EPISODE 9: PELAWAN NAGA - ANGE [AU]
Summary: In the modern world of Malaysia, Asia, the people are afraid of both Norma living with them, including the new edition from their betrayal towards her, and the criminal organisation 'NAGAs.'
Note: I have two reasons for making this AU, besides ridiculously admitting there's no reason. One; I want to write something involving my home country (You guys would've noticed some Malay-using words here and then, mostly Ular's name and my character Khalifa speaking Malay in the FF. net version).
Second, Kuala Lumpur (my hometown) was mentioned in the bonus chapter of Alien5703's 'Cross Ange: Soldiers from Another World' which both surprised me and made me happy. So…harapnya, korang akan suka baca bab ini.
P.S.: This chapter has Malay/ Islamic-related elements that are hopefully not offensive. This is strictly fictional, and therefore not supposed to be serious.
Disclaimer: I don't own Cross Ange or any of its characters and original plot, excluding the original characters I created for this story. This is a spin-off series of the main 'Cross Ange: Living Hell' story. So please read that before here.
Cross Ange and all its rights belong to King Records (Japan), Sentai Filmworks (USA), and Sunrise/ Bandai Namco Entertainment (Japan). This fanfiction is meant for entertainment only and not for profit. This story contains heavy language, blood and violence, and mild sexual themes not for audiences under 16-18 years old.
Korbasan api kehidupan tetapi tak tertinggal
Jatuh dan akan menjadi bintang
Mereka jadi cantik sambil terterbang
Dan melembut dalam buasain kehidupan juga kematian
Nyanyikan, nyanyikan, dua keinginan dari sekarang
Bersinar, bersinar yang kuat di dalam syurga bewarna emas
Dan sampai selamanya
Ange solemnly sang her family's song 'Kisah Abadi (Eternal Story)' which is one of the few things she kept even before whatever happened to her, as she stood outside the balcony of her single studio apartment room she had been living in for almost a month, with her now shoulder-length hair blowing the soft wind's direction as she stares at the night sky briefly clouded by the rainstorm that would always fill the country's sky in evenings just like today or almost every day. It does make sense since Malaysia is a tropical country.
But as beautiful as it is, Ange now knows that the people may or may not be inside and out, for a Norma like her. In Malaysia, girls who can sense and combat a group of 'inhuman' people called NAGAs (DRAGONs) must be put under strict supervision by the humans forcing these Norma as young as twelve years old, the same age as her youngest sister Sylvia, or older to fight the NAGA criminal organisation or receive strict punishment should they disobey their superiors.
Ange didn't think she was one herself until she found out on her sixteenth birthday by her brother coldly and publicly revealed the truth to the entire world by purposely breaking both her family's secret, which she didn't know until now. From someone born and raised by loving parents who are also one of Malaysia's Maharaja and Permaisuri, Ange's dream of serving her world and people as a Puteri or Datin has been shattered like the people's initial adoration of her.
As per the laws and its rules, she was allowed to live in Malaysia with her former people, but her extravagant privileges must be revoked to live like the other Norma who may or may not live with their families out of the latter group's disdain for having a Norma as their daughters. To further put more salt in her wounds, she found out from the newspapers that her father has both his Maharaja title annulled and the death penalty for keeping Ange's Norma secret from the public.
'Damn it.' Ange grits her teeth in sorrow hidden in her rage boiling her blood. First, her mother, unfortunately, died protecting Ange when a human policeman almost shot her. Julio kicked her out of the family home, the people's open wrath for lying to them, and now her father's execution. All of this is Ange's fault…and she knows it.
At first, living like Norma was hard from living in an apartment home called Arzenal run by Komander Jill, and given a shared role with other Normas around the world to fight these NAGAs, due to her proper personality and initial mindset that Normas aren't human which caused three of the Normas' deaths until she killed her first NAGA, changing her to accept it finally.
At least, despite being hated by both humans and Normas, some humans and Normas in Malaysia are willing and gladly see her as a person just like how they see other Normas as normal girls. If only the humans who refused to see Norma as people could accept their mindset.
"Puan Angelise. I've made us tonight's dinner." Ange heard her loyal maid Momoka warmly calling her from their apartment's kitchen to head back inside the tiny room, consisting of doors leading to the kitchen, bedrooms, small bathrooms, and a living room having its large TV screen and dining table and chairs, provided itself with Momoka placing all the serving bowls holding their lauk (dishes), rice cooker with its serving spoon and their plates and cutlery, despite everyone in Malaysia prefer using hands to eat their foods which Momoka knows to also prepare the steel, washing-hand-teapot with its matching pot underneath it to wash the food off their hands and into the pot.
Looking at Momoka happily doing her duties without any revulsion for serving a Norma like her, just like before the truth was revealed, the corners of Ange's scowl may have twitched to subtly smile her sadness.
When she was revealed as a Norma, Julio noted the rule that a human must watch over the Norma girls and punish them should they fight back, even daring to threaten Momoka to do the same if she wished to stay with Ange. However, when they started living in this apartment, Momoka proved to Ange that she would do no such thing as abuse Ange as everyone wanted her to and stick to serving her just like when Ange was once the initial future Datin Angelise. That is why, even with her new personality of being hard-headed, stubborn, and only caring about killing the NAGAs, Momoka is the first of the soon-to-be many people she could trust.
"Terima kasih, Momoka." Angelise thanked after taking her seat with Momoka handing her a plate of generously scooped rice before scooping her plate while Ange took some of the lauk Momoka cooked for them on her plate; a spoonful of kari ayam dan kentang (chicken and potato curry), sayur campur tumis (stir-fried mixed vegetables), and telur mata sapi (fried egg) with the suitable kicap soy (soy sauce). Even if the taste may be a bit different than back in the Misurugi family's Istana, Ange prefers her maid's cooking to her attempt to cook one dish by herself which almost burns the kitchen on the first day.
"Puan? Are you alright?" Momoka asked, concerned for her mistress's depression.
"Ya… I still think about what happened to Ma and Ayah." Ange's answer alarmed Momoka with a gasp of shock faltering into sorrow, attracting Ange to look up after taking a bite of rice and vegetables from her right hand and fingers. "Don't worry, Momoka. I know why, but there's nothing I can do but accept it, even if I don't like it myself."
"I understand…but no matter what, Puan. I will always be by your side to the end, as your trusted pembantu!" Momoka openly declared with a proud smile, intending to cheer her mistress up which may work when Ange sadly smiles her sadness.
"Thanks, Momoka…At least some humans also care for Norma."
[Next Day – 13th Februari 2016]
"Hey, Pembunuh. We're going out to buy us nasi ayam (chicken rice) to get you something to try as lunch. Sound good?"
"Sup, little gorilla baby. Yeah sure. Anything sounds good. You two behave from trouble and see ya later."
Ange snorted from her proud smirk as she read her flip phone's messages, one of the nicest things she got from the Pembunuh Manusia who surprisingly acts NOTHING like what everyone would see of him when he was ordered to be their torturer if Ange becomes disobedient. Walking behind her as the two walked through one of the pavements under Kuala Lumpur's endless MRT train tracks above their heads, Momoka hummed her happiness with her shopping bags in hand as they headed to any restaurants that could help them get something for the Pembunuh Manusia.
From living with him, Ange and Momoka found out in astonishment that Pembunuh Manusia never tried to do anything like a Malaysian such as speaking Bahasa Melayu or doing prayers. That caused Ange to secretly spy on him teaching himself to read Malay until she boldly caught him, surprising the three including Pembunuh Manusia and Momoka. At least he is understanding, albeit embarrassed, and Ange rather help him be a better Malaysian.
"Ugh, Puteri Norma di sana. (The Norma Princess is there)."
"Kenapalah dia datang sini (Why would she come here)?"
"Masih marah kita tak tahu dia Norma (Still pissed that we didn't know she's a Norma) …"
Ange's mood immediately spoiled from the intentionally loud hisses directed at her by the other humans behind and in front of her and Momoka, alarming the latter now looking at everyone scorning their disgust at Ange ignoring their cruel stares and allowing Momoka to grasp the back of her shirt's right long sleeve. Whenever she works in fighting any NAGAs or having a day off like this, there would always be the Norma haters visibly verbally abusing her or any Norma they know and see in front of them. Always hoping that Ange and the Norma would be severely injured or dead just for their selfish desires.
No matter where she goes, there always be hatred towards her, unlike when she was once a Puteri…
"Puan Angelise!" Ange and Momoka heard a kind girl's voice calling towards them by the former's real name. They look up at a familiar couple standing in front of one of the restaurants, one of them being the one that Ange and Momoka were planning to go buy their lunches, but the girl who called Ange warmly waved a gloved hand, wearing a beautiful pink and red Baju Kurung and a matching pink hijab with her drill-shaped bangs slightly sticking out. "Selamat tengah hari, Puan."
"Namaste." The boy wearing a purple, white, and golden formal Indian attire warmly greeted with a smile. Seeing those two again with their kindness never showing disgust towards Norma, even if it's been two weeks, managed to slowly lift Ange's spirits from the humans spying on them.
"O…oh, hello, Misty, Seri Ranka. Apa khabar?" Ange nervously nodded with a faint smile.
"Khabar baik. It's been two weeks since we last saw you. Are you here on an errand?" Future Permaisuri Misty Rosenblum of Iran happily exclaimed with curiosity about seeing their friends ever since the terrible revelation.
"Ya…just forcing our Pembunuh Manusia to eat one of his first Malaysian dishes for once," Ange answered, trying to make herself proud when mentioning Pembunuh Manusia's pickle, startling the couple. "What about you two, on a date?"
"Misty and I are permitted to spend a day in Kuala Lumpur. We were hoping that you and Miss Momoka would like to join us." Seri Ranka hastily answered, both he and Misty immediately blushed with a shy smile at Ange's bold question, making her smile her amusement and Momoka blush her amazement before Ange felt a tint of sadness for both Seri Ranka's offer and Misty nodded her agreement of a hangout despite the people's cruel stares, knowingly wanting Ange to get away from the royal couple.
"Thanks for the invitation. Wished we can accept…"
BAM!
Ange, Momoka, Misty, Seri Ranka, and some of the other humans were shocked and glared at the source of a brief explosion and some people screaming their fear, looking behind the couple to witness the appearance of a tall man wearing dark purple, white, pinkish-red, and black attire, and a woman wearing pink and white clothing, both their faces concealed by a draconian mask. But with their foreign clothing, dragon masks and the man wielding a pair of guns, Ange increased her guard in anger and was ready to fight or kill. 'NAGAs!' They had to show up on her day off too…
"Puan Angelise!" Momoka cried her horror at her mistress speedily running past her true friends and the people now watching a royal Norma fighting against two NAGAs in the open, with the Norma hating citizens only anticipating their cruel delight smirking and sneering for hopefully Ange's death when she kept switching her opponents between the burly male NAGA and the short but agile female NAGA.
As she was distracted from holding the male NAGA from trying to get here, the female NAGA who she managed to throw off guard from behind her swiftly got on her feet and was about to lunge above Ange…if not for a sudden knife thrown through her right shoulder from behind, releasing a painful scream that alarmed everyone including Ange and her NAGA opponent to see the female NAGA again fallen on the road with a bleeding shoulder before the person who threw that knife, also dare helping a Norma…
"Be careful, Puan Angelise!" Misty called as she, holding a pair of knives she stole from the restaurant in her hands, Momoka with her trusty frying pan she brought with her, and a weaponless Seri Ranka ran to the battle with Misty and Seri Ranka busily, and surprisingly to every human and Ange, expertly fight the NAGA woman while Momoka hurriedly ran past before turning around with a leap and swung her frying pan at the male NAGA's head, releasing a muffled grunt in agony. "Leave my Puan alone!" Momoka yelled.
"What the hell is happening? Why are they helping that Norma?" Unaware to some of the citizens watching the roughhousing, distraught of seeing three humans helping Norma, a pair of children extremely young but brave and mature for their ages are also in the crowd but unlike the shock and anger on the awful humans, the children expressed a calmly amused reaction.
"…We can't stay long." After managing to regain her balance when the human girl with the knives almost jabbed her blades at her chest and heart, everyone heard the NAGA woman curse in anger and, in a split second, dashed away from her opponents and towards her partner, alarming Momoka who quickly hopped and threw the Norma fighter in her arms just when the NAGA couple are together in time for a sudden, deafening smoke bomb to erupt under their feet and cover them for a few seconds before it dissipated into the air and reveal no signs of the enemies, disappearing into nothing.
'Shit!' Ange mentally cursed, accepting Momoka's tight embrace for her safety.
"Puan Angelise! Are you alright?" Misty called when she and Seri Ranka ran towards Ange and Momoka carefully climbing on their feet. At least Ange knows that their concern is more sincere than the Norma haters.
"Y-Ya…" But just as Ange nodded her confirmation with a subtly pleased smile, the four realized that the almost forgotten crowd of angry humans circled them with their fury only towards Ange…
"Oi, Norma! You didn't kill those NAGAs!"
"You should've died from those raksasas!"
"Stupid Norma!"
"Puteri Misty, Putera Seri Ranka! Why did you help that thing fight OUR enemies!?"
"You both should've let her do her job and die!"
"She must've forced them to help her!"
"The nerve!"
Ange sneered with her blood boiling again from the Norma-hating humans' scornful remarks and pointing fingers at her, even those directed at Momoka trying to hug her mistress tighter. They just attacked and almost killed two NAGAs, but these humans still mock Ange instead of being grateful that they are alive because of her and the other Norma reluctantly fighting to protect them until death without anything back. At least, from also seeing Misty and Seri Ranka looking at everyone in shock for their heartless comments even those presuming that they will stay and be hurt by her, Ange wished to admit her relief for the Norma sympathizing humans like them and the Pembunuh Manusia's organization called the Haven.
"Bisingnya (So loud)!" Everyone stopped shouting with their loath towards Ange changing into bafflement at a younger girl's voice shouting at them in anger from behind some of the people, alarming them to back away when everyone saw two toddler children younger than possibly seven years old walking past them and stood towards Ange's group, surprisingly brave for their ages but also frightening them for their appearances.
The eldest albino boy wore a purple baju Melayu with a formal, black skirt-like sarong around his waist and thighs, and holding a sheathed Kris sword, while the youngest glowing blue-haired and dark-skinned girl who shouted earlier wore a matching blue baju kurung with dark blue batik designs resembling flowers, and a pair of shades hiding her eyes. Silently, Ange's true friends watch the children first look around at the people glaring at them in mixed surprise or anger for their appearances and lack of fear for a Norma, before the girl's rose-marked left hand reached and pulled the shades off her eyes…revealing glowing green orbs through her black sclera.
"T…Terima kasih." Despite being as afraid as the others of her abnormal eyes, Ange was astonished at the girl kindly thanking her with a smile while her brother faintly frowned but also did not show any disgust for her which may have slightly cheered her up.
"Her eyes and her brother look like a syaitan." One of the human women in the crowd whispered to her friend in fear trying to show suspicion just like some of them when a man realized something to sneer his disgust. "But she's a human. Why would a human thank a Norma?"
"Norma? Nama dia Norma ke?" The little girl wondered aloud in curiosity alarming the humans' shock of her innocent response. Even Ange is surprised but she understands that a girl as young as this one may not know, and is still unable to comprehend how these humans, whom she initially believed she could give a great future before finding out her truth, are acting rude big babies according to her and Momoka's caretaker. "Wait, she doesn't know what a Norma is!?"
"Where are their parents? We got a mind to speak with them about this!" Visibly angered by the adults demanding about their parents right after scorning his sister's innocence, also showing that he doesn't hate Norma, the boy's right hand pull the Kris sword out of his sheath, receiving terrified shudders and gasps from the adults.
"Semua orang okay ke (Are you okay, everyone)?" Ange, Momoka, Misty, and Seri Ranka look at the girl asking the four of them in worry, ignoring her brother silently threatening the awful humans to shut up by his sword. Momoka and Seri Ranka hid beside Ange and Misty in apprehension as the former looked at her true friends with Misty silently nodding a brief acceptance before Ange glanced back at the girl.
"Y…Ya. Thanks for your concern." Ange responded with a faint smile, slowly losing the fear of the other's demonic-looking appearance.
"Sama sama (You're welcome)!" The girl closed her eyes with a smile and happily nodded just when everyone heard an older woman's voice calling from behind Ange's group. "Ala? Saya dengar suara Khalifa (I heard Khalifa's voice)."
Turning around, everyone saw the arrival of an elegant-looking Malaysian woman with her eyes shielded by the white bandages around the top half of her face under her lime green tudung shawl around her head and shoulders, reminding everyone of the Pembunuh Manusia's bandages around his left eye, and wore an emerald, green baju kurung with golden chain designs from top to bottom of both the shirt and skirt. When seeing her calmly joining them, both the boy and girl ran away from Ange's group and joined the possibly blind woman's side who reached her hands for them.
"Awak siapa!? Norma ke manusia? (Who are you?! A Norma or a human?)" A Malay-speaking human woman demanded the newcomer, who looked up and seemingly glanced at everyone with her mouth faintly open, attracting her to raise her hand and conjure an orb of golden yellow light, surprising the other humans. But to the relief of Ange's group, everyone can see that she is another Norma sympathizing human.
"My name is Pencerita (Narrator). I am a counsellor for those who seem troubled with their everyday life, for both humans and Norma. But I also work as a special messenger for the government." The woman serenely introduced herself with a poised smile after bowing once she dismissed her light sphere from view, seemingly glad of not seeing the people's distrustful scowls. 'Her name is Narrator?' Ange wondered in confusion.
"Oh, I've seen you before. My wife told me that you helped her with something affecting but also forgot how you did it." One of the men recognized with a scowl. "Are you those kids' ma?"
"Tak lah. I'm a dear friend of their parents, even before their mother's unfortunate passing two years ago. I always watch over them whenever their father is working in the government."
"Their father is in the government? Then he should've taught his kids to hate Norma like a sane, normal human would!" Another human gasped in surprise shifting into anger, pointing a finger at the two children with the son angrily raising his rapier in a fighting stance if not for Puan Pencerita raising her arm in front of them as a shield.
"Wait, you said you're also a counsellor to Norma? What could those things possibly need counselling for? They should do their job fighting those damned NAGAs away from us!" Ange and secretly Misty scowl their irritation when another human mockingly demands Pencerita who is seemingly calm with her free hand almost touching her bandaged eyes.
"As you can see, I wear bandages around my eyes, so I tend to confuse human women for Norma or vice versa. Tapi semua orang adalah masalah, tak kisah kalau manusia atau Norma (But everyone has problems, doesn't matter if it's a human or Norma)." Pencerita calmly explained, only hearing the mixed disbelief or angry gasps coming from the arrogant humans before she turned towards Ange's group. "Excuse me, little puan. I just received word from the children's father that you and your maid are under Pembunuh Manusia's supervision, and that they shall drop by my house later for you two and the children. Would you like to accompany us and wait for them? It's for both my jobs and for checking on you two after an almost deadly battle."
'Shit! We forgot about Pembunuh Manusia!' Ange mentally grimaced in a tint of anger as she and Momoka looked at each other in surprise, and guilt for what they forgot. Unfortunately, increasing Ange's anger, Pencerita's proposition again received the arrogant humans' ire.
"What? You're seriously allowing Angelise to stay in your house for the Pembunuh Manusia?" A human man yelled and angrily pointed a finger at Pencerita's half-bandaged face with the kind woman softly scowling a mysteriously collected frown and holding her hands on the children quietly standing against her legs.
"If you do, don't expect us to visit for your counselling!" Another woman complained, visibly scowling her jealousy for guessing Puan Pencerita's beauty through her bandaged eyes only for her anger to grow from seeing the counsellor's mouth curled into a calm smile unfazed by the humans' disapproval.
"…Takpe. Selamat tinggal, semua orang (That's alright. Goodbye, everyone)." Pencerita composedly bowed her farewells. Ange peeked a glance at Misty to see her also calm when she silently nodded again before she and Momoka begrudgingly followed Pencerita and the two children to where the former arrived, ignoring the disgusted complaints coming from the humans except Misty and Seri Ranka.
But as they walked away from the scene, Ange could've sworn she heard Pencerita mutter to possibly herself. "Semua orang boleh lupa, lah. (Everyone can forget, anyway)."
South-Eastern Asia may consist of multiple royal titles of Raja, Permaisuri, Datuks/ Datos and Datins, but the main royal people in charge of overseeing its states are the now-seven 'Royalti' made of Raja Rosenblum in Iran, Presiden Irijah of Cambodia, Maharaja Galia of Philipines, Setiausaha Republik Marmeria of Israel, Permaisuri Velda in India and the recently crowned Maharaja Julio Asuka Misurugi in charge of Malaysia with the latter being assisted by the Pembunuh Manusia, the Komander of the Haven's human and Norma military and supervising the now-named Norma Ange and her human maid Momoka under Julio's order. Together, with both Julio and Pembunuh Manusia's ascensions after the former's father was executed for Angelise's hidden secret, they worked every day to make sure that the humans and Norma co-exist in a way that those Norma would do their duty to fight the NAGA criminal organization and protect the humans, all to please the Tuhan Agong that only they serve …but only one of them gladly keeps the true self of their superior from his cohorts.
Right now, the seven Royalti are grouped in Malaysia's Istana Negara's meeting room granted by the Agonghimself who is also absent to give their servants the meeting themselves and watch over the Mana screens filling the spacious room showing the statistics of serious issues from virus reports to Norma's progress in dealing the NAGAs. The largest Mana screen hovering on the long table, which they are focusing on, shows the recent fight between Julio's Norma sister Angelise, or Ange to the Pembunuh Manusia and the Haven, and the NAGA fighters who managed to escape before she could unleash the final blow.
'That thing should've died from that fight.' Julio scorned seeing who was once his sister managed to survive her fight, hoping to see her severely beaten or even killed just to make sure she would stay dead. At least his people howling their rage towards her cheered him up.
"Hmph. Typical of those cowards to flee." Setiausaha Marmeria scoffed his indignation for the NAGA attackers' escape with his nose wrinkling in disgust at seeing the two weird-looking children and a Malaysian human woman defending Ange, acting like her being a Norma is not serious.
"How dare she force my daughter and Velda's budak (child) to help her fight those fools." Raja Rosenblum cursed his anger, surprised to see Misty speedily and expertly fight the NAGA woman with the knives she grabbed from the restaurant although he was corrected by Permaisuri Velda pointing at her son's weak but effective distraction in the battle. "It doesn't look like it threatened our bachche (children/ kanak-kanak) to fight them, but they surprisingly have fighting capabilities. I didn't know my beta (son/ anak lelaki) could do that."
'…I'm so proud of those babies.' Pembunuh Manusia, the only one wearing a white version of a Malaysian policeman uniform than the other rulers' formal attires, mentally sighed his contentment not matching the stoic glower everyone always sees him express. Unlike a normal policeman, Rush kept his gun openly hanging at his right hip.
"Those children must be disgusting for thanking a Norma like the former Puteri." Maharaja Galia sternly noted, pointing at the demonic-looking girl smiling at Ange while her albino brother almost killed the frightened Malaysians with his Kris sword right when the woman who called herself Pencerita revealed herself. "I don't know if it's a relief or not that their foul ibu is dead."
"What did that Wanita mean, their father works in the government?" Presiden Irijah wondered in bemusement, secretly afraid of the children's scary appearance, right when the Mana surveillance ended with the blind woman leading Angelise, her maid, and the two children out of the circle of suspicious-bearing citizens to gossip at each other, prompting all the Mana screens to disappear around the room.
"Possibly some ill-minded fool who doesn't raise his kanak-kanak how to act in front of those worthless Norma, especially to that thing who dared become my adik." Julio scoffed aloud, with almost all the men faintly nodding their agreement. Rush is tempted to reveal the identity of the children's father…but he rather sees their reaction to the truth soon enough when everyone witnesses a sudden Mana screen popping in front of Rush's face, his unbandaged right eye reads the message given to him until he understands with a nod once the Mana screen disappeared.
"Pembunuh Manusia?" Julio called in curiosity as everyone watched their soldier leisurely climbing off his seat as if about to leave, seeing it as a high offence for a Royalti. "Was that message… from the Tuhan Agong?"
"The Tuhan…Tuhan Agong is asking me to leave the meeting for today, to accompany him to visit his friend. I also need to get the Norma and her maid anyway." Keeping his performance in check, Rush calmly responded with a tint of stumbling his words to call the Tuhan Agong, everyone knows his slow lack of confidence in speaking Malay, but unable to walk away when Maharaja Galia hissed in anger alongside almost everyone's surprise of his excuse surprisingly approved by their leader.
"Why would Tuhan Agong Embryo want YOU to leave the meeting with him!?"
"…Because I didn't mock his two children and friend who just took Ange out of the battle, and said bad about his late wife who is the children's mother." Rush calmly revealed the truth, unfazed by the other rulers' distraught with Julio squeaking his horror at realizing his accidental remark to their superior just as everyone helplessly watched Rush walking away to the doors heading through the hallways. "Tuhan Embryo also asked me to tell you all this; I will not expect an apology for your cruel words towards my loved ones, and boldly calling me an ill-minded fool."
As he walked through the hallway leading him to one of the only places Rush knew where the Tuhan Agong would be whenever a meeting with the other Royalti commences, sometimes teleporting there to participate with one himself, Rush harshly stretches himself to release the furious stress he kept during that awful meeting. He better thank Em for getting his ass out of there.
Once he walked out of the Istana Negara backdoors to the vast backyard, Rush walked down the steps and headed through the bush-filled maze until he took another walk down the steps to the grass-trimmed lawn where a lone man sat under a giant tree with a herd of bunnies hurdled around and even on him. It was when he got closer that Rush saw, and almost sniggered, of the rabbits briefly sleeping around and one even on his lap while he both read one of the two books and pet a finger against the bluebird on his left shoulder.
"Assa…Assa…" Rush tried to remember an Islamic greeting but ended up stumbling over his words again, alarming the bunnies and bluebird now awakened and ran away from the man now noticing his arrival, initially startled but smirking his amusement when Rush gave up with a tired glower. "Goddammit! I can't pronounce it!"
"Heh… Assalamu alaikum, Rush." The handsome man with long, blonde hair and dimly glowing aquamarine green eyes greeted with a serene smile, Rush may have been one of the few who could see him smile like a normal person, even the rulers could not for their knowledge of him, and leisurely stood on his feet with the two books he had in his hands. The man wore a dark green baju Melayu with matching pants, dark grey or black shoes, and a red sarong with golden designs around his waist and thighs.
"Kau jatuhkan buku anda tadi (You dropped your books earlier)." Both his Malay sentences and the two books he showed to him, one being an English-to-Malay dictionary and another being a sign language book, made Rush pursed his lips in a childishly peeved pout.
"I'm still trying to learn, man! You know I'm not good at learning a different language, at least two at once!" Rush complained towards his friend who again chortled his pleasure from his smile, both openly acting different than what everyone inside and outside Malaysia knew them as. If the Royalti and Rush's organization sees them now, they would react like hell just because of the Pembunuh Manusia and Tuhan Agong's surprisingly positive friendship that they SHOULDN'T have…if only, to Rush, they're more than that.
"Forgive me, Rush. I didn't mean to tease you." Embryo chuckled, returning Rush's books to him although one caught his attention. "I understand you want to improve Malay, due to your past, but why do you want to speak sign language?"
"So that I can talk and understand with Aya. Figured that you'll be okay if someone you want to work with can speak sign language for you and your kids." Rush admitted with a shrug, grinning at Embryo's bemused smile as the two walked back inside the Istana for a peaceful walk and talked to the front door from inside.
Rush may not lie, but he is both relieved and satisfied that his lack of Malay resulted in picking up the English-to-Malay dictionary accidentally got him to meet with Embryo and the children when Rush first met Aya and Khalifa curiously bumping into him for reading the dictionary in a public playground, one day after finishing his work of secretly helping a Norma-sympathizing family from a drunkard Norma hater. When Rush met Embryo on that same day…he didn't know he was the Tuhan Agong until he introduced himself to the shocked Pembunuh Manusia. Luckily for both, Embryo was hoping to meet Rush with the proposition of joining the Royalti and Rush took that chance…for reasons other than helping his Kakak Palsu (Fake (Older) Sister)'s chance for the Norma's retribution against the humans' discrimination.
"I'm happy and support your decision, for both of us and my children…but you're not planning to court me like our first meeting, are you, Rush?" Embryo hummed his satisfaction changed to coldly smirking his hilarity at remembering their first meeting, prompting Rush to chortle from his grin just as he heard Embryo reminding him in concern, that he gives only to him than the Royalti. "You need to be careful of how you act and feel to me in public, Rush. We won't be spared from receiving a grave punishment for this sin if this is revealed."
"But you're the Tuhan Agong of the South-Eastern Asia." Rush reminded in the surprise of Embryo's collected scowl hinting sadness directed at the other. "The humans wouldn't execute you, would they?"
"Even if I am, not even I'm safe from receiving judgment for the crimes that existed even before I was born…" Embryo revealed with Rush slowly looking away with sadness masked in his scowl. So even his people will get to their Agong for something like this? 'That fucking sucks.' Rush mentally cursed, even thinking of the public punishments if the community found out about his desire; Stoned to death? Whipping? Hanging? Other lethal torture that can kill him, as per what EVERYONE wanted and following the religion's laws and rules?
"Em? Sorry if I make you upset for something I did. You don't mind if I change the subject?" Rush asked with a nervous smile, attracting Embryo to look and twitch his lips with a sad smile as well.
"Of course, you can. And you never upset me, unlike the Royalti, anyway. That's why I want to take the both of us to town and get OUR children."
"That's what I wanted to ask; from the Mana screen, the lady Pencerita said she is you and your wife's friend. Are you worried about her being interrogated by the humans?" Rush asked in confusion, seeing that they were now heading to the Istana Negara's front doors where the Royalti's limousines are parked, including Rush's.
"I am concerned about that. Cahaya is a dear friend of mine whose powers may even share a similar level to mine, and she was a great help when I first married my wife to watch over my children after her death. Luckily, she can make sure everyone who saw her today will NOT remember their foul reactions and go on their boring lives. But just to be safe, I'll help her with that." Embryo confessed with a tranquil smile for his friend, receiving a nod from Rush once they reached the latter's limousine that opened its door for them by Rush's driver – and one of his ibu tumpang (surrogate mothers). But just as Rush offered Embryo to go inside first, playfully bowing to make him laugh from his smile and cheer him up, he was just about to head inside when they heard panting and footsteps running towards their direction from behind Rush…
"Don't you dare leave, Pembunuh Manusia!" Raja Rosenblum angrily yelled at Rush as he and all the Royalti ran out of the Istana to stand in front of Rush and Embryo's back facing them, with Permaisuri Velda and Julio standing behind the men.
"Tuhan Agong Embryo, please forgive us! We didn't mean to speak ill of your keluarga!" Even when Maharaja Galia apologized for their dreadful mistake, Rush peeked at Embryo's calm fury that just hardened his face now looking at the former's car, avoiding eye contact with almost the Royalti begging him to forgive them.
"…I thought I made it clear, even ordered Pembunuh Manusia to tell you all, that I won't accept your cruel words to my loved ones." Embryo calmly reminded, looking over his left shoulder to see the Royalti's frozen fear for their lives at stake before Embryo's fury softened towards Rush, making sure not to openly call him by his real name. "Do they all think of not taking you seriously, Tuan Polis (mister policeman)?"
'Why policeman, man?' Rush mentally smirked his displeasure at Em's jokingly smooth call to him, hiding his inner reaction from the male Royalti glaring between the Pembunuh Manusia and Tuhan Agong, with the former noticing their look silently demanding him to 'Help us change his mind'…no hell he would do that. "I'm not surprised, Tuhan Agong. I'm not well-liked because of my work and personality." Rush shrugged his shoulders.
"No! Tuhan Agong, we promise that we shall apologize to you and your children for our words! Please allow us to…" Julio tried to apologise but was interrupted by Embryo refusing even to face them when he leisurely climbed and sat inside Rush's limousine, alarming Rush to hurriedly pull his gun and aim at Presiden Irijah who tried to dash inside but froze in fear from almost getting shot and the half-bandaged man's cold sneer.
"No, no, no. I want to go visit my friend immediately and forget your terrible insults. And then, I'll decide if you ALL are forgiven at the next meeting. We mustn't waste time, Pembunuh Manusia. The children will die of boredom if we are late." Embryo elucidated, keeping his mind firm even when he called Rush to get inside. But just as Rush hangs his gun back to his hip and is about to head inside, a large and strong arm forcefully grabs Rush's right arm, shocking him, his driver Charlie, Embryo, and the other Royalti members to see the owner of the arm painfully restraining Rush.
"Pembunuh Manusia! I order you to convince our Tuhan Agong to change his mind and accept our apologies! Buat, budak setan!" Marmeria Setiausaha furiously ordered, making sure not to release the Pembunuh Manusia even when he tried to pull his arm off and Velda, Irijah, and Julio hurriedly grabbed the arm to also tried to help release the other off the painful grip.
"Marmeria, unhand the Pembunuh Manusia immediately!" Permaisuri Velda, being the motherly one to Rush since their first meeting when he was sixteen, demanded. Suddenly, almost everyone shuddered their mixed alarm from Marmeria immediately howling his agony as if something just inflicted the arm apprehending Rush's with pain that even hurt him and increased the tenacity, feeling every vibrating vein in the arm and hand almost burst his blood vessels or even the arm itself like a bomb, forcing him to release Rush's arm even accidentally push him backwards and almost hit his back and head at his car…if not for the pair of arms grabbed him around his body from behind and swiftly pull him inside the car with a startled gasp.
"What were you thinking!? You could've died from the Pembunuh Manusia and Tuhan Agong!" Rajah Rosenblum demanded Marmeria clutching his still excruciating arm with his unfazed hand, with the man feeling the agony slowly but still painfully going down in his system.
'W-What is happening to my arm!? Sakitnya!' Marmeria wondered in agony, still gripping his violently aching arm once he felt that the sensation was safely reduced to retain movement, just as everyone heard their Tuhan Agong asking Pembunuh Manusia with concern that the Royalti NEVER heard his surprisingly soft tone to the human murderer or anyone before. "Are you alright, Pembunuh Manusia?"
"Y-Yeah. At least he didn't snap my arm off." The Pembunuh Manusia's calm response also startled the Royalti to look up in time to see the murderous soldier's car already closed itself and hovering off the road to leave, alarming the royal group to hurriedly run away and avoid being blown away by the car containing the powerful Tuhan and violent Pembunuh just as the bewildered group realized they would've stopped them from leaving the Istana Negara if not for the car speedily drove and exited the Istana's front gates, on the way to Kuala Lumpur.
Ange cannot remember what happened when she and Momoka arrived at Miss Pencerita's traditional Malay house, or Rumah Penghulu, also meeting her Italian husband but she noticed her eyes closed and her body strangely felt different than her normal, human body which is now stiff and rigid. Not only that, but she also smelt nothing but bamboo and oil all over her surroundings. 'W-What happened?' Ange wondered as she tried to remember.
After meeting Miss Pencerita's family, who gladly accept Ange as a person, Pencerita and her husband offer to make them lunch while they wait for both Pembunuh Manusia and Aya and Khalifa's father, with Ange asking Momoka to help them which she happily obliges. The other thing she can remember before her mind went blank earlier…Ange curiously went inside one of Miss Pencerita's empty rooms which only had a large white curtain and a book lying on the mat-filled floor.
'Whatever had happened…I should apologize to Pencerita for sneaking into her room.' Ange decided when she hurriedly blinked her eyes awake…but her confusion changed into astonishment at finding herself, not in Miss Pencerita's house, but in a strange place where everything looked like her surroundings came from a Wayang Kulit. Looking down, Ange's dread grew that her body had also transformed to be a flat, Wayang Kulit puppet resembling her body but without the slits sticking onto her arms, back, and legs. At least she can move but is limited to moving like a Wayang Kulit puppet without a puppeteer controlling her.
"W-What the hell is going on with me!?" Ange asked herself in horror, trying to move freely but to no avail when she almost fell onto the fake ground under her now wooden feet.
"…ge…. Ange…Little Ange?" Ange heard a familiar voice calling to her from above, but she hurriedly looked up at the fake sky to see not a soul.
"Puan Pencerita!" Ange called. "What happened to me? Where am I!?"
"Bertenang, Ange. I saw you walking in my Wayang Kulit room, where I do my work in giving counselling to the humans and Norma." Pencerita's voice explained, softening to calm Ange breathing her shock like how Ibu would comfort her whenever she is troubled. "As you all saw my power earlier, I am one of the few people who can use light magic. I used my powers and expertise in Wayang Kulit to take a customer on a little…adventure. These adventures relate to their life problems that greatly affect them to the worst, and the customer must work themselves to fix that mistake or receive a terrible consequence unless I must pluck them out. I think, because you snuck into the room and picked up my book, the magic automatically pulled you in."
Ange finds it hard to believe, even wanting to shout her annoyance and admit this is ridiculous, but from witnessing the light magic Pencerita showed, even seeing her hopefully temporary condition, and the older woman's gentle and strong personality…she had to reluctantly accept that it is partially her fault. "I'm sorry for sneaking into your room and getting myself as a Wayang Kulit." Ange quietly apologized.
"Takpe. Luckily, I see that you are safe…but boleh tak we look through this adventure?" The sudden proposition astounded Ange. "Sometimes, my Norma customers have an almost exact problem of human discrimination that can almost break them to death. And from what happened earlier, I am curious about how you would deal with the predicament that affected every Norma before you. Don't worry, once I see if your adventure will hurt you more than what you believed, I can pull you out."
'Can't you just pull me out immediately?' Ange mentally bittered but her complaint instead came as a silently harsh sigh and begrudgingly started walking forward to wherever she could think of going. When she took the first step, Ange suddenly heard soothing percussions fitting for Wayang Kulit performances filling the air, just like the ones where her parents took her and her siblings when they were younger.
'Seorang perempuan, walaupun lahir daripada keluarga manusia, adalah kuat dan berani untuk melawan raksasa yang manusia menjadi takut sampai kurang daripada hawain (A girl, although born from a human family, is strong and brave to fight monsters that humans are afraid that made them less than animals) …'
Ange heard Pencerita's voice softly narrating during her walk now taking her to a fake forest, wondering if it had something to do with her predicament or doing a part of her job, but smiling at her amusement for understanding the start of her adventure. Suddenly, Ange stopped walking and witnessed countless flashes of golden light and smoke swirling in front of her that took form into more, moving Wayang Kulit puppets resembling large dragons, possibly representing the NAGAs, and currently in combat against other girls Ange could see as the Wayang Kulit versions of Salia, Hilda, Rosalie, Chris, Ersha, and Vivian using their fists, kicks, knives, or guns to strike them down even if each side's movements look off due to being puppets. One of the dragon puppets that were not attacking them, however, spotted Ange's arrival with a deafening screech at her.
"Alright, raksasa. If you want to fight me, then come at get me!" With a proud sneer and quickly grabbed the large and sharp-looking branch she grabbed as a lance, Ange quickly ran as fast as she could to the stampeding DRAGON before she successfully leaned back, avoiding a chomp of the monster's jaws almost biting her head off before Ange swung her weapon in multiple swings that managed to hit the DRAGON, not bleeding due to everything and everyone in this false performance being wood by Pencerita's magic.
'Heroin kita, dengan perempuan lain macam dia, boleh lawan naga-naga untuk keluarga and kawan-kawannya yang sayang mereka…tetapi manusia yang benci Norma masih berharap mereka mati, percaya mereka tidak berharga. (Our heroine, with other girls like her, can fight the dragons for her family and friends who love them...but the humans who hate Norma still wish them dead, believing them to be worthless.)'
Right when Ange managed to find a slight opening, she hurriedly lifted her branch in front and watched the DRAGON biting the long stick in half, first seeing her hands now holding two halves of what was supposed to be a spear in distraught, before Ange quickly rolled and slide to the side and past the DRAGON attempt to swing its clawed wings at her. As she slid past its side, Ange didn't think but quickly jabbed the pointed end of the left stick through the DRAGON's wooden body, sending it howling in agony and distracted to see Ange stopping behind it and speedily jumped on top of the DRAGON before both she and the DRAGON fell onto the latter's back with the former furiously impaling the other hand of the branch through the raksasa's neck like a knife.
"MATI! MATI! MATI! MATI!" Ange yelled in anger, not caring about anything around her but killing the DRAGON that tried to attack her. Even if she believed that it was dead, she continued to strike the now lifeless DRAGON puppet.
'Tetapi sebab manusia adalah penakut untuk buat apa yang sepatutnya, bolehkah Norma menang untuk kebebasan mereka? Jawapannya...hanya akan terjawab sendiri (But because humans are cowards to do what they're supposed to fight for, can the Norma win for their freedom? The answer...will only be answered by themselves).'
With a final scream and the branch held with both hands over her head, Ange swiftly swung her hands and impaled the branch through the DRAGON's head and between its now lifeless eyes. Ange recklessly climbs and steps away from the DRAGON's corpse, keeping her breathing in check when she pants aloud with her vision only focusing on the dead beast that, for some reason, starts glowing bright golden yellow from head to toe just like the other beasts and her and Salia's group who also finished dealing with their animal opponents, unaware of Ange's fright that grew from looking at her hands and feet to see she is also glowing golden like she is taken by the Sun. And it was that golden light was the last thing she saw before her mind turned white and then black into nothing…
"Ange?" Ange blinked her eyes open with a gasp from hearing Pencerita's voice calling her name, seeing both the woman herself and that she had returned to the latter's room with Ange hurriedly lifting her hands to see, in relief, human hands and that she has returned to the human world. "Are you alright?" Pencerita asked in concern, even to a Norma which Ange was glad.
"Y-y-y-yeah…" Ange shakily nods, still feeling overwhelmed with multiple feelings by her mouth unconsciously twitching into a surprised but also happy smile. "I didn't think…anything like that could happen."
"From looking at your story, I'm confident that you can make it out alive and that nothing will be impossible if you keep fighting and proving yourself better than those bongok," Pencerita noted, seemingly looking at her Wayang Kulit clothed screen still lighting the oil lamp brimming orange behind, but Ange can tell that the half-bandaged woman is more pleased than when they first met outside. "Am I right?"
"…Hehe. Betul, betul, betul." Ange sadly smiled her agreement. "Thanks for the narration. You're right; those cowards are afraid that they want us Norma to fight the NAGAs or die for them. That's why, I must fight for my freedom and life."
"Bagusnya. Harapnya, anda dan setiap Norma akan dapat bantuan daripada manusia yang kisah (That's good. Hopefully, you and every Norma will get help from the people who care). Perhaps, you can become someone like Siti Wan Kembang." Pencerita affirmed with a nod, enlightening Ange's mood with her kindness just when the two heard a voice from outside the room.
"Assa…Assalamu…goddammit!" Ange recognized the male voice even before he surprisingly shouted his anger from messing up with a normal Malaysian greeting, surprising her. 'Is that Pembunuh Manusia?' Although cold to the humans, Ange thinks he should pick her and Momoka up rather than Komander Jill.
"Assalamu alaikum." A second, unfamiliar voice serenely called.
"Ah. Our guests are here. Shall we, Puan Ange?" Pencerita calmly exclaimed, slowly rising to her feet with Ange following her. Both women exited the room and saw both the Pembunuh Manusia and another blonde-haired man who could be Aya and Khalifa's father when they ran to hug him with a happy smile on the adult man's face. "Walaikum assalam," Pencerita responded.
"H-Hello, Pembunuh Manusia." Momoka nervously greeted their captor when she walked out of the kitchen alongside Pencerita's husband, both holding trays containing the lauk-lauk that Ange could guess today's lunch. "We couldn't get the nasi ayam for our lunch."
"Don't worry. I rather care for your safety than what to eat. I'm not like Ange's dingus brother because we watched what happen with the NAGA fight in Kuala Lumpur earlier. He might be thinking how he wanted you to be hurt or worse, I'm thinking of saying I'm so proud of this baby." Pembunuh Manusia reassured with a confident scoff when mentioning Julio, also collecting Ange's bemusement to scowl her disdain. But him calling her so-called brother a dingus and calling her a baby out of affection like a sibling relationship, may have slightly made her chuckle.
"Why didn't you tell me you wanted nasi ayam during the ride? I don't mind waiting for you to buy your food." Aya and Khalifa's father curiously asked Pembunuh Manusia with a raised eyebrow.
"Because I don't want to waste time since I almost got my arm pulled out for you." Pembunuh Manusia tiredly complained towards the man's bemused smile which startled Ange and Momoka. They have seen the Pembunuh Manusia being laidback when not on duty, unlike how those arrogant bigots despised him; but they have never seen him acting like an actual friend to someone else, not even his team except Moon and his ular-ular and Komander Jill. Whoever his friend is, he is bold enough to shed the Pembunuh Manusia's tough shell slowly. "Anyway. Miss Pencerita, right? It's nice to meet you. Thank you for protecting Ange and Momoka earlier."
"The pleasure is mine. Thank you for coming." Pencerita nodded with a faint bow. "Please make yourself at home. Momoka dan suami saya Dean just finished cooking nasi lemak for makan tengah hari (lunch)."
"Terima Kasih, Cahaya." The children's father beamed, holding Aya and Khalifa hugging his legs.
"Nasi…lemak? It sounds like 'fatty rice' right?" Pembunuh Manusia dumbfoundedly asked aloud what prompted everyone but Cahaya and Khalifa to look at the human murderer in distraught which grew into befuddlement at the clueless polis's half-bandaged face, feeling as if a bell had been rung into silence. "It is, right?" After a few seconds of silence, the first person to break it was Aya and Khalifa's father looking away and muffling his giggling fit, confusing the gunner who also noticed Aya, Ange, Momoka, and Pencerita's husband tried to hide their laughing from him.
"Ru…Rus…you don't have to translate every Malay word." The children's father tried to gently reassure Pembunuh Manusia with his smile shaking to almost break into a laugh but not wanting to hurt his feelings. "Remember when you accidentally called some woman's Baju Kurung a 'bracket or cage' dress, and she got offended?"
"How am I supposed to know, man!? At least she didn't try to grab her hands on you!" Pembunuh Manusia complained which made even Ange laugh and Momoka chuckled. "Anyway, I don't know if I can handle eating something that might be spicy." Now it's Ange's turn to tease her caretaker.
"Aww, kenapa, Manusia? Awak ayam ke atau kucing penakut?" Ange grinned at Pembunuh Manusia's confused reaction to her words and saw Pencerita and her husband chuckling at their amusement.
"Em, I'm too lazy to use my book. Translation?" Rush whispered closer to Embryo's left ear, away from the others knowing of the other's name hoping Ange and Momoka wouldn't find out about the Tuhan Agong in the same house, who also helped translate beside Rush's right ear. 'She said: Are you a chicken or a scaredy cat?'
Immediately, Rush was offended with a falsely exaggerated angry reaction towards Ange smirking her pride until Rush whispered closer to her, not swearing in front of the children. "Oh, it's on, bitch! I'll fucking eat that fat rice!" Ange happily laughed without care that she was laughing from her heart, that it's been a while since she could laugh and smile to herself ever since she was exposed as a Norma and NAGA killer.
'Manusia memang membenci apa yang tidak suka, juga raksasa atau sihir...tetapi ada juga manusia yang kasih sayang mereka dan itu boleh memberi manfaat yang kebaikan atau keburukan (Humans do hate what they don't like, even monsters or magic...but there are also humans who love them and that can be good or bad).'
A/N: For context in this AU;
- The humans (except Embryo and implied Pencerita) do not have the Light of Mana, as it is considered sihir (use of (dark) magic) which is one of Islam's severe dosa (sins). But their hatred for the Norma (except for those who care for them) is still there, for no reason.
- Unlike the LH canon, Rush and Embryo are just friends because they cannot be in a relationship in this AU [Unallowed in Islam]
- If anyone noticed, Ange and Embryo meet at the end but (if you guys only know the canon show) the latter does not react to the former like their canon selves. This relates to the main Living Hell story.
- The character Pencerita is the main protagonist for one of my future, Malay-only series Bayang Rakyat (Shadow Play/ also called Wayang Kulit).
- I may be wrong about some parts, but that's because I couldn't understand much for years (just like Rush in this AU).