Chapter 17: Main and Side Quests

THURSDAY

ONE DAY UNTIL THE MONSTER PROM

CW: Violence, Suggestive Scenes

The time was fast approaching, and there was still a lot for Tristo and Zoe to accomplish. The primary quest, acquire outfits for Prom. With only one day left, you think this would be difficult. It would be, but at the very least, the two sweethearts wouldn't have to worry about money.

Tristo was informed by his feline friend Valerie, that a shipment of dancewear would soon be intercepted by a group of mercenaries. These mercenaries who had been on the payroll of the Oberlin sisters to steal it from one Mr. Pappas.

Pappas was a little gremlin tycoon, with a nasty habit of disrupting Vera's trade. Her trade involved acquiring all of Pappas overpriced goods by illicit means. So now, it was time for action.

Zoe and Tristo would have their pick of the clothes before Valerie when they shot down the helicarrier carrying the shipment. It's where the gang now sits, in a humvee, with Vera loading a rocket launcher of some kind. Tristo was sweating bullets.

"This is crazy. This is crazy. This is crazy." He thought. He turned to his snakey companion.

"Vera… are we sure this is the best way to get some clothes for the Monster Prom?" Tristo asked hesitantly, clutching his laser pistol for dear life.

"Ugh, Tristo you didn't have to come if you were going to wuss out now. I already told you, my prom queen Vicky wanted a specific dress, and Pappas bought them all out. Now he's going to pay for it, and I'll be the one making bank on his misfortune." Vera snarled, her snakes hissing in agreement.

Tristo nodded slowly, dropping his head slightly. Zoe reached over in the backseat and wrapped her tentacle gingerly around his chin. He could hear her voice in his head now.

"Don't worry cutie… we'll get this done together." Zoe said, giving him a small wink with the eye on her chest.

"Together." The last word they thought in unison. Tristo smiled back in response, his grip on his laser pistol steadying a bit. Their connection was getting more fluid now, easier to move back and forth on their own.

The two climbed out of the car, an obvious size difference now between the two. Whereas Zoe was slightly shorter, she had now grown a couple feet taller overnight. She explained it was due to all the nightmare energy that Tristo provided the past couple of nights, needing to diffuse into her physical form. A few hours of being large at most.

Tristo was not complaining that his partner was walking around like an eight-foot tall warrior goddess though. She had to call Dahlia for a change of clothes. But at least it'd be useful for today, if things went awry. He turned back to Vera.

"You paid off the mercenaries though, right? They're not gonna gun us down, just pretend they were caught off guard?"

"Exactly right. But just in case…" Vera trailed off, gesturing to the sawed off shotgun strapped to her upper thigh.

Valerie sat in the gunner seat of the humvee with a pair of binoculars, watching as the advanced machinery that now formed a convoy headed straight for them. The trap had been perfectly laid. The rocket would hit, causing minimal damage and forcing the convoy to land. There the mercenaries would help them load the trailer attached to the humvee up with as much of the merchandise as possible.

Tristo turned to Zoe, with a look of anxiousness in his eyes as the convoy approached overhead.

"This is really one of those: "Hi my name is Tristo, and you're probably wondering how I got here" moments."

"Your thoughts are so funny sometimes honeytrap, I can feel you laughing at the things you think in your own head."

"I'm glad we both think I'm funny then. What's not funny is how dangerous this all is."

"No one's going to hurt you honey. If they do, I'll devour them body and soul."

"Thanks darlin."

Valerie called out, shaking the two from their hazy state of shared consciousness. Without a moment's hesitation, Vera fired the rocket at its target. It struck against the tail of the helicarrier, with which it made a dramatic spin as it came to a pseudo crash landing.

The other helicarriers were quick to form a defensive formation around the crashed one, all according to plan. The mercenaries were already unloading the products, with one dramatically sending a distress signal that they'd been attacked. Vera and the gang quickly pulled up to the scene, she wore a big smile on her face as she greeted the mercenaries.

"Well done boys! We are gonna make a killing off all this. And even better, Pappas is going to be losing more!"

The mercenaries let out a round of "ohs" as the troupe began to look through the shipping containers. Rows of elegant attire hung on racks inside, waiting to be taken. Zoe turned back to Vera.

"How long do we get to look?"

"Should be hours before any of the PMC's that Pappas owns gets here. That's why he should have paid the go-between mercenaries more."

"Hmm. Then me and Tristo are gonna take this container for a minute."

Zoe yanked Tristo inside with her tentacle, and slammed the container door shut, leaving them in darkness.

"Um, Zoe. What are you doing?"

"Hold on, I'm changing."

"You're what? Here? Now?!"

"Yes, I'll get some light in a minute. Unless… you wanna see me now."

"Zoe calm down! Vera, Valerie, and about a dozen armed mercenaries are right outside!" Tristo replied, bashfully crossing his arms as the clothes shuffled behind him. He knew of course that she was just playing around with him, but still couldn't help but flush at the thought.

"I'm just teasing, but… just think about how hot it'd be."

"You're always hot Zoe."

"Yeah I am. Ooh this one is perfect!"

A subtle green glow lit up the space between them as Zoe revealed the dress she found. It was a dress that draped over one shoulder, a glittering gold that sparkled off the eldritch energy that surrounded them. The single strap freed her tentacle arm up much more, as she did a little twirl for Tristo in the dull green glow.

"You look… stunning." Tristo said, the green energy sparkling in his eyes back to Zoe. She enjoyed the look and feeling of enamoration that Tristo radiated for her. Zoe did a little twirl, the dress almost seemed to leave a trail of energy on its own as she did so.

"We may have to find you a smaller size, since you'll be back to your standard Zoe size tomorrow though." Tristo said, giving her a soft smile.

Tristo started to take a step over towards her, when suddenly a force overtook him. A feeling of cold metal pressed against his throat, and outside chaos began to erupt. Zoe let out a hiss, feeling the fear and danger that rushed through Tristo's mind in this moment.

Holding him hostage, a mercenary with large horns protruding from their head. Tristo could not move an inch at the strength of the monster behind him.

Tristo could feel a rage burning between their connection. It was painful, and he could sense Zoe getting closer to a breaking point as her snarls got louder.

"If you so much as harm a single hair on his head…"

"Relax purple lady. He is insurance. Open the container door, slowly."

Zoe obliged, carefully watching the mercenary as she opened the door. Tristo wanted to help so badly, to let Zoe know it would be okay. As the door to the container opened. There was a flash of red.

Then darkness.

Zoe's words were the first thing to find Tristo's mind in the stillness. Filling his thoughts with warmth and comfort, the words sweet as honey.

"You're okay. You're safe. I'm here."

Sounds of crumbling and cracking rock began to trickle into Tristo's hearing. Light flooded his eyes, and he grimaced, more stone falling away from his face. Vera was angrily ranting, just barely perceptible by Tristo.

As his vision focused he looked up into the worried eyes of Zoe, who was dusting the stone off of him. In Tristo's mind, Zoe began to fill in the gaps of information he was not present for.

Half of the mercenaries turned on the other half, and a battle ensued outside the shipping containers. Vera and Valerie took cover behind the humvee, before Vera decided to go on full indiscriminate petrification. Easily turning most of them to stone, and when they entered the container, saving Tristo from his assailant. He was caught in the crossfire unfortunately.

They brought him back to the Oberlin house to cure him after the tussle ended. Where he finds himself now, cradled in Zoe's arms as the rest of the stone crumbles away.

Vera and Valerie crowd over as well to check on him. Tristo gives a very defeated thumbs-up, to the relieved sighs of all three of them.

"Vera… count me out of any crazy plans like that again. Okay?" Tristo grumbled, looking around the room hazily. Zoe dives head first into a large hug that smothered Tristo a bit.

"Well the plan wasn't crazy, first of all-" Vera began, but was cut off by a purr from Valerie.

"Sis, not now."

"Right. We're glad you're alright Tristo." Vera said, rolling her eyes ever so slightly.

The two Oberlin sisters place their hands on Tristo's arm with relief that their new and fragile family member was fine. Vera jumped, as if remembering something and sped off into another room, swiftly returning with something in her hands.

A dark suit, with a purple waistcoat, tie, and pocket square. The pattern on the waistcoat was swirled into soft yellow spirals.

"We at least didn't walk away empty handed. I have enough to make back double what I paid the shoddy mercenaries, and everyone has the outfits they desire for the Monster Prom." Vera said, with a confident smile.

"That suit is for me…?" Tristo said, looking at it with a studious glance. Zoe lifted her head up from Tristo's chest with a glint in her eyes. Her mischievous self seemed to have returned from the worry she felt moments prior.

"We're going to be the strangest couple at Monster Prom." She said, beaming with pride.

"That's an understatement. I can't remember a time a human has ever been at the academy, much less the prom." Valerie said, beginning to think back on Monster Prom's past.

"This year is bound to be something else with the extra money the school is making from having a human student. The principal had the right idea when he jumped on making you a student." Vera included. There was a sudden realization on Tristo's face as the three began discussing prom.

"Wait, what time is it?" Tristo asked, looking to the windows to try and tell the time of day.

"You were out for a few hours. Still plenty of time left in the day hon. What's up?" Zoe inquired, standing up from the couch and finally freeing Tristo from her death grip.

"I think Oz texted me that he needed a hand with something. Something prom related to Polly for final preparations."

With that the door to the Oberlin home flew open, with Oz standing there with a nervous expression.

"There you are! Tristo, I-" Oz stopped, and looked at the three gathered up closely around Tristo.

"I didn't interrupt something did I?" Oz said, raising a finger to point at them. The little Oz's that grew all along them turned to himself and facepalmed.

"As if!" Valerie said.

"Ew…" Vera and Tristo groaned.

"Hehe." Zoe chuckled. Looking at the other three as they all turned to her with disapproval. Tristo jumped up from the couch and bounded over to Oz.

"What did you need Oz?"

"Well there's a problem. See, I promised to fold and paint all these little paper specters. But I also needed to do something else just as important. So if you could help me with the specters while I do that…" Oz explained. Tristo seemed to think a moment before nodding.

"Say no more, I'll help you out Oz. I used to paint figures and stuff back home."

"Oh that's a relief."

"Now hold on there!" Vera said, stepping up to Oz who cowered a bit at her approach. "What's so important that you're neglecting your prom duties, Oz?" She continued, crossing her arms as she looked down into his eyes.

"I-uh…o-okay I need to get everything for a Reverse Romanian Wilkinson alright?! You forced it out of me." Oz squealed, his eyes darting around as the little Oz's bashfully hid their faces.

The same disapproving look that befell Zoe prior, made a reappearance now for Oz. Vera stepped away with a disapproving groan, as Valerie stepped forward.

"You got some money right? If so, we can source everything you need for that tonight."

"Yeah-yes! I'll pay whatever you need!"

"Then let's go for a ride Ozzy-boy." Valerie said, grabbing her keys and bounding outside.

"Hold on! I'll be right there!"

Oz runs out, before returning with the box of prom supplies.

"Tristo, you're the best man."

Tristo took the supplies with a smile, before returning to sit next to Zoe. She turns to him with a soft glance.

"That was really nice of you to take that off his plate, but you literally just recovered from petrification. And went through something really frightening. Are you sure you're okay?" Zoe asked, tenderly running her hand across his cheek.

"No, but honestly, doing this may help take my mind off of the dread for a moment."

"I'm sorry."

"Zoe, you don't have anything to be sorry for."

"It's just, if you didn't get pulled here, then you wouldn't have to fear for your life so much."

"My world wasn't the safest place either. In fact, it could be just as dangerous as that was sometimes."

"It just happens more often here."

"Zoe… wanna work with me on these little specters?" He asks, trying to push the thoughts of today from her mind. Their connection flared up once more as the two looked to each other.

"We're here for each other. Thick and thin. Partners. We protect each other."

Memories flash of Tristo fighting for Zoe back when they were adventuring with the Coven. Every time Zoe has grabbed Tristo with her tentacle and pulled him to safety. The two of them using a rolling chair for cover during an intense detention riot.

"We won't always be safe. But we'll be together."

Vera looked at the two with a blank expression.

"Can you two stop with the quiet staredown, let's get started on these little ghosts."

The two shook their heads, turning over to Vera.

"You're gonna help us?" Tristo asked, looking puzzled. Vera let out a small sigh.

"Yes. It's my fault you were there today, the least I can do is help make tiny ghosts. Plus… it's not so bad, spending time with you both. If either of you tell a soul I said that though, you'll both live to regret it." Vera snarled, but her snakes told a different story. They all looked on with happy glances, as Vera began to make the paper ghosts with the instruction sheet.

Tristo and Zoe gave each other a knowing glance, before they both sat down at the table on either side of Vera. The two wrapped Vera up in a hug, which she resisted for a moment, before settling into it.

"I miss when people in this house were afraid of me…" Vera grumbled. Her snakes droned out small hisses of laughter.

Meanwhile…

Aaravi and Trisha made their way through a thicket in the forest close to Monstropolis, their weapons at the ready. Trisha turns back to Aaravi for a moment, as they take a break from their hike in a clearing.

"This Tristo… you're sure there's nothing unusual about him? No abilities of any kind?" Trisha asked, as she sat down on a nearby log.

"One hundred percent sure. I mean he's nerdy, but other than that, he's aggressively normal." Aaravi replied, crossing her arms. "I mean I guess he's nice too. That's what most people say about him anyway."

"I see. You seem to know a lot more about him than your relationship with him would suggest." Trisha said, poking fun at Aaravi a bit. Aaravi blushed a bit, refusing to look Trisha in the eye.

"I had to do my research. I did attempt to slay him because I thought he was using Zoe. That's all. He does seem to really care about her… I guess." Aaravi responded with a huff.

"We always do." Trisha replied, curling her cybernetic legs close to her chest.

"You still haven't told me your deal lady. I can make a few guesses, but since we're taking a break, why don't you explain a little."

Trisha nodded, reaching into her bag and pulling out a small device. It looked similar to the teleporter hidden behind the Fourth Wall in the school cafeteria. A round disc, glowing with prismatic lights. It conjured forth an image that sparkled in Aaravi's eyes as she observed.

In stills, it depicted Trisha's story. She grew up in a barren desert wasteland, where she worked on vehicles for her gang of drivers. It was a hard life, but one she cherished with the people around her. Those that supported her transition, her morals, and her leadership. One day, after a strange dream, Trisha found herself in a world not too different from Aaravi's.

For a spell, Trisha was determined to get back to her world. But it all fell to the wayside as she fell in love with Zoe.

"So… Tristo is another version of you. You're always fated to meet Zoe?"

"That's what we thought. But it wasn't the truth. There's no statistical way that every single one of us should find our way to Zoe from different worlds. It was all orchestrated." Trisha said, her face falling as the stills continued. They showed other alternate versions of Tristo. Some depicted him as a monster, a normal person, an android, the list was endless. All with Zoe, all moving to darkness.

"Why would anyone do this? What's happening to all those universes?"

"Power. That's the simple answer. Our foe despises the fact that Zoe, his own mother, chose to be a normal girl. His end goal is to become as powerful as Z'Gord, and bring about the end of all existence. He's doing this by absorbing all the universes he's connected to by way of myself and Zoe." Trisha explained, looking at the final still, a picture of their foe and his three eyes.

"That's our theory anyway. Mine and the other various versions of myself I've met along the way. I'd hoped my version here would be useful too, but if he doesn't have any powers, I may not be able to stop him here either."

Aaravi seemed to contemplate on all of this for a time, before Trisha stood up.

"There's more. But we need to keep moving if we're going to catch up to him."

"Wait. He said something to me when I was goading him during our combat. He said I might have stood a chance if I weren't alone. Then when you showed up, he seemed surprised you arrived as early as you had." Aaravi said, clearly having put something together in her mind. Aaravi turned and offered her hand towards Trisha.

"Trisha… will you go to the prom with me?"

"Oh! That's very kind Aaravi, but I suppose I'm still sort of spoken for… and besides I don't have anything to wear-" Trisha replied nervously, blushing and trying to make excuses.

"I didn't mean it like that! I was just trying to… urgh you really are the same as him." Aaravi groaned, throwing her hands up and walking back towards the direction of Spooky Academy. Trisha had an amused smile and chuckled to herself, before chasing after Aaravi.