... Conditions?" Gruumm's head tilted, for once there wasn't an ounce of anger in him.
"To be watched at all times. Someone will watch your every move to make sure you won't make any poor decisions that will get you locked up again! You are no longer allowed to make any decisions by yourself. If you so much as make one more evil deed, you will be right back in that card and you will never come back out!" Through a growl, he roared out and banged a fist on the table.
He didn't say anything, all Gruumm did was nod and remain silent. "Feige let me connect to yours and her mind while you two talked a moment ago. She wanted to give me proof on top of all the money she's spent to bail you out," Again, he explained, which Grimly's head perked up at.
"Spent... Money to bail me out? How? With my kind of reputation, it would've cost a lot-" The Emperor was cut off when the dog overran him.
"She has become the best singer in the universe. Her first year was a success and she just kept climbing to the top. She put away as much money as she could and may just be one of the richest on this planet now. But if you want to see her- do as I say and you are not to speak until you meet her!" After he stated that, Gruumm's jaw hung at the news, for he couldn't bring himself to answer aside from a simple nod.
"Good. Now. Feige has prepared a surprise for you. My Rangers and I are going to escort you. I doubt you'd do anything stupid to get yourself locked up if you wanted to be with her again. It took a lot of convincing to the higher-ups and a lot of money, but she managed. She told me she would free you legally somehow and demanded that I watch... She's got some determination. Now- Rangers!" Upon his call, in came Bridge, Syd, Z, and Sky, save for Jack who wasn't the Red Ranger anymore.
They all took out their laser guns and surrounded him, nonetheless, he stood from his seat with his head down.
"Follow me," With that, the Emepror's rubies watched the big blue dog leave the interrogation room and he did as he was told.
Over and over in his head, he recalled what Feige said and clenched his fists. Feige... Feige! After these past years, I'm finally... Going to see you again. However- who is it that's going to keep me under surveillance? Who's going to be watching me? As his heavy boots trekked the halls of SPD with the Rangers around him, their lasers were aimed to shoot just in case. He did as he was told, he agreed to the terms and conditions, and now he was on his way to be with the one woman he longed for.
Down some escalators and through the double doors, time passed after he was made to sit in the backseat of a jeep. He was driven through the street, Cruger was in the driver's seat while pink and yellow kept their lasers pointed at him from either side and Bridge watched him from the rearview mirror; Sky drove his bike ahead of them.
However, after a long drive, his rubies saw a giant stage lit with lights and flaming brazers. What... Is that? Taken aback, the jeep came to a slow stop and a giant crowd cheered out. They were all in front of the stage calling out Feige's name, he was so busy gawking he hadn't noticed the door to his side open; he looked over and stepped out when he did.
"Alright- this is where we let you off. Your surveillance is Feige. She will be monitoring your every move and sending updates to me through her mind. She wanted to make this day very special," With that, Gruumm was pushed along and the crowd grew quiet as they cleared a path for him.
They all stared at him, whispering, giggling, and keeping their distance. Hesitant and slow steps forward proved how speechless he was. Up in bright lights flashed a band's name called In The Shadows, however, the moment the crowd roared to life was when they saw a woman in purple fly and land on the stage.
Everyone screamed and called out her name again. Band members in the back started to play as lights fluctuated with the rhythm.
(Play: Lolita by The Veronicas! It's her last and final song of this story she'll be singing! :D)
A fancy, black gothic umbrella with black lace hid the entirety of her upper face, as she began to strut from one end of the stage and swung her hips along the way. A dark violet Victorian dress that was open in the front, exposed her pale and sexy legs while the small end of her dress dragged across the floor.
"From the mouths of babes to the power of men, I make it all new again," Her steps would match the beat as she strutted and reached the middle of the stage. "Hold my hand, hold my hand, 'cause I can't touch the ground," Her free hand waved about, and not once did she reveal her face. Only the black lips were noticeable, Gruumm was inching closer and closer to the edge of the stage.
"The carousel goes around and 'round and 'round," The umbrella was spun in front of her until she did the same and whirled gracefully, allowing her open dress to flail its frills. "The addiction, friction, it burns you alive!" With that, the umbrella snapped shut and revealed the blindfold over her gaze. "So illegal, no evil is seen with these eyes!" Her hands yanked off the coverage and exposed her bright violets that Gruumm missed so much. The black eye shadow and eyeliner brought out a lot of her beauty.
"I won't tell if you want it, I will if you want! Nothing is sacred, don't care if it's wrong!" From her to him she pointed then moved her hand out and lifted her head to the clouds. "I'm your Lolita, La femme Nikita!" She twirled in place and snapped her umbrella back open. "When we're together, you'll love me forever!" To her heart, her hand pressed and closed her umbrella when she pointed it at him. "You're my possession, I'm your obsession! Don't tell me never, you'll love me forever!" With that, she began to dance.
The closed umbrella was tossed up like a baton, she spun in place and caught it, then hopped on foot backward with the beat. "Ah- Ah- Ah- Ah!" Again she spun gracefully and repeated the same footwork in the other direction. "Ah- ah- ah-" The Umbrella snapped open when she did this. "Ah- ah- ah-" This time she pushed out her hips, seductively, and swayed with the beat. "Ah- ah- ah-" Up in the air, a temporary flight made everyone gasp before she landed skillfully on her heels.
"Doomed from the start, we can't stay apart," Strutting towards Gruumm with one hand on her hip and the umbrella casting shadow so her eyes could glint through, she continued. "Everywhere I turn I'm trapped in your heart," The Umbrella was moved in front of her and closed. "There's no escape, secrets keep you awake. No running away, no saving the day," She smiled and tossed her umbrella again, catching it like a baton effortlessly.
Suddenly, from the Brazers, the fire was moved to circle her when she danced and flailed her dress. "Wild and exciting, I'm breaking you down! You're making a comeback, I'm taking your crown!" Feige continued, lifted glass shards that she formed into a momentary crown shape, above her head, and flung it aside to shatter. "Nursery rhymes, I'm singing my dreams! I'm lost in the woods and you're baring your teeth!" The fire faded into the air when she clawed at her black lips to reveal her blunt whites to the Emperor.
"I'm your Lolita, La femme Nikita!" To the sky, she flew and spun around with her expanded umbrella. "When we're together, you'll love me forever!" She pretended to faint when her hand pressed where her heart was. "You're my possession-" Her hand reached out, eagerly. "I'm your obsession!" Back to her chest, her hand was placed. "Don't tell me never-" Feige wiggled her finger as if to scold Gruumm, who continued to gawk in awe. "You'll love me forever!" As soon she flew back down, flames lifted above the stage and shaped out a fiery heart, the crowd went wild at the display.
Again she started to dance, swinging her hips and making seductive moves along with the beat. Flicking out her dress, kicking her legs out, and swirling around with her umbrella, she repeated the method until the more intense instrumental piece came where the reverberating sounds filled the stage.
The end of her closed umbrella pressed against the surface, as her fingers sexily touched her black lips and bore her violets into his rubies. Behind her, two screens zoomed in onto her face to show a side of her he's never seen. Seductive, the look in her eyes was that of want and need mixed with an obsession he couldn't place.
"Always stay close to me..." Her voice was a bit more gravelly when her head tilted slightly. Gruumm noticed the two cute horns on top of her head and realized they were similar to Troobian horns; made of black lace and wire. "Don't think of leaving," Her finger wiggled and her stare became more dangerous before the umbrella lifted to provide her face some shade. "And don't promise, I will keep..." She slowly inched her way toward him, until the umbrella covered her face. "Our Secret.~" The last word repeated for a second before the song continued.
"I'm your lolita! La femme Nikita!" The umbrella snapped shut when her free hand raised to the sky. "When we're together, you'll love me forever!" To her heart, she touched. "You're my possession, I'm your obsession! Don't tell me never, you'll love me forever!" Once again, she danced, but this time fire swirled around her and made the crowd go wild once more.
The Emperor couldn't stop staring. If he thought she was beautiful and enchanting before, he didn't know how to describe her now. He was too stumped watching her dance around with so much vigor, show off her eyes where she used to be too shy to, and act sexily during her footwork to tease him.
There it was, again, the drop in the beat. The reverberation made him feel a sense of thrilling danger. He watched her drop the umbrella with a noticeable clack and saw her crawl toward him on her knees. The look in her eyes was focused, dangerous, full of want and longing as she slowly made her way toward the edge of the stage. "Always stay close to me..." Her hand reached out and touched his face and when she did, he felt himself being lifted to her height.
"Don't think of leaving," Gradually toward his mouth she bore her violets into his and parted her lips, he knew she was messing with him. "And don't promise, I will keep..." He felt her finger trace his jawline to his chin and watched her lips inch closer to his cheek. "Our secret.~" The last word repeated as if it were in a cave, for it echoed when she kissed his cheekbone.
Once the song was over, everyone screamed and cried out Feige's name. However, Gruumm didn't stir, save for the excited pulses in his red rubies and the shakes his body expressed. "F- F- Feeeeige," There was almost a growl in his voice when he tried to get her attention. The display, how sexy she moved, how seductive she acted, and the song and its lyrics, were self-explanatory.
"Yes?~" Her face returned directly to his and she was dangerously close to his mouth. He knew she could tell how much he wanted to grab her and run off, his shaky limbs and trembles in his otherwise gravelly voice were proof.
"Take these cuffs off me, now!" Furiously, he roared and saw her sweet smile that he missed so much.
The swipe of her finger made the metal of his cuffs snap apart, so when they clunked onto the ground, he wasted no time and grabbed her. "Eee! Hahahaha!" It was like music to his ears, much like the song she sang, when she giggled. He spun her around and landed on his feet, soon propping her legs up on either side of his hips so he could look at her more. "I love y- you... I wanted to make this special. The reason why I didn't say this through telepathy, was because I wanted my confession to take your breath away.~" From a soft peck of her lips to his mouth, he growled dangerously.
"It certainly worked... Now- give me a real one!" There was no hesitation when he yanked her head down and locked his mouth with hers. Feeling her arms around his neck sent nice chills, her touch, was something he missed the most and he'd savor every bit of it.
The entire crowd cooed at their love, no one noticed the Rangers and Cruger's mouths agape nor the comments they made regarding their behavior.
After a while, he finally released her and sat her down. "Feige," He began and placed both hands on her shoulders. The adorable little bounce of her fake horns almost made him want to pick her up and run away with her, but he remained firm. "I have waited a long time... For this," His rubies examined every square inch of her form and took notice of the promise ring she still had on her finger. Nodding to himself, humming with delight, behind him he took out something else completely different. "I am happy that I thought ahead.~ Before the day I gave you that promise ring, I prepared something else..." He trailed off and lifted a brace made of bone. Gently around her neck, a Troobian insignia donned the center of it and tiny violets and rubies glistened under the sun. "Do not tell me no... You will, be my Emp-" He couldn't say much else, for she overran him with a squeal.
"YES!" As fast as her power could, she tackled him across the large opening in the crowd, tumbled, and rolled to a slow stop. She had kissed him with so much passion that he thought he was going to drown for a second. When she parted, he stared at her ecstatic expression. It was beautiful, so full of life and love in her eyes, he never thought he'd ever find someone in his dark life. "You didn't even need to demand it! Grimly, I friggin' love you!" Her words left him gasping, especially when she nuzzled her face into the crook of his neck. "Do you want to go see your next surprise?~" When she asked him that, he could barely get a word out, for he was too flabbergasted to open his mouth and answer.
The crunch of tiny pebbles on the pavement caught his attention and when he looked up at Feige, he saw her remove the mic that sat on her ear. "Cruger! C- Can you do me a favor and give this to my band? Today was the last day I'd sing. After working my rear off for the past six years, I finally got what I wanted.~" Her adorable giggles and red face were too mesmerizing for Gruumm to pay attention to anything else.
"Yes. Your show was... Entertaining, to say the least. Isinia and Syd wouldn't stop gushing over how cute you looked," Gruumm's head tilted up to see the dog answer her and take the earpiece she gave him.
Yes, Feige was still on top of him, he didn't care, he only cared to have her in his arms and around him right now. "Thanks! I'm going to take Grimly now! I wonder how he'll react to my big present.~" Pure excitement glistened in her violets when he looked back at her face. He watched her lean to him and not too long afterward they began to float. "Wanna see?" Her question made him give her a silent nod and with that, she took off at a blinding speed.
Sighing, Cruger slowly made his way back to Isinia and the group, who strangely was gushing over the two; save for Sky who only sneered in disgust.
"Look! Remember the house you made for me?" Her flight came to a slow stop so he could crane his neck around to see and she heard him gasp at the sight. The small island had a giant landing zone off to the side, attached to a long bridge and a giant ship that sat there.
"F- Feige! What did you do?! How did you manage this?! Where did you get the money to do this?!" Gruumm's response reminded her of a child who got what they wanted for Christmas and it made her giggle.
"Being known across the galaxy pays well.~ I made sure to have it designed similar to your ship's exterior- Troobian style!" When she lifted her hands in the air and laughed, he floated for a moment so she turned him around to see the large ship better.
"T- Troobian... I am the last Troobian, that's impossible! No one else knows of the Troobian architecture except me!" She saw it, he shook with excitement and disbelief, and all she did was grin at him.
"Grimly, Grimly, Grimly... A lot can happen within six years. I spent a lot of time reaching out across planets to get noticed and earn more money that way. I trained really hard to master my power, and I just so happened to run into a Troobian citizen who was on Earth. He lived on Earth a long time, before your planet was destroyed. He was hidden away and worked as a home designer and technician. So, I asked for his help designing the ship's exterior and I paid him! Wanna take a look inside our ship? It's not as gloomy and dark as your last one," Giggling more, she watched his head slowly turn to her and nod.
"Yes," Straight and simple, with a determination in his voice, his answer made her fly.
Quickly across the water and past her house, they landed on the landing zone and put him down. Next, she stood to his side and had him go underneath it. He was so busy looking at the beautiful Troobian architecture that he hadn't seen in so long and noticed the teleporter that was similar to his old one. Upon a beam of soft white light that came down, they disappeared and they went inside.
The interior was different. The lights on the inside were soft and warm colored, the walls were aligned with a glossy white while thick bones parted them. Some pieces of furniture here and there, along with a lengthy rug that stretched across the otherwise shiny black floor. Feige wasted no time and ran ahead, past long windows that showed the outside world.
As time passed, each area of the ship was explored. The bathroom, the kitchen area, their bedroom, the Bridge of the ship that donned a giant window, and the barracks that she planned to fill. They stood in the Bridge part, where consoles sat and Troobian seats were placed about. "Come on! Sit! I have one more present to give you!" Purely excited, Feige didn't wait for him to respond when she ran out of the room.
When she came back, albeit sprinting, her heart rammed against her ribs and a hand lifted a piece of his horn. "Remember when I said I trained more to master my power?" Eager, she was, when she waved his horn from side to side and giggled.
"Yes," Gruumm couldn't so much as speak, everything that she had done thus far left him more speechless than he was before.
"Well, I tried it on myself and it worked. I was able to force my body to heal my scar and now it's gone! S- So... G- Grimly," Frowning, furrowing her brows, her finger pointed to a skeletal chair that was a replica of the one on his last ship. "Sit, please. This is the biggest present I wanted to give you. It'll hurt... A lot. Doing this will leave you completely drained, because when I force this... You'll probably have very little stamina left and you'll have to rest. Please?" For the longest time, she watched him stare at her, most likely to ponder her words carefully.
"Do it," Quietly, he nodded to her and sat down. He kept his head leaning toward her but made sure to keep his hands on the arms of the seat. If it was going to hurt about as bad as she claimed, he was going to need to grip onto something sturdy.
"B- Be strong," Feige muttered and pressed the horn he lost onto the base where it was cut and her body began to darken. It didn't hurt anymore because, after training over and over, it hurt less and less to go into her form. Her bones began to glow and the moment her power was used, a piercing scream bellowed from the bony beast.
She kept her focus sharp and watched the horn fuse back to its base, while she touched his other horn. Now that they were both regrowing and healing, a more pained cry left Gruumm's mouth. "Hang in there, it's almost over!" Feige wanted to tear up, hurting him was the last thing she wanted to do but she knew he'd be grateful once it was all over.
Finally, it took longer for his other horn since she didn't have the other lopped-off piece, so when she let go and looked at her work she grinned; her body was much quicker to return to normal. "All done! Your horns are back!" Clapping happily, the astonished look on his otherwise skeletal face as he started to touch his horns, made her giggle and lean closer. "Well?! I was able to force your mind into sending messages to make your body rebuild and fix the scars on your horns. You'll probably be more exhausted now than-" Before she could continue, Gruumm, albeit with shaky limbs, stood up and yanked her into his arms.
"My horns! My horns, you managed to bring my horns back!" In circles, he spun her around, to which she laughed, and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Feige... My future Empress," He started. The brunette blinked and looked into his rubies with as much love as she could show. "You... Are remarkable," Using her power, her eyes glinted brighter and examined his emotions. What she found was something that made her face completely red, for she frowned and gulped at the thoughts that ran through his head. "Yes. Very remarkable," There was a growl in his voice when he said that and she felt his fingers caress her cheek, as it traveled down her neck and to her accessory.
"N- No! Y- You are! B- But since I'm here- you do know, I- I'm going to make sure... You're not going to be evil anymore, right? No more bad stuff! If you do any more evil stuff then I won't make you any brownies or cookies!" This time she puffed her cheeks out and fumed, hoping to make herself look silly. However, when he poked her cheek with his finger, she made a fart sound with her lips and laughed.
"Hahahaha! I missed you," Luckily he still had some strength in him, he was able to hold her with one arm since her legs were around his waist.
"I missed you too, Grimly.~ And you know what?" With a tilt of her head and the cute bounce of her fake Troobian, lacy horns, she grinned.
"What?" His question made her giggle some more.
She used her power to lift a piece of paper off of a table that sat against a wall nearby. In front of his face she showed it to him and what he saw was Troobian handwriting. "To make things a little easier... I asked that Troobian citizen if he'd be willing to serve you. Not much of a servant but more of... A Steward, to help you organize your Empire better. I've saved a lot of documents and applications from various others who are interested in rebuilding your Empire from scratch. I told Cruger to spread the word, that Emperor Gruumm will no longer be evil and his Empire will remain! So, you will have to talk to your new Steward to stock up on your new Arsenal and armory. Also..." Grinning from cheek to cheek, her power was used again and from behind the consoles, his old ax staff was lifted. "Your Steward repaired your staff.~" She squeaked when she was adjusted more into his arms and was hauled down a hallway. "W- Where are we going?!" Surprised, for dear life she held onto him and heard the distant clunk from his staff echo.
"I've waited a long time for this! You're not getting out of it! You're mine!" Straight into their bedroom, the metallic doors hissed shut, and adorable squeals reached the nicely furnished halls.
~~~~
Some years later...
Out in space, the brilliant ship reflected the stars around them, and the faint shimmers from distant galaxies. Inside, a scream echoed through the white halls as tiny, cute feet, sprinted across the shiny black floor.
"AAAAH!" Little taps from their feet resonated. "Daddy!" Crying, tears hit the floor, only to be smeared when a larger foot ran through it and a hand tried to grab the child. "Daddy! Daddy! Da Da!" Crying profusely, soft, curly, brown hair bounced from their speed as their reflection in a nearby mirror above a tiny table, showed two tiny horns.
An adorable stuffed bear in a pair of small arms was held tightly to their chest. It was a little girl, clad in a Troobian dress donned with frilly lace and fluff. "Get back here you little brat!" An unfamiliar roar from a male warrior, who had sneaked onto the ship, almost grabbed the girl's tiny horns when he stopped and froze.
A pair of red human eyes glowed from the child when she snuggled against Gruumm's armored legs. To which the Emperor growled and tightened his grip on the pole of his staff. "Who are you and what are you doing to her?!" Threat laced his words after he lowered his staff and charged his orb. Not only did crimson glow from the orb but it did from his rubies as well, indicating his wrath.
"Ah!" The warrior didn't bother to explain himself and ran in the other direction, only to be pinned to a wall by an unseen force. He thrashed and kicked, however, when he saw Feige approach around the corner with her finger up, chills went down his spine.
"Zelka! Go with Daddy, please. I'll take care of this," She had appeared around the same time Gruumm did and sent the male glares that could kill if it were possible.
"Come, Zelka," With surprising gentleness, Feige didn't have to look to see their daughter get picked up, for he walked away and gave her a nod.
"Now- Do you want to tell me... What you were planning to do... With my baby girl?" This time her eyes glinted brighter and her skin darkened. This made the male scream in terror at the sight, for her glowing bones looked like a nightmare.
In the end, everything turned out fine. Their lives unfolded and Gruumm's reputation slowly began to change, thanks to Feige's help and his Steward. No more pain, no more evil, no more lives taken from either of the two, and now they thrive. With a new reason for their Empire to remain and a child, they felt they were ready for.
No more will they live... In The Shadows.
(Play: E.T by Katy Parry! It's their ending theme! :D)
(Second ending theme: You're Mine by Disturbed! :D)