The following Characters are owned by Ken Penders(King Gong, Dark Legion, and Lien-Da(referenced)), Ian Flynn(Shinobi Clan), Michael Gallagher(Barby Koala), Karl Bollers(Jack Rabbit(mentioned only)) and Frank Storm(Monkey Khan, Lau Khan, Li Yuen). Also I think the four clans are owned by all of these people one way or another. If I'm wrong on any of them, please correct me.
Chapter 8: Woods of the Gossamer
It had been about five in the morning when Ken had been woken up(by an overly ecstatic Relic), to begin their journey to the caverns of the Gossamer, a clan of many ninja spiders with the ability to see into the future and a map to a relic that would allow him to control the weather, if he understood everything correctly. While Ken was grateful for the accelerated healing factor from his experiments, the young monkey still couldn't help dreading explaining this entire endeavor to his parents upon returning home. If he even did make it back home. Though Relic and the others had encouraged him to stay positive, Ken genuinely didn't know if it would be worse to potentially die at the hands of spiders, or face his parents impending wrath.
The potential need to take possession of a throne to a nation far bigger than Mobotropolis was bad enough in its own right though. Even after the fifty or more lectures from his tiny blue friend, Ken still felt he didn't know half of what he needed to in order to properly rule the place. Far as he knew, the morals of the people and their culture could have been backwards from his own. The fact that they persecuted Christians back when overlanders were running the planet wasn't exactly new to him. Ken doubted the Dragon Kingdom continued the practice. His "uncle" didn't exactly seem like the type to care about religious practices. It was all the more reason for him to wonder if they would accept him as king knowing he was a believer. Even if that wasn't the issue, what else could be required of him? What trials and pressures awaited if he won? Would he be ready?
The calm voice of the elderly lion would be what broke Ken from his train of thought: "Is something on your mind, Prince Khan?"
Ken would feel himself blush upon hearing that. 'So much for Barby telling me not to feel pressured earlier.' Ken thought. He hadn't even won the throne back yet, and already he was being addressed as if he were royalty. Ken scratched the back of his head and smiled nervously up at the lion. "You don't really need to call me that. Ken is fine."
Li Yuen would smile kindly and nod respectfully before gazing back ahead. A moment later, he would address the monkey again: "Do you not take comfort in your role as heir?"
Ken smiled sheepishly. "Bit of an understatement, actually."
"Oh?" The elderly lion tilted his head curiously at Ken.
"Yeah. I grew up... well, not here my entire life. between you and me, I think I'm more accustomed to the quiet life."
The lion would chuckle. "I understand, young cub."
Ken would gaze back up at the lion, somewhat surprised. "You do?"
"But of course." The Lion kept his kind and patient smile. "I for one never saw myself partaking in a rebellion long after the defeat of Jullian Robotnik. Why, before this I had taken to gardening, and caring for my goddaughter sometime after."
Ken would smile a little. "That actually sounds nice." Ken would then blink in surprise once that statement processed itself in his mind. Looking back up at the elderly lion, he would ask: "Wait, your goddaughter? You didn't adopt her outright?"
Li Yuen shook his head. "Li Moon was the daughter to a good friend of mine who visited my gardens often before Gong took the throne. She was originally from the Baronies, but she needed to relocate after needing an mechanical augmentation. Of course, against my better judgement, she left back for the Baronies shortly after having the girl. Her and her husband only wished to help ensure her home would be a safer place for her to live and there was a resistance gearing up to knock Jack off his blocker. Unfortunately, she and the others were overrun and well..."
Ken would frown in sympathy and hold up a hand to the lion. "It's okay. You don't have to say anymore."
Jack's twisted sense of justice regarding robians and cyborgs wasn't something lost on the boy. Ken had actually heard stories on the matter from his mother who had once resided in the area. Stories still from his Uncle Beauregard who he and his parents had visited once in Echidnopolis. These people's only crimes were being injured or victims to war, yet the rabbit treated them like war criminals. Sure, his uncle technically was a war criminal, but he didn't really have many other options based on what he had heard. All no thanks to Jack. And now to hear about it from this lion who had to care for a little girl who probably didn't even know what happened to her parents. For Jack's own sake, Ken sincerely hoped the two would never cross paths.
Ken's frown would turn quickly to an expression of caution once he looked ahead, spotting none of the friends in front of them who were there before. The monkey would pull the bo staff from the strap on his back quickly, startling the old lion.
"Whatever is the matter, lad?"
"I think the Gossamer know we're here." Ken informed him. "And I don't think they're happy about it if our missing friends are any indication." Ken would feel his stomach sink as a moment of silence passed. "Li Yuen?"
Ken would call one more time before looking to his side and finding his suspicions confirmed. Li Yuen was indeed gone and without a trace. These Gossamer certainly didn't waste their time getting down to business. Ken simply had to hope he would be fast enough to act first. Following his parents advice from their sparring matches and training sessions, Ken would close his eyes and take a deep breath, simply listening and taking in all the sounds of his environment. Just a couple seconds later, Ken would hear the faint sound of crunching leaves just next to him and swing his bo staff instinctively. His staff would meat a pair of katana's wielded by a robed and masked spider with six arms. The fifth arm would extend itself for a palm strike, Ken barely ducking away. Ken would spin himself quickly to swing his staff at the gossamer's other side. The Gossamer would clash her first katana with his staff and swing the other towards his chest.
Ken would duck back just enough for the blade to graze him. Seeing the risk this Gossamer posed, he spun his bo staff in front of her to block katana swings and palm strikes. Meanwhile, Ken would back away and try to put some distance between himself and the spider, hoping to get more room for reaction time. Before Ken could make any work of this plan, however, the Gossamer would extend a third katana forward, Ken ducking back quickly to his right. With enough room to do so now, the Gossamer would use her three katana's, planting two onto the end on her side and the outstretched third on the other. Before Ken had much time to react, the spider would yank the bo staff from his grasp and send it flying behind herself, reliving him of his weapon.
The Gossamer would attempt a dual decapitation with a pair of sword, swinging from both directions. The monkey would react fast, rolling between her legs and jumping high behind her to deliver a swift kick to her head as she had began to face him. While she was disoriented, Ken would deliver a series of punches to her body and wrists, disarming her and stunning her. The spider attempted more punches towards the monkey, but Ken kept moving, doing his best to avoid any fatal blows. Without his weapon, Ken knew he was at a slight disadvantage. From here, he would rely on his adrenaline and determination to stay alive.
Ken would catch one of her forearms, still wielding a katana before elbowing her harshly in the face, then flipping her roughly to the ground while now holding her blade. The Gossamer would roll quickly to her feet, still wielding two katanas. The two would charge and dash towards one another, blades clashing against each other in rapid succession. The spider yelped in surprise as Ken slashed her twice, once across the arm and once more across the mask. Ken took advantage of her then exclamation in pain before delivering a focused punch to her forehead, knocking her unconscious.
Despite the spider now being unconscious, Ken figured it would be best to keep his hands on the weapon he currently held, but not sacrifice the one he was familiar with for a less favored one. Ken kept his ears attentive to his surroundings as he turned his back to the limp warrior and gazed carefully at the grass, searching for his bo staff. It wouldn't take too long. With the staff being made of polished wood, all it took was a reflection of sunlight to properly locate it. Ken rushed over and slid his foot beneath it in the center before kicking it up into his hand and grabbing it perfectly on time. A feat he mastered thanks to years of practice with his parents.
As the monkey would begin to rush forward on the path of dirt before himself, his friends were still missing after all, a frown would form on his face as that word repeated itself in his mind. Parents. Ken was certain by now that they were worried half to death regarding his whereabouts. In a couple hours, it would be three days since they last saw him and he would already have much to tell them when he got back. If he told them. While he had no doubt that either parent could handle themselves, they had done the song and dance of war already. Quite literally in a sense as he had remembered them informing him that they had actually gotten married during it in Castle Acorn shortly before an attack. Regardless, their lives were much less complicated now. And better for it. Would it stress them knowing the their first, while adopted, son was a prince to the biggest nation on the planet? What if other people with power and resources like Robotnik came after him? What if they were forced to fight yet again as they had years ago? Was them knowing really worth all of that?
Ken would hear yet another cracked branch next to himself as he ran, stopping to a halt and raising both weapons at the ready to fight if needed. Much to his dislike, what would be waiting instead was a larger gathering of gossamer warriors, all in several different places surrounding him. Ken would keep himself ready to fight, keeping a close eye on the gossamer for any signs of movement. He, again, went as far as to rely on his other senses should anyone be coming from any other directions. In any case, he had a family to get back to, and a group of freedom fighters to rescue. He definitely wasn't about to come along quietly.
unfortunately, the monkey would eventually come to realize that he had no choice. Not due to any resistance from the spiders or second thoughts. Rather, Ken's doubts would emerge upon turning towards the sound of a muffled shout. To his horror, Ken would find all of his missing friends to be on their knees before another set of gossamer, each holding a weapon of variety to their necks.
It didn't take long for Ken to realize his current predicament, and it took a much shorter time for him to drop his weapons and fall to his knees with his hands raised.
Shortly after Ken's surrender, he and his comrades were led into another path of the forest, dozens of gossamer now surrounding the group as they neared the entrance to a massive cavern. As far as Ken knew, and this was just going off of what he knew about unevolved spiders, to suck their blood. Regardless, there wasn't exactly much that anyone here could do at the moment with their restraints. Ken could likely break free of his cuffs without difficulty, but at the cost of the others. Keeping this in mind, Ken remained cautious and waited for an opening. Which only became more difficult as Relic would make the occasionally excited squeak.
"Relic, can you be quiet?" Ken finally asked. "I'm trying to find a way to get us all out of here."
"Can you blame me?!" Relic whispered excitedly. "No one else has been here for centuries! The gossamer clan is typically closed off from the public due to their need to protect the web of fate! We're getting the chance of a lifetime here!"
Ken frowned. "We might die."
"I know!" Relic nearly shouted, surprising Ken with her lack of change in perspective after the admittance of that fact. "And I wouldn't have my death be any other way!"
"You mean in a cave where no one will hear us calling for help?" Ken raised an eyebrow.
"In an ancient cave where no one will hear us call for help!"
Ken was silent for a moment. "Glad to see you have your priorities straight."
Ken ignored as Relic stuck a tongue out at him and returned his attention to his surrounding. Despite being on edge, he would catch Barby and Espio being more calm and collected. Li Yuen too, but he'd be lying if he said that surprised Him. The lion was basically zen in a bottle based on the short time he knew him. Espio? He wasn't sure. The guy was mostly quiet so he assumed he was a ready for anything kind of guy, much farther ahead in his own training than Ken was, and therefore more confident in his abilities. But Barby appeared almost calm. Not necessarily as if she knew what would happen, but more so that she was completely keeping in composure. Considering everything she had seen and how desperate she was to find the dragons, she probably was, seeing any fate the Gossamer Bride would inflict as a better punishment than continuing to allow Gong's tyranny. It kind of was to be fair, but still.
for what felt like several minutes, the group would be escorted by the crowd of spiders into the cavern, now revealed to be much bigger on the inside despite the already massive size of the entrance. Webs of variety would cover several walls, some of which housed sleeping spiders, if not families of them. Ken immediately felt relieved that these spiders lacked the cannibalistic traits of their smaller ancestors. Billions of children feasting from their parents wouldnt exactly have been a pleasant sight considering their situation. Meanwhile, on several portions of the ground, Ken would see multiple spiders being trained by a single master in their ways of martial arts. Something Ken would be lying if he said he didn't find fascinating at a first glance. Meanwhile, a set of five gossamer would be seated cross legged on a high podium-like column of rock, each appearing to be meditating.
Relic, of course, would be fascinated by the sights and attempt to talk to some of the warriors in Chinese. Not very many responded, but whenever one had, she would then proceed to quietly geek out for a moment before trying to get someone else's attention. Ken continued to find her optimistic curiosity odd, but as he gazed over at the other spiders escorting them, most of them seemed humored. Maybe even flattered at her curiosity. This would make Ken think twice about correcting her behavior. If the rest of them were to be slaughtered, maybe they would remember her kindness enough to spare her. Again, to Ken's surprise, the spiders would chuckle after their departure of this large area led to a groan from Relic, as well as a plea to go back. 'Yeah, definitely don't keep her from asking questions.' Ken thought.
their escorts would lead them first down a narrow path in the caverns, the other end opening into a large space. Admittedly not as large as the area they had just entered, but still massive in its own right. Up ahead would sit a large web covering an opening that led to a ledge, this web much larger than the ones they had seen and also appearing to be much older.
Relic would gasp a moment in excitement. "Never mind, I wanna stay here."
Ken tilted his head to the pika. "Is this supposed to be the anus-?" Ken immediately remembered the dozens of gossamer surrounding him and ahemed before correcting himself. "Is this the web of fate?"
Relic nodded excitedly. "It is! I can't believe we're here!"
"Just don't make any sudden moves." Barby warned, gazing back at the others as the group came to a stop. "They're very protective over this web and may mistaken a wrong motion as an attack towards the relic."
Ken nodded. "Noted."
A couple seconds later, the gossamer would all bow to a knee, followed by everyone save for Ken who was still very much confused. That was until he noticed a figure descending from a web latched to the ceiling of the cavern. This spider wasn't bigger than the others as the monkey had expected, but she clearly commanded much respect from the others. It eventually clicked a bit too late that this was the Bride of Endless Reach. Despite the poor timing, Ken bowed quickly to a knee and kept his eyes to the ground. Ken also managed to catch a dirty look from Relic and a couple of the other spiders on the way down, his cheeks flushing from the sheer embarrassment as he briefly gazed back at them with silent apology.
About a minute passed before the Bride would land softly on her feet, releasing the web she had descended on before approaching the group at a normal and undeterred pace. Ken felt genuinely intimidated in that moment. He had no clear discerntion of the Brides currently intent of action, but he already knew better not to mess with her. A brief glance to her eyes told him she was able to read every figure in a shorter amount of time than it would have taken him to make any sort of move. Not that he could at the moment, being surrounded, but still. Even Relic seemed intimidated.
"State your business." An elderly but commanding female voice requested.
Barby would be the one to answer: "Bride of Gossamer, we mean not to intrude. We only come seeking answers and we heard rumors we would find you here. Please forgive our transgression and hear us out."
"Though I am pleased to know you wish us no harm, I was not addressing you."
Ken felt a shiver run down his metallic spine as he felt her eyes linger in his direction. Ken would gaze up only a moment, his gaze returning to the ground upon meeting her eyes.
"Young man." The Bride spoke once more. "Stand and face me. I will not bite provided I am not given reason."
Ken gazed at his friend a moment, only for the Pika to motion him to stand with a sense of urgency.
With some hesitation, the monkey would rise to his feet and do his best to look the Bride in the eyes. To his surprise, a single pair of eyes.
"With all due respect, your majesty-Bride, sorry!" Ken apologized quickly before continuing. "Wouldn't it be better to hear Barby's explanation?"
"I am well aware of the war in the Dragon Kingdom." The Bride of Endless Reach informed him. "I know what she stands to lose if it continues. I sense you do not share this motivation. I wish to know what does motivate you after fourteen years absence."
Ken gulped quietly, already fearing this Bride didn't have the best opinion of him. "I never knew of my heritage. Not until a couple days ago thanks to the Pika. She noticed the birthmark and we were both curious."
"Only a couple days ago?" The Bride raised an eyebrow.
Ken nodded shakily. "Similarly, I had no idea there was a war, and I didn't come here looking to fight my uncle. He tried to have me killed back in Mobotropolis and I was hoping we could negotiate-."
He was interrupted by the chuckles of many of the spiders around him, something the Bride allowed only for a moment before raising a hand to silence them. "Gong is hardly one to negotiate, child."
Ken smiled nervously. "Yeah I got that impression a little while back".
"And now you involve yourself with a group long dedicated to dethroning your uncle since the moment of your birth?" The spider questioned. "Again I ask: why?"
Ken would remain quiet for a moment, this time requiring visual confirmation from the Koala who simply nodded.
"I'm here to protect people I love." Ken answered finally. "I'll admit the idea of engaging a battle of this scale isn't what I had in mind for myself or my future. I only wanted to make sure my parents and younger siblings never needed to fight it. They fought Robotnik, and won. I think that's war enough for them. Maybe with the aid of the dragons, they won't have to fight again. I'm hoping once this war is over, they can keep the peace they fought for." Ken gave a bit of a nervous smile. "That is, if you know where they are."
The Bride of Endless Reach gazed the monkey over a moment, appearing to study him. Ken didn't feel much at ease with the reaction, but he also refrained from moving. After all the spider said she wouldn't bite without reason. Ken definitely wasn't in the market to give her one.
After the moment had passed, the Bride turned her back to the group and began to approach the aforementioned web of fate. Ken raised an eyebrow at this, leaning down to where he hoped Barby and Relic would hear him. "What is she doing?" He whispered.
To his surprise, Li Yuen would be the one to answer: "She is about to read from the web. It reads into the future and reveals outcomes to certain paths. In theory, it means she will give us the information we seek if the discovered future is desirable."
Ken's expression became worried when he noticed the Bride run her hands gently along the streams of web, her own expression unreadable in the eyes of the monkey. Except for maybe that of observation. 'Is she actually seeing the future?' He wondered. 'Like a movie flashing before her eyes?'
"What happens if she doesn't?" Ken asked, the worry revealed in his voice.
"Then we might not make it out of here alive." Espio answered calmly.
"Espio!" Barby reprimanded quietly.
Espio turned his head slightly to her. "If she find that we can't be trusted with the location of the dragons, it stands to reason that we might not be trustworthy to the Gossamer location either."
"Sh!" Relic would whisper, her eyes mesmerized as she gazed at the Bride reading carefully from the strands of web. "I'm trying to watch!"
Ken's expression went flat. "Again, glad to know you have your priorities straight."
After a long moment, the Bride of Endless Reach would finally speak: "I sense much calamity from this information you seek."
'Great.' Ken thought, already not liking their odds here.
"Many lives will be lost in a resulting battle that will change the course of history for both this nation, as well as the rest of the world." The Bride turned finally to face the monkey again. "Furthermore, you will face an inner turmoil. One of which, no one will be able to pull you free, and your placement on the throne, a certainty."
Ken felt himself go tense. Again, he wasn't liking their odds on the basis of this description. Inner turmoil that no one could pull him from? That didn't exactly sound like a pleasant outcome. Furthermore, a throne and a life as royalty was the last thing he wanted. He came here to preserve a normal life, not be forced into this role.
To his(somewhat) relief, the Brides expression would soften as she replied: "But the outcomes are far worse should I keep this knowledge a secret. In the alternative future, I see the entire world under Gongs rule, and an era of constant conflict and violence of which it does not survive."
Ken definitely felt a sense of relief upon hearing this, glad that he wouldn't have to fight more of these spiders to get out alive. He would be lying if he said he was entirely relieved, however. Based on the Bride's descriptions, his choices were to either suffer, or leave the rest of the world for dead. Not exactly a hard choice, but far from an easy one.
Much to his surprise, the Bride would approach the monkey, walking past the others and placing a hand on his shoulder with an expression of sympathy. "Take heart, child. Though I imagine this story isn't the one you've long desired for yourself, you will in time come to accept and grow into your new role. Simply never forget what lies beneath your cybernetic structure, and you will find the rest."
With Bunnies brutal, though effective, method of tactic, she had managed to find the information she needed. She now had a glimmer of hope that her boy was alive, and for that she couldn't be more grateful. The rest of the information, however, had been a bit of a tough pill to swallow for her and her husband, as well as Sally herself. Their son was a prince. Of a nation of much influence on the wrong day no less. Ever since Lau Khan had gone radio silent, Sally had always expressed worry that something had gone wrong. But for him to be murdered at the hands of a brother? And for that dead king's descendant to have been living in their house, in their nation for all of this time without having gone noticed?
Furthermore, thanks to a little recon from Nicole, intel told the three that the boy was now in China. A strange fact to each of them. They knew he hadn't been abducted. Ken's training under both parents had clearly paid off in that time of duress. So why run then? What logic or sense did Bunnie and Antoine's boy find in traveling all the way to the nation governed by the very person trying to kill him?
regardless of the reason, Antoine and Bunnie had been quick to report their findings to the Princess. Even quicker after the information discovered by Nicole to volunteer to go into the nation after him. Currently, the two would be discussing this option at Sally's shared residence with her husband, Sonic. Said blue blur was currently occupied with Sally's twins upstairs, doing his best to keep them settled down and out of the way of Sally's business downstairs. Something that both Bunnie and Antoine couldn't be more grateful for at the moment. Much as they loved their niece and nephew, they couldn't waste any time in their efforts to get their son back home.
the pair would be seated on a loveseat of brown leather in a massive living room with a circular red rug on the floor at the center of a surrounding couch, recliner chair, and a trampoline. Likely for Sonic if he couldn't keep himself seated still. The walls would be covered royal blue with a golden trim between the walls and white separators. No doubt a compromise in style between the two.
Sally would return quickly to the pair with a circular tray of white marble, three coffee mugs on the tray with everyone's desired choices: strong and black for Bunnie, and lots of creamer for Sally and Antoine, though the latter also requested chocolate drizzle.
Sally would take a seat quickly, but steadily as she remained mindful of the coffee in her hand before speaking: "Believe me when I say no one cares more for Ken, save for you two, more than myself."
Antoine chuckled. "He certainly had an admiration of you in younger years."
despite the situation, Bunnie snickered a little. "I still remember that little crush he used to harbor! He was so cute and oblivious!"
Sally chuckled herself a moment before resuming her serious demeanor and topic: "Bear also in mind, that I sent a request to Maximillian immediately after learning of his location."
Bunnie released a sigh. "He said no, didn't he?"
"He said you were all needed here." Sally responded, appearing equally as disappointed and ticked as they were. "Sonic was more than excited about the idea of traveling and helping find him too. But you know how my dad is about my "filthy commoner husband"."
"I am sincerely thinking ze King of Mobotropolis needs to get off his high of horses." Antoine added in an annoyed slump.
"You're telling me." Sally stated.
"Well I'm not letting no decrepit old squirrel who knows nothin bout raisin a family tell me not to go find my kid." Bunnie raised a hand. "Pardon my french, Sally-girl."
Antoine tilted his head. "Zat is not of being french."
But indeed, Bunnie had no hesitation going against the kings orders on this count. Neither was Antoine for that matter, much as he respected his rank as a Royal Officer. As a king who had been absent for most of Sally's life(granted, much of that time was served in the zone of silence, but still.), and nearly untrusting of her judgment upon being brought back to a world that she fought and bled to free from the evil doctors clutches, neither person really had a high opinion of him anyway. Both considered it a miracle that Max was still in office with how many more people shared their opinions. Furthermore that a mutiny hadn't been started over his public distaste of befriending himself with the "common folk" and even his outrage against Sonic and Sally's marriage. So much so that he refused to attend outright.
Sally raised her own hand with a weary expression. "Please. Say you want about him. I'm practically waiting for him to drop dead at this point so my brother can start running things." The squirrelmunk would then give a smile to her friends. The same smile when she gave an "ah-ha!" presentation when discussing plans years back. "Besides, I only said you didn't have his approval or resources. I can't give you any additional support in officers, unfortunate but not up to me. But if you think you're up for it, and I think you are, I'll send you both in on your own while Sonic and I watch your kids for you."
Bunnie and Antoine intertwined their hands and smiled confidently at their friend.
"When's the soonest flight, Sally-girl?"
Sorry for the long wait. Work has me busy and I've been working on other things at the same time as this. But let me know what you think and I'll try to get the next chapter out as soon as I can! Thank you all very much for reading, and Jesus bless you all!