"Okay, everyone! Are we ready to get to brainstorming?!" Pyra asked cheerfully in the center of the den, to an excited Frankie and an unimpressed Mythra.
"¡Si, señorita Candela!" Frankie replied with a salute. Mythra scoffed, nearly laughing in response.
"Don't get too excited, Dummy, it's Pyra we're talking about." She snided.
"Hey! And what's that supposed to mean, you?!" Pyra pouted her cheeks wildly, glaring at Mythra with her big red eyes… but with how round and droopy and shiny they normally were, to call it a glare, especially in this state, would be generous.
"Well for one, you brought the turtle with you." Mythra pointed Turters out, smiling off into space before nibbling on Pyra's finger.
"He's a part of this family too, Mythra! No reptile left behind!" Pyra protested, placing her free hand on her hip.
"For two- you don't even have a script ready- just a bunch of muttering nonsense."
"Aw, Mythra, don't be mean." Frankie pleaded.
"Don't worry, Dummy, I know my boundaries- just wanna give baby sis over here a bit of awareness~" Mythra answered back, teasingly pinching his cheek as she did so, to his childish enjoyment.
"Script or no script, that won't deter me! You'll be privy to what it is I have in store for you and we're going to make something TRULY fantastic! And as a matter of fact, I'm not alone! Our next cast member should be here right about-"
"Hello! I'm not too late am I?" Miko suddenly appeared at the door to the kitchen, making her way to the den.
"…You're bringing HER with us?" Mythra asked.
"Don't get testy with me, Goldilocks. I'll have you know I've touched the Sutra poem style many-a time back in high school! You should be groveling at my feet that I'm willing to lend a hand!" Miko replied pointedly. Mythra scowled while Frankie looked around expectantly.
"Mmm… Kaito isn't here…?" He asked, somewhat disappointed. Miko just laughed.
"Nope! Apparently your affinity levels with these two were off the charts in the cooking competition! So he's analyzing that feeling from top to bottom!"
"S-sure… announce it to the whole world, why don't you…?" Mythra flushed with red, turning away in embarrassment.
"You don't say? Well then that just might make things all the more interesting!" Pyra exclaimed. "I think we've found a way to keep these visions and apparitions under control! And you'll be first to witness it!"
"A-are you sure, Pyra…? Remember what happened the last time we tried to get all fancy with that…?" Frankie asked timidly. The corners of his mouth were gritted nervously.
"Don't worry your chubby little head!" Pyra responded, giving Frankie a reassuring pet on the head. He blushed lightly, still a bit concerned, and eeked out a small smile as she went on. "We've had our practice, and we're perfectly confident about all this!"
"Well, that's where she ropes me back in- we got a handle on things, don't worry, Dummy." Mythra placed a reassuring hand on Frankie's shoulder.
"Oh, I'm sure you do~" Miko teased.
"BE. QUIET." All three shouted at her at once. Miko giggled like a school girl as she faced Pyra.
"Well, big sis? Are we ready?" Miko readied a pen and paper, smiling brightly all the while.
"We most certainly are! Everyone gather round! We're on a journey to nowhere in particular!" Pyra announced with a spring in her step.
"Mmm… I still need to watch that one…" Frankie bemoaned as he closed the circle.
"Hold on to your butts…" Mythra warned, grabbing ahold of Frankie's arm with her own, instinctively. Miko looked up at her with a horribly cheesy smirk. Mythra merely ignored her and faced straight ahead, as stoned face as ever.
After a moment of focused silence, it felt as though the ground started to fall away beneath the 4 of them -well, 5 including Turters- as the vision began. Miko, being the least versed in this experience, took notice right away of how odd it felt. It was…more vivid than the last time she had entered one of these visions, it felt much more like she was being transported to another plane of existence than a haze draped over her eyes.
Was this the result of both Pyra and Mythra being here at once? Or…perhaps due to them becoming more comfortable with this power of theirs again?
These questions soon faded from Miko's mind as it started to feel like she was falling into a never-ending pit, causing her to instinctively close her eyes and clench as she wondered where or when she'd land on something.
Frankie was also a bit uneasy, but for some reason much less so than Miko. Perhaps due to his trust in Pyra and Mythra, or his affinity with them, or a mix of both. Either way, he held onto Mytrha's arm, not out of nervousness for his safety, but simply because something…drew him to do so.
Mythra for her part stayed laser focused, as if she was already in another world. She focused her mind onto Pyra's, trying to bring the visions in her head more clarity and depth. Doing so was like a snowball effect, as Pyra's thoughts became grander and more detailed the more Mythra supported them. And the stronger her thoughts became, the faster the group began to fall.
Faster. And faster.
…
When Pyra opened her eyes, she found herself in that familiar grassy knoll… alone. Her heart dropped… that wasn't supposed to happen… oh dear…
"H-hello?! Miko? Mythra?! …Frankieeeee?"
"I'm up here, Pyra!"
Turning at the sound of his voice, Pyra searched for Frankie, but found no one. All she saw were a bunch of dead and young trees and a large spotted shell latching onto one of them… wait-
"W-where?! I can't see you!" She called back, just before stopping to look at the strange thing above her. It suddenly sprouted wings and detached itself from the tree. Flying up in the air was Frankie! Though, now, his whole body was a glossy black apart from his face which was chalk white, he landed just in front of Pyra quickly and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Thank God! After I got separated from the others, I thought I was a goner!" He said. Pyra just stared straight ahead and blinked.
"…uh huh…"
"…So I take it you don't know why I look like this either…?" Frankie asked, crossing his arms. Just as he said that, Pyra's face sparked with excitement.
"Oh! Wait- yes I do! Early drafts called for a Ladybug protagonist!" She pointed out cheerfully.
"…k- once we get out of here, we need to have a long talk about focus, alright?"
"Sorry-"
"Well, I guess we should find Miko first. Much as I'd like to go after Mythra, she'd be the one to get us back on track."
"Mm- maybe this wasn't such a good idea… I think my brainstorming on top of all this put us ALL in a tizzy… I really am sorry, Frankie…" Pyra looked guiltily at the ground as she shifted uncomfortably… Frankie didn't like that at all, as ridiculous as he looked, he was determined to fix this.
"No, Pyra, don't be… these are all just apparitions, after all… right…?" Pyra continued to sadly look at Frankie, who had put on a large and nervous toothy grin, almost cartoony in nature. However brief the silence was between them was too long, and he was getting worried. "…please don't leave me hanging, Pneuma's deal was a whole different animal-"
"Yeah…"
"Okay… so none of this is real- so nobody's in any real danger! A good story always needs to have conflict!"
"That is true…" Pyra's face lit up just a little bit.
"So, we can keep on going through your little train of thought as we look for the others before we get on out of here…"
"…and in turn, that might help me build the skeleton of my script…!" Pyra suddenly finished for Frankie.
"Right! In that case, we really WILL need to find Miko first…"
"Ooh! I have a request, actually, Frankie!"
"Go on…?"
"Can… can you be the Blade…? Please?" Pyra blinked her eyes innocently at Frankie, who backed away slowly and defensively.
"W-well… I dunno about that… my skills are average at best…"
"Oh, please, Frankie…? I wouldn't mind playing Driver just this once in my life… and it might be safer with you as the Blade anyways… as fictitious as all this is- I wouldn't want to let loose my powers all willy nilly in an enclosed area…"
"Wellllll….." Frankie stretched out his thought as he inspected Pyra closely. He looked into her pleading eyes. As corny as they were, he was able to see just how much playing this part meant to her… he was also reminded about how… difficult and trying her past was… still unsure of the full story, it made him both sympathetic and concerned… all the more reason to put Pyra in power… "Alright, Pyra- you're the boss…!" He said.
Pyra silently squealed in giddiness, spreading wide the most radiant smile Frankie had seen up to that point. He didn't have much time to bask in it for too long as Pyra quickly dragged him in by the shoulder and held him close as she stared off wistfully and confidently in the distance.
"Then come along with me, dear friend! Together you and I shall venture 'cross these treacherous lands in search of our friends and a purpose! No stone may be unturned and however long it takes will be but a mere splinter in the large oak tree of time itself! Adventure is nigh!" …her vocabulary certainly checked out- she was most certainly brushing up on this stuff. Frankie was so taken back by it that he failed to notice Pyra suddenly shoved his old bo staff into his hands. He didn't even have a verbal comment. The moment he felt it appear, he just looked at it in confusion. With a twirl and step ahead, Pyra led the way, a story brewing in her heart. Frankie chuckled to himself- she was different enough already these past few weeks… now was almost something else entirely- but he liked it quite a bit… only one thing to ask.
"…so uh- how are Blades named, anyway…?"
…
And so, with a steadier heart, the two vagabond heroes went off- a fiery upbeat Driver with a song in both her heart and step, and her trusty Blade, stocky, bulky, and as nimble as… well… HE could be, as odd as his stature was, he was ready for battle. It had been far too long- not since the teenage years- since he had raised his weapon- his trusty Bo Staff into combat- that's where he got his name, Bodecia. One that struck up… much controversy, but was settled with a little bit of starry eyes and lack of resistance.
Well… lack of resistance would be an inaccurate description. No, Frankie was merely rolling with the punches, as any good actor should. Not only that, but it was in this little make believe adventure he and Pyra were on that he really got to… SEE her, the real her. So long ago, it seemed, was she the timid, overly cautious, and dainty young woman that he fell head over heels for at first sight… not that she needed to know that- but now, two months into their very much real life journey together, was she standing almost as someone completely different. Louder, more confident, perhaps a bit pushy, but still sweet and bubbly as she always was… as much as he tried to push the overly optimistic thought of it all being thanks to him to the side, he had to face the facts sooner than later… whatever- she was happy and he loved to see it…
Pyra herself also felt surprisingly okay in her little journey. Not only had it been quite some time since her last proper venture, but she was really getting to exercise her creative thinking all at once in ways she would have never DREAMED of being possible before! Every so often, she would back at Frankie and smile. Both would flush pink every so often, but with each other at their side, they shared the same thought…
'Gosh they're perfect…'
Indeed, it all seemed like fun and games… until-
A literal ROLLER COASTER of cryptids and scenery, loud noises and strange music coming from out of nowhere revealed itself to the duo. Both Pyra and Frankie stood perfectly still, mouths hung open in terror and discontent. Through all the mess and cacophony of this all, they were able to see a camel mooing like a cow… one of those slugs Frankie and Pneuma fought floating peacefully in the air, both of which peacefully exiting the chaos, and a rapidly changing day and night cycle… everything else got lost in the madness, and it looked like their progress was stopped indefinitely.
"…Okay, so, MAYBE, I went a bit overboard with the jock-rocking…" Pyra admitted sheepishly.
"This isn't a train of thought… this is the Pony Express of a car wreck…" Frankie intoned, shifting his eyes uncomfortably, just to see a large duck suddenly land right in front of him. He was scared stiff while the giant bird stared him dead in the eye, defiantly.
"GRUH-UH!" It lowed like a frog before hopping off far into the distance.
"Mmm…" Pyra groaned, wringing her hands uncomfortably as she took a closer look at the ensuing chaos. Frankie felt his heart sink -in part because he felt guilty- but also because a sad Pyra wasn't a sight he liked very much at all.
"Don't worry, Pyra! Y-you have me at your side! I am your Blade, so use me!" He exclaimed with the slightest of quivers in his voice. He tried to put on a confident front for her, but really… it was hard to deny the mess…
Pyra took a deep breath and slapped her cheeks together, before pumping her fists down confidently.
"You're right! The show must go on! Our emotions are in tune, Bodecia! Show 'em what you've got!" She shouted.
Frankie yelled and shrieked as he charged forth with his Bo Staff sticking outward like a lance, aiming for a particularly odd looking snake… cat… thing… its long neck reared up in intimidation, baring its two large fangs down at the comparatively smaller lady bug man, who didn't seem to waver at all. With a flick of his wrist, he jabbed the staff forward and… it vanished. No impact whatsoever. Not even a sturdy feel of anything… it just ceased to exist. Frankie and Pyra blinked dead ahead as if to confirm what they just witnessed.
"Huh… well that worked out pretty nicely." Frankie intoned.
The moment he finished his statement, the creature suddenly reformed right in front of him and roared loudly in his face.
"Dios Mío…" He swore under breath. The cat-snake lifted Frankie up by his antennae, causing him to scream and writhe in pain and fear. Pyra jumped in alarm before settling into anger.
"Hey! Only me and Mythra are allowed to toy with him like that!" As she hollered at the creature, she reached for the Bo staff that had fallen to the ground and gripped it tightly, staring down the uninterested being with fury, "And above that- it's just plain RUDE!" As she finished her rant, she threw the staff with great vigor, again causing the creature to vanish.
Frankie shrieked in terror only briefly before instinctively opening his shell and allowing his wings to sprout out and save him. He chuckled in delighted surprise, which was cut short by the creature showing up YET AGAIN and lunging for him. Now, he was prepared, he swerved quickly out of the way, and laughed mockingly at the thing, only to get snatched up by an absolute monster of a bird, right by the hull of his shell.
"Hey, you! Put him down, now!" Pyra exclaimed, again swiftly coming for Frankie's staff as she glared down the creature angrily.
"Mind the spacing, Pyra!" Frankie warned as he looked up at the beast, who roared an eerie shriek in his face, spitting its nasty saliva all over his body.
'Of all the things we could've seen on that safari, why couldn't it have been this one?' He wondered to himself as he stiffened in fear. He looked around desperately to find a way to escape in the seconds he would have after impact… it was a mess, as to be expected. Everything from creatures of today, creatures of their world, and creatures nobody had ever seen before, to call any of this a brainstorm would be an understatement. It almost gave him a headache to scan through the ruckus so quickly… then something interesting caught his eye.
Cowering and ducking for cover amidst the chaos in a small little alcove… was a Nopon! Brown in color, and very fluffy, it stood out surprisingly well. Seeing it all alone gave him an idea. He looked at the creature again and then back down to Pyra.
"Pyra! Cover me!" He shouted.
"Wha-? What are you on a-"
Without even the slightest answer, Frankie bit down on his carrier's leg, causing it to howl in pain for the second it still could. It dropped him at last and forced him to travel downwards, using his wings to maneuver through the air. Just as expected, the creature reformed immediately thereafter and dove after him just as quickly. Pyra was dazed only for a moment or two until she followed Frankie's gaze- it was then she saw the Nopon too. Her heart skipped a beat in surprised delight, it had been too long since she had seen such a familiar face! She almost wished she would've remembered them sooner- but that would have to wait. She caught on quickly to Frankie's plan, and lined up the Bo staff in her hand quickly, getting a straight shot at the creature on the surrounding chaos, and flung it straight ahead. Several other creatures got in the way of the crossfire unexpectedly, but just as before, they vanished as quickly as ever and only seemed to increase the speed of the weapon, and just when the monster was about to grab hold of Frankie again… the staff connected with its shin, allowing Frankie to quickly grab his weapon again in a triumphant chuckle before zipping out of the way of the large, roc-like parrot… thing, who shrieked threateningly at him before giving chase.
"It's times like this I ought to sing a little song-" He said to himself, before clearing his throat and letting out a boisterous cry, "Into battle, we do fly! No matter if… we're going to die!"
Pyra, who had just dodged a winged… something and backhanded a large cat turned to Frankie's ridiculousness with a look of scared confusion on her face.
"We what now?! Is that the mood you want to set?!" She ducked a reptile and continued her sprint towards the Nopon. Frankie, meanwhile, swung his staff like the blades of a helicopter before jamming it down an incoming predator in his fit of insanity.
"Hold on- I'm getting to the best part! A big and scary death that hurts quite a lot! Even if our wings are ripped clean OOOOOOFFFFFFFFFF-"
His… concerto was cut off swiftly as Pyra yanked him out of the sky and into the alcove where the shivering Nopon waited for them, various creatures snapping and snarling fruitlessly at the narrow entrance.
"When I said I wanted a musical… that isn't what I had in mind…!" Pyra exclaimed in concerned reprimanding in between deep breaths.
"You think it was any better up in the air…? I needed to turn my tv brain on…" Frankie admitted. After one big sigh of relief together, both he and Pyra collapsed at their sides.
"All things considered… we make a pretty good team…" Pyra said.
"Yeah, well… it isn't the same without Mythra…" Frankie lamented.
"I know…" Pyra nodded her head before gripping Frankie's hand lovingly and tightly, "But we're gonna find her! I promise!"
"Yeah… and maybe, afterwards, you could pay Miko to be a ghost writer of sorts-" Frankie chuckled.
"And lose my own integrity? Have you no shame, Mr. Frankie?"
"Frankie- FRANKIE?" A familiar high pitched voice suddenly came from behind them. Still on their backs, Frankie and Pyra turned around to look at the fluffy brown Nopon. Its eyes were just as brown as it fur, and it wore a lacey pink dress of sorts. It jumped for joy immensely as it bounded on over to them. "Thank goodness! I was freaking out!" When it hugged the two of them tightly, driver and blade gave each other a confused look, but neither seemed familiar.
"Um… sorry… do we know you…?" Pyra asked. The Nopon gasped quickly before letting go of the both of them, jumping up and down in a fit.
"You bloody well should! It's me, Miko! MEH!"
"MIKO?!" Frankie and Pyra exclaimed simultaneously.
"You look, er… different…" Frankie said, finally sitting down properly.
"Oh- I wish-wish that was the only problem!" Miko cried, still bouncing up and down. "Miko woke up after Pyra's little trick looking like this, and next thing, much humongous monsters and scary things flying all over place!" Miko stamped her tiny foot on the ground in anger, "And this cursed verbal tick! It's not goody in slightest! A right pain keeping i-i-i….IT. IN. Check!"
"I… apologize, Miko- I went a little overboard in the planning phase…" Pyra sheepishly announced.
"Ah. So big brobro looking like giant lady bug on top of all this nonsense is all your ffffffffffff-" Miko was just barely able to glance at Frankie, who was making a silent and panicked, 'cut it out!' motion over his neck. And looking at Pyra's expectant eyes in the meanwhile didn't exactly ease her worries… but a moment later, she was able to just barely save herself. "Ffffffffffortuitous imagination needing a bit of help!"
"Now, thats a bit of an understatement…" Pyra sheepishly scratched the back of her head as she and Frankie focused back on the mess outside. "I'm not even quite sure why it's even as jumbled up as it is out there."
"Well, Pneuma clued me in on a little something when I met her-" Frankie began, getting both Pyra and Miko's undivided attention. "She mentioned something along the lines of trying to reach you and Mythra while she still rested in your core crystal… I think your constant brainstorming and bringing Mythra into it all the same, on top of not having a solid focus, has caused your vision to become… erratic, to say the least."
"Like, everything trying to fight over being seen at once?" Miko guessed. "Or like-like…computer memory corruption?"
"Mmm- I can't say this is a concept I'm familiar with… but then again, I've never quite had an experience like this before- it's sound logic, all things considered." Pyra admitted.
"W-w-well… you don't have to take my word as gospel… it's just a theory…" Frankie blushed.
"So Pyra need…sssss help getting back on track, now, does she?" Miko asked herself out loud, putting one of her winged extensions to her chin in thought. She slammed one onto the other in realization as she bounced up and down. "Meh-meh! A bolt of brilliance! Big Brobro, you need to act as live bait!"
"¡¿QUÉ?!" Frankie hollered.
"Miko- I will NOT have you put him in any such position!" Pyra protested, holding on to Frankie protectively.
"Might I remind you that all is just figment of Pyra's imagination?" Miko stayed vigilant in her plan. "Brobro only need to serve as distraction while Pypy and I do our stuff!"
"And what IS that stuff?" Frankie asked.
"You'll see…"
…
Frankie sighed as he walked over to the mass of creatures in a slouch. Obviously he was prepared to assist their journey in any way, and he knew this was all a figment of Pyra's brain. But even so…staring down an actual horde of erratic beasts with how vivid everything felt just went against every survival instinct he had.
Nonetheless, he rubbed his hands off his face and readied his stance. The creatures had hardly noticed him, given his distance and relative smaller size. So, as Miko said, he'd have to make his presence known through sound. He quickly did the sign of the cross over himself, eyes tightly shut while he took one more deep breath.
"God, give me strength-"
He stamped his feet. Puffed out his chest. Leaned back…and roared so loud that his booming voice could be heard for a mile.
Suddenly, every creature stopped moving.
And turned to face Frankie, staring at him blankly for a moment.
Despite not being quite that small, Frankie's ladybug look was feeling a bit too apt for his liking at the moment, what with the giant swarm bearing down on him. It seemed as though they were all waiting for him to make a move.
"...hijo de perra-"
Frankie bolted in the other direction, the swarm immediately rushing towards him at top speed.
He tripped over himself trying to get his wings going, eventually using them to increase his running pace until he was simply flying at max velocity.
"Hurry-Hurry! This way, MEH!" Miko hopped energetically in place.
Leaning towards Miko's direction but not directly at her, Frankie positioned himself in the air in such a way that he began to make a wide, 360 degree turn.
"Here goes… these stubby-stumps better be toot- be toot-AHEM…whistle!" The small nopon girl took a deep breath and blew through her two furry hands like one would blow through their fingers to make a whistling sound. And Miko's was more than effectively shrill.
She whistled right as Frankie swooped in, leading the critters on the edge of the pack towards her. Once those stragglers heard the high pitched noise, they broke off from the rest in a group of eight, almost literally peeling off the massive swarm like it were the peel of a banana.
This did not slow down the momentum of these stragglers however, and that's what Miko was counting on. For Pyra had positioned herself right along the area where Miko was diverting them off to.
"C'mere…c'mere you little guys-"
Once they entered her range, Pyra scooped up the monsters all at once with her considerable strength in a giant bear hug. Rather than crush them all at once, a fruitless endeavor, she suplexed them right into a circle in the dirt Miko had drawn with bundles of dry skin and fur flying off amongst the chaos.
"Pyra! Put Blade powers to work!" Miko demanded
"What-?! But Miko-!"
"Just do it! MEH!"
As concerned as she was, Pyra snapped her fingers downward as if she had just shot out a bullet from a pistol. Even that little spark was enough to set the ring totally on fire! The blaze wasn't so great as to billow up in great walls, rather, it was a simple ring of fire that prevented the scared creatures from daring to step out of it. It was then did Pyra and Miko finally get a good look at the creatures cluttering Pyra's mind. Four were very familiar, a large and muscular but otherwise plain looking lion, a winged unicorn, a beastly Minotaur, and a horned dinosaur, one Frankie would very easily identify as a Carnotaurus. The others were more foreign to Frankie, but drew enough familiarity from Pyra that she could just about pin down their names; a small yapping Red Volff, a posh-seeming Blue Flamii, a rather large Bunnit, and a somewhat dopey Brog.
"Pyra! Get their attention!"
"A-ah… oh- yes! Of course!" Pyra cleared her throat and looked over the fiery mess of creatures squabbling under her eye… to her, a simple order to listen wasn't enough, she had to speak with authority… now what books had she been reading before bed again…? …yes, that would do it. "Listen you! There is no need for this dog's jabber. Ye have told me so often tonight that I am a man that I feel your words are true. So I do not call ye my brothers any more, but dogs, as a man should. What ye will do, and what ye will not do, is not yours to say. That matter is with me; and that we may see the matter more plainly, I, the man, have brought here a little of the Red Flower which ye, dogs, fear."
Her call was so great and intimidating that even the monsters that weren't a part of the group the two had captured turned to face Pyra- even Frankie noticed her authority… and his heart beat like crazy for a number of reasons as a dorky smile crept on his face, watching and listening intently… the creatures he was dealing with soon redirected attention towards him and begun chase again.
"¡Arriba arrriba arriba! ¡Andalé, Pyra, Andalé!" He shouted over his buzzing as he led them away.
"MEH! That's it, make them all tuckered out!" Miko directed her attention towards the large, intimidating minotaur. The beast just exuded a sense of prideful ego like a common cartoon bully, leading Miko to hatch a scheme for it. She cleared her voice and wobbled over to it.
"Meh oh meh! Much power! Much bigness! Great powerful warrior must you be!" Miko was now leaning into the Nopon dialect, hoping it would get across her statement to the minotaur better. Apparently it did, as while the beast couldn't verbally respond, it pointed its hairy chin upwards and puffed out its heaving chest in a boast.
"Meh oh meh indeedee! Mi-Miko thinkies even the greatiest might of Hercules is no match for Mi-Minotaur's strong stature and punchies!" She imitated boxing moves for emphasis, a humorous site given her stubby arms. Miko then pointed to the large lion, who was prowling around the area curiously but slowly.
"Mi-Miko thinkies mister Minotaur take rightful place as king! Take it from big kitty!" while the dialect was certainly helping, at this point Miko was glad that Pyra and Frankie weren't in earshot or were otherwise occupied and not able to hear her talk so ridiculously without even trying to mediate it.
Her egging on worked, as despite the Minotaur not really knowing what a "Hercules" was, it gave an intense growl before dashing at the lion, placing its hands on the ground for an all-fours run.
"Heh…that should tucker them out soon enough, meh me-NO. STOP. ACK-!"
With more of the beasts occupied now, Pyra had the chance to breathe and think about how to proceed. Things were certainly more under control, but what they really needed was a place to house all of these whimsical creatures. The mixture of animals she was familiar with and those that seemed a bit more foreign to her made gathering her thoughts a bit difficult.
"Mmm…think, Pyra, thiiiink…"
Pyra slightly hunched over, fingers to her temples, trying to clear her head. She wasn't sure how she'd even go about making such a shelter in this dreamscape, but she figured if she had an idea in her head of what to work towards, it would be a start.
She imagined…a house. No…a barn? No no, any closed off space where they couldn't see the sun seemed inhumane. It needed to be something more like…a zoo! But even that seemed to be not the most ideal for creatures of such… ancient and fantastic origins.
While Pyra brainstormed, she failed to notice for a moment that the world had begun shifting around her, twisting and cavorting strangely. The grass slid along the ground while her feet stayed planted, only the environment changed, the living creatures within it weren't affected.
It soon became clear that the world was bending to Pyra's thoughts on some level. Whatever she envisioned in her mind formed in the space right behind her in a puff of smoke. A big multi-story neighborhood house, an even bigger red barn, the very zoo she saw in those pictures.
"Uh…P-Pyra?" Miko watched in some confusion as the grass shifted disorientingly around her, turning to see the mass of billowing smoke clouds behind Pyra.
"Like a zoo, but…more natural…more comfortable…" As Pyra spoke those words, various clouds of smoke floated off in the breeze, revealing structures underneath that definitely were not there prior.
"Woah…Pyra! Hey, Pyra!" Miko waddled over to the taller woman and grabbed hold of her leg to get her attention.
Pyra maintained her focus with not even a slight waver as she seemed to come to a clear idea about what she was picturing. As she did so, more and more clouds of smoke went off yonder, until finally.
Pyra's natural animal sanctuary was ready.
She opened her eyes, completely oblivious to what just occurred, only a slight daze in her mind as indication.
"Finally, meh meh! You gotta look Pyra, lookie!" Having at least noticed Miko, Pyra turned her gaze to where the Nopon girl was standing…only to look up towards the horizon and see a vast, sprawling new area.
A large wall surrounded the entire herd for a few miles, large enough to be a big open space, but still contained enough to keep track of everything inside. There were numerous elevations and divots for natural separation between the creatures, which they had conveniently already been placed in. It made the drab and insane area actually seem… livable!
Pyra just looked on, completely stunned. It was…exactly what she envisioned. Not just similar…literally exactly what she had just pictured in her head, down to the different color of grass and stone compared to the rest of the wide area.
The Voliff ran across the wide stretches of land, making as much use out of the terrain as possible. The Flamil kept its distance, grazing elegantly in one of the divots by a pool of water. The large Bunnit seemed to make sport out of hopping from rock to rock without touching the grass, giving a big somersault over the Brog as it lay sleeping in the sun.
"I-its like…like a…"
"Dream, meh-meh?" Miko smirked back at her. "That's cuz it is, big sis-sis!" The little nopon woman gave a cheery twirl and thumbs up with her wing.
Miko then brought said wing in front of her face, mortified that she knew how to do that so naturally.
"Heheh… you make a great Nopon, Miko~" Pyra teased.
"Hush, you- we've still got… Dino?"
Miko turned to direct her attention towards the creatures she originally wrangled up. Not only was the lion now weakly chewing on the fallen Minotaur's horns as the latter creature batted the feline's face meekly, but the Carnotaurus and Alicorn had already gotten a fair distance away from the group. The Alicorn reared up on its hind legs and whinnied loudly, showing its horrendous teeth to the roaring Carnotaurus who lunged its neck forward every so often to try and nip at the flying horse. In response, the Alicorn jabbed its large horn forward, landing a direct hit on the meat eating bull's side, causing it to roar in pain and immediately allow the the herbivore to deliver a solid buck right in its chest, toppling it over. As the Alicorn took flight away from the scene, the Carnotaurus wasn't yet done preying, and echoed a shriek in defiance, chasing after its would be meal, vanishing from the area totally and leaving Pyra and Miko in stunned silence.
"That was…" Miko began.
"Predator and prey relations exist in the extinct and imaginary, it seems…" Pyra finished.
"They not even care about fire…"
"Survival of the fittest I suppose…"
"…"
"…"
"Help Frankie?"
"Help Frankie…"
Frankie, meanwhile, had to reach into the back of his own mind, recalling his Karate classes as he did with Mythra in an effort to shave off the ones more focused on him and give Pyra and Miko more time to deal with the ones they had. The same large flying creature from earlier swooped at him ferociously again, but instead of charging this time, Frankie fell down on his own, right on his side, and arm lengthened towards the ground, granting him safety as he struggled to get back up. The creature, surprised, reeled back up in anger and dove for him again.
"Pajarito, pajarito, pajaritoooooo…" Frankie mocked as he kept a close eye on it, his bo staff extended sharply. The moment it got in striking range, he jabbed at it wildly and it vanished just like before.
The large duck came for him next, and he quickly swung the staff around to make it disappear all the same. The cat-snake came for him, and he was able to swing it back around with just as much speed. He chuckled proudly at himself, holding his staff in amusement.
"Thanks, Pneuma…" he said fondly to himself. Reminiscing would have to wait, though, as the creatures had all come back- but now they were all behind him. Perfect!
He unfolded his wings again and took to the sky, leaving the duck and the monster to chase him. Leaving the cat-snake on the ground.
"Pyra! Miko! All yours!" He called from up in the air.
After looking up at him, the ladies turned to look at the cat-snake, who flattened its ears and hissed at the duo in intimidation, charging towards them on all four paws, running like a cat, but moving like a snake.
"Well this one looks like it'll be MORE than a little difficult…" Pyra parsed as she stood back.
"Time to put imagination to good use, sissis! In this world, cliché is reality! Can you play pungi?!"
"I… don't know what that is-"
"Meh! Not much time to explain! Imagine- reservoir for wind… ending in two reed pipes where music is made…"
On a time crunch, Pyra followed Miko's instructions quickly, shutting her eyes tightly and focusing hard on her thoughts. Suddenly, a wooden instrument, that was incredibly bumpy in its sculpture appeared in her hands. Not beautiful by any means, but it was structurally sound enough, and looked pretty much as Miko described.
"Wonderful! Now don't take focus- YOUR focus off serpopod for a second! Play and don't pause, breathe through your nose, GO!" Miko demanded.
At her instructions, Pyra did as Miko said and played… wonderfully for someone so foreign to the instrument. As ugly as it was, it produced lovely music and halted the creature right in its tracks, stopping to gaze at Pyra and her instrument, but mostly the instrument. Its eyes widened in wonder as it seemed completely hypnotized. Miko smiled widely and jumped up and down for joy.
"Snake charming big success! Throw some rhythm in there!"
Pyra smiled at Miko and, once again, followed her instructions, keeping an eye on the creature, and moving her head and body to the beat, the serpopod following the instruments every move and sound until its eyelids started to grow heavy, and its movements much slower… but it was so transfixed on the show that it didn't care… and after just under a minute more of playing, the creature's tongue lolled out as it finally started to keel over, letting out a woozy growl as it lost its balance and fell HARD on its side in a loud thud, sleeping completely peacefully now. Both girls smiled at their success before directing attention to each other.
"Another one down!" Pyra said excitedly.
"Meh! Yes! But how Pyra learn to play so goody?" Miko was so excited that she didn't even bother to fix her grammar.
"Oh… well… Mythra's been the more musical of the two of us- it's really her fault we end up watching what we normally watch when we're with Frankie! And not a single car ride is silent!" Pyra pointed out happily.
"Mythra?" Miko turned her head curiously. Pyra chuckled in response.
"Like you wouldn't believe…"
Their happy time was stopped at the sound of the large creature shrieking up in the sky, Frankie dodging both of their attacks as best he could.
"You have an idea for this one, big sissis?" Miko asked. Pyra grinned confidently.
"Like you wouldn't believe! FRANKIE!" At the sound of Pyra's voice, Frankie's attention was diverted quickly. "Take out the Rhogul! We'll deal with it in a minute!"
"Er- okay Driver of mine!" Frankie replied suddenly. He knew this Rhogul thing was most certainly not the duck, so he jabbed at the opposite creature instead, leaving him and the duck alone. Miko focused on Pyra as she lifted her arms to the sky and sweat heavily in concentration… a large circular object began to shape in her grasp, lights shimmering and waving and dancing all around her in a goopy mess that was darn near intelligible… at first.
"Hey! You!" She called, garnering the duck's sudden attention. What it saw shocked it in absolute delight… it was a giant calamari ring. Pyra's confident scowl shifted to her usual peaceful grin as she spoke to it once more. "It's all yours! Go get it!" With all her might and a jovial cry, Pyra flung it far off into the distance as if it were a frisbee. The giant duck licked its beak happily as it flew on off after it, croaking in excitement while it gave chase until it was just a tiny speck in the far distance. Miko gave her a confused look. "We've had plenty of run-ins with waterfowl to learn what makes them tick!"
Their bout of joy was quickly cut short, as Frankie landed directly in front of them in a loud thud, dropping his staff at the fall. Both girls gasped in alarm and rushed to his side. When he was finally up on his feet once more, he spoke.
"Still got El Pajaro Diablo to worry about!" The Rhogul went for the lot of them face first this time. Frankie immediately reached for his staff and drove it upwards rapidly, getting the creature right in its throat. Making a raspy choking noise, it returned to the sky to regroup, giving the trio a chance to strategize further.
"Any tips for this one?" Miko asked, covering her head in wariness.
"Give me a few- I need to really pay attention-" Pyra ordered as she stood up tall. With everything clear at last, she was able to inspect the Rhogul much better now… that didn't quite stop Frankie and Miko from squabbling with each other.
"Big bird like food! Bribe with more!"
"Oh, sure, lay out a diet plan in the seconds we got- I don't think that'll be QUITE enough, Miko!"
"How rude! Brobro acting much too like big sissis Mythra!"
"Well excuse me for being scared out of my wits!"
"Does Brobro have BETTER idea?"
"Uh- well- let's see- uh… ever watch the Jimmy Neutron movie…?"
"MEH! YOU'RE IMPOSSIBLE! BE SERIOUS ABOUT THIS!"
"Just shut up, man! I'm trying!" Frankie cried in a whimper.
Their arguments went back and forth for quite some time, but Pyra didn't even bother to step in… not when she had locked on to such an interesting sight. As the Rhogul took back in the sky, it scanned the area around in a panic. It only now seemed to realize that it had the opportunity to survey the land. Pyra took a very close look at its eyes, which furrowed in concern. She also noticed its breast move up and down in frantic short breaths… but why…? It was looking for something… but what? Then she turned back to Frankie, who was still arguing with Miko… it was HER story, so…
"-Fry it up! Serve with chips!"
"We don't eat things like vultures and eagles for a reason, Miko! That thing'll just-!" Just as quick as it started, their arguing ceased as Frankie's eyes were suddenly replaced by a large set of compound eyes. The sight of which made Miko shriek in terror, and the feeling and sudden shift in his vision gave Frankie… quite a bit of choice words…
"Son of a bitch- what the hell?! Pyra- PYRA! WHAT IS THIS?!" He shouted in terror, waving his hands around and running from side to side in confusion. Pyra rushed to his side and soothed him with a simple touch of her warm hands.
"Frankie- Frankie- it's okay… I know how we can finally get out of here… but you have to trust me… okay…?" She requested, gently yet sternly. Frankie's breathing slowed down as he nodded in response.
"O-okay… okay… I do trust you…" He said. Pyra smiled sweetly at him as she gave an approving nod. Spinning him around, she guided his movement as if he were a periscope. Miko, still perplexed, kept looking at them and the Rhogul up in the sky, now circling furiously.
"You'll have these compound eyes only for a minute… this is what a Blade and Driver have to do sometimes…" She said.
"R-right… of course… I'm your Blade and you're my Driver… I'm starting to see how hectic this business really is…" Frankie continued scanning the area, literally viewing every nook and cranny with each individual eye.
"I know, right…?" Pyra chuckled fondly.
"Wait- I see something…" Frankie announced. Pyra followed his gaze, still blind to the vision, but curious nevertheless. "I see… eggs…? Big ones…"
"Eggs?" Pyra repeated. It hit her. "That's a mama up there! Quick- let's go get the eggs and deliver them to her safely!"
"Right!"
"Wait- what about Meeeeeeeeeeko!" The Nopon squeaked, barely failing her grammar check.
"Hmmmm… I GOT IT!" Pyra exclaimed, concentrating hard once more. In an instant, Miko's entire body was clad in spiny, metallic armor. The little brown critter got a good look at herself and jumped up and down in pleasure.
"Meh… much spiffy-" She commented. The Rhogul let out another horrible call again, causing the trio to look up in terror. "You two get out of here! Hurry!"
With silent affirmation, Frankie and Pyra went for the eggs- Frankie just in front of her while Pyra pushed him forward to speed the both of them up.
"MEH! Over here big pile of fluff! Delicious, tender Nopon served on big silver platter!" Miko screamed, catching the large bird's attention. The Rhogul went for Miko with talons extended, and just before it made impact with the Nopon, she curled up like an armadillo, forcing the creature to barely steer itself out of the way and inspect it curiously. Prodding and poking Miko's armor with its beak and feet, it was totally distracted. Frankie and Pyra were in the clear!
"Getting closer, Bo?" Pyra chuckled.
"One second, o, Driver!" Frankie chuckled right back, the euphoria of the intensity delivered unto them catching up with them tenfold. Using his antennae and compound eyes, Frankie scanned the area again, searching for the eggs… searching… searching… and in a swampy area with a rotten tree felled just above… "THERE!"
Pyra followed his direction and steered the both of them that way. Sure enough, a nest of three rather large eggs appeared in the clearing. Driver and Blade gasped excitedly as they let go of each other and ran up close to inspect the clutch.
"Not a one out of place… Mama Bird's gonna be happy about this!" Pyra exclaimed while Frankie shaped the eggs excitedly with his hands, short on breath as he stared at the bespeckled orbs in amazement.
"This is incredible…! This introduces us to a brand new hypothesis in the field of science! The world's largest flying bird is subject to be challenged…!" Frankie hugged one of the eggs in his awe, but just then- it started to crack.
Thinking the worst, Frankie backed away quickly, as did Pyra. Both gave the other worried looks as the crack settled in its place momentarily… and then it cracked some more… and some more… it was hatching before their very eyes! The duo stared ahead, waiting to see just what would behold them- Pyra had only come across the adults in her travels, and was pumping herself up in excitement, eager to finally see the baby. Frankie's mouth was agape completely, as a tingling feeling that could only be the one of discovering a new species for yourself spread all over his body- and then!
The giant pink glob poked its head out and let out a wimpy little squeak as the rest of its body clumsily fell out of the egg. Still covered in amniotic fluid, and trying to find itself around as it cleaned away the bits and pieces of eggshell littered over its side of the nest, the baby Rhogul took its first lolloping steps into a new world while Frankie and Pyra shared euphoric looks with each other- the two of them quickly ran over to the nest and helped it out, settling it back down with its still unborn siblings.
"Don't get too excited, little one… you'll see your mommy very soon…" Pyra cooed as she pet the blind chick's massive head.
"Oh, Pyra- ay- my kingdom for cameras, gosh freaking dang it…" Frankie commented as he inspected himself all around in a frantic but excited panic.
"I hate to interrupt the marveling, Frankie… but we've got a family reunion to conduct!" Pyra exclaimed.
"Of course- on three!"
"On three!"
"Uno, dos, tres… ¡Cuaaatroooooooo…!" Both Frankie and Pyra heaved heavily as they picked up the nest by their backs and immediately hustled back to where they left Miko with the mother Rhogul, who was still prodding at Miko's armor.
"HEY! OVER HERE!" Pyra called loudly, getting the large bird's attention. When the Rhogul saw Frankie and Pyra carrying its nest, it charged them immediately, flapping its wings in intimidation as it ran straight at them.
Feeling her inspection had stopped, Miko took a Quick Look around and rolled herself on over to Frankie and Pyra, who had just set down the nest and kept a close eye on the advancing bird and Nopon. Frankie looked to Pyra in concerned excitement while Pyra kept herself low to the ground, ready to pick Miko back up and dash towards the end of this… bog!
A few more paces… a few more paces beyond that… the bird's thundering feet slammed across the area angrily as Miko drew closer and then…
"MOVE OUT!" Pyra called as she carefully scooped up Miko. Frankie, in turn, picked up Pyra by her under arms and flew the lot of them out of the bog, leaving the Rhogul to roar at them one last time.
The chaos had finally settled… and the giant bird had at last gotten to see what it had been waiting for all this time… the single hatched baby cawed weakly, its beak open up to the sky as mama bird craned her neck down and clasped their beaks together in a gentle show of affection… it was a very different sight than what they had just all gotten through… but that was the animal kingdom, even the one of old. The three of them looked back in approval, taking in the beautiful sight one last time just before they finally found their way out. Once Frankie put the lot of them down, he and Miko's eyes and body returned back to their previous states while Pyra jumped up and down for joy.
"We did it! Thank you, you two!" She cried as she hugged them both.
"O-oh… it was nothing, Pyra…" Frankie blushed.
"Meh… better listen to Miiiiyyyyyy… advice once we leave this place…" Miko snided as Pyra stepped ahead.
"And there we go! An open path if ever I saw one!" Pyra cried out, pleased with her and her cohorts' efforts.
"And a lot less spooky than last venture… THIS last venture." Miko added, quivering her lips in distaste as she corrected herself
"So, Pyra, do we go through it?" Frankie questioned, leaning most of his weight onto his Bo staff.
"But of course! And quickly so we can finally get out of here!"
With that, the trio darted off into the wide open field that lay before them, quite a departure from the boggy swamps and craggy fissures that they had just gone through.
"Banana better not make this any more difficult than it need be!" Miko hollered, panting heavily, trying to keep up with the two other much taller figures beside her. She was practically bouncing with how much she hustled, each step seemed to make a squeak and Frankie had to turn his head to stifle a chuckle. Pyra glared at him in disapproval, getting him to quickly clear his throat and feign ignorance.
"I didn't say nothin'-"
"A likely story…" she dryly remarked.
"-huff- if we… -huff- ever… -huff- run into Irma… -huff- again… -huff- STAY SILENT!" Miko shrieked in fatigue. Before she could pass out from exhaustion, Frankie was quick to remedy the issue and fluttered on over to her, lifting her up by the sides of her round body and letting her get a bird's eye view of the action.
"That better, baby sis?" He asked.
"-huff-… mehhhh…" Her limbs drooped weakly below her while her tongue stuck out as she finally relaxed to catch her breath. Pyra smiled in approval and continued moving forward for not much longer than a few more seconds because…
"Mythra!"
Frankie and Pyra came to an immediate stop, the force of which caused Miko to lightly choke and cough. With a united swallow, the group looked far off into the distance. There she stood. All alone on top of a knoll with only the horizon before her. It was Mythra, alright. The only thing that really stood out about her was that she was wearing a long white dress. It most certainly clashed with Pyra's old armor she had been wearing this entire time.
"Well…? Not gonna just dally around are we…?" Miko asked, panting heavily.
"Pyra's in charge here… even if she weren't, this all feels… weird…" Frankie admitted. He looked down below to see how Pyra was reacting. She wore a plain face as she stared straight ahead. Mythra had her back to each of them and didn't even seem to notice they were there. Her hair blew gently in the wind and her body was completely stiff. Pyra now looked back up to Frankie, who gave her a confused and tense scowl…
There wasn't much else to do…
"Mythra! We've found you!" Pyra hollered, cupping her hands to her mouth. The sound echoed amongst the hills… but she didn't get an answer back. The group stayed eerily silent as Mythra did.
"…Maybe she didn't hear us…" Miko surmised.
…and just when she pondered that, Mythra finally turned her head to face the lot of them. The sudden movement of which shocked them, their hearts skipping a beat, and their eyes widened, Mythra leapt high into the air, blocking out the sun and landed right in front of them… when the dust cleared, the group finally got a good look at her whole person. Her dress was white and plain as was obvious, but she also wore a jade necklace, an amber colored broach, and most shocking of all… a plague doctor's masquerade mask, clad in the darkest of ebony and decorated in golden swirls. A devious smile spread across her face as she looked down upon the lot of them, arms crossed over her chest confidently.
"Myth…ra…?" Pyra asked, reaching a hand out to her. How did Mythra respond? Clutching her own hand to her core crystal, and looking away dramatically.
"So near… we've become… meeting from afar…"
"What." Miko stated. Completely taken aback by Mythra's… oddly rhythmical way of speech.
"For sometime, all alone… and now… here you are…" Mythra extended an arm to them all, not welcoming or even threatening in any way, seemingly just… because. "Somewhere out there, in the light, the future, here, it's oh… so bright…" She withdrew her arm once again. "All here again, it just feels so riiiiiiigt… right…?" She spoke that last word as plain as day.
Frankie, Pyra, and Miko all looked to each other in astonishment, each giving the other unsure smolders before returning those same confused looks to Mythra… it seemed like it was over… only… seemed.
"HA! WRONG!" Mythra guffawed loudly as she leapt a fair distance away from them again, just underneath the knoll she stood above. As if that wasn't heart-jumping enough, music started to fill the area! A bouncy, almost jazzy but not quite tune killed the silence that surrounded.
"W-w-w-w-wait- what happening…?" Miko asked as Frankie and Pyra parroted her confused looking around the area… not like Mythra cared… she just kept… singing?
"We meet again, it has been so long…
But nay! Not yet! The journey here- is yet to end…
Allow me to play along…
A message to you, good sister… and oh, my dearest friend…"
"Mythra- I don't know what you're playing at but-" Pyra was so… HORRENDOUSLY interrupted by Mythra's own theatrics.
"A memory lost, a memory found-
Twisting and turning- at ev'ry sound!
You want this, no?
You asked us all~
From darkened skin and big ol' eyes, and my own very glow~
Then heed my words! Mind my call!
We all want out, but that's not free-
So, here, all that I ask from you, and you, and YOU… is eyes on me!"
…she certainly had a theatrical flare… her dances weren't mere steps to the left with a twirl every now and then, no, she could almost be mistaken for a ballerina with how light and peppy she was on her feet. Her soles never once touched the ground. To compare her to anything… it was almost like a weasel hunting a rabbit, bounding in such mesmerizing movements that its prey couldn't help but watch until it was too late. But Mythra never inched closer to the trio, she only kept a distance away. Her flowing hair danced right alongside her as she continued to dazzle and confuse her audience.
"Is this what Pyra meant with Mythra being musical…?" Miko asked her.
"Not… quite-" Pyra admitted. The two looked over to Frankie, who had tilted his head lightly and kept his eyes glued on every move, a dreamy look on his face… at the feeling of being watched, her just barely managed to save face and pretend to look just as frozen as the two of them… albeit more pink.
"Mythra- this…. IS not funny anymore! Come with us so we-" Mythra, again, interrupted quickly, this time, dashing up to Miko and grabbing ahold of her pointing appendage.
"Uh-uh-uh-
We've fought and read and seen and played~
Let's not stop now- lest all this progress on your trip fade!
Don't look so scared, I'm lending an ear~
This is all for you, Pyra- dear!"
Pyra jumped back a small bit in response… just as clueless as Frankie and Miko were before Mythra continued singing, now bringing out her blade as she spun around it rhythmically.
"A story's not a story- not without a villain~
So, improvise! Go! No time for chillin'!
I'm right here, Mythra! That's who you need!
The game's begun- I'm on the run- do not rest until you bleed!
I know you all, you heroes three~
You wanna get done? Then eyes on me!"
She ended this part of her song and dance by rising her blade up high and driving it towards the ground, and as she did so, the earth began to shake. Frankie, Pyra, and Miko all exclaimed in alarm as they looked every which way, terrified of what they were about to face.
"You flatter me, so, really, you do~
I heard you all back there, *sniff* yup that's me, that's true…
But, oh, what's that? That time now?
Uh-oh, gotta go- but one more vow!
Turters, rise up, with all your strength, I command you… TO PLOW!"
With a cocky point ahead, the knoll she was standing on suddenly began to uproot itself out of the ground, rubble dropping off its underside, and unbalancing Frankie, Pyra, and Miko, the latter of which tumbled down off the hill while Frankie kept himself airborne with his wings, looking between them and Mythra, unsure what to focus on… then he saw an eye open up and stare him down. It dwarfed his whole body, as beady as it was, and in fear, he quickly dove below to save the girls and place them down on the still immobile ground. The large shadow of an absolutely GIGANTIC Turters rose high above them and gave them an innocent smile as he caught the look of them all.
"Brobro… you watch movies- recommendations…?" Miko quivered.
"…maybe he's friendly-"
"That's exactly what I'm afraid of…" Pyra spoke. Mythra, in turn, towered over them as well, standing both atop her blade and the larger than life Turters, and with one last bow, she gave one final message.
"We part ways here, but we'll meet again soon~
Not long at all- look for the moon!
But can you escape? We'll wait and see~
Your end, I'm afraid, requires… all eyes on me…"
With a wicked cackle, Mythra vanished in a flash of light, leaving them at the devices of the giant turtle, who looked FAR too eager for cuddles.
With a giant bellow and an earth shattering lollop, Turters slowly but destructively bounded on over towards his caretakers, blissfully unaware of everything that was going on.
"Hide- hide!" Pyra ordered, as the trio bolted in the other direction. Turters made it difficult with how the earth moved with each step, making Pyra and Miko lose balance. Frankie thought fast and flew in front of Pyra, letting her fall on top of him and grabbing Miko's round body as they all flew up into the sky, giving them ample time to regroup and assess the situation from up above. Turters followed them curiously and laid down on his bottom shell, looking up at the sky hopefully, his small tail wagging lovingly.
"If this is Mythra's idea of help- it is very VERY not goody!" Miko huffed.
"Pyra- what do you think we ought to do?" Frankie asked, tilting his head up at her.
"I don't know… even if it is just an apparition, he's still our pet- I don't wanna hurt him!" Pyra exclaimed.
"Not much time for sulking! If Pyra lets Turters ramble about anymore, Mythra be long gone… forevers!" Miko dramatically sobbed into her fluffy appendages while Frankie bounced her up and down like a child to get her to settle down.
"D-don't worry, baby sis! You got us out of that nasty jam in the bog back there and cleared up Pyra's mind, so that means she has a more clear space to think of a plan, right…?!" Frankie directed himself back to Pyra, sweating lightly as he finished his statement.
"Oh dear- I didn't expect to deal with time crunches so soon, uh- huh…. Mmmmm…" Pyra massaged her temples frantically for a good few seconds, reflecting on everything that led up to this point in time… then it hit her! "Frankie! You and Miko keep him looking up, and I'll drop down on his shell!"
"MEH! Big sis sure?!" Miko squeaked.
"Who's the director here…?"
"…lead the way, Pyra…"
With a sharp nod, Frankie did as instructed and buzzed his way back down to Turters, who finally stood back up and smiled brightly at the sight of his masters coming in for a closer look.
"That's it, Turters… keep your eyes on the bir-" Frankie flubbed over his speech briefly. "The Buggy… look at this, this is cool, right?" He presented Miko to him, waving her spherical body around in an almost hypnotic fashion, but she wasn't too pleased at all.
"Not funny, brobro…" She groaned.
"Just stick to the script-we'll be fine-" Frankie whispered through gritted teeth.
Sure enough, Turters bobbed his head back and forth, following Miko's every move. With the turtle completely transfixed, Pyra made her move. She squatted down on Frankie's back for a brief moment before lunging ahead, aiming for the direct center of his shell.
"Stay on target… stay on target…!" She said to herself as she was honing in on the middle marking of his bright green carapace, and… touchdown!
She raised her arms to the sky gracefully as she looked around, satisfied. She then looked to Frankie and Miko, giving them a cheerful thumbs up. Frankie nodded back in response and fluttered down right in front of Turters. The giant turtle trudged on slowly towards his male keeper, the earth still shaking with each step. Miko's eyes widened in horror and her body turned pale… Frankie felt small enough as it was… she could feel her spirit leaving her body at the mere THOUGHT of being even smaller than he. And just before Turters could reach out for a closer look.
"Theeeerrrrree we goooo… who's a good little turtle? You are, yes you are…!" Turters felt Pyra scratching one of the absolute hardest places to tend- the very opening of his shell. She went at the spot vigorously, a big smile on her face as she hummed a merry tune. Turters enjoyed the sensation so much, that he bellowed in delight and rolled on over, seemingly crushing Pyra. Frankie exclaimed in terror, dropping Miko in the process as his face turned even whiter… then Pyra revealed herself to have leapt on over to the other side, getting juuuusst underneath his neck, while the giant turtle kicked his hind foot like a dog. "There- that feels great doesn't it? Oh! And I know you turtles are cold blooded, sooooo…"
Pyra concentrated all the heat swelling up in her core crystal to the palms of her hands, emanating a light wave of energy, which surged through Turters entire body as if he was directly sunbathing. The turtle rumbled and grumbled in pleasure once more as he was about to roll back over onto his stomach. Pyra jumped out of the way just in time, and with one last powerful thud… Turters tucked in all his limbs and went straight to sleep. Frankie and Miko, who was spitting out grass, looked up in awe while Pyra rocked back and forth in pride.
"Come on now! We don't have much time!" She exclaimed as she climbed up the sides of Turters's shell and up towards the top.
Frankie and Miko didn't have much chance to argue, so with a bound and a flutter, they followed Pyra and sat by her side as she patted Turters lovingly.
"Okay- and what exactly… does sis-sis have in store now…?" Miko asked, catching her breath.
"Oh, Frankie… you're gonna like this-" Pyra winked playfully at him as she once again placed her hands on Turters. Frankie looked on curiously as nothing seemed to happen at first.
Then, the earth- no, TURTERS started to shake. Frankie and Miko nearly lost balance, but clung to Pyra's arms just in time before they fell off. Suddenly, the openings of Turters's shell popped open as if he was getting ready to come out… but he didn't emerge, no, instead, streams of gas lifted the group up slowly into the sky at first. Miko was less than impressed and utterly confused, while Frankie looked at Pyra in a matter that said, "…you didn't-"
Pyra turned to Frankie again and gave him a big smile and concentrated every last bit of her energy into getting Turters to… spit fire out of his orifices and quickly spin around like a top up in the air. Miko was screeching in fear as she clung to Pyra even harder than before, while Frankie's eyes marveled and sparkled in shock. He then let out a squeal of excitement as he squeezed Pyra's arm.
"YOU'VE BEEN PAYING ATTENTION TO THE MOVIES MYTHRA AND I HAVE BEEN WATCHING! YOU'RE AWESOME PYRA!" He shrieked. Pyra chuckled in embarrassment in response.
"Oh… go on…" when Frankie stayed silent, she gave him a cross look. "I said go on…"
With a laugh of joy and scream of terror, the trio FLEW across the sky, with Mythra on their sights.
Mythra was meditating lightly on top of her now-flying blade, chuckling to herself over and over again, satisfied with the improvisation she forced Pyra into. The only question now was… what did they do…? She'd get the answer much MUCH sooner than expected.
A blast of wind flung her hair across her face. Getting it in her eyes and her mouth, she spat uncontrollably as she quickly fixed herself angrily.
"HEY! What's the big ide-" Mythra looked up and immediately stopped, mouth swinging open in disbelief, a flying, spinning, turtle…? Next time, monster movie night with Frankie would be a private affair. What didn't help her ego was Frankie's taunting singing.
"Dr. Forrester is kind of a jerrrrk- and FRAAAAANK is really dumb toooooo! We have to take part in these lame experiments- but do we complain? No!"
"No!"
"YES!" Miko barked over Frankie and Pyra's confidence. Didn't stop him from continuing.
"So weeee hi-keeba all over the plaaaace… and talk of a thousand wonderful days- with me now, Pyra!"
"Turters here is really sweet! He is filled with turtle meat! Now we have commercial siiiiiiggnnnnn!"
When they finished, Turters had slowed his spinning down considerably and landed on the floor, his jet propulsions sizzling soothingly as the trio slid off his shell.
"That's a good boy, Turters- you've earned a rest…" Pyra said comfortingly as she patted his side.
"Meh… Miko gonna be sick…next time…when brobro and sis-sis want to indulge in kaiju-"
"DAIkaiju."
"-whatever…l-leave Miko out of…HU-"As if on cue, she leaned over and immediately began to hurl. Frankie protectively kneeled down and rubbed her back as she did so.
"Easy there, baby sis…" He cooed gently as Miko continued to empty herself out…
"The jig is up, Mythra! We've got you right where we want you! And there will be no singing and dancing this time!" Pyra announced dutifully, pointing directly at a still shocked Mythra.
"Damn it! How on earth did you- anywayitdoesn'tmatter! Because! I have not yet begun the fight!" She proudly proclaimed.
"Oh no? Then what are you waiting for…?" Pyra leaned over, glaring at her in disapproval. Mythra felt her heart skip during this confrontation.
"…waiting… YES waiting- waiting for just the right moment to… uh…" She grabbed ahold of her blade and inspected it closely… then she looked over at Frankie, who had now taken Miko in his hand and patted her back as if he was burping a baby… she really didn't need anymore reminders of a… certain day. So she elected to not have it be so. "One on one! You and your Blade!" She tossed her Blade to the side and put up her fists confidently.
"What?!" Pyra squawked.
"M-Mythra- we don't have to-"
"Oh, but we DO, my good sir! We've reached the climax of our little tale, and no audience would be satisfied without a battle of heroics gracing the stage! Don't worry, I'm thinking about you all the same… but just remember- you're the one who taught me- I'm the one who's been practicing… I'm the one on the road to join law enforcement- so, techie boy, what, I say, WHAT are you gonna do about it?"
Mythra stared Frankie down, outright daring him to make a move. Frankie looked over at Pyra, who gave him a worried and confused glance… taking out a bunch of nameless monsters was one thing… but fight Mythra? That just wasn't done… and he knew that too… he knew them both too well at this point. He set Miko down, took a few steps forward, looked her straight in the eye… and took a deep breath… as he began to speak to her the way he best knew how…
"Once there was a way… to get back homeward…" Mythra raised an inquisitive eyebrow as she watched Frankie shift slowly around as he sang softly to her. "Once there was a way… to get back home… sleep, pretty darling do not cry… and I will sing a lullaby…" He held that last note and held out a hand for Pyra to join. Shocked at first, she followed his lead and took hold of him, as she did her best to recollect herself and her memories of listening to this song during some of the more quiet and lonely nights.
"Golden slumbers fill your eyes… smiles awake you when you rise… sleeeep pretty darling, do not cry… and I will sing a lullaby…"
But Mythra did cry… she fought it as best she could, adamant in her defiance as she tried to turn herself away from these two people who… understood her. Her quirks, her emotions, they way she just… thought… she looked over to Frankie, who even in his comical ladybug form… she could still see that sweet, caring person with his large caramel-y eyes that she just… couldn't resist… and when he stared into hers all the same, so lovingly, so wantingly, so… appreciative… even he had to try and avoid getting lost in those soft golden windows of hers… she lost it… tears streamed down her face as Frankie and Pyra both repeated the chorus as they came closer and closer to Mythra. No hostility, no deceit… all they had drawn on them, was welcoming.
Miko had stood up straight the moment she heard Frankie singing, her stomachache long behind her, now, she stood in confused awe as she watched this performance unfold. At this time, a groggy Turters poked his head out of his shell and looked on just as Miko did, his tired eyes drooping in sympathy as he saw his blonde caretaker bawling her eyes out.
It was a quiet cry… but an earnest one. Whether it was still some hidden insecurities she was still working out or an effect of this whole whacky adventure Pyra got them into… or even just seeing her come out as her own, so confidently, so joyfully… with someone to help them both along… she couldn't decide. And that's when she sung too…
"A-aaaand in the end… the love you taaake… is equal to the love…" her voice was like an angel… even with her throat feeling raspy and her small sobs shortening her breath, her voice reached out like heaven's light shining down protectively all over the land. Miko's jaw dropped even further… Pyra really wasn't talking gibberish… even all the way in the back, she felt at ease. Turters smiled lowly as he watched the three of them continue to reconcile in the last string that they sung together.
"You maaaaaaake….." They all said at once, finally coming in close proximity… Mythra looked over to Frankie, and then to Pyra, who smiled brighter and more comfortable than Mythra had ever seen before. Her crying stopped momentarily as she sung… and as they all came together, she started all over again, hugging the both of them tightly and bawling loudly.
"Mimi… you're such a baby…" Frankie tutted soothingly, placing a hand on her head, just the way she liked it.
"And there's nothing wrong with that…" Pyra added.
"You two… you're an idiot, and you're a big dummy! J-just… keep holding me until I say you can stop! I mean it!" She cried out loud, tightening her grip on them.
"We can deal with that… right, Pyra…?"
"However long you need, Mythra…"
Miko stood back, happy and content for once on this adventure… it was like the aftermath of the Mexico trip all over again… but there was no tensity to be felt at all… just pure, unadulterated happiness.
"And… scene…"
…
It was dusk now. Everyone was back at the house, their adventure nothing more than a memory of the past… but a helpful one nevertheless. Rather than cooking, Frankie elected to treat all the girls to Chinese Food… most of them, anyway, he wasn't about to pay for Miko's insatiable appetite. While Frankie and Mythra slurped up their noodles and dined on their Orange Chicken and Black Pepper steak in utter content, they could hear Pyra and Miko laughing in the living room.
"And-and then we could have Bodecia sing a song about what it's like to be a Blade in the first place!" Pyra exclaimed.
"Let's not get sidetracked here, big sis, we don't need another moment like at that stupid bog…" Miko warned, waving her pen in the air.
"Oh, I'm just spitballing, it's just that I know just that very feeling! I'd still be stuck on page one if it weren't for you!"
"Heh- well that's for sure- why don't we try and streamline the rising action a little bit? We want that falling action to feel all the more sweet and emotional!"
"Sounds good! Or should I say… sounds goody~?"
"SHUT IT." Miko warned as Pyra stuck out her tongue in a teasing manner.
Frankie looked over the two of them with a warm smile. Over Pyra's very own… that's what he loved to see… each and every day. Mythra caught him in the act and opted to tease him herself.
"You know, some of that laughing is at your expense, right, Mr. Ladybug~?"
"Hey, I'm not the one who broke out into song for no reason, Mother Gothel~" Frankie shot back, getting a flustered and stuttered response from Mythra.
"Wh-I-I just… it- …..DUMMY!"
Frankie laughed again, while Mythra tried to unsuccessfully intimidate him with her blushing face. Turters, just happy to be a part of the action, silently ate his bok choy as the house slowed down to a calm but jovial crawl.
"You sure people will follow along with all this fantasy stuff, big sis?"
"I'm positive! And if I'm not telling them a story from the ancient past… they'll have a lovely new bit of fiction to share around the world all the same…"