[Other Fanfic] Violet Midsummer Phantasm

[Palamon]

Welcome to the Violet Midsummer Phantasm. This will be a collection of assortment short stories across multiple different multiverse Siorc and his lives in that multiverse. Some of these will be fandom, some of them will not be, and it will be a wild ride. This will probably be 13 chapters, and will all just be a collection of short stories of things I have drawn for Siorc in the past and want to flesh out into a prose thing.

---

Puella Magi Siorc Magica

"I am called Siorc Ingne. I am a

Chimera. Which, it would seem,
Apparently, we exist for some reason or another.
No one knows why. Well, anyway, I am a student at Mitakihara. And, it's April, so new year. I

Get to start fresh, I have requested to go to school in the girls uniform.
Of course, there's been a little pushback.

To be honest, my parents had to fight
Over allowing me to go to

School presenting feminine. I
Can't quite understand that.
However, they fought for me
One day at a time,
One moment at a time
Look. I was suffocating

In the boys uniform. It
Never felt right. And, now

That I'm in my final year
Here, I did not want to suffer forever
Everyone fought for this, and I

Get to go to school
In the girl's uniform in my final year, I'm
Really, truly grateful. But
Let me explain
Something. I am neither a boy nor am I a girl. That's not all that

Unusual here, but I do feel alone in my suffering.
No more of that, though.
I can be my authentic self,
Finally. Feminine I can wear skirts,
Or dresses without getting caught, I know it's challenging the norms, but I'd
Rather be
Myself than suffer

Internally. I'd rather be me I

Can't be a shell
Any longer, I can
No longer hide. I

Should not have
To. I should not have to
Of course, there's more. I don't like my voice
Perhaps, I should just

Stop talking. If only I could
Utter words without needing to talk,
For something like that to be a reality,
For something like that to be real, I'd be
Eternally grateful. I'm
Ready to give up my soul for
It. I am serious.
Never having to talk again, I'd
Give up my soul for

It, in a heartbeat. I

Cannot stress this enough. I despise talking,
And I wish I did
Not have to. But, there's no

Such thing as hope.
There's no such things as magic
Or miracles don't exist.
Perhaps, I can

Start writing everything down
Uh, but my handwriting's awful.
For now, I need to
Figure something
Out. Something to
Consider. Something I
Am looking into.
To not have to talk,
I'd be free
Never having to hear my
Grating voice.

I'd be free, I would be

As free as a bird.
Maybe if I can

Find something to
Replace words,
Everything will work out perfectly fine
Everything will

Flow perfectly well.
One day, I'll find that
Ripe fruit.

Maybe I will find it soon.
Yes, I will

Find it soon
If I look for substitutions.
No one knows I feel this way
As I have never spoken about it
Likely never will.

Yes, it's better to keep this inside.
Everything is kept inside me
And, it's all burning
Remove all this from me. Ah,
Stop, stop, stop.

One, two, one, two.
For now, focus on the positive. Going to

School in the girls uniform
Can't despair now!
How could I? It's a
Once in a lifetime
Opportunity! I'll
Likely never get this change again,
I'm graduating
Next year. Ah, yes,
Graduation. After all I'm a third year. This is my last chance."

A young person with a hyena tail stood in a room full of darkness. There was a long winding corridor and a checkboard floor that went on for kilometers, and a far off door that stretched far away off towards the opposite end of the room. There was a foreboding atmosphere in the air, and it was tempting.

The young person knew the only option was to run. Run towards that door; see what's at the other side. It was the only option. The person continued to run, and run, long corridor twisting somewhat as the youth attempted to dash further. Pillars broke as the adolescent kept moving. The room had become small.

The door was nearing, it was getting closer, and closer. The youth knew the only way to escape was through that door. Freedom would await, the destruction would cease. It was getting closer with every step. The room was falling apart. The youth knew running faster was the only option. The person's tail whished as the youth did such.

Huffing and puffing, the youth clung to the closed entranceway. There it was, the ticket out of this place. The next frontier, the invitation out of here. Removing the locks, the door slammed open. Letting out a breath of relief, the individual stepped through the creeks. Welcome, freedom. Goodbye, destruction.

But, on the other side of the door was an unusual looking wasteland the youth had never seen before. A destroyed farm town from god knows where. The youth rubbed the eyes. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to read scary stories before bed. Well, oh well, what would that do now? Too late to change that.

Standing in the burned up tilled fields had been a tall young woman with long flowing light brown hair and tattered up school uniform. Next to her had been a strange pitch black creature with unusual ears and rings around them. Their pink eyes were creepy, looking. Almost as if they could steal the soul of the person who looked into them.

"So, you're saying I can have any wish I ask for, any that I want?" the brunette asked.

"That's right, any one wish you desire!" the black cat creature exclaimed.

The youth stared at the black cat creature. A wish? Any wish? Wishes, what an abstract concept. But, who didn't want something that was simply impossible? Everyone had their own selfish things. Cure a dying loved one, becoming god? Who wouldn't trade their soul for something like that? Anyone would at the drop of a hat.

"So, you really will grant anything, won't you?" the brunette asked.

"As long as it's within my power, I can." There was a deadpan look on the creature's face.

"Then, listen up, kitten," the brunette said in a demanding tone. "I wish for chimeras to be born from my own power. Humanoid individuals with the DNA of animals."

The person's body glowed as she said such. Her chest was blinding. The individual covered the eyes as such occurred. What was this intense energy? It was out of this world. Completely, and utterly otherworldly. Ethereal. If that was a word to describe it, now would be the only time it would work.

"But, for a wish like that! It would change the very fabric of the universe!" the black cat creature screeched.

"You said you would grant any wish, did you not?" the brunette said in a sinister tone. "From now on, as long as I exist, and even after once my corpse rots in the earth, chimeras will be born. Hurry up and grant my wish already, K---!"

Peep, peep, peep, peep.

An alarm clock screeched from the corner of the room. Lifting it upward, the owner of the device groaned. That was all a dream? Why did it all feel so real? How strange. Well, oh, well, it was nothing more than a dream. It's not like it was real or anything. It was time to forget about it, and move on.

A young, androgynous teenaged male with a hyena tail released himself from the covers of his bed. His messy, dark purple hair fell over his eyes as he moved towards his mirror. Moving his sloppy bangs out of the way, his purple and green eyes stared back at his reflection. Taking a deep breath, the hyena tail disappeared from behind him.

He ripped off the second of April off his calendar. It was finally the third of April, he was a third year, finally in his last year of schooling. Next year, he could finally bid this despair away, forever. The pain and suffering of uniforms. This would be last year of that. Or, that's what he would have said, like he had done every single year.

Hanging up on the wall had been a bright yellow school uniform with a red ribbon, and a black skirt. He could feel his cheeks grow warm as he looked at it. Finally, after seventeen years, eleven months, and three days, he could finally stop suffocating. Stop going to school in that imprisoning boy's school uniform.

He twirled as the frilly top melted onto his humanoid person. So, this is what it felt like to be in the girl's school uniform. He could finally breathe. Is this what being alive felt like? After three years of fighting with the Mitakihara School staff, he could finally be his true, genuine, feminine self. Braiding his hair into ringed loops, he put on his earrings and small hair barrette. A small little lavender flower adorned the left side of his hair. He let out a small giggle. He could finally wear them outside of the comfort of his room.

He soon stepped into the main room in the house. He could see his sister in the corner with her short, green curly hair pulled into a low hanging bun. Jam dripped from her mouth as she munched on her morning toast. Adding his own jammed up toast to the mix, the next player upon the battlefield stepped up onto the plate.

"Siorc, that uniform looks really good on you!" his father said.

Siorc bowed a thank you towards his father. He could finally feel grateful for hearing such a thing. Finally feel good about how he looked. Finally feel elated when hearing such a thing. He could feel his cheeks get a little hot as the compliments kept sweltering in. But, his phone alarm soon interrupted all that.

"Siorc, Hase, it's time to head for school!" his mother soon called out.

"See you later, mom!" his sister Hase exclaimed.

He bowed his head off towards his parents as he headed off towards the door. The two ran off towards the school building. But, there was something Siorc could not help but notice as he dashed off towards Mitakihara. Something unusual, something he had never quite noticed before. A new discovery.

On his sister's left ring finger had been a ring with a green jewel in it and runic symbols. The student couldn't help but feel confused seeing this thing. Did Hase have a boyfriend she was keeping a secret from everyone? But, he shook his head. Maybe not. Didn't she recently get that part time job? Maybe that's where she got it from.

The siblings soon separated themselves towards their respective classrooms. Everyone seating themselves towards their desks, everyone in Class 3A introduced themselves to one another after the teacher rambled about another bad breakup. New year, same old teacher. The adult world was a strange place. Every seat in front of him re-introducing themselves to the class, an announcement had soon broadcasted itself for everyone to hear.

"Oh, one more thing, class, I have an announcement to make!" the teacher exclaimed. "Siorc, could you please stand up?"

Name called out, the student blushed, for a moment. Ah, right, it was his turn to introduce himself to the class for the year, he almost forgot. He was the last from the back row, just how he liked it. Out of sight, out of mind. Sweating as he walked up to the front of the room, tens of tens of eyes were glued onto him.

"From now on, our friend here will be coming to school in the girl's uniform," the teacher announcer. "Please, be kind to him!"

He bowed as he heard such. But, the student couldn't help but feel a wave of embarrassment. Ah, why did she have to go and say that to a bunch of other students to listen? Couldn't this have been a quiet thing? Well, oh well, everyone knew now. They would have found out either way, anyway. He let out a whisper as people looked at him.

"Nice to meet you all again," the hyena chimera whispered.

There was a long school day ahead of him. He could see people staring at him, eyes gawking. But, he didn't care. He was being his authentic, feminine self. His parents fought hard to let him go to school in this uniform. Let the people stare. They could gawk at him all they wanted. The afternoon came, he could hear people giggle during lunch, but he didn't care.

He went off to the rooftop like always with his simple lunch. His childhood friend Yinlong and his sister ate alongside him. But, as he munched on his lunch, he recalled something. That strange dream he had. That unusual cat, the brunette. He could feel himself get extremely lost in thought as he thought about such.

"What's up, Siorc?" his friend asked. "You seem lost in thought today."

A short young woman with long silver hair pulled into a ponytail gazed at him with a puzzle look on her face. Her panda ears and pink eyes practically glowed across the sun. A ring sat on her right index finger with a pink stone on it. Did Yinlong have a boyfriend too, now? Ah, no, she also got that part time job recently, didn't she?

He gazed at his friend. Should he tell her about the dream he had? It's not like it was real or anything. But, maybe if he briefly spoke about it, it would finally leave his head. He supposed that was worth a try. It's not like it was real, after all. Being able to grant any one wish someone had? That only existed in fairy tales

He quickly explained the dream. The black cat creature. The weird brunette student, her wish. The long corridor. But, his sister and friend soon fell silent. Completely silent. Did he say something wrong? Maybe he shouldn't have brought it up. Serious looks wiped upon his sister's face, something rather unexpected had come his way.

"Siorc, if a strange black cat creature at any point, comes up to you, and offers you any one wish you want, stay away from him," Hase warned.

Unusual warning coming his way, the hyena chimera scratched his head. How strange, what was with this sudden level of caution? He did not know. It's not like wishes came true, or anything. But, he supposed he should keep this warning in mind if anything happened. Not like anything like that would. Of course it wouldn't.

He went to the arcade like he always did after school. He played his favorite game, Super Fleurina Sisters. He got the high score like he always did. He stared at the dress store he always wanted to enter but was never brave enough to. The beautiful purple and golden dress with flowers on it stared at him from the window like it always did. How he wished he had the confidence to go inside. Buy the dress, try it on.

But, he knew the employees would look at him like he was strange. He knew what they would say to him. He was a boy. This ship is for women, girls. If only magic truly existed, he would wish for the societal constructs of the so called gender of clothing to disappear. But, he knew that did not exist. There was no such thing as magic. There was no such things as miracles.

He would go home in the evening like he always did, reading his favorite manga, Mahou Shoujo Lilac. He could not help but feel a sense of longing after finishing every single volume. How he yearned to become a mahou shoujo like Lilac. But, that was all a fairy tale. It wasn't real. Why would it be? Maybe it was time to grow up and move on from such fantasies.

Weeks went by in school. But, the students were not kind like the teacher had told them. The male students, they would always laugh at him. Call him a princess in a mocking tone. Poke fun at his voice. Call him a little girlie when the teachers weren't around to stop it. Laugh at him during physical education, amongst other things.

But, it did not end there, some students had took it a step further. Some called him gross. Some called him the three lettered abomination that started with the sixth letter of the alphabet. He despised hearing it. How he wished he could graduate already. Get away from here, go somewhere away from the small minority of people who simply did not understand.

He despised it.

He despised it.

He despised it.

His sister, Hase and friend Yinlong had been away far more often lately. Their part time job had been getting busier. She had been getting home far later. During the first month of his third year in the High School branch of Mitakihara, the hyena chimera had realized something. Something major, something he supposed he had truly realized a long time.

Talking was not his cup of tea. His voice, he despised it. As he got older, that painstaking feeling would grow. He always tried speaking as little as possible. Saying things to a bare minimum. If only there were a way to communicate without talking, and he would take that offer immediately. The students lately, they would make fun of his voice. Maybe it was better if he never spoke at all.

The despair ate him up as he came home from the arcade. He could feel his heart race alongside his thoughts. Maybe he should just disappear. That would solve everything. He should disappear, he should disappear, he should disappear, he should disappear, he should disappear. He should disappear.

He could hear a voice in his head repeat such. Everything would be better if he disappeared. He should disappear. He could feel the world warp around him as he kept on walking home. The voices kept laughing at him. Everything would be better if he just disappeared. He could hear the sound of a monster screaming.

Siorc turned around towards the world around him as the voice stopped echoing. Finding himself in a world of red spider lilies, he tilted his head. Where was he? Lycoris Radiata, he had never seen those before in his entire life. Seeing a large grotesque monster that looked like it was made out of felt, decorated with blue bells, the student felt confused. Had he fallen into a daydream while he was heading home from the arcade? What in the world was that thing in the center of the flowers?

But, he had soon seen someone he had recognized and a few unfamiliar faces. Hase with her hair up in two heart shaped buns fighting the unusual creature, he pinched himself. Was he dreaming right now? He had to have been, surely. This looked like one of his abstract storybooks from his childhood. Yinlong in the corner holding a short sword, and stranger with rocket feet letting down an attack of fire, a black cat creature soon showed up on a scene.

"That's a witch," the black cat creature said.

Hearing such, the hyena chimera blinked. A witch? Those didn't look anything like they did in the manga he would read in his free time. Weren't witches cute girls who fought monsters? He didn't know what to believe anymore. But, he was probably dreaming again. That had to have been it, he pinched himself again, hoping to feel nothing. The black cat creature, however, shook their head.

"Siorc Ingne, this isn't a dream," the black cat creature said, shaking their head. "What you're seeing in front of you right now is real."

Black cat creature telling him everything in front of him was real, the student couldn't help but start to wonder. Was this the secret part time job Hase and Yinlong had? Those rings on their fingers, he thinks he understood now. Were they Magical Girls? Ah, no, that was a thing of fantasy. But, he had heard what the black cat thing said. This was real. Perhaps he could become--? No, what was he thinking? He couldn't become a magical girl; the universe saw him as the opposite side of the spectrum. It wasn't possible.

"Hase and Yinlong are Magical Girls?" Siorc whispered.

"That is correct, Siorc Ingne," the black cat creature said. "And, you can become one, too, if you wish for it."

"Den Hasenbau hinunter!" Hase shouted.

Witch getting destroyed with magical attacks he had never seen before, Siorc's eyes sparkled. So, this was what a magical girl battle looked like in real life? How beautiful. It was just like in the anime adaption of Mahou Shoujo Lilac, but cooler. Maybe he could become a Magical Girl, too. But, his thoughts were soon interrupted as the space around him went back to normal, and his sister, friend and a stranger stared at him.

"Siorc, what are you doing here?" Hase asked. But, she paused for a moment. "Hold on a second. Did you see everything that happened just now?"

Question coming his way, the hyena chimera nodded. Was that unusual? Was he not supposed to be able to see the witch? Ah, right, 'magical girl'. He wasn't supposed to be here, was he? How was he able to see the labyrinth? He did not know. Nothing was clear to him. He could hear his sister and friend sigh as he removed himself from his head.

"So, you did," Hase said, sighing. "Don't tell anyone about this at school, alright?"

"Dang, Siorc, you saw all that?" Yinlong asked. "Did I look cool?"

Giving his friend a nod, he gazed at the black cat creature. They said he could become a Magical Girl, too. Was that some sort of joke? Maybe it was, maybe it was not. He recalled what his sister said to him a few weeks ago. If he were to see a black cat creature tell him they could grant him any wish, he should stay away from it. Was this the creature he was meant to stay away from? But, he did not think much further about that. That didn't matter. That was weeks ago. Sister and friend leaving the scene, a new pair of eyes had soon been on him.

The mysterious girl with rockets for feet soon stared at him, lowering her eyes down into a squint. Seeing such, Siorc flinched. Why was she looking at him like that? It was his face, wasn't it? People at school always pointed at his face and laughed at it, so he supposed he was used to that sort of thing.

"But, Kurobi, how could he enter the labyrinth?" the stranger asked. "He's a guy, isn't he? I heard you say he could become a magical girl."

"That's right, Argenta Casur," Kurobi replied. "He has the potential to become a Magical Girl."

"But, I thought you said only girls could contract with you!" There was a tone of suspicion in her voice.

"He is an exception." The creature's tail soon scratched their ears with their hind feet as the said such.

Phone soon beeping, the hyena chimera flinched. Shoot, it was curfew already, when did that happen? He didn't have time to stay in this alleyway anymore! Running back home in a huff, the student stared off towards the wall. He could become a Magical Girl. Could he really? Maybe this was all some sort of trick. It had to be. There was no way he could become one.

Weeks would pass after such encounter. His school days had only begun to get worse as May had creeped around right up the corner. His earrings had been stolen, the name calling had only gotten worse. He could not take it anymore. Be nice to him, everyone? Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.

Ha. Be nice to him everyone. Sure.

The teachers were all talk. They said that, and they would never do anything about the tormentors. Never do anything about the name calling. Never do anything about the stealing. Never did anything when they called his voice unsavory words. He felt so alone. He was starting to regret it. Wearing the girl's uniform. Maybe he should have just suffocated in the boy's one instead.

He'd watch Hase, Yinlong and Argenta fight in the Witch Labyrinths with increasing danger after school. The desire was only getting stronger. A Magical Girl, maybe he should just become one already. He was tired of it all. Tired of his voice. Tired of everything. Tired of all the people laughing at him. He had had enough.

Since he had first stumbled upon the labyrinth, he had learned everything. He could make a contract in exchange for any one wish he wanted, and become a Magical Girl. One single wish, and he would gain magical powers, and fight witches. Every single day, that was sounding more enticing. He did not know why he was an exception, but he never questioned it.

But, lately, his sister had been acting quite strange over the past few weeks. She had become untrusting of Kurobi. Going off on her own, destroying witches by herself. He didn't understand. What had gotten into her recently? He did not know. But, he had come to a decision. Tomorrow, he would finally do it. He would finally go through with it.

He would make the contract.

He headed over to the school roof during lunchtime like he always did. Whispering Kurobi's name, the black cat creature soon appeared out of nowhere. He took a deep breath as the alien looked at him. No going back this time. He was ready. It was time to make the contract. Time to become a Magical Girl. Time to put an end to all this suffering.

"Kurobi, I have a wish," Siorc said, not whispering. "Can you really grant me anything I ask for?"

"That's correct, Siorc Ingne," Kurobi responded. "Anything you desire." Their tail swished as they said such. "Make a contract with me, and become a Magical Girl!"

He took a deep breath. Any wish he wanted, right. He knew what he wanted. Not having to talk would be nice. Never having to utter a word ever again. If something like that could be granted, he would be eternally grateful. He would even give up his soul for it. Exhaling, he prepared himself. It was time.

"Kurobi, I wish--" But as he had begun to do so, the door to the roof slammed open.

"No, Siorc! Don't contract with that thing!" Hase shouted. "Don't enter into a contract with that monster!"

"Siorc, why? Why?" Yinlong asked. "Why are you talking to that thing? He's trying to trick you!" But an interruption had come her way.

"Please, don't interfere, this is what I want," Siorc responded.

"Siorc, you don't understand!" Hase shouted. "That thing is tricking us! Don't make a contract!"

The hyena chimera shook his head. What had gotten into Hase lately? She had been acting so strange. He did not understand. What had happened to her? She had been angrier lately. Much angrier. But, he did not care what she had to say. Why stop him now? She had already been too late, anyway.

"Kurobi, I wish to be able to communicate without talking. Something, anything, so I don't have to talk!" Siorc declared.

His body glowed a blinding light as he said such. He could feel a sharp pain come from his body as Kurobi's ears touched him. He did not understand. What was this pain he was feeling? He did not know why, but he could feel something being ripped out of him. His chest was warm. Was that normal? Opening his eyes, something soon appeared in his hands.

A bright purple and green jar sat in the palm of his hands. What was this thing called again? He heard Hase call it by a name once. He needed to remember. Ah, right, a Soul Gem. That's what it was called. So, this was the contract. He was a Magical Girl, too, just like his sister. He was Mahou Shoujo Lilac in real life.

The next few days after become a Magical Girl, the hyena chimera had discovered something. He had suddenly been proficient in sign language overnight. He could feel a wave of joy flow through him. He didn't have to talk anymore. He had a way to communicate without talking. He could feel himself over the moon over such a thing.

But, he had to fight for his wish. He remembered what the black cat told him. In exchange for one wish, he would have to fight as a Magical Girl. He had been alerted of a witch by the stranger student, Argenta. Moving towards the alleyway, he took out his soul gem and closed his eyes. Purple dress with golden flowers appearing in place of his school uniform, the hyena chimera felt over the moon.

Magical rod appearing in his right hand, the fight was on. Large monstrosity in front of him, he kept on fighting. Paper mache creature fighting back, he let out a scream as blood trickled down his leg. Why was this so difficult? This wasn't like Mahou Shoujo Lilac at all. Not at all whatsoever.

Winning the fight, a strange black jewel dropped from the creature. Kurobi informing him it was a Grief Seed, he gazed at his Soul Gem. Ah, it had gotten a little darker, hadn't it? Pressing the strange black egg onto the container, he couldn't help but question everything that had just happened, all at once.

His Soul Gem, what would happen if he wouldn't be able to purify the mud? Would he not be able to fight anymore? He did not know. But, he knew he would have to keep it clean, at all costs. Or something bad would happen. He continued to fight the witches, through and through. And, there had been rewards aplenty.

But, as the weeks passed after making his wish, the student could feel the regrets settle in. The teachers at school, they would ask him questions. Why was he communicating with sign language now? He isn't deaf. Please communicate normally. The teachers, they refused to reason with him. They would not make the effort to understand him. He could feel the darkness creep in every time he heard such a thing.

The students at school, they would laugh at him. Call his fingers stupid for dancing. He did not understand. Why? Why didn't anyone want to make the effort into comprehending sign language? The teachers, the students, they all said the same things. They don't understand. He isn't deaf. Communicate normally.

Lunchtime on the roof had gotten lonely over the past few weeks or so. Hase had stopped coming. Yinlong had mysteriously changed schools. He felt so alone. So empty, so hollow. Like a space alien; a foreigner. Was this all because he became a Magical Girl? He knew that might have been the case. Why did he choose this path? Why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

He shouldn't have become a Magical Girl.

But, he knew he had to keep on fighting. He made a wish, didn't he? And, it came true. So, he had to keep on battling. He had no choice. He kept fighting the witches alone, or the witch's familiars, rather. Less Grief Seeds had begun dropping. His Soul Gem had become muddier. But, he could feel himself begin to care less as the fights kept on going. Ah, what did it matter anymore? What did any of this matter anymore?

He should have never become a Magical Girl. This was nothing like his favorite manga at all.

His sister kept ignoring him in school, and at home. She refused to communicate with him. He could not comprehend any of this. What had he done wrong? He did not know. But, the distance between them would continue to grow bigger as the months grew on. Spring had come and gone. And, summer was cold. Empty. Alone.

His parents did not understand, either. His sudden switch to sign language. They would ask him questions. Was this some sort of phase? He was eighteen now, he was too old to having phases. No one understood him. No one cared to understand him. Why? Why hadn't he thought to ask Kurobi to also make it so people would be able to comprehend sign language, too? Why hadn't he give his wish a little more thought?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

Why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why, why?

He should have given it more thought.

The fights alone had only gotten more intense. His sister never helped him; she had claimed another city as her own territory along with Yinlong. He did not understand any of this. Magical girls, weren't they supposed to fight in a team? Everything he ever knew in his childhood manga was breaking, cracking, destroying itself. He should have known this wouldn't have been like the manga he used to read all the time.

He could feel himself begin to lose hope as his battles went onward. What was he battling for anymore? His wish? What was the point in all that? No one understood him, no one cared to bother to learn sign language. All of this was pointless. Everything about this was pointless. Why did he become a Magical Girl? He should have listened to Hase. He shouldn't have made that wish.

His Soul Gem had gotten darker, muddier. But, he stopped caring. What was the point in keeping it all nice and pretty anymore? What was the point in doing all that? He couldn't find a purpose anymore. Despair clinging onto his back, he could feel himself ready to break. He should have listened to Hase. He should not have contracted.

He could feel himself crack as the days went on in solitude. The crack had begun to shatter. Dashing away in the middle of the night, he could hear feet chase after him. But, he disregarded it. Hase, why was she bothering now after all these months of ignoring him? Why bother to care now? The student sat down upon the flowerbeds, holding his head as he let out a loud scream.

Why?

Crack.

Soul Gem soon cracking, he could feel his mind become spaghetti.

An extreme, intense energy soon engulfed the city. Chasing after her brother, Hase could hardly believe her eyes. Grief Seed hatching right before her very eyes, a terrifying monster soon appeared in front of her. Large flowerpot with swirly purple and green eyes, and braids similar to her brother, she had come to a quick realization.

That was her brother standing before her.

She could see Kurobi standing by the flowerpot witch. Her rage was mounting. Kurobi, this thing, why hadn't they told her the truth about Magical Girls? She wouldn't have signed a contract with him if she knew. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha. This had to have been some joke, right? A prank because she had distanced herself from him shortly after he became a Magical Girl? It had to have been.

"Kurobi, bring my brother back!" Hase cried. "Give him back to me!"

"I can't do that, Hase Ingne," Kurobi said in a monotone voice.

"What do you mean you can't bring him back?!" Hase shouted. "Quit fooling around, Kurobi! Give my brother back to me!"

"You should know better than anyone, Hase. Your brother has become a Witch. I can't bring him back," Kurobi responded, shaking his head. But, tears soon interrupted it all.

"This is all my fault, if I hadn't ignored him after he became a Magical Girl. If I hadn't distanced myself from him, this would have never happened!" Hase cried. She could feel the tears stream down her face. "Siorc, I'm sorry! I'm sorry for distancing myself from you! I'm sorry for turning my back on you when you were suffering." She turned towards Kurobi. "Please, Kurobi, there has to be a way to turn him back! Anything!" But, that's when it happened.

Boom.

Rocket Magical Girl Argenta coming onto the scene, the Flowerpot Witch had soon been slain. She could feel herself grow numb as a Grief Seed dropped down onto the ground. Now, how could she do that? That was her brother. Or, what used to be him, rather. Why did she go and defeat him like that? She could feel her soul gem grow dark at the sight before her.

"Argenta, why did you do that?" Hase cried. "That was my brother!"

"Formerly your brother," Argenta responded in an echoing tone. "You know it's your duty as a Magical Girl to exterminate witches."


Witch barrier closing, she could feel the tears continue to fall. All of this was her fault. Her brother becoming a witch, she was to blame for that. She shouldn't have done that. She should have fought alongside him. She shouldn't have turned a blind eye to all the mean students heckling him. Why did she do that? Siorc was gone. Gone forever. Gone forever because of her stupidity. She should have killed that stupid thing, that stupid Kurobi. Killed them before they could contract him. Tears continuing to fall, the despair settled in one final time.

She shouldn't have let Siorc become a magical girl.

All of this was her fault.

---

After ten years of wanting to do a Madoka thing, I finally did the Madoka thing. Wow.

Also: Siorc's Puella Magi form, The scene on the rooftop, Old artwork of Siorc in the Mitakihara Uniform, Siorc's Witch Form, Old artwork of Siorc cosplaying Sayaka.

 

[Palamon]

Sharkmaid Bubble Blower

TRIGGER WARNING: mild gore.

---

"Hello there, my name is Siorc. I am an
Ever quiet Shark Mermaid. I
Live in the Shark Kingdom under the sea, and I
Love it here. No
One knows why I was born

The way I was. My sister, Music and I
Have been regarded as special by the sea community.
Everyone in our little world knows mermaids are
Rather different from sharks. We haven't
Ever quite known our true origins

In this world.

After all, both our
Mother and father left us.

They left us at a young age.
How long ago?
Eh. Who knows? I have long

Since forgotten. We're apparently of mixed race
Here, that's usually
A thing that is
Regarded with heavy scrutiny. I don't
Know why, to be honest.
Maybe the king knows, but
Ah, it's not like it really matters.
It's not like I am in
Dire need of knowing.

So, my origins being a mystery?
I'm fine with that.
Of course, I kind of have to be.
Really, I don't quite have a
Choice. The King doesn't really answer questions.

Who would ever dare and ask him anything, am
I right? I prefer not
Talking if I can
Help it. Especially not singing. You see,

My singing voice, unlike normal mermaids harms people.
You know there's times that I

Shouldn't have been born at all.
I'm at the point I feel like I
Should never have been.
Then there's my sister, she's the
Ever loud even more unusual, shark mermaid with
Rat ears. I sometimes think,

Maybe we aren't even related.
Yet, it seems I am
Somewhat wrong
In that regard.

We are definitely related, according to
Every one of our shark family who

Aptly took us in
Right after we were abandoned.
Eh, so I just don't doubt it anymore.

For now, my life is
Relatively simple,
One day at a time I
Move things for our shark family

That cannot, you know
Hold things with their fins.
Every so often, though

She suggests something kind of
Horrifying? She's been
Asking this of me a lot
Rather recently:
Knock the king out to get answers about our origins

Knock the king out?
I, uh, there's
No way I am
Going to go ahead and
Do that, Mysi.
Of course though,
Mysi keeps insisting and insisting upon insisting.

But, I continue to shake my head
Unrelenting in my resolve
To never ask the king of the

Sea for answers, ever. To be
Honest, we are not at all
Entitled to an answer, Mysi.

Just accept it. We really don't need an answer. Let this renain
Unanswered for the rest of eternity. But, no.
She insists. She's going to keep on doing
That, insisting. I keep telling her, we

Shouldn't. I know it's better left
Unanswered. Besides the king is busy. He's not
Going to answer us. Not
Going to bother with us lowly peasants.
Even if we get an appointment,
Something of that caliber
Takes a lot of work.
Eh, so why should we bother?
Don't. It's honestly better things

Stay unknown. That's quite
Obviously for the best.
Maybe I don't want to know why I
Exist as a hybrid between
Two species. Why would I
Have any reason to care?
I don't need to know. I
Never needed to know. But,
Great, she's starting

To drag me.
Even though I shook my head over thirty times!
Roar, by the sea gods, Mysi, stop.
Right, she's not going to,
I see, I see, I see.
Bet we're getting banished today.
Let's wave goodbye to our home, goodbye.
Eh, so much for staying away from the king. This is my sister's fault."

A short, androgynous, purple haired individual with a shark mermaid tail placed shell earrings upon his ears. His long ponytail dropped over his chest as he prepared for yet another long day of work. Left pink eye practically sparking, his right purple eye almost looked dead. Light green top and matching shell hairpin clicked inward, he placed the open sign outside the door of the shop entitled Shark Rat Odd Jobs.

Reaching for his twenty six bubble wands and jar of soap, the mermaid cracked his knuckles. Tool placed upon the sea denizen's belt, he looked around his little shop. By the sea gods, what was his sister doing this time? As of late, she had been acting quite weird lately. Swimming around the store, he could not see his own kin anywhere. Whatever she might have been up to at this point in time, he hadn't the foggiest.

Door slamming open, a short young mermaid woman with light greyish purple hair swam through the door. Her long ponytail was practically her entire height of fifty inches. Looking into her bright, tiny green eyes, he removed a collection of bubble wands sighing. What had his sister Mysi been up to this time? Rat ears bouncing up on the top of her head, and shark mermaid tail sparkling aplenty, He lifted the cover off his soap solvent.

Bubbles blown one after another, a message had soon appeared on the water. Words, where were you, Mysi, appearing in front of her, he could see her swat them away. Seeing such, more had been blown. Repeating the question, they had once again been popped in quick succession from one another.

"Geez, Siorc, for once in your life, can't you just talk to me instead of blowing your stupid bubbles to communicate with me?!" his sister Mysi complained. "What does it matter where I was? Maybe I was with Hammerhead helpin' him out with his house again!"

Siorc shook his head at such revelation. She was with Mr. Hammerhead? Sure, she was. She was doing no such thing. He didn't buy that whatsoever. If the sharks had chosen to invite her to their houses, they would have invited him, too. That's how shark etiquette worked. All the sharks were friends with one another. Someone seemed to have forgotten that, didn't she?

"Don't lie," Siorc whispered.

Sister flinching, the shark mermaid crossed his arms across his waist. His sister had been acting rather strange lately. Constantly talking about having a word with the Sea King, he could hardly understand what she could possibly be thinking. What could possibly be going through his only kin's mind? He hardly knew these days.

Lately, she had saying rather ridiculous things. Sister stating she was going to demand answers about their parents, the shark mermaid could hardly believe what he had been hearing lately. He had told her so many times at this point. It was a pointless fight. The Sea King didn't answer to lowly citizens without an appointment.

"Alright, fine! Ya got me!" Mysi shouted. "I was outside the king's palace!"

Hearing such, the sea denizen let out a sigh. Removing three bubble wands, the word why had floated upon the water. But, she had once again swatted the bubbles away. Repeating the word, his only kind had begun laughing. Ah, what had gotten into her lately? He didn't know. She had been making excuses to go to the outside of the king's palace a lot lately.

"You know full well what I was doin'!" Mysi exclaimed. "I was--" but the bell on the from outside soon opened.

Hammerhead shark swimming into the shop, the shark mermaid floated off behind the counter. His first customer of the day. Message, Welcome to Shark Rat Odd Jobs, how may I help you? The undersea predator eating the words, they opened their jaw and gave a toothy smile. Seeing such, the sea denizen smiled back.

"Heya Siorc, heya Mysi," Hammerhead greeted. "I gotta job for ya!"

"Sup, Hammerhead!" Mysi exclaimed. "Whatchya got for us today?"

"Build the second floor of Fish A La Mode for us!" Hammerhead exclaimed. "The Sea King's coming! Gotta make the place spiff and new for him!"

Shark in front of him asking his sister and she to finish building the second floor of the recently built fish restaurant, the sea denizen blinked. Hold on, the Sea King was coming to their little village? No way. That had to have been too good to be true. Maybe Mr. Hammerhead had been mistaken? Why would the leader of the entire ocean ever come to their lowly little abode?

"Did you just say the Sea King is comin here?!" Mysi asked.

"Yeah! He heard about the new restaurant, and he wants to be the first customer!" Hammerhead exclaimed. "Tiger and the gang are out hunting the highest quality fish for him!"

Hammerhead quickly confirming that the Sea King would indeed be coming to the newly built restaurant, the mermaid stared at their shark pal. Hold on, this was real? By the sea gods, this couldn't have been worse timing. He knew exactly what his sister might have been thinking in that brain of hers right now.

Gazing at his kin, the mermaid lowered his eyes into a suspicious glare. She was going to invite herself to his dinner, isn't she? He would not allow her to do such a thing, if she were to say that. Neither of them needed to know about where the parents that abandoned them are now, or their true origins.

He could see Mysi's eyes begin to sparkle. There it was, that look on her face. The one that she would always use around Mrs. Tiger Shark when she wanted free fish from her. If she was going to invite herself to the Sea King's dinner, he would not allow it. Not for even a moment. She had better not mention that.

"Of course, of course! Mysi exclaimed. "We'll even act as waiters, too!" She flapped her hands across the water as she said such. "Right, Siorc? We gotta serve the king!"

Siorc let out a sigh at such point being made. Mysi just wanted to do whatever she could to be alone with the king, didn't she? He could not believe this. Why was she so eager to try and meet him lately? He did not get it. Every day lately, she would say the same thing. It's not like he would ever, at any given point of time even give one single glance their way.

Removing multiple bubbles wands, the shark mermaid words soon blew upon the water. Don't overstep your bounds, Mysi appearing on the water, Mr. Hammerhead soon ate them like he always did. Only kin glaring daggers at him, he readied a groan. And, there she goes again. He knew exactly what she was about to say.

"Siorc, you're such a party pooper!" Mysi exclaimed pouting. "Please, Mr. Hammerhead, can we serve the king his fish cuisine?"

"Aww, I don't know, Mysi, Miss Angel was gonna serve the king!" Hammerhead exclaimed.

"Miss Angel ain't got no fins to serve the king!" Mysi exclaimed. "Let us do it!"

The sea denizen's ears twitched as Mysi kept on trying to worm her way into the Sea King's night at the new restaurant. She couldn't be serious right now. He needed to put a stop to this before she got her hopes up. There was no way that he would answer their questions she might have had. They were half breeds, the disgrace of the ocean.

Or, at least, that's what he knew. For as long as he could remember, he had been quite different from other mermaids. He did not have a shiny, sparkly tail like they did. His hair had been a singular shade, not tri colored like the rest of mermaid kind. He always knew something was off about his sister and he.

"'Alright, alright, buddy, I'll see what I can do," Hammerhead replied. "But, you gotta finish building the last room on the second floor, as well as painting it!"

"Of course, we got you! We'll do it right away!" Mysi exclaimed. She she said such, she grabbed her sibling's collar. "C'mon, Siorc! We're goin' to finish that restaurant!"

Dragged towards the mostly finished eating establishment, the mermaid let out a groan. Say the king's name, and she's as eager as ever to get to work. It always took her some convincing to even put forth the effort sometimes. But, bring the leader of the sea into the equation, and she changes her entire song and dance. Unbelievable. That was all it took? Maybe he should have brought the king into more conversations to get her to be less lazy half the time.

Reaching the eating establishment, the party of two swam upwards towards the second floor. What was all that they had left to do, anyway? Ah, right, finish the last room's ceiling and then paint the walls. How could he forget something so important? It's almost as if his own sister distracted him there for a second.

Swimming upwards towards the top the sea denizen hammered the wood in place. Sister hammering everything, he held back another sigh. She was super eager today, wasn't she? He bet that if the king weren't coming, she wouldn't out in any work of any kind whatsoever. But, maybe he was being too harsh.

Putting down more wood, the sea denizen gazed at his sister once more. What could she possibly be thinking at a time like this? She was finally going to get an audience with the king? No fat chance in Atlantis of that happening. They were definitely going to get sentenced there any time now. There was no way they would even so much as glance their way.

Roofing done after a few sea hours, the party of two had begun painting. Sister suggesting the second floor be painted a bright coral pink, the shark mermaid twisted the cap off his soap solvent. Word no blown upon the air, his only kin swatted his communication away. But, he blew the two letters again. Didn't she remember? The sharks wanted the walls grey, like themselves. He wasn't about to break their rules.

Removing further wands, the mermaid blew once more, bubbles reading out, remember what the sharks wanted. Grey walls. He could feel an incoming whine come his way. Mysi, why did she insist on being so difficult? This wasn't her fish food establishment. This was the shark's. She couldn't color the walls as she pleased.

"Siorc, you're such a spoiled sport!" Mysi shouted. "This is the room the Sea King is eating in!" She flapped her hands as much as her gums. "The Sea King! And you know his colors are pink and brown! That's the national Ocean Royalty symbol!"

The sea denizen slapped his palm across his forehead. Ah, there she goes again, like always. Whenever she really wanted something, she wouldn't hesitate to say how she liked it. When would she learn that sharks had mean tempers? Jus because they were only partially shark didn't mean they could break the rules of the sea world.

Blowing out yet another no with his bubble wand, the sea denizen had begun painting the walls grey as Mr. Hammerhead had asked a few days ago. He could hear his only kin curse him every step of the way. But, he would not change his song and dance. No matter what she tried to do, he was not, under any circumstance, coloring the walls coral pink.

Hammerhead soon swimming up the to the second floor after three sea hours had come on by, the mermaid let out a huff. The restaurant was almost done now. It would be ready for the Sea King's arrival any day now. Or, would it? If there was more work to be done, he'd do it in a heartbeat. Had to earn his keep in this village, after all.

"It's coming along great, guys!" Hammerhead shouted, waving his fins up in the air. "It just needs one more thing!"

"It's pink, right?!" Mysi exclaimed. "The walls need a little pink!"

"Pink?" Hammerhead asked, puffing his sea nostrils. "No! I was just thinking we needed a throne chair for His Majesty Garran! Can you two come to my house and get it for me?"

"Well, I think this place could use a little pink for His Majesty!" Mysi exclaimed.

"Mysi, don't make me mad! You know what happens when you make a shark angry!" Hammerhead growled.

"Alright, alright, no pink!" Mysi cried. "Come on, Siorc! Let's go get His Majesty's chairs!"

Swimming off towards Mr. Hammerhead's house, the sea denizen blinked. She sure was eager today, wasn't she? He had never seen this level of energy from his own kin before. Bring the king into the conversation, and she's ready for action. He really ought to bring the king into the conversation more often. Maybe if she did, she'd actually do more work.

Large pink and brown royal chair sitting in their shark friend's home, the shark mermaid's earrings almost fell straight off. Maybe Mysi had the right idea about painting the walls pink. He could feel his prison sentence coming any second now. Any moment now. He heard one time that somethin wasn't to His Majesty's liking, they'd probably be punished.

Lugging the seating arrangement off towards the eating establishment, the sea denizen arranged His Majesty's room accordingly. Mr. Hammerhead soon letting them off for the day, he had been the dinner would be tomorrow. Hearing such, the mermaid sweat. Ah, great, it was going to be tomorrow. Blowing out the word, tomorrow? The shark pal gobbled up the letters, like usual.

"Yup, tomorrow night!" Mr. Hammerhead exclaimed. "You two better get yourselves ready!"

"Oh, we will!" Mysi cried. "We'll be very ready!"

"Okie dokie, goodnight you two!" Hammerhead exclaimed, bidding his farewells.

Mr. Hammerhead soon swimming out of the eating establishment, Siorc and his kin returned to their store for the ocean evening. Staring at his sister, he knew exactly what was on her mind. She would demand an audience with the king. As if that was happening. He wouldn't even so much at gaze at the two of them. They were half breeds. Half breeds were the scum of the ocean. The only group who ever accepted them was the shark village. He knew that.

Tomorrow came by in the blink of an eye. Sister demanding he wear his nicest shirt, the mermaid slipped on a pink frilly top much to his sister's badgering. Right, wear His Majety's colors. Sister wearing a brown top to match, he gazed at her. It was coming, wasn't it? That they should invite themselves into a conversation with him.

"When we're servin' him our food, we're asking about our parents!" Mysi shouted. "We'll be his waiters. His Majesty will have no choice but to talk to us!"

Siorc rolled his eyes to such. Why was Mysi so bent up on having an audience with His Majesty? He couldn't believe this. There was no way he would even want to speak to them. He was the leader of the entire ocean. They were mere peasants upon the totem pole. They were about to get spit on, for sure.

"Heeeey, Siorc, Mysi, His Majesty is coming soon!" Mr. Hammerhead shouted. "Come to Fish A La Mode!"

Summoned, the sharkmaid duo headed off towards the restaurant. Swimming up to the second floor, a large masculine merman with a pinkish red mohawk with blue and orange sideburns and dark brown skin sat upon his throne with an irritated look on his face. Siorc could not help but feel chills down his spine seeing the ocean overlord looking like that. Glaring at Mysi and he, he could feel chilling words about to topple him.

"You're having halfbreeds wait my table?" His Majesty shouted in a booming voice. "How dare you! Where's Mrs. Angel?!"

"Sorry, Your Majesty!" Hammerhead responded. "Mysi wanted to wait you personally!"

"Disgusting," His Majesty said, gagging. "You'd better make sure my food is perfect, or you're getting sent straight to Atlantis!"

"We'll do our best, Your Majesty!" Hammerhead exclaimed, clapping his flippers together. "So, what do you want to order?"

"Your finest plate of grilled sushi, now!" His Majesty demanded.

Hearing such, the duo ran off towards the kitchen. Grilled sushi? Grilled sushi, of all things? All those fish the sharks have been hunting, all turned into sushi. Sometimes he wondered if His Majesty were some sort of cannibal, or something. Weren't the fish his loyal subjects? Well, oh well, what did he know?

As everyone prepared the sushi, he could already anticipate what his sister was thinking. She's going to ask about their parents that abandoned them. Didn't she see that the overlord of the entire ocean wasn't interested in all that? He was disgusted to even be so much as near the two of them. Sometimes, he wondered if the two of them were even actually related at all.

"Now's the time to ask him about our folks!" Mysi exclaimed. "We wore pink and brown for him! He's gotta make an exception for us!"

Bringing out the sushi, the mermaid let out a groan as Mysi attempted to ask question after inquiry with absolutely no avail. Turning around, the sea denizen couldn't sit by and watch this trainwreck unfold. King continuing to yell he would not answer a halfbreed's questions, he dragged his kin away from the man. Didn't she hear what he just said? What had gotten into her lately?

Reaching for his bubble wands, the mermaid blew out the word, stop upon the water. But Mysi refused to yield. Bubble wands yanked form him, she soon blew out the two letter word of rejection. He groaned seeing such. Why was she using his communication device? She knew the rules, don't touch it. It was his.

"If he's not gonna talk to us peacefully," Mysi said in a sinister tone. As she said such, she took out a sword. "We're going to force the answer out of him!"

Sister grabbing a sword, the mermaid's jaw dropped open. What in the world was his sister suggesting? What in the world was she suggesting? No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Mysi, was she even thinking clearly right now? She most certainly wasn't. Oh, by the sea gods, they were getting a death sentence by the end of this dinner.

Dessert not to the king's liking, the mermaid could feel everything about to crash. King screaming at Mr. Hammerhead for letting halfbreeds in the kitchen, he could feel it now. The ultimate punishment, off with their heads. But, things were about to take a turn for the worst as Mysi's blade charged forward.

Blood dripping over the table, the sea denizen's could see the anger well up in the king's face. Mysi, why did she do that? Did she not realize what she just did? This was a betrayal, a full blown act of assassination. Why? Why would she do something like this? He gazed at her as she pressed the blade in deeper. Who was this person right before him?

"You halfbreeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeed!" His Majesty shouted. "Get out of this village now, or off with your heads!"

Sister grabbing his hand, the duo swam as fast as they could with all their might. Swimming out of the shark village, he kept gazing at his kin. Mysi, she had been planning that attack for awhile now, hadn't she? Was this really his sister, or had he been in front of a monster right now? He didn't know anymore. Blowing out the message, what now, we've been banished? A stupid suggestion had come his way.

"We'll go the mermaid village nearby!" Mysi exclaimed.

Hearing such, the shark mermaid blinked. Uh, what now? Go to the mermaid village nearby? What a terrible idea. The Sea King went there often, didn't he? They were so getting executed any second now. They were halfbreeds. They weren't welcome in Mermaid Villa. He knew that. Letting out a sigh, he forced words out.

"We're not allowed there," Siorc whispered.

"Who said we'd be going there in our current appearances?" Mysi asked. As she said such, she dropped a bucket of sparkling paint onto her brother's tail. "Get comfortable with hair dye!"

Days soon passing, the sharkmaid's hair had become purple, pink and green. Sparkly green mermaid tail beneath him, he could feel his cheeks grow bright red. This? This disguise was going to be seen through in a day or two, guaranteed. Mysi adorning a tri colored wig, he rolled his eyes. They're going to know it's her from the wanted posters, guaranteed.

Reaching Mermaid Villa after two sea days, a feminine appearing mermaid with short hair that barely went below their ears guarded the outside. Their pinkish red hair with blue and green tips practically glowed on the ocean bed. Their dark skin looked almost familiar. They had to have been related to the Sea King. Standing next to them had been a masculine appearing merman with a peruke like hairdo. Their bright yellow, orange and red locks looked rather unusual. Mermaid tails extremely sparkly, the sea denizen covered his eyes. So, these were what purebred mermaids looked like? He was scum to the earth.

"You two, you're not from around these parts, are ya?" Mermaid One asked. "What Village ya from?"

"Crab Junction!" Mysi lied. "We're a travelling choir, and we need a place to stay! Could you trouble us with taking us to your nearest hotel?"

"Crab Junction?" Mermaid Two asked. "Not buyin' it. "All mermaids who live there have bright blue hair with gold and silver streaks." They then smacked their open fist upon their palm. "You're not that halfbreed who's trying to run away, are you? Her wanted poster is everywhere!"

"Oh, really? Well, we just dyed our hair an stuff, ya know? Ha ha ha!" Mysi lied. "Also, we're part of the hat wearing chorus, and stuff!"

"Riiiiiiiiiight, if you say so," Mermaid Number Two said, rolling their eyes. "Whatever. Come in. I'm named Lechi, and this is Noce. Tell us your names, and you can pass."

"I'm Mysi, and he's Siorc!" Mysi said such with a proud tone. But, a cough had come her way.

"Those are quite unusual names for mermaids," Noce said, coughing. "Whatever. Come on in. We'll show you to the hotel."

Taken to the hotel, a short mermaid with bright orange, gold and silver twin drills sat behind the counter. Her ruby red eyes glowed against the sea. Next to her had been a mermaid with a low bun. Their hair had been black, white mixed with a little blue. The sharkmaid could feel everything begin to crumble. Ah, he was so getting caught. Any second now.

"Who are they?" Mermaid Number Three asked, irritated.

"Yes, do tell, who are they?" Mermaid Number Four asked.

"Ulka, this is Siorc," Noce said to Mermaid Number Three. They then turned towards his sister. "And, Isamu, this is Mysi."

"Siorc?" Ulka asked in disgust. "What village are you from? Your name is disgusting, you know that?"

"Hahaha, our parents thought it'd be funny if we're named what a shark would call their kids!" Mysi lied.

"Right. If you say so," Isamu said, lowering their eyes into a squint. "But, since you're part of some choir, make sure you're awake at five-o-clock sharp." The then stretched out their hand. "We'll take you to your rooms."

Taken to a hotel room, the sharkmaid gulped. Mysi, what in the world was this lie she was setting up? Singing, in a choir? No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. No, no, no, no, no, no. No. Did she forget something? Something important? Shark mermaids cannot sing. Their voices would bring great harm to this mermaid village. What was she doing, stretching the truth to pretend they're in some choir? He's not singing, no way. Not a chance.

"Wake up early tomorrow, okay?" Mysi demanded. "We're doing choir!"

The sharkmaid turned his head off towards the opposite direction. Was she being serious right now? Singing, had her brain been eaten by fish? She had clearly forgotten what race they were. Shark mermaids. Shark mermaids songs harmed people. They were so about to get caught red handed as the halfbreeds that ran away.

The first morning of choir had come like an unwanted pregnancy. Mysi's voice rupturing every mermaid's ears, the sea denizen remained silent. The other mermaids in the choir would glare at him, and ask him questions. Why wasn't he singing? Was he trying to hide something? But, he would never utter a word. His voice should never ever, be heard, ever.

Months went on like this, but the charade could soon go on for no longer. King's son and daughter showing up at the village, the sharkmaid knew it was all over. He was as good as caught, done, executed. His sister's grating voice had been heard all across the sea world. Oh, by the sea gods, this was it, he was as good as dead. So was Mysi, one-hundred-percent chance.

Swimming amongst the choir had been a short mermaid man with a messy mohawk. His pinkish red hair with blue and orange sideburns practically glowed upon the seabed. Next to him had been a tall mermaid woman. Her curly, pinkish red locks with blue and orange streaks were an exact match to her father's. Golden mermaid tails flickering against the bottom of the seabed, he knew it was his time to surrender. The princess and prince were here. It was so over.

Prince swimming off towards his sister, her wig had soon been snatched. Entire chorus of mermaids gasping, the sharkmaid swam fifteen paces away. Ah, there it was, the expose. He knew what was about to happen now. King's daughter pointing at his sister, he froze in place. They were both goners now, weren't they?

"Gloine, she's the one who attempted to assassinate our father!" the King's Daughter exclaimed. As she shouted such, a collar had been locked down onto her neck. "Take her to the execution grounds!"

"On it, Ceir!" prince Gloine exclaimed. He then let out a scream. "Mermaid Villa, everyone report to the Execution Chamber! We found her. That wench who tried to assassinate father."

As everyone swam off towards the execution chamber, Siorc's face grew dark. Oh, by the sea gods, she was caught. His only kin was getting offed with her head. He didn't want to bear witness to such thing. He should leave this village right here, and right now before he were to get called out for being a halfbreed. But, the prince soon came back.

"Hey, peasant, didn't you hear me?" Prince Gloine asked. "Head to the execution chamber!" He then let out a laugh. "You can take her head to the shark village nearby for them to eat since you're a straggler!"

Hearing such, the mermaid's breath grew weak. He had to do what now? Giving the prince a nod, he knew he had no choice. It's not like he could oppose an execution. He did not have the guts. Perhaps, if he were more outspoken, this wouldn't have happened. Dragging himself off towards the execution chamber, hundreds of mermaids chanted in unison:

"Off with her head!"

"Any last words, traitor?" Ceir asked.

Mysi's head locked into a a device with a huge chopper blade from up above, everyone cheered once again in unison. Off with her head, off with her head. Off with her head, off with her head. Hearing such, Siorc could feel his stomach twist and turn. He couldn't watch this. But, the prince soon elbowed him.

"Siorc, I'm sorry!" Mysi shouted.

Blade dropping downward, a singular head had begun to roll. Blood dropping down upon the seabed, the hyena covered his eyes as the crowd had begun to cheer. Hearing such, confusion struck the sharkmaid with a knife. Why were they so excited to witness someone perish? He didn't get it, not one bit. But, the prince soon elbowed him.

"Don't you remember what I said, peasant?" Prince Gloine asked. "Take her head and bury it in the shark village." As he said such, he dragged the peasant up towards the torture chamber. "Now."

Severed gift slammed into his palms, the mermaid's vision grew dim. Ah, why, why did he have to return to his home like this? Closing his eyes as he returned to the shark village, his only kin's head grew cold. Mr. Hammerhead out in the open as he floated in, he could not face him as he greeted him like he always did.

"Heya, Siorc, you're back!" Mr. Hammerhead greeted. But he soon changed his song and dance. "Wait, is that--?" A look of shock painted his grey face as he asked such. "What happened after you two ran away?"

Question coming his way, he could not answer that. Didn't he see what happened? Mysi betrayed the undersea kingdom. Mr. Hammerhead soon saying he didn't have to tell him, he bubble blew an apology. Head buried in the ravine hidden deep within the shark village, the sharkmaid gagged as he covered the hole up. Swimming away, everything burned.

Goodbye, Mysi.

Farewell.

---

Nice boat. Wink wink.......................... wtf did I just write.

Old artwork of Mermaid Siorc. 2023 Mermaid Siorc art 2024 Mermaid Siorc art

 

[Palamon]

Spritza's Forest Fairies

---

"Pleased to meet you, my name is Siorc, a
Little, ahem, big nature fairy.
Everyone should know this that fairies
Are real. We just refuse to
Show ourselves to humans.
Uh huh, that's
Right. We would never
Ever show ourselves

To humanity! We live deep
Out in a beautiful, and

Magical forest!
A pretty field with houses covered in flowers, the humans don't
Know about this place. It's
Especially deeply buried in these woods,

You know? Not a single
One of those people in that race will ever find this place and
Unleash their wrath upon our
Rich and beautiful land!

And if they ever do, they
Can politely get lost,
Quoth my sister:
Utter barbarians, those humans
Are! And, of course,
I cannot help but agree! I've
Never seen a human,
Though, I don't know,
As I have
Never actually seen one.
Can we just keep it that way forever and
Ever? Between you and me,

I'd rather never have

Any introduction to that race!
My world would be so much better spent

Away from humanity forever! Away

From those nasty barbarians!
As they are a destructive group.
I've heard the many
Recent horror stories!
Yes, the multitude

Of them. Killing animals
For their meat! I can't believe

They'd do something so
Horrible! It's bad for the
Environment to lower population numbers

For animals just to go and eat every
One of them! They've
Reduced the numbers of
Every single one of our
Sacred animals!
That's so evil of them! And,

I heard they kill trees in boatloads to make their homes!

Literally, so evil and vile!
I can't believe how
Vile these creatures are, so, so
Evil! Can't they just invent stuff

For building instead of stealing
All our trees?
Right, of course not!

Ah, my sister
Would often tell me
A story when I was a
Young little sprite baby.

Fairies have killed humans before
Relatively rarely, mind you
Of course, it's done through
Magic! Because

They are incredibly weak creatures,
Humans. They quite honestly are
Incapable of dodging magic.
So, around here, we have a law

That killing can only be done in defense or at the
Hands of nature, but
It's against the law to just kill without reason
Now that fairy that
Gutted that human's life did not get punished

Cause it was entirely in
A case of self defense. Or,
Likely, I guess?
Listen, this is just a story I was told when I was an
Eensy, little sprite.
Don't even know if it's at all true.

However, it is true our fairy laws
Uphold the world here
My sister often tells me
At the end of the day, so many humans just do
Not care. And, of course
I can say that
This is pretty much true
Yes, of course it's true.

I believe it.

How could I ever not?
And, of course they're as
Vile as they claim!
Every story about humans and their

Malicious acts? They
Are one hundred percent true! Or, so I
Gather, anyway.
I don't really understand human math,
Can't say I have ever
At all used human measurements!
Like, we're fairies, hello?!

Perhaps, people just don't understand
Our world and what
We have built.
Everyone should know this
Right here and now
So, I won't let these monsters go

And destroy l that we've went and built!
Not a chance in Tartarus!
Don't get the

Wrong idea, we fairies are
Obviously pacifists by nature
Really, if you think otherwise, you don't
Know anything about our race.

The intent to kill is an
Off the cuff thing, you

Know? And,
Each and
Every fairy here
Places our morals on a pedestal. Ah,

No, no, no,
Actually, no,
That's far from it.
Uh, I am exaggerating a
Relatively incorrect thing.
Eh. So, it does

Not matter, in the long run,
I guess? It's not something I
Could really get into. I have
Especially low motivation to ever

At all deal with humans.
No way, I
Don't want to, ever.

Because, why would I?
Every single one of those people
Are vile, and it's not like they'll ever
Unleash their evil upon
These woods.
It's hard to get lost here,
For, to most humans it's an
Unending maze, it's
Like a hedge of trees.

Because we'd never, ever let a human into our woods.
Ultimately, it just
Takes a teeny but of magic

It takes a little bit of spells.

Ah, but our elder has been close to death lately
Magic is wearing off.

So, it might be up to someone
Else when our
Elder passes away, but
I don't know who is the
Next best fit.
Guess, maybe it'd

Be their children, if they have
Any? I honestly
Don't have the

Foggiest of clues about it at all
And, I don't think I'll ever have a
Clue. The village
Elder is pretty much kept in
Secrecy. Not many know anything

About them. Like I said, they're
Regarded in secret.
Or something like that.
Ugh, so, we don't know what will happen when they are
No longer alive, but I
Doubt they

Have much longer.
Eh, if only we knew anything about them.
Right, if only we did,
Eh. They'll probably die along with their secrets.

Let's not beat
Around the bush.
That's what's going to happen
Everyone is aware of that. They
Likely will be gone pretty soon
Yes, soon. And soon,

Ugh, there will be no protecting us from those
Grotesque, evil, vile, disgusting
Humans! It'll all be gone soon! Forever!"

A short, feminine appearing person with four scaly turquoise wings, long dark purple hair that went down to the waist, light green shirt with a flower sticking out of it with a violet skirt, and heterochromatic eyes to match the outfit colors clicked on a pitch black rose hairclip into the hair. Taking a deep breath, the fairy prepared for the day ahead. Opening the door from the forest room, the kitchen awaited the fae creature.

Tromping through the kitchen, a tall feminine fairy woman with light purple hair pulled back into a bun had been slewing away at the stove. Whiffing up a scent of vegan eggs, the fae creature could feel the body floating on air. What a wonderful scent to wake up to first thing in the morning. It had been quite awhile since the sister had been home. Eggs soon served, eyes had been on the winged person.

"How's my little brother Siorc doing lately?" the sister asked. "Been awhile since I've been home, huh?"

Question coming his way, Siorc waved his hands upon the air. Magical letters plopping on the table reading, morning, Natalie, been awhile. The fairy gazed at his sister, the words, busy at the fairy capital? Soon appeared next. Eggs soon placed over the words created by fantastical means, his older sister soon let out a small giggle.

"Same as always, huh? Using magic to communicate with me," Natalie replied, giggling. "Yes, I have been quite busy at the Fairy Capital. Things have been quite serious there lately. So, I've been pretty stuck there."

The fairy blinked. What was that rumor going around the fairy village lately? Right, the fairy elder was on the brink of death. He had heard about all that lately. Did that mean Natalie had been in contact with the elder of the forest? Maybe, maybe not. He had always heard that they were the most elusive fae in all of Spritzia since he was a little sprite.

Thinking about it for a moment, the words, what's going on in the Fairy Capital? Appeared on the opposite end of the table. But, silence fell. Ah, was it difficult for xem to talk about? Xe had been working pretty much nonstop there, after all. Biting into his vegan eggs, the quiet soon broke itself into a thousand pieces.

"Yes, something did," Natalie replied, nodding. "Rumor has it, the Fairy Elder is dying. Siorc, you've realized that the magical barrier preventing humans from entering this village has felt weak lately, too, did you not?"

Suspicions presented to him, the fae creature nodded. He had very much realized that. That barrier keeping those monsters out had looked weaker lately. The magical maze that kept those evil homo sapiens away from here. He had been thinking quite a lot lately. What would happen when that broke? He did not know, but he didn't want to find out.

Message appearing on the table reading, what's going to happen when they pass away? The fae creature almost didn't want to know the answer Or, maybe he did. He could feel his morbid curiosity begin to get the better of him. What was going to befall the fairy world when that time comes? He knew that soon, it was all about to be over for good.

"You might not like what you're about to hear, darling," Natalie said, shaking her head. "Once they pass away, the barrier hiding this village will cease to exist. And with that, humans will be able to see us. And, it would seem they have their sights set on this land to destroy it as soon as possible."

Hearing such, the fae creature could feel his blood begin to boil. These humans, those hideous meat eaters, how dare they think they're allowed to take this place for themselves. This village meant for fairies. It was just like in the stories, Homo sapiens were nothing more than a group of monsters who only cared about themselves. They didn't care about the land they were trying to destroy, the animals that they killed, none of that.

Biting into the final piece of his vegan eggs, the words, is there anything that can be done to keep the barrier up even after he perishes? Slid across the table. But, an immediate headshake had removed such a thing from immediate consideration. Seeing such, the words, is there really no way? Soon appeared next.

"No one but the Village Elder knows how to create that barrier," Natalie responded. "Not even their two kids, the Fairy King and Queen had the arts passed down to them." Xe held back a look of pain as xe said such. "So, most likely not. Once the elder dies, so does the barrier."

The fae creature could feel his world begin to shatter as such had been brought to his attention. No one in the kingdom had the ability to put up a new barrier at all? Great. There would soon be no way to keep the humans away from the village. The one thing that kept everything hidden from the world was about to go away forever. Awesome. It was so over.

Lifting himself up from the kitchen table, the fae creature asked permission to excuse himself. Moving back to his room, the fairy placed on his tiny little cubicles. Great, if this village was close to death, he needed to go spend time in his favorite places before they were to disappear forever. Waving his tipped fingers, the words soon floated off towards his sister.

Words reading, I'm going to the rose pool, he could hear Natalie call out to him. Told to be careful, the village elder could die any minute now, the winged creature could feel the tension mounting. Ah, great, wonderful, it's not like there was pressure mounting, or anything! Waving goodbye to his sister, he had begun to fly towards the flower pool.

Bright pink pool of water decorated with roses and other flowers, multiple fairies had been seated inside the waters of beauty. He could see many familiar faces in the little area, the fairy smiled. All his old friends were here. He wondered. Did any of them know about what was going on? He hoped that they didn't.

Seated on the left side of the water had been a beautiful young fairy woman with long, pitch black hair that went down to her waist. On her head had been rabbit ears. Apparently, she had been the rabbit fairy queen from Bunnelia. But, he always thought that was probably just something she made up. Her black bat wings almost blended into her hair and even darker outfit.

On the right side of the water's edge had been a gorgeous fairy lady with long blonde hair with bright pink streaks. Her locks had been put up into twintails. A headband with a ribbon on it had been on the center of her head. Golden dress and butterfly wings flapping, he waved to his other companion from fairy school long gone.

Sitting deep within the pools in the water had been a short fairy girl with light brown hair pulled upwards into short pigtails. Her light tan skin exuded beauty of a million goddesses. He always envied her beauty. He wish he could look like her. He never put on enough makeup to look feminine enough like she did. Purple dress practically glowing, he could feel himself become a little green. Pretty fairies, how lovely.

Standing beside the pool had been a grumpy tall fairy girl with a panda ears headband. Her brightly colored scarlet hair was almost on fire. Her pink eyes looked grumpy, as usual. Only fairy not wearing a dress in the entire pool, she stood out, like usual. Pouting, he knew he was about to hear that the boy's pool was on the other side of Spritzia! And, as bad luck would have it, he was right on the money.

"Hmph, Siorc, you know, the boys pool is on the other side of Spritzia, right?" the redhead fairy said in a pouty tone. "You oughta know that by now!"

"Shenshen, come ooon, we don't care that he comes to the girl's pool!" the brunette fairy exclaimed. "He doesn't identify as male!"

"I know that already, Cordon!" 'Shenshen' exclaimed. "I was just testin' him."

"Heya, Siorc, you haven't been here in awhile!" the black haired fairy exclaimed. "Busy working for the farmers up north in Pixulo again?"

"Sup, stranger?" the blonde fairy greeted. "You've been busy, huh?"

Nodding, the fae creature magic had soon done wonders. Words, hello, Shunko floating towards the black haired fairy, hello, Xena, had been sent towards the blonde. And, hello to you, too, Cordon and Shenlong appearing last, he put on a smile. He was a working adult fairy now. He almost never had any time to sit around and do nothing like he used to.

But, he could feel a wave of doom eat him away. Soon, that would all go away. Soon, his entire world would be destroyed. Decimated, taken away by those heinous meat eating, animal killing humans. He knew he couldn't mention that, however. It would only scare his dear old friends. They didn't need to know about all that.

"I'm surprised you're still going to work right now, despite everything," Xena said. "Haven't you heard the rumors from the older adult fairies? The humans are comin'!"

"You don't know that for certain!" Shunko exclaimed.

"Yeah, Xena, you dummy, that's just a rumor!" Shenlong shouted. "Hmph, that's a just a thing the old fairies say to scare younger fairies into not slacking off!"

"No, it's really real this time, for reals!" Xena exclaimed. "Haven't you heard? The Fairy Elder is dying!"

"That's what mama told me and sissy this morning!" Cordon exclaimed. "Cordon, Zephyr, be very careful. The Elder is probably dying soon."

"And you actually listened to them?!" Shenlong exclaimed. "Ya know, that's just something they tell us young adults to whip us up into shape!"

The fae creature stared off into space. Could it have just been a rumor? Maybe it was, or maybe it wasn't. In his household, honesty was the only policy. Lying, or telling tall tales wasn't allowed. So, he knew that there was no way it couldn't have been true. Why would Natalie lie to him? Xe worked directly with the Fairy Capital. He needed to say something.

"My sister said the same thing," Siorc said in a barely audible whisper. "That the Fairy Elder is dying." Everyone stared at one another as such had been said.

"If Natalie said that, it's probz the truth!" Xena exclaimed.

"Hmph, how can you say that without any proof, dummy?!" Shenlong exclaimed.

"Shenshen, you know in the Ingne fairy household, lying is a very grave sin!" Cordon shouted.

"Okay, so maybe I forgot about that, hmph!" She turned her head in defiance as she said such.

"Oh, no, is the fairy elder really dying?! That's terrible news!" Shunko cried. "What's going to happen to this village?!"

Everyone fell silent in that moment. Fairy crew staring at one another, their thoughts collectively raced. It was so over, wasn't it? Everything the village worked for for thousands of years was this close to dying. No one else in the entire village had the power to conceal this village. Game over, it was so all about to be over very shortly.

And, that's when the entire fairy nation heard it. The sirens. The sirens that only played when something very official happened. Everyone could feel the doom loom as the bells only got louder. Maze beginning to crumble as fast as a speeding bullet, the fairy quintet no longer had any doubt. The time was here.

Two fairies flying towards the rose pool with bright pinkish red hair and dark brown skin, the fae creature knew. It had happened. The fairy elder was gone. He knew Queen Marble and Miotal only left the Fairy Capital if something terrible happened. That time had come, hadn't it? It was over, so over. More over than it ever had been before.

"The head fairy elder has passed away!" Queen Marble exclaimed. "I repeat, the Elder has passed away!"

"Everyone, prepare for destruction at any given time!" King Miotal shouted. "The humans could arrive any day now!"

Hearing such, everyone could feel a heavy wave of doom flow through them. The Fairy Elder had passed away. They were no longer of this world. How could this have happened now? This was terrible, awful. This wasn't good at all. Those stupid meat eaters were coming. They were about to ruin everything.

Everyone went home after that moment. The winged creature watched as all his friends vanished one after another. Ah, the fairy king really had died, hadn't they? What a terrible, awful day for that to happen. An absolutely devastating day for that to be true. Well, maybe it would have been a blow to the face any other days as well.

He sulked all the way back home. His energy was gone. He could feel his motivation blip out of existence all at once. The fairy elder was gone. And everything that had ever been built here was about to go up in flames. Burn away, become nothing. How could this happen? And why? He always thought death was something fairies never had to experience.

Days within fairy village had begun to pass slowly. And, the ever looming threads of doom had all but begun to settle in. The barrier had been dead, and there had been no way to bring it back. It was gone, forever. Spritzia was going to be exposed to those dangnabbit humans. Every single one of those disgusting, hideous, meat eaters.

The fae creature couldn't help but feel distracted while working at the farms up in Pixulo. The looms of doom had reached this place, as well. The elder had ruled the entire Fairy Village and the next couple over the valley. Their presence being no more could be felt, nonetheless. But, today at work, the heaviest hitting of subjects had been brought to Siorc's attention.

"Yes, youngster, even fairies die someday," the old and greying farmer fairy said. "Just like those meat eaters, we too, are ticking against the clock. Just lots slower than they do."

The fae creature could hardly grasp this concept. Death. Was it really something that came for everyone, and everything? He was still far too young within the fairy world to understand any of this. He couldn't help but ask. Words, how do most fairies die? Floating about upon the air, the greying fairy lowered his face.

"Oh, youngster, do you really want to know?" the greying fairy asked.

Greying fairy asking such in hesitation, the fae creature could feel himself hesitate as well. Did he want to know? Maybe he shouldn't have asked. What good would it do for him to know? Probably nothing. But, he knew he needed to know. Giving the ageing fairy a nod, he could hear him sigh, for some reason.

"So, you really would like to know, huh?" the elderly fairy asked, sighing. "Guess I should tell ya, then. Usually, it's the humans that do us in if it's not old age."

The fae creature could feel his blood boil. It was those meat eaters again. So, they killed animals, and fairies right along with them? How vile. Why wasn't anyone doing anything about this? Greying fairy asking him if this news was of great shock to him, he shook his head. A great shock? Why would it be? Or rather, how could it be?

He could feel everything begin to crumble and break. It was just like he thought. Meat eaters were monsters. All they cared about was killing; fresh new meat to eat. He had heard some stories a long time ago. Entire fairy villages had been destroyed by humans. Engulfed into something called a hotel. Whatever in all of Tartarus that was! How should he know?

Days passed, and he had been seeing those wretched creatures around the village lately. Laughing, guffawing. Their heads had been covered with this stupid bucket. He could hear them say they had never seen this forest before. Where was it hiding? He could feel his rage building a little more every day. And, he could feel an irrational thought begin to build.

If those stupid meat eaters thought they could come and destroy his home, they should die for it. Everyone died, right? Those stupid man eaters, they should perish. Any single human that comes into this forest should lose their life. Why should they be allowed to live while thinking about destruction? No way.

He could see those wretched homo sapiens stomp through the village like they owned the place. All the other fairies had hidden away in their homes, nowhere to be seen. And, he could hear that wretched word again. Hotel. That stupid human word again. And, that's when he heard something that caused even more rage to boil inside him.

The meat eaters, they were planning on taking the trees down with them, too. All of them in the forest, every single one. These homo sapiens, how dare they. How dare they think they could take away their precious trees. How dare they think they could get rid of something so sacred, so holy.

He started doing research. Research about fairy law. About the rules about killing. After countless, tireless weeks of reading up on it, he had his answer. Self defense only. Ah, he sees, it could only be in self defense, or he would be immediately banished from Spritzia. He couldn't have that, now could he?

The humans had come more often lately, claiming the trees as their own. The other fairies would hide, unable to do anything. Fearing for their lives every step of the way. The fae creature did not blame them. Man eaters were disgusting creatures. Monsters who only cared about themselves and their food. He hardly could fault the village for hiding.

But, oddly, after about a week, the the homo sapiens had given up. They were gone, missing, nowhere to be seen. The fae creature could feel a wave of relief. Had these monsters finally given up on their stupid hotel? They better have. This forest belonged to the fairies. It was not for their stupid meat.

Everything went back to normal for awhile. The fae creature went back to work. The other fairies returned to society. Everything was well. But, that barely lasted. The man eaters would soon return with their dumb hard hats taping more of their scribble scrabble on the trees. Claiming them as theirs. Everyone in the rose pool had only terrified things to say.

"The humans are coming," Cordon exclaimed. "They've marked every single one of our trees!"


"It's over," Shunko cried. "This is it. We're done for."

"Doomed," Xena said. "Doomed!"

"Come on guys!" Shenlong exclaimed. "All we gotta do is kill 'em, and they're gone, right?" But, there had been a long pause after that.

"K-kill?" Cordon asked, shaking. "I'm a healer! I can't do that!"

"I don't have the magic to kill anything, either!" Shunko exclaimed. "I can only repair stuff!"

"And, I'm a weakling!" Xena exclaimed. "Besides, those humans, I hear they have those things called guns. They've killed hundreds of our kind!"

"Yeah, mama told me that, too!" Cordon shook as she said such.

"Same!" Shunko cried. "I'm not killing them! Leave it to the older fairy adults!"

"Yeah!" Cordon, Xena screamed in unison.

"You three! You can't be serious right now!" Shenlong shouted. "You know, humans are known to kill and eat us in the father off villages that didn't have a layer of protection, right?!"

There was a long silence after this. Not a single fae creature could say anything back to such phrase. Everyone stared at one another. Three fairies soon saying in unison, that's true, Siorc stared off into space. Humans were monsters, they were absolutely disgusting, destructive creatures.

He gazed at Shenlong. She was right, someone had to kill them, so they were gone. So they couldn't destroy their home. They had claimed the trees as their own. Something had to be done about them before any single one of them could come and commit their evil acts. Why leave it to the older adult fairies?

Days passed after that. He had begun preparing himself to go in for the kill. Borrowing his boss's gardening equipment. He was armed, and ready. Ready any day now for their attacks. Greying fairy telling him a rake might not be all that effective, he had been on the hunt for better weapons day in, day out.

But, there was hardly anything lethal enough to destroy a human in the fairy village. At least, nothing that could prove strong enough to get rid of them. So, he had begun to do some further serious thinking. Maybe he should just use his magic. That would do it, wouldn't it? That would be enough to stop those wretched meat eaters.

He continued planning and strategizing. His friends would call him weird words. Obsessed, fixated. Tartarus bent on a far away threat. Crazy. He didn't understand. Why were they saying these things? The humans were coming! Any day now, they'd come and take the trees away! Destroy their home, the forest. What about this was mental? It most certainly wasn't. The days passed on. The treat had still not come. He could feel himself begin to spiral. Were the humans chickening out? Suits them right!

But, one day, it happened when Spritzia least expected it.

RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRrrr

Beep

Beep

Beep.

Meat eaters coming in with their large mechanical boxes, buildings had been downed, blood had been everywhere. Trees had been taken as a sacrifice. He could hear multiple fairies scream as their lives had been lost. As multiple houses had been crushed. As multiple precious trees had been killed in one fell swoop.

Swing

Swing

Swing.

That stupid black ball swung, and swung over and over again. The meat eaters laughed as such occurred. Screaming, a brand new place for their next hotel, bodies had been piling up one after another, all at once. In unison. Fae creatures screamed. Some cried. Chaos was in the streets. In the rose pool, everywhere.

Siorc could feel his rage begin to boil hot enough to cook his vegan eggs in seconds. How dare these monsters, they were using the ultimate weapon that was difficult to encounter, vehicles. Those sorts of devices did not exist in all of the fairy world. Why would they? They could fly with their own power. Unlike these fiends.

More trees had soon become victims. He could see multiple fairies burned away by their man made flaming box objects. Flapping upwards towards the sky, the tipping point had been reached. No more. These monsters were going down. They were going to meet their doom right here, and now, channeling all his energy electricity crackled within.

Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die.

Die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die, die.

Overwhelming zaps of electricity overtaking him, the wretched humans had been no more. Few remaining older fairies discarding of the bodies, some had not been lost. The fairy king and queen awarded him, he had been regarded as the village hero. But, there had been very few to celebrate. Many fae creatures had been gone, decimated, destroyed. To forest had been mostly gone.

Time would pass, and the trees would not grow. The forest did not return to normal. The population would begin to plummet. Nothing would return to normalcy. Crops had become harder to grow. And, was it just him, or had the planet gotten warmer? Much warmer. He did not know. He could never figure it out. As time went on, it had hit the fae creature. Something horrific, something irreversible. He could hear the older fairies use a terrifying word, climate change. Body burning up one fine summer day, it hit Siorc like a ton of bricks.

Meat eaters were monsters.

---

This is based on a song I wrote called, The Fairy in the Forest Has Gone Away, but it does not need to be read in order to read this.

Siorc's canon fairy design. A Winx Club Siorc I did nothing with. Alternative outfit for the canon design for Fairy Siorc. Very old artwork of Siorc in a fairy costume for 10/2022. Another old artwork of an idea for Fairy Siorc. 2023 Fairy Siorc art.

 

[Palamon]

Chimera Mew Mew

---

"Hello, there, my name is Siorc, but
Everyone mostly calls me the
Litter picker upper.
Look, I know it's just
One way that others use to

Mock and make fun of me, but it's true!
Yes, I am a little picker upper, and I'm

Not ashamed of that
At all! We need to keep our environment clean!
Might be hard in the current world,
Even so, we need to keep this planet clean!

I love all the nature in this world,
So, during my first year of highschool, I

Started an environment club!
It started with just me,
One single member, but in my second year a
Really nice activist joined the
Club! She transferred here from China with

A couple other students!
Now, there's four of us all from
Different countries that have one goal: saving the environment.

I'm in my third year now,

And recently, it was
My eighteenth birthday.

And, I'm starting to look at job prospects

To save the environment! I
Have always dreamed of being an environmentalist.
In the field doing all I can to
Reverse climate change
Done by humans! Oh,

Yes, I guess I should mention!
Eh, so I am not a human, I
Am a chimera. A hyena chimera, and oh,
Right, my friends

In my club are also chimeras!
Now, this is a small known fact.

There is something you should know!
Here, there's a very rare gene known as, 'the chimera gene!' It's a very
Eensy, rare gene, only 200 people have it! It runs in my family, though, so

Everyone in my family was born one.
Now, apparently, a scientist
Very meticulously researched this gene!
I've heard they discovered it while
Researching something else.
Of course, the story goes this discovery is
Nothing more than an accidental finding.
Maybe it was, maybe it wasn't.
Even so, I know what I am because of it, and I'm
Not seen as furry or freak.
Though, alright, I am

Completely human looking,
Likely, no one would notice
Unless my tail is sticking out
Because I can easily hide

It. So, I can appear

Just like a normal human could.
Uh, so, the only people in
School who know are
The environment club.

They're the only ones
Uh, because they're also chimeras.
Right, aren't I so lucky? I'm
Not alone! I felt so alone before I met
Everyone. Everyone was human. Or perhaps, they're also just hiding.
Don't get me wrong, I'd never dare ask anyone.

Eh, actually, I wouldn't say anything at all. You see, despite the fact
I am a hyena chimera, I don't really talk.
Guess I should explain, that,
Huh? Hyenas are a social species.
That might be true for a normal hyena, but that has never,
Ever been true for me.
Ever since I was a child, I've
Never wanted to talk. Before my parents went overseas, and my sister and I

Left the country to go to
A really nice private
School, they bought me a whiteboard and notepad
To communicate with.

Why don't I talk, you ask?
Eh, I'm just not a fan of it.
Each year, we buy a one thousand page notebook, I
Know it bothers my sister

And all that, she tells me to try talking every once in awhile, but
No way. I
Don't have any

Intentions of doing that

At all. And, why should I?
My world is better if

I stay silent. I have
No reason to speak. Well,

Lately, there's been this beautiful lizard I've been crushing
On. Their name is Zephyr, and they're
Very cool. They're also an
Environmentalist, and I have

Been thinking about them since my second year.
Uh, I've been crushing pretty hard! I want
Them to join

The Environment club!
Hahaha, but the thing is, they're a lesbian, only interested in binary girls.
Eh, so unfortunately, I was born the opposite.
Yet, I don't identify as my birth

Assignment. Never have, never will. Or
Rather, I just don't see myself as my assignment at birth. I don't see myself as the opposite
Either. I am outside the binary.

I get to wear the girls uniform. Because my sister let me, but I am
Not a girl. Shockingly,
The other students don't care.
Of course, they do think I'm a

Bit of a neat freak and woos, but
It's because of me
Not allowing trash
Around school on the floors! Or litter outside. Might have
Ruined my reputation, but
You know, I don't care!

Get this world to be cleaner!
I vow my life on this!
Right, so anyway, Zephyr is amazing. They're
Like a environmentalist God.
So, on the weekends, they clean up the beach!

I have heard they

Are also the leader of a roller derby team? I
Might have tried to join, but they only want girls. Mmm,

Now, you must be thinking,
'Oh, he's stalking her.'
Nope. Many other girls and

Boys are crushing on them.
I think they're some ethereal beauty!
Now, something
About them is out of this world. Are they from this
Rock in space called earth?
You know, honestly, I think they're probably an

Alien. It's like, wow, they're
Literally the most gorgeous person I've ever
Seen! Ah, maybe I'm bias?
Of course I am, but.

Am I wrong? They're so

Cool, so of course they're attractive.
Happy to share this opinion with most of the school.
I think, anyway?
Maybe I'm just imagining that
Everyone finds them to be so gorgeous.
Really, what would I know?
Ahaha, it's as they say! Love is

Blind. That's why they always say.
Uh, to be honest,
The thing is, they're quite mysterious.

They always
Have had this major air of mystery to them
Especially since people began to notice them!
Yeah, so, well,

Apparently, and this is just what I've heard!
Right, so apparently they don't remember anything!
Even though they don't,

Some people think it's kind
Of cute? I don't find this

Cute, amnesia is a very serious thing.
Okay, honestly, if I knew
One thing about them, I'd
Love to help

Them remember. But, I
Have nothing on them! I wish I did,
Even one thing,
Yet, I don't.

Ah, well, too bad I guess!
Right, so anyway, lately it's been very hot
Everywhere. And, I despise this!

So much is ruining
Our planet and causing climate change!

I want to reverse this!
Now, if I had
The magic to do so,
Oh, I so would, in a heartbeat!

This may sound a bit weird. But I
Have always wanted to be a magical girl.
Eh, I know that's not real.

Even though my family anime,
Nymph Girl Fleur feels
Very realistic, like
I can get magic too, I know it's not
Real. It's never been.
Of course, I wish it was,
No doubt about that,
Maybe it would be in another
Earth, but this one?
No. Magic doesn't exist,
Those are just fairy tales.

I'm eighteen now, it

Would be best to grow up
A little, and stop thinking about the
Next to impossible.
There will never be a

Time, or place where magic
Has become real.
Everyone knows aliens are not, either. They
Might sound like they could be! But,

That's just storytelling doing its job
Of appearing realistic.

Just because it's realistic to someone, though, does not mean
Otherworldly beings exist.
It's humans fault that our planet is warming.
Now, if people didn't litter, burn fossil fuels,

Maybe climate change wouldn't have happened.
Yes, the hole in the ozone might have

Closed itself up before I was even born, but it could also
Leak again because of climate change.
Ugh, humans, I swear to God.
Because of them, we're all

Screwed. Sing with me:
Ooooooh oooh, oooh
Oooooh, oooh oooh
Ooooh, ooh oooh
Ooooooh oooh, oooh
Oooooh, oooh oooh
Ooooh, ooh oooh
Ooooooh oooh, oooh
Oooooh, oooh oooh
Ooooh, ooh oooh
Oooooh, oooh oooh
Ooooh, ooh oooh
Ooooh, ooh oooh
Oooooh, oooh oooh
Ooooh, ooh oooh

Screwed by society,
Our planet's dying, woe is me!

Because of people
All will bleed!
Dooh, dooh, dooh, dooh, dooh, dooh.

It's all doom and gloom,

When the springs are over, burning true.
It's all over, boo, boo, boo.
Let's all all despair, doom and gloom!
La la la la la la.

Ah, did you like my
Song? No? Understandable. But, you
Know it's true!

This planet is warming!
How is it almost thirty five degrees Celsius?
Even if that's 'normal' in some places,
Maybe people should realize!

At least see this isn't normal!
For real, humans did
This! They can't deny what they've done!
Everything still has time to be
Reversed! And I'll join the world of

Science after I graduate! I
Can't sit by and do nothing!
How could I?
Our world is burning!
Our world is rotting! It's
Likely, soon, it will be irreversible!

That cannot happen!
Oh, man, I have to
Do something. I'll do
Anything. If magic were real, I'd become a New New and save this world.
Yes, in a heartbeat. I would do it."

A short, androgynous late teenager with dark purple hair pulled into higher pigtails slapped down a headband into the hair. Heterochromatic purple and green eyes standing out a smidgeon with a small amount of light eye shadow, the individual dabbed makeup over the abnormally large freckles.

Light grey school uniform with a bright red ribbon soon slipped on, and light brown loafers slipped over the socks, the student ripped off the May 1st sheet of paper off the singular date calendar in the corner of the room. Today was the last day of classes before a short week holiday. How lovely. Slapping the cheeks, the adolescent pupped the self up.

Today would be the day. The day the crush would finally be asked to join the Environment Club. This time, it would happen. It was the last chance before their roller derby tournament. Before they would be too busy to even so much as give the student a glance. Stepping into the kitchen, a quick breakfast awaited him.

Sitting in the kitchen sipping her coffee had been a short older adult woman with light purple hair pulled back into twin drills. Her light green eyes were practically radioactive. The adolescent always wondered where she had gotten that specific shade from. Neither the mother nor father had this color. Not like it mattered, though. Wearing a thin tank top, the adolescent sighed. Oh, great, it was hot again, wasn't it?

"Good morning, bro," the sister said. But, she soon let out a sigh. "Siorc, why are you wearing concealer again? No one is going to notice your hyena spots."

Hearing such, Siorc reached for his messenger bag from behind him. Taking out his one thousand page notebook, the words, people at school already call me the litter picker upper. If they find out I'm a chimera, they'll have another a reason to make fun of me. Appeared on the paper. Turning the book around, another sigh had come his way.

"See, I knew you'd write that, bro," his sister said, shaking her head. "You're eighteen now, you know. It's not like you can't handle it."

Sister dismissing what he wrote, the student shook his head. She didn't understand teenagers at all. His sister and she had been fourteen years apart. He knew, if people found out he's a hyena chimera, they would do more than just call him a litter picker upper. They would give him even worse names. Less tolerable ones, for sure.

Writing down, Deigr, you are thirty-two, you wouldn't understand what modern teenagers go through. The student put on a serious face. What did she know? She didn't know anything. But, as he thought such, the alarm on his watch had begun to ring up a storm. Flinching, his older sister soon looked at him.

"Your watch alarm just went off," Deigr said, stating the obvious. "Didn't you have to go check on the school garden before class this morning?"

Nodding, a muffin had been handed off to him. Ah, right, he had to go water the school garden today. As a member and president of the environment club, he had to do his due diligence. Gobbling up his breakfast in one fell swoop, he ran out the door at full speed. But, an immediate world of sizzling doom awaited him.

Sun beaming on his face, the chimera groaned. Taking out his smartphone he gazed at his weather app, for a moment. Thirty five degrees celsius? It was May second, for crying out loud! This wasn't normal, even for climate change standards. Running onto the sidewalk, he tried to keep himself cool.

But, as he had begun to run off towards the school building, he had seen something new he had not seen before. Spotting a bright pink café with a opening May Third, the chimera scratched his head. How strange, when did that building get there? He had never seen it before. Had aliens built it or something?

The adolescent shook his head. No way. That simply wasn't possible. Aliens weren't real. Those were just stories in fiction. Why would they exist? If they did, they would leave on their spaceship and turn right back around to their home planet after seeing how humans have fully destroyed this planet. Continuing to run, the gate to the school gardens awaited him.

Clicking the lock open, three people picking out rotted vegetables graced the chimera's field of vision. Removing rancid radishes had been a short young woman with light burgundy hair pulled into two twin braids. Gazelles antlers upon her head, slightly covered by a headband, her school uniform had been covered in dirt.

Removing completely melted flowers had been a short young woman with light blue hair the color the sky on a clear sunny day. Her dark brown skin was beautiful. Girl's uniform also covered in dirt, her orange eyes looked a little dim from the morning fatigue. He swore he could hear her sigh just a moment ago.

Ripping out dead pumpkins had been a short androgynous person with very short indigo hair pulled into tiny nub pigtails. Their eyes had been inhuman, and those of a crocodile. Male school uniform on them, he could hear the party of three let out a loud groan in unison with one another. Hearing such, Siorc added his own to the mix.

"All rotten again," the pink haired gazelle said, groaning. "I swear, it's so hot lately, the school is probably going to tell us to not bother with the garden anymore!"

"Yeah, probably," the icy blue haired girl said, sighing. "It's been so hot lately, the vegetables have been rotting lately!"

"I know, but we can't give up on the garden," the indigo haired person said. "Or the school will shut down the environment club."

Hearing such, the hyena accidentally let out a yelp. No, the faculty couldn't do that. Why would they do something like that? They had the minimum amount of members. That should have been enough, right? But, he remembered what the faculty advisor said. An environment club would barely get any members. So, the only way they could become one is if they agree to take care of the garden. Eyes soon on him, the chimera calmed himself.

"Morning, Siorc," the pink haired gazelle said. As she said such, she could hear a marker scratching upon a board.

<Morning, Parisa.> The whiteboard said.

"Good morning, Siorc," the icy blue haired girl greeted. She could hear an eraser squeak upon a board as she said such.

<Good morning, Loba.> The whiteboard said.

"Hello, Siorc," the indigo haired person said.

<Greetings, Liath.> The whiteboard said. He then took out his one thousand paged notebook.

Writing down, we can't let the school shut down the environment club after we worked so hard. The hyena turned his notebook around. But, his clubmates all shook their heads. He could feel a wave of defeat flow through him as such had occurred. Did none of them have faith in this club? They had been in this club together for a whole year now!

"Siorc, you know that the school said if we fail to take good care of the garden, they'll shut the club down," Parisa responded to his wordless communication. "When they see all the vegetables rotted, they'll tear us apart for it."

"That's right, Siorc, remember what they said when we first started up the environment club?" Loba asked. "This club won't get a lot of members, so we have to maintain the garden to keep our clubroom."

"You two, we'll just explain the heat destroyed the garden," Liath said, hands moving up and down as they spoke. "They'll understand."

Liath talking sense, the chimera flipped open his one thousand page notebook once again. This club, he knew someone who could save it. The one last member who could pick this garden up. Furiously writing away for a moment, he could feel his cheeks grow hot as he turned the heavy tome of words around.

<I know who we can get to join to save our club. Zephyr! They work for a conservationist company after school. They'd know how to save this garden, and our club! I'll go to the roller derby today after school and ask them!> the notebook said. But, he could hear a group of sighs come for him for the second time of the day.

"Zephyr again?" Parisa asked. "That girl you're infatuated with? What makes you think they'll say yes?"

"Siorc, they're bad news, you know!" Loba exclaimed. "I asked them if I could join their roller derby team, and they told me, 'mmm, sorry, I only want biological females on my team. Acting like I had some advantage over them!"

"I don't know what you see in them, but I'd advise you do not waste your time on that," Liath said, shaking their head. But, as they said such, the bell chimed. "Never mind, it's time for class. See you."

Waving goodbye to everyone, the chimera headed for his classroom. But, while the teachers had begun chatting their daily lesson away, he couldn't help but feel distracted. Was Zephyr really that bad as Loba had said? All the boys, and a few of the girls had a crush on them, too. Why would they say something like that to her? But, he supposed he had heard a rumor about their prospect on love life he could not ignore.

He had heard some of the other students falling outside the binary that they have no interest in anything except girls. While he knew they'd never glance at him in a romantic manner due to not falling into such category, he could feel a secret yearning for them to make an exception for him. But, he knew they wouldn't. He identified outside the binary. Feminine, sure, but beyond that, he knew he wasn't in their league. But, he had soon been snapped out of his thinking when a ruler had been slapped on his desk.

"Siorc, since you're paying such great attention, tell me what the answer to question number two is!" his teacher shouted.

Everyone staring at him, the budding adult could feel sweat pour down his face. Ah, was it just him or had it suddenly gotten a lot hotter in the classroom. Taking out his white board, a big I don't know appeared on it. Students all laughing at him, and calling him the litter picker upper, his teacher soon shouted at him from afar.

"Wrong! I don't know is not the answer!" his teacher shouted. "Go stand out in the hall!"

Banished from the classroom, the hyena had been handed a bucket. Forced to hold it, he let out a groan. Ah, he should have been paying attention in class. What was he doing, allowing himself to get distracted by his tiny little crush? He could fantasize about what could have been at home! Focus Siorc, focus. Focus.

Morning going by, lunch had soon creeped on through like it was nothing. Grabbing another muffin, he stared at Zephyr from afar. Young woman with short dark brown hair, pitch black eyes and a the girl's school uniform chatting up with their roller derby team, he blushed and placed his hands on his cheek. Why were they so beautiful, yet so unavailable? Life was unfair.

He couldn't stop thinking about them during cleanup time. He needed to ask them. He needed to invite them to join his club. The environment club. Today would be his last chance to do so. His final moments before the week long vacation to try. He knew, after this, they'd be too busy with roller derby. This was the final opportunity to try.

But, shortly after cleaning time, the chimera saw an intense light through the window. And, for a moment, he could feel a piping hot burning sensation. Closing his eyes, for a moment, he could see a baby hyena in his mindscape. Ah, what was this odd daydream he was having? Little creature fusing with him, he could hear someone call his name from afar.

"Siorc, hey, are you okay?" Loba asked, concerned. "I found you passed out on the floor."

Concern washing over him, the chimera nodded. Writing down, I guess I just fell over. I'm alright. He turned around his whiteboard. But, he could hear his friend sigh in disbelief. Maybe she didn't believe him? Writing down, really, I'm alright, Loba, don't worry about me. She again shook her head.

"It's pretty hot out, you know. Fainting is pretty common in this heat," Loba replied, shaking her head. "When we graduate, I'm going to nursing school. I know I can't do anything to help you now, but try and keep yourself hydrated, okay?" She then took a deep breath. "Oh, and also, please don't meet Zephyr. They're bad news."

<Sorry, Loba, I really want to talk to them.> The whiteboard said.

"I guess I can't stop you, but, Siorc, I'm telling you that they're bad news," Loba responded. "Just, don't get your hopes up, okay? See you on Thursday."

Bidding farewell to his clubmate, the chimera headed to the Derby Rink. Spotting the tall, brown and gorgeous, Zephyr, the hyena's heart leapt. There they are. The most beautiful person in all of school. Wiping his brow, he could feel himself melt. Did he look okay? Were his pigtails alright? But, he snapped himself out of it. Focus, Siorc! He's not here to impress. He's here to ask them to join the environment club.

He walked up to them with a tiny bit of sass. Maybe they'd pay attention to him if he put a little attitude into his step. Right, right. Putting his hips right into it, he strutted right towards the subject of interest. Girls laughing, he could hear them say. Litter picker upper is gonna ask captain out, he could hear Zephyr say, they'll handle this.

"Hey, hot stuff, something up?" Zephyr asked.

Zephyr calling him hot stuff, the hyena immediately melted. Did they just? No, they didn't. They're teasing, surely. Yeah, that was it. They're just teasing. Focus, focus. Reaching for his whiteboard, he hastily wrote down: hi, there Zephyr, I've got something to ask you. Turning the whiteboard down, they stroked their hair.

"If you're here to ask me out, I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn you down," Zephyr said. "I get over ten confessions every day."

Hearing such, the hyena blinked. They got that many confessions in a day? He supposed he could see why. They were tall, brown, and gorgeous after all. Shaking his head, he erased whatever had been written on his whiteboard. Writing down, no, that's not what I want to ask you. He turned the whiteboard around, he swore he could hear their teammates giggle, though.

"Well, that's refreshing," Zephyr responded. "What do you want to ask me?"

Writing down, the environment club is not doing well. I need someone who has worked in conservation. Could you help us out? Turning the board around, his forehead was beating with sweat. Ah, no way they're going to tell him yes. Why in the world would they care? But, the answer he received surprised him.

"Sure, I'll join the environment club," Zephyr said. "I've heard that your crops have been rotting lately. That's such a shame."

Hearing such, the hyena blushed. Really? They were going to join the environment club? He couldn't feel any more elated. But, he knew he had to ask something else. Thank you! But, I have something else to ask, plastered over the whiteboard, another question had been bounced his way in a matter of moments.

"Sure, shoot." There had been a warm smile on their face as they said such.

<Is is true you wouldn't let my friend Loba join the roller derby?> the whiteboard asked.

"Hmm? I don't seem to ever recall doing that. Must have been my evil sister, or something!" Zephyr exclaimed laughing. "Anyway, I'll see you in the gardens on Thursday. But, you'll have to excuse me for now. I have to get ready for this game."

Waving goodbye, the budding adult prepared to head home. Ah, he finally did it. He asked Zephyr to join the environment club! He had finally succeeded in doing so. But, as he had been close to his house, he could see that strange pink café again. He could not help but feel attracted to it. Maybe he should convince his sister to take him there in the morning. Seated at the dining table, a cringe word had come his way.

"What's up, bro?" Deigr asked.

<I want to check out that new café tomorrow morning.> The whiteboard said.

"Sure, we'll walk there in the morning," Deigr asked. "You think it's weird it just suddenly appeared, too, I take it?"


Nodding, the chimera finished his supper. Watching his favorite magical girl anime, he went to sleep at eleven pm like he always did. But, he had a strange dream that night. Chasing after a strange hyena cub across a pool, his alarm clock snapped him out of it. Wiping away his sweat, he put on a casual shirt and miniskirt.

But something was off about the café upon coming here. He could see a group of four girls here he had never seen before. Or, maybe he had? He honestly didn't know. But, something about this new eating establishment definitely felt kind of strange, that was for sure. He couldn't quite put his finger on it.

Seated at the table in the corner had been a short young woman in a preppy, rich school uniform. She had very bright white hair that went down to her waist pulled into a ponytail, and a ribbon across her hair. Seeing her, the chimera sighed. Ah, she went to that preppy, rich kid private school. The one that used generative ai to do all their work for them. Disgusting!

Seating in the chair next to her had been a young woman with a casual outfit. She had spiky pink hair and red eyes. But something felt kind of off about her. He didn't know what it was. Across from her had been a young lady with long sea green hair pulled downward. Her dark brown skin was absolutely gorgeous. But, he couldn't help but notice her panther ears. Was she a chimera?

Seated in the final chair had been a young lady with light brown hair tied together with a scrunchy. She had brown eyes to match, and fuzzy bracelets everywhere. In her left hand had been her smartphone, he could hear a familiar mobile game the first years had always been playing in the mornings before class. But, his thoughts had been interrupted in a matter of moments.

"There's a lot of girls your age here," Deigr said. "You should hang out with them."


"Shut up, old bag," the cellphone gamer said.


Things, however, took an immediate turn. Hearing the doors to the other room open, a tall man with dark blue hair pulled into a bun came into the room. Jackal ears, and a lab coat upon them, their dark skin was absolutely gorgeous. Hiding behind him had been a short young man with light brown hair. Both of them adorning orange eyes, the chimera supposed they're related to each other.

"Great, you five finally came," the tall man in the lab coat said. "I suppose I don't have to explain. You all had that dream of an animal fusing with you, right?"

"Uh, like, duh, I did!" the rich girl shouted. "That's why I came here! I stopped having Choop GPT type my essay to come here."

"Ew, gal, you use Ai to write your essays for you? Not cool," the cellphone game said.

"I'm rich and I don't need to write my own stuff! Have a problem with that?" The rich girl flipped her hair as she said such.

"Yes, actually," the pink spiky haired girl said.

"Same here," the panther girl added. But, she had soon been interrupted.

"Um, okay, girls, could you, uh, listen to us for a moment, please?" the shorter jackal asked. "We just want to um, apologize for that. You see, we're scientists and our machine malfunctioned. We didn't mean for you guys to get caught up into Project Mew Mew."

"Project what what now?" the rich girl asked. "Oh, you mean like that manga about super powered girls with the dna of animals infused into them? Been there, done that. I'm already a chimera, and I go to very big lengths to try and hide it!" But, the taller scientist soon pitched in.

"Rabiu, the heck you mean our machine malfunctioned? It didn't. I meant to fire that beam!" Rabiu's brother exclaimed. "Ahem, anyway, girls, my name is Folu, and I need you five to become Mews Mews for me and save this planet from monsters trying to accelerate global warming."

"All five of us?" the pink haired girl asked. "Including miss Generative Ai over here?"

"Yes, unfortunately, her too," Folu said. "Anyway, girls we need your help! Will you become Mew Mews and save the planet?"

Hearing the jackal man explain everything, the hyena blinked. Those monsters, were they the ones making it so hot in May? Maybe he should become a Mew Mew like in that manga he read when he was in middle school. Becoming an animal based super hero to stop climate change from getting worse? Of course he would. In a heartbeat. This planet needed to be saved! But, that's when Deigr soon interrupted his train of thought.

"Apologies for interrupting, but uh, Mr. Folu, I think you should probably know this," Deigr said. "Siorc is my brother."

"Psh. Boy, girl, whatever he is, doesn't matter," Folu said. "He was implanted with extra hyena dna, therefore he can become a Mew Mew." He sighed. "I know in that manga from over twenty years ago was about girls, but I honestly don't care. And, you shouldn't either."

Sister gazing at him, the chimera blinked. Was his sister having doubts about this, or something? Taking out his whiteboard, he wrote, Deigr, let me become a Mew Mew. I promise I'll stay on top of my schoolwork. She soon nodded, much to his shock. Seeing such, he could hardly believe it. That was it? She was going to allow it? Just like that. There was a catch, wasn't there?

"That's fine with me," Deigr said. She then turned towards Folu. "But, Folu, if you make him wear a suit, you're going to get it. My brother prefers skirts."

The hyena could feel himself turn pink. Ah, great. There she went going and having to mention that to a million girls in the room. They're going to think he's weird now, didn't they? Think he's a creep? They would, wouldn't he? Why did some people find it disturbing? He identified outside the binary. Whatever. If they thought it was weird, they were the weird ones here.

"I won't, ma'am," Folu said. He then turned towards the other girls. "I have his name, but I need yours."

"Hmph, whatever, I'm Pi--," the rich snooty girl started, but stopped herself. "Ahem, actually, my name is Monique."

"Wrong, it's Pixiu!" the pink haired girl exclaimed. "Anyhoo, I'm Bain, I'm a sea lion chimera. Pixiu over here is an otter chimera."

"Ugh, I told you I changed my name to Monique! People make fun of it at school!" Monique cried.

"And, I'm Waiola," the green haired panther girl said. "Also, Monique, I just want you to know that Generative Ai is making climate change worse. And, you're a monster for using it."

"I'm Gwendolyn," the cellphone game said. "Make me a Mew Mew, or whatever, but it better not interfere with my tiering!"

Kaboom.

Hearing a rather loud explosion, the hyena flinched. What was that just now? Scientist man demanding everyone scream Mewtomorphosis, the budding adult clicked his tongue. He had to do what now? What in the world? Light shining over everyone, the girls soon let their shouts be known as they lifted their hands up to reveal magical rings. Stupid looking ones, at that.

"Metwomorphosis!" the entire group, except Siorc shouted.

Everyone in frilly costumes, the budding adult sighed. Oh, god, frilly costumes? How embarrassing. He preferred Sailor Suits, thank you. But, he knew this wasn't Sailor Sun, that manga his sister used to read. Whispering Mewtomorphosis, a light purple, frilly outfit engulfed him.

Grotesque monsters awaiting everyone at the park, the chimera could hear a shout inside his ears. Or rather, his hyena ears up top? Feeling such, he could feel a wave of embarrassment. No, no, no, no, had he become even more like a Hyena? Great, awesome, terrific. Human hands and legs hyena as well, everything broke.

"He he, we're going to cook this planet!" The monsters screamed.

"Not on my watch, you don't!" Bain shouted. "Mermaid shout!"

Loud, piercing voice overtaking the area, the Mew Mew covered his ears. Mermaids were quite something, weren't they? He heard that their voices bewitched people. Mew Mew Monique taking out seashell swords, she soon added her own screams to the mix, hearing such, the hyena groaned. Why did they have to shout their attacks like this was some kind of anime?

"Seashell slash!" Monique shouted.

"Panther dash!" Mew Mew Waiola screamed.

"Falcon dance!" Mew Mew Gwendolyn screamed.

Enemy looking rather weak, the hyena could see the girls staring at him. Ah, what, was he supposed to shout his attack, or something? No way, no way. Not a chance. Why would he ever do that? He didn't need to shout it to make it work, right? No way. Strangely shaped heart weapon in his hand, he let the energy flow him. No way was he screaming his attacks.

Intense energy flowing through him, the chimera spun around in the sky and did a backflip. Doing such, the young adult could feel everything crack for a moment. What did he just do? It was almost like his body was moving on its own. Did he do that just now? Maybe he was dreaming. Pinching himself, he felt pain. Ah, no, this was definitely real right now. Monsters fading away, he swore the air got less warm.

Creatures flying upon the air, a strange person with curly hair soon let out a loud laugh. Adorning large devil horns and a black belly shirt, pointy ears, and lacy socks, the young adult cracked his knuckles. And, who was this now? The person who caused all this? Probably. Next to him had been a blonde with razor sharp teeth. Adorning the exact same features as the man next to him, he wondered. Were these aliens, or something? They felt out of this world.

"Thanks for playing with our pets!" alien number one exclaimed. "We hope you play with us again soon!"

"You'll be seeing us again lots!" alien number two shouted. "So, get used to us, girlies!"

"You'd better stop what you're doing, aliens!" Mew Mew Bain shouted. "You're destroying the planet!"

"Oh, nuh uh, you humans are!" alien number one said. He then turned towards Mew Mew Monique. "Mwah, otter girlie, my name is Onur, call me!"


"Gross! As if I'd ever date an alien!" Mew Mew Monique shouted.

"Ugh, whatever!" Onur shouted. "Come on, Konig, we're outta here!" As they said such, everything went back to normal.

Returning to the café, the scientist soon had a demand. Told all five of them had to work here in guise as new workers, the budding adult's eyebrows twitched. He had to do what now? No, no, no, no, no. What about the environment club? He didn't have time to work here! But, he had no choice, he supposed. The planet needed to be saved. Going home for the day, he flopped onto his bed.

Mew Mew Siorc reporting for duty to save the world from Global Warming.

He guessed.

---

This is like, if Gen Alpha were Mew Mews I guess LOL. I don't know what else to say.

 

[Palamon]

Selector Chimera Wixoss

---

"Well, guess I should introduce myself? Not like
I want to. Ah ahhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh,
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX--. Short circuiting zzzzzz.
Okay. Fine, I'll introduce myself. I'm
Siorc, a college student, a
Sophomore to be specific. But, does

It even matter?
To be honest, it hardly does.

This honestly doesn't matter anymore,
Okay, so my sister, she went missing recently.
Okay, so, she played this game. I
Know the name, or I think I

Might, hold on let me think? Ah,
Yes, Wixoss. Wixoss, it was called

Something like that. Not like
I care. I don't care anymore.
She went missing. Shortly after
The time she started playing.
Eh, she was always telling me she
Really wished she was

A 'real girl' and not a chimera.
Well, to me she is
A real girl even though she wasn't born one.
Yes, of course. She'll always be my sister.

For now, I have to look at the
Real facts. She was playing WIXOSS, and
Once she won three times, she
Made like a leaf and

Made a disappearance act. There's a word her friends told me she said,
Eternal Girl. I believe that's what her friends

Said that's what she said when she
Had completely disappeared.
Eh, so that's where we are at now.

It's not like her to just
Make a disappearance like this.
Maybe she's inside the card game?
Errr, no, that's just ridiculous,
Don't say something so nonsensical like that.
It really doesn't make
Any sense at all, though.
To be honest, I can't
Even fathom why she'd disappear
Like this. I really don't get it,
You know. She

Wasn't that kind of girl to not tell mom
Everything. So, this is
Not like her. I don't know where in
This world she

Might have disappeared to.
It's quite honestly a mystery,
Something does tell me
She doesn't want me to find her, and
If so, I don't want to live in a reality she's
Not in! I really, really just don't
Get it, Leah! Why did you run away?

If someone said something

Ferocious to you, I know you're a strong woman,
Everyone knows you're a strong woman! And,
Everyone wants you to come back, I'd
Like it if you did,

So please, please, please,
Oh, please, come back. It's

Like, you don't want to be found
Or something! Is that what's wrong?
She just is scared and ran away,
That's it! Gotta be!

What else could it be?
It's got to be
That. But, I still, regardless,
Have to look for her.
Of course I do, she's my only sister
Unless, she's dead,
That's the last thing on my mind,

However! She can't be outside of this world,
Even though she stopped
Responding to all her texts,

And I haven't heard from her since,
No matter what, I have to find her!
Don't want her to be lost forever!

I don't want her to be
No, not a chance, not a chance!

Perhaps, I should go to the root of the problem:
Ah, yes, Wixoss. Maybe
If I go to the card store, they can tell me where she went!
Now, obviously this probably

Isn't going to work.

No way it'll be that
Easy to find her, but
Even so! I have to try!
Don't give up now!

This is likely going to be
One of the deciding

Factors that helps me
In finding her! This is
Not a lead I considered previously!
Do I think this will

Have the answers I'm seeking?
Eh, no. It might lead me
Right back at the starting

Point, to be honest.
Even so, this is the path.
Really don't know
How far she has run
Away, but I really need to
Put my all into finding her, maybe
Some creepy man playing

Took her away, I have
Heard some freaks have a chimera--
Ech. No, Siorc don't finish that sentence!

Ah, disgusting, no, no
No, don't even try and
Suggest that!
While chimeras have always
Existed because of a special gene, I would
Rather not,

In any way whatsoever,
See myself as what I am.

Please understand, people always
Look at me as if I
Am a weirdo.
Yes, like my sister and
I are aliens. But, I am
Not. I'm just born different.
Get this: I just have a hyena

Tail I can make disappear.
How in the world does that make me look like an
Ever ugly looking alien.

Gah, whatever, I have
Almost made it twenty years like this. I
Might not make it though if my sister is never,
Ever found.

If she isn't, I

Would just like to disappear to, but
I would never tell mother that. Actually, I haven't said anything in a very
Long time, or more
Like, since puberty beyond maybe a

Few yes or nos.
I have never been fond of talking.
Now that Leah is gone, I
Don't talk at all. I just say nothing.

However, I do write down what I want to say, or
Errr, do some gestures, but I
Rather just disappear

And become completely transparent, but I
Guess that's not possible.
Ah, well, so this time
I am extremely determined
Now to find my sister.

There's extremely little time left,
Her traces have been getting fainter
And fainter by
The day. I don't know

How this can be?
Although, I guess that's what happens when
Someone goes missing. I know what you're going

To say: ask the cops!
Oh, you really think I didn't try?

Between the cops and
Even the missing persons team,

I tried both, but
The cops don't care because she's a chimera.

It really boils my blood.

Why do they not care?
If it's because she's 'a man in dress up'
Let me say this: you are disgusting, cops.
Literally, if that's why

Get out of here, get right
Out of here with that!

For now, I guess I won't rely
On them, especially since they're gross.
Right, try the card shop

I have to go
To the heart of

It all! Wixoss!
Now, that's likely the

Only way I'll be able to find her, it's
Rather difficult to say I'm completely right, and I
Doubt I am, but
Even so it's always the
Root of the cause I should be focused on.

That's it, that's the answer.
Of course it is.

From what I have heard,
It does seem like many girls and women are
Now missing
Due to this card game.

How has no one done anything?
Eh, because the cops are
Rancid monsters. That's how

It goes. I have no
Further doubts in that at all.

It's obvious they

Don't care about this
One big case at all.

Not one bit at all,
Of course they don't, though,
They only care once

It's too late!

Might as well just call themselves lazy,
If they aren't
Giving out unjust speeding tickets, they
Have no qualms over
The missing persons reports.

Ah, well, it's not like you
Should rely on these people.

Well, anyway, let me discuss Wixoss an
Eensy, teeny tiny,
Little bit. So, here's a
Little information for you, it's a card game with something called Lrigs. That name

Just sounds suspicious,
Ugh, okay, you know now that I
Said that. Okay, Lrig,
That's girl backwards!

Don't think about
It too deeply, that's just a coincidence.
So, well, I'm getting off topic,
Anyway. So, you
Place an Lrig on the field and
Play them, and shout grow.
Eh okay, so
Apparently, lrigs come in a few colors?
Red, blue, green, white!

From what I know it's a type system
Or something. I
Really don't know as I have never
Ever played, I
Very much could simply be wrong,
Even so, you shout grow and an attack if you have one.
Right, of course that's how

It is or was. I

Don't know, but, it's a simple game.
Or something like that. I have

No idea. Like I said, I have never played.
Obviously, had I have never played
The game. And, to be honest,

Why would I? I'd rather play
A game with flowers in it.
No, no, don't disrespect
The game my sister loved

To play so much.
Obviously, if I do that, I

Bet she'll never return.
Eh, I don't know how you

Win. Just accumulate enough damage,
I guess? I really just don't know,
Though, I guess I
Have to figure it
Out soon, because to be honest, I have to play the game,
Ultimately that is probably
The only way I will be able to find

Her, the heart of
Everything: Wixoss.
Right, that's how it is. And, I'll find her! I will find her even if I have to play WIXOSS."

A short, young feminine looking college student with short purple hair pulled down into two twintails and an orange flower print shirt sighed as orange butterfly hairpins and earrings had been clipped onto the hair and ears. Clutching a letter in the hands, a pained look appeared on the person's face as a hyena tail sunk behind the backside.

It had been about two weeks since the college student's sister, Leah, had gone missing. The young adult had looked everywhere for her. In her college classroom, her former modelling agency, even her ex-girlfriends house. But, no one had seen her. Not her friends, not her former modelling coworkers, not even her enemies.

Opening the letter once more for like the third time in two weeks, the college student let out a sigh. Maybe there was some missing context in the letter that pointed to her disappearance. That had to have been the case, surely. Eyeing it once more, the young adult's pupils were glued to the sheet.

"To my brother, Siorc,

I know, who writes letters these days, right? But, unfortunately, this might be goodbye for now. You might not see me again for awhile. Nothing bad has happened, but your big sister is trying a Wixoss tournament! But, it's in the next city over, so I'll be staying with some friends. Don't worry, I promise I'll be back, but it might be awhile, hehe.

Make sure you tell my professor I'll be taking a leave from college for a week. And, tell mom not to worry too much about me, kay? I promise I'll be back, and I'll win the prize money to finally fix our bathroom! That silly sink still has that leak problem, after all. And Siorc, try and be a big boy, *ahem*, excuse me, try and be the big adult you are and function a bit without me around, kay?

But, don't miss me too much! I'll be back next week, hopefully with the prize money! If not, I guess I'll go back to doing some modelling jobs. But, that's a last resort! People call me nasty names in those magazines in the comments online, what's a chimera and a 'boy' doing on the cover of Vague, and garbage like that. So, Just between you and me, Siorc, I'd prefer to not be a model again.

Okay, that's enough yapping! See you next week,

~Leah."

The chimera shook his head as he read the letter. He watched that tournament on television, and immediately after it ended, his sister did not return home. She simply had gone missing. He didn't know what had happened. She won third place. Not first, but third. Was she too embarrassed to come home? He couldn't possibly fathom what his sister could be thinking right about now.

Searching everywhere never yielding any sorts of results, he knew there was one last place he could probably look. Something closely related to her. The card game she liked so much, Wixoss. Maybe someone at the card shop had recently seen her. At first, he thought that would have been the worst place to look for her. But, today, he would finally attempt it. Grabbing his memo pad, he slipped into the dining room.

Standing in the dining room chopping up lemon chicken pieces for an afternoon meal was a short middle aged woman with long purple hair, and a hyena tail from behind her. Tiringly slicing like always, he could feel his mother's pain. During this time of the day, his sister would always ask for a small plate of lemon chicken. He supposed it was an autopilot thing by now. Dark purple eyes soon meeting his mismatched purple and green ones, he soon waved to the kin who birthed him.

"Afternoon, sweetie," his mother said in a fake chipper voice. "Want some lemon chicken?"

The chimera shook his head at such notion. He had never been quite much of a poultry fan. His late father may have been, and his sister was a chicken fanatic, but he had not been so. Would eating it make her come back? No, of course not. Flipping back his memo book, he pressed his bright purple pen onto a brand new page.

{I'm going to the card shop today.} The words on the paper said.

"The card shop in town?" his mother asked, faking a chipper tone. "How many packs of cards do you plan on buying?"

The hyena could feel himself thrown for a loop. Why was his mother asking him that? After his sister had went and disappeared after playing Wixoss, why would he go and buy that game that caused her to go away? But, he thought it over, for a moment. What if purchasing some would lead him onto the trail of being reunited with her again.

{Six.} The memo said.

"Six? Okay, sweetheart, here's a fifty," his mother said. As she said such, a green paper bill had been plopped into her son's hands. "Keep the change."

Staring at the fifty bill in his hands, the chimera shook his head. He needed to get a job at a local flower nursery as soon as possible. He couldn't have his mother handing out so much money willy nilly like that. After he were to find Leah, that would be the first thing he would do, guaranteed. Would he have time to do both his college classes and a part time career? Who knows? He sure didn't.

Reaching the card shop, Cards N' Such, the chimera took a small deep breath. Here he goes, the last place he would ever think to look for someone. Bell chiming on the door as he entered, he could see multiple girls playing Wixoss in the corner. Seeing such, he wondered. Would it look weird if he bought six packs? This had mostly been a game girls played, right?

But, the chimera disregarded such thought? What did it matter what people might have thought of him? It hardly did. He was just here to buy some packs and ask the salesperson up front if he had seen his sister. Nothing more. Walking towards the counter, scary, unknown eyes had soon looked at his own.

"Welcome to Cards N' Such!" the employee exclaimed. "Oh! You're Leah's kid sibling! She hasn't come around these parts since winning the tournament."

The chimera could feel himself deflate hearing the employee up front inform him Leah had not been to the card shop. She hadn't even been here? How strange. He thought, of all places, this is where she would be. Well, maybe she'd still come back if he bought the cards she liked so much.

Holding up six fingers, the employee soon handed him six packs of cards. Bill handed off to her, the hyena could feel some doubts. Would this even lead him back to finding his sister? Maybe it wouldn't after all. But it was worth a try, right? Lady giving him a discount, change had been slapped into the palm of his hands.


Heading back home, the young adult returned the change to his mother, despite protest. Closing his bedroom door, he sat on the edge of his bed. Surely, this would lead him back to his sister. She adored this card game, up until she went and disappeared anyway. Ripping open the first card pack, nothing was doing.

But, upon opening the third pack of cards, the hyena had seen something familiar, something unusual; something unexpected. Seeing a card with light, long purple hair pulled into two high pigtails, and a bright blue sundress, the chimera fell off his bed. Wait, this card, it looked a lot like Leah. How could that be? New sets only get produced once every six months. Readying to open the last three packs, he swore the card started talking to him.

"Hey, Siorc! Did you miss me?" the card asked.

Slightly deep, but delicate voice talking to him, the chimera fell onto his backside. This card, did it just talk? And in Leah's voice? Ah, no, he had to have been dreaming right now. This was some sort of hallucination. It had to have been, right? That had to have been it. He was imagining this. Right.

"Hey, hey, it's no dream!" card Leah exclaimed. "It's really me! Funny story how I turned out like this!" She giggled, stroking the back of her head with her hand. "Since you can see me, that means you're a selector, too!"

Hearing such, the chimera blinked, he was a what now? What was a selector? He had never heard of this term before. So, was he the chosen one, or something? finger spelling towards the card, what happened to you? The questions had begun brewing. He could hardly believe what he was seeing.

"Oh, well, do you remember that wish I had? To become a real girl?" card Leah asked. "Well, turns out, I was a Selector, like you are now! But, seems I met a certain condition to become an eternal girl! And, bam, I became a card! Some real girl I am right? Haha."

Leah telling him all her card game woes, the chimera didn't understand. What's a selector, anyway? His sister was a card now? He had heard some girls in his college use that word before. But, that left him with another question. If she was a card now, what happened to her body? Was it rotting somewhere? Finger spelling, what happened to your body? Dooming thoughts flowed through him at rapid speed.

"Hehe, well, so, okay, when I became a card, the Lrig took over my body," Leah said. "But, I told her that she can't come home, because mama would probably notice the vocal change. Sorry to have you worried! But, there might be a way to get me back into my body! But you have to play Wixoss! I'll be your Lrig, kay?"

Sister offering himself to her, the young adult placed his hand on his chin. Wait, if he played this game, and he won and became an eternal girl, would he become a card in her place? Finger spelling, I don't know, Leah, mom would probably die from loneliness if I go missing, too, he shook his head, but a familiar laugh had soon filled his ears.

"Oh, don't be silly, I'm going to find a way to break out of my card when you win enough times so you don't become an Lrig, too!" Leah said, giggling. "But, we're probably going to have to try really hard to break that rule! Okay?" She placed her hands into a praying position. "You know how to play, right? I remember teaching you a couple times!"

Nodding, the college student wondered. How many girls in his lecture classes played Wixoss? He supposed he could find out tomorrow when he went in. Would any of them agree to try a match with him? The only time he ever played was when Leah asked him to be her opponent early on when the game was still new to his country. But, that was almost a year ago now. He was already rusty.

Heading back to college for the first time in two weeks, his professor lectured him on his unreported absences, but the young adult tuned him out. Did it matter why he wasn't here? His sister had gone missing, for crying out loud! The last thing on his mind was mind was reporting himself as absent in the roaster.

Burning himself out in class, he could see a group of four girls with a deck of cards in their hands. Slipping a deck into his pocket, sticking out, he walked towards them. Would this look weird right about now? Probably. But, it was worth a shot, right? Perhaps. It had to work, for sure. This game was very popular.

Eight eyes soon looking at him, the hyena turned his head. Ah, eyes, he always despised eye contact. Why did people have to look directly into his eyes like that? He didn't know. But, it was proper manners, or something. Pupils soon off him, he studied the students glaring at him from a few meters ahead.

Holding a deck of cards in her hand had been a short college freshman with short white hair pulled into two buns. Adorning a traditional Chinese outfit. Her blue eyes looked like tears. He recalled sometimes he would see this young lady crying in the courtyard over losing some Wixoss games. Otter tail behind her, everything clicked. Ah, she's a chimera, too, huh? Interesting.

Next to her had been tall, college junior. She had spiky orange hair and gazelle horns on the top of her head. Wearing a leather biker jacket, and grey pants, she looked entirely done with the world as if it had wronged her, or something. Maybe it had, who knows? It wasn't his business whatsoever.

Standing next to the college freshman had been a tall young woman with very short cool grey hair pulled into very high spiky pigtails. Her bangs had been rather low hanging. Otter tail behind her, something about her looked familiar. Wasn't this one of the models his sister was friends with? She used to invite her over for sleepovers before they became models. But, that was quite a long time ago.

Posing for a selfie in the corner had been a young woman with pure white skin, and black stripes over her eyes. Was she wearing face paint like that band, KISS? Perhaps so. She had been part of the rock band club, he believed. But, he had recalled there had been one badger at this school. Maybe that was her. Her short brown hair was practically shining against her camera lens.

"I can't help but feel the selector aura from you!" the first girl with buns exclaimed. "Say, you wanna fight me while my friends here fight each other? We're all close to becoming Eternal Girls!" She then extended her hand. "I'm Pulao! Orangey over here is Damla!"

"Not orange," Damla said huffing her breath. "Stop calling me that."

"Okaaaaaaaaaay, sorry!" Pulao exclaimed.

"Sharky, is that you?" the tall girl asked. "Remember me, I'm Susu! I'll fight you in a match too, if you want! But, Damla and Satine over here are gonna fight each other. Is that okay with you?"

"Geez, Susy, speaking for me, much?" Satine said. "Hmph, but, it's not like I wanna fight against an amateur Selector! That'd be way too easy of a win!"

Giving Pulao and Susu a nod, the party of five headed up towards their college rooftop. Four card games set up, the place shook itself up for a moment. But, where he found himself next was a whole new world. Dark space with nothing but a strange blue dashboard to place cards, the world spun around him, ah, where was he?

"Getting dizzy? Hehe, don't let the nerves get to you, or I'm sure to win!" Pulao exclaimed. "I'll be your first opponent! Why don't you take a moment to watch them first before we begin to warm yourself up?"

"Chiwen, grow!" Damla cried.

"Kaiser, grow!" Satine cried.

Seeing a little avatar on the board with short grey hair pulled into high looplets, a long hanging golden strand, and a bright golden Chinese casual dress, with flaming accessories, the hyena didn't understand. This Lrig, she kind of looked like Pulao. Didn't she notice that? Maybe she wasn't paying attention.

Other girl avatar on the board having golden penguin crests, long flowing blond hair, orange eyes, and a drag queen dress, it had come to the hyena's attention. That girl, she was also someone familiar. Hadn't she been one of the models in Leah's former modelling agency? They had to have been.

"I'll beat you!" Chiwen shouted.


"How ugly! No way, I'll be the one to destroy you!" Kaiser shouted.

Match ending, Pulao gave the hyena a look of readiness. It was his turn. These girls, they were all close to becoming Eternal Girls, right? Was he about to see a new card be born? Maybe. His confidence had basically been zero. He had never played this game seriously, not even once in his entire life.

"Prepare to lose!" Pulao said. As she said such, her avatar appeared on the board.

Tiny girl avatar with long bright red hair, a mermaid tail, and fire in her eyes, the college student blinked. Lrigs could be mermaids, too? Placing Leah's card face down, she soon appeared on the board. So, this was it, huh? His first, and probably only, selector battle. Time to make it count.

"Let's battle, Siorc!" Leah exclaimed.

"Since you're new to this, I'm going to give you a taste of what it's like to fight against a seasoned selector!" Pulao exclaimed. "Kali, grow!"

Avatar on the other side gaining some accessories, a signi card had been on the opposite end of the playing field. Flaming attack coming Leah's way, he could hear something break. Opponent laughing, the hyena remembered something. Ah, right. If seven of those jewels on his side of the field broke, he would lose. It was too early for that. Taking a deep breath, he forced words out of his mouth.

"Leah, grow!" Siorc shouted.

Calling an attack, the battle went on for quite some time. Leah adorning poisoning attacks, noxious beams had been sent to the opponent. Pulao letting out a loud whine as she lost, the hyena slapped his hand against his forehead. Ah, this girl, what a sore loser she was. It was just one match. Did it really matter if she lost one? She could pick herself back up quickly.

"Sorry about my sister, you just took her second loss," Susu said, shaking her head. "But, it's my turn now!" Avatar placed on the board. "I'm going first, okay? Kylling, grow!"

Seeing a small girl with short blue hair in pigtails and goat horns on the board, the hyena could not help but wonder. Was there a chimera set in Wixoss now, or something? Maybe. He never kept track of these sorts of things. He wasn't into Wixoss nearly as much as his sister had been. He never would be.

"I'mma beat you!" Kylling shouted.

But, outside influence had soon interrupted the match. Professor screaming that the roof is closed don't come up here, everyone ran back downstairs. He could hear Pulao cry, so much for a quiet place to play Wixoss. Shrugging, the student went back to his lectures. Ah, well, that was a decent match, he supposed.

Weeks soon passed after that, and something strange had happened in that time. Pulao losing three matches, she had become a shell of her former self. Becoming even more like an otter than a human, he had learned of something. Selectors fight for their wishes to come true. Had she wished to become a normal human? She had stopped going to college shortly after the incident.

But, something worse had occurred. Susu going missing after winning her fifth match, the chimera knew he had to start investigating this Wixoss and Selector thing. Something was off about this whole thing, and he couldn't sit by and watch as other girls have their entire life fall apart, or become cards. He had to do something. But, what could he do?

Finding a Lrig investigator club at his college a week or so later, he had met a young man with spiky white hair with blue highlights who always wore turtle printed turtlenecks. A young bespectacled woman with long magenta hair pulled into a ponytail, and her cream braided hair colored sister with greyish pink eyes.

"I'm Linggui, Susu's bro," Linggui greeted. "Welcome to the Lrig investigation club, champ." He extended his hand. "Shake on it."

Shaking Linggui's hand, the hyena finger spelled, nice to meet you. So, this was Susu's brother? He knew about Lrigs? Maybe he was a selector, too? He had heard there had been rare exceptions males could become Selectors. He hadn't really thought much about such. He was neither male nor female, so such thought almost never crossed his mind anyway.

"I'm Aigre," the bespectacled girl said. "I'll just cut to the chase. You're already aware of it, aren't you? My, no, our sister also became an Lrig."

"I'm Savon," the cream haired girl said. "Hmm, I know you. You're that model's sister, right? Former model, rather. Not like she's one anymore."

Nodding, the hyena took out the Leah card from his pocket. But, for some reason, only Linggui could hear her. Had Aigre and Savon not been selectors? Probably not. He had heard only selectors can hear what Lrigs had to say, and enter that special battle space. Sitting down at the table, a discussion between Leah and Linggui soon began.

"So, you really do become an Lrig when you become an Eternal Girl," Linggui said placing his hand on his chin. "I bet that's what happened to Susu."

"Yup, probably," Leah said. "I'm honestly not sure! I haven't gone back to that world since being put into this card."

"Hold on a sec, could ya repeat what you just said a second ago, Leah?" Linggui asked.

"You want me to repeat it? Kay!" Leah exclaimed in a singing voice. "I haven't been to that world since I was put in this card!"

"Tell me more 'bout dat world," Linggui said in a demanding tone. "I need to get Susu back!"

"That other world I went to? I don't remember much, but I can tell you what I remember!" Leah exclaimed. "It's a white room with a lot of windows, and some lady. She looks pretty lonely!"

Hearing such, the hyena could hardly believe what he was hearing. What did Leah just say? There was another world where the Lrigs and girls swapped bodies? Maybe he should do something about that. He didn't really have something to wish for. Maybe he should wish to end this cycle once and for all. Maybe something like this had happened in the past in an alternative universe. There had to be a way to end this. He would even become an Eternal Girl, if he had to.

Months had soon passed, and the investigations soon continued. He had met a few girls who had once been Lrigs, and come back from the other side. It had been an endless cycle. How could he break this? How could he hope to free people from this horrible system? He had to become an Eternal Girl and demand all the girls be freed from this.

Linggui agreeing to help him out, multiple battles had been fought across a few months. He had heard more and more tales from former Lrgis. Including one all the way from Japan from around a decade ago named Ru-- Komi----. Hearing her story about what happened ten years prior, his entire world had been blown out of the water. This had already occurred once? Who was doing this, and why? It shouldn't have possible for something like this to still be going if it had been stopped once before.

Reading some autobiographies from ten years prior, everything clicked. All of this was an endless cycle. A never ending loop. Different year, different country. This selector Lrig system, it was time to finally put an end to this Leah agreeing with him, the fight to break this never ending pattern had took a long, painstaking course to the end of the road.

And, one day, it happened, the win that he needed. The last and final push to become an Eternal Girl. Finding himself in a pure white room, a large woman in pure white robes stared through a crystal ball. Seeing her, the hyena couldn't help but feel a heavy wave of pity from her. So, she was the one causing this lrig and selector system, huh? Well, no more of that. Time to end this.

"Hi again, miss white," Leah greeted. "We have something to say!"

"My fair child, do tell," 'Miss White' said. As she said such, her hand rested on her chin.

"End this selector system!" Leah shouted.

But, the white haired lady did not like that. She did not like that one bit. Not at all whatsoever. Yelling that her little game can't end, the hyena could feel a blood vessel pop inside him. How could she still want this to go on forever like this? No way. This could not go on. Not at all. It could not go on.

"No, ma'am! You can't keep doing this!" Siorc cried. "You can't allow this suffering to continue!" His voice continued to raise as he said such. "Why can't you see no one wants to be in this cycle? You, or whoever started this ten years ago should know that!" His heart raced as he continued. "My wish, no everyone's wish, is to stop this game forever! So, end it already!"

A blinding light soon engulfed him as the white haired lady cried. He swore as the world crumbled, he could see a short woman with long brown hair step into the room in another world. Ah, the girl he spoke with on the phone Ru--. The first one to put an end to this madness. He supposed that would make him the third or so, right? Perhaps so. He recalled she had told him this had happened a few times after her tryst.

Removed from the space, a few days had passed. Most of the girls who had become Lrigs had returned. All the other girls who had been possessing the bodies of the carded ladies had gone back to their own vessels. But, there had just been one person missing, Leah. Why hadn't she come back yet? He was starting to worry. Did she pass away? He didn't know how he would handle such if such were the case.

Card store closing down, the production of Wixoss cards had quickly ceased. Multiple warnings had been issued about the game. Do not play it. The game was dangerous. Buzz about it had died down rather quickly after that. Not a single person from then on touched the game. The world had begun to move back towards a normal direction.

Everyone in college had moved on. No one discussed the game anymore. But, as the days continued to pass, he continued to worry. Why hadn't Leah come back home yet? She hadn't gone to her lectures. She hadn't been anywhere. Had she been trapped in that white world? He tried to head back there, but could never find a way to return to that place.

But, then, one day, everything changed. Or, rather, returned to normal. Sister walking through the door in a new outfit, and new voice, the chimera could feel tears stroll down his face. Running towards his sister, he could hardly hold himself back as a sea of tears strolled down his face in spades. Ah, this wasn't a dream right now, was it? He was awake right now, right? If none of this were real right now, he would be beside himself with anger.

"I'm home, Siorc, mama!" Leah cried.

Holding his sister tighter, the hyena hiccupped.

Welcome back, Leah.

Welcome home.

---

Happy 10th anniversary to Wixoss! I had fun writing this one.

 

[Palamon]

SYSOR

---

"Great, hello there, what brings you to Remnant?
Uh, guess I should introduce myself, shouldn't I?
Eh, alright, could you please give me one
Second. Give me a moment to breathe. Alright,
So, my name is Siorc. I don't believe we've met, have we? Huh,

I'm sorry, could you please repeat what you just

Said? I can attend Beacon Academy?
Huh, are you really sure about this?
Of course, I am happy to get to attend,
Utterly happy that I got an enrollment notice, but
Let's backpedal on this a
Dabble. Since, let's be outright honest.

I'm a hyena chimera. Which, is
Not a well liked race, so I have
To pretend I'm a faunus. People in
Remanent doing ever question me if I
Overtly lie and pretend I am a faunus.
Don't get me wrong I'd rather not lie
Ugh, but that's just how it is
Can't tell the truth about this
Even if I want to, I could get

Myself straight up killed,
Yes, it's really that risky being open about being a chimera,
So, this is just how my life tends to go
Every single day. It's kind of
Like having to force myself to hide,
For, that's just been my whole entire life.

Maybe, at Beacon, it'll all be better there,
You never know? At least, I truly hope so.

Now, as for the caveat, the other one,
Anyway, before I say what it is, please don't
Make me feel like a weakling for this.
Eh, alright so, please, hear me out on this.

I just don't have a good heart.
So, please, give me a second to explain myself.

So, uh, let me take a moment to explain myself, please?
I have a pretty bad heart condition.
Of course, I don't let this
Rule my life, but I
Cannot overexpert myself. But,

I won't let something like this stop me

At all. Even so, despite all that,
Maybe I'll be able to live my life

A little on the fun side.

Can't really think of
How I will be able to get
Into too many scuffles, so, alright,
Maybe this academy might
Expel me when they find out, if they find out
Really hope they don't
And all that, I don't want to

Be removed just because I am a little
Unhealthy. I can fight
The monsters of this world perfectly fine.

I mean, I don't actually know that, I

Haven't fought any yet, but
And, to be honest I am
Very terrified. I will get
Expelled for this. Well, I guess

That's what is at stake.
Of course, though, if I take my

Pills every day, it'll be alright. Or
Rather, I won't be able to risk
Expulsion, so I just can't let
Them find out I am
Either sickly,
Nor a chimera. I really
Don't want anyone to find out either point!

It'd be a rather terrible

And horrible disaster if I am found out, I
Might be killed, like, I might get

Almost immediately, like, an instant.

For, I know that's what's
About to happen. A chimera
Unleashing itself into this world
Not meant for them?
Ugh, well, I just can't let people find out my
Secret. Well, I guess that's not going to

Be hard since, for one thing, I don't
Ever really talk. I have my
Curved machete speak for me with the use of dust
And, I know that's a little annoying
Ultimately a really stupid thing to have
Speak for me, but
Even so, it's just much easier than

Churning out words of my own.
However, I guess at Beacon
It'll be very difficult to get by in class not using my
Mouth to communicate since
Everyone in school has to be
Ready to speak out their
Answers at any given time, but you
Should know that I despise

All forms of speech. I would much
Rather say nothing at all for any reason at all,
Ever, and I have a long list of reasons why. It's

Quite the long list of reasons why I do not
Unleash speech upon this world, uh, well, for one thing,
I don't like my voice
Though, I guess it should be obvious since I just
Established that I

Don't talk, right. Yes, I have already
Established the first reason why
So, let's move onto my second
Point as to why I don't speak. Two,
I am afraid of people hearing how I
Sound, and screaming: chimera!
Eh, so that's stupid nonsense?
Don't underestimate some humans.

I hear we have a certain time of voice
No human or faunus

Seems to have, so, of course,
Obviously, I am going to try to hide it.
Can't get caught and risk death.
I know my brother, Faxi always tells me
Even if people do
Think my voice sounds like a chimera people
Yield, or do not actually

Really care once they do notice.
Even so, I would rather not be found out
Maybe that might be true for Faxi
And other chimeras who
Never have been found out, but
Even so, I am
Not allowing something like
That to happen I mustn't.

I absolutely, positively
Should not speak at all whatsoever.

Just let myself stay quiet.
Ultimately, it doesn't matter. It
Shouldn't matter at all on
This subject, just, please

Let me remain as silent as
I possibly can. Really, I
Know it's so much better
Everything is just easier

That way. I don't know if I'll
Have this luxury
At a battle academy,
Though. As one might be made aware. Beacon

Is a team school. So, I don't

Get to be alone and go here
Ugh, I wish I could
Enter this academy and remain
Solo, but that just
Simply is not possible.

Eh, so I guess that's just how
It's going to be, and
There's hardly, much time until I
Have to go take the airship and leave
Everything behind. I don't truly know, and I am
Rather nervous I

Will be forced to talk.
Ah, well, if I have to, I can create an excuse,
You know? Of course

I can. Uh, okay, I

Got one: I have a bad throat.
Eh, well, you know what
That's a ridiculous sound lie,

Though, it's worked before
Obviously, it won't work out

Always, especially in
The academic world.
That's something, I know very well
Eh, whatever, though. It's
Not like it truly matters. It
Doesn't and, I

Bet not many people will
Even so much as care
About a student who does not talk.
Can't really be bothered
Over the quiet type,
No? Of course, I

Absolutely know that this is not a
Catch-all. Of course,
At some point, I will be forced to speak.
Do I want that to be something that
Ever happens to
Me? Of course I don't.
You know I don't

Want to. Does it look like I
Have any sort of
Interest in talking,
Chatting, any of that
Horrible badness?

It's not going to happen, I
Shall not speak, I

Shall not chat, I shall not
Have anything to say
Of course, I guess I
Cannot stay silent forever, I
Know that, it's
Not like I don't. Oh, well, let's
Get ready for my

Brand New world, my brand new life
Especially since I don't know if I
Can prove myself as
A future hunter,
Uh, actually, I prefer to
Say Huntress. Okay, so know you know that third
Evident caveat as to why

I don't speak, my voice

As a whole is slightly
Masculine, and I am going to

Say this right here, right now. I don't
Like that, I never have.
I am outside the binary, I
Guess I have identify this way since I
Have been able to breathe upon
This planet. It doesn't matter,
You know, I am not human

So the fact that this
Is something that shouldn't matter. I
Couldn't care less. I
Know people see me as how I
Look, and I wish people would
Yield their assumptions

About me. I already know people
Never stop staring at me
Don't get me wrong, they

Have their fair share
As well as unfair
Verifiable reasons to
Eye me, but I

Am just saying. I am not

Human, so the humans two
Eggs colored blue
And pink just don't apply to me.
Remanent may be filled with
Too many monsters, dusts and

Completely nonsensical garbage
Of Fairy tales and stuff, but it's
Not like I have to
Dabble in all the rules.
I don't know what dorm I'll be in
Though, but
I guess I'll soon see
Of course I really just have
No idea. I have a little

Bit before I am talking the airship
Ugh, the airship,
The airship, alright, so

I'm not sure if I can handle
That. But, I know that

I have to do try and bear it. Being
Sickly, there's a lot of

Harmless things I
Am just a little too weak to stand.
Right, riding a airship might
Delve me into a queasy
Land. Whatever, all that matters is getting to school.
Yes, getting to Beacon

Academy in one piece.
Nothing else matters

It shouldn't matter, it
Shouldn't matter, it
Shouldn't matter.
Uh, alright. Stop repeating
Everything I just said!

Will I make a good
Huntress? To be honest,
I am starting to doubt I will be,
Let's just get to the academy and find out.
Eh, whatever, this is my first and

Only academy I'm ever getting to go to.
No, I never went to school

Because, I was taught at home
Eh, does something like
That make me look privileged?
Ah, it probably does,

But I really don't care,
Look, my heart problems are bad
One wrong day and I
Could just die. I
Know, 'if you could die at any moment why are you
Even trying to attend a
Really battle heavy
School?' Ugh, silence. Be quiet.

After all these years, I'm
Not standing around anymore!
Yes, I am not standing around anymore
Will this be something that will toss me
Above the edge?
Yes, yes, it very

Much could do that.
Yes, yes, this is very much something I might just die.

No, no, no, let's
End these dooming thoughts.
Why would I die? The doctors out me on a higher dose of beta blockers.

Look, everyone does die
It'll happen to me, it'll happen to
Faxi, mother, father,
Everyone in the world.

For now, I just want to live
It out at this place. Fight
Grimm, and just
Have a reason
To live, of course
I need to have a reason to live.
No one wants to live a meaningless life. So, I'll
Go to this academy. Fight

Grimm. I know that
Remanent is always a dangerous world
I know that, I know that.
Maybe it doesn't
Matter if I will live,

But I am on the
Eve of becoming a Huntress! I
Get to live my dreams
I get to try something
New, use my powers, try my
Sword. I get to go

Here at Beacon
Even though I am a
Rather despised race: a chimera.
Even so, I am

Very excited. This is an
Exciting new world I am
Ready to leave!
Yes, my time has come, this is

Awesome, so awesome.
Will I regret this?
Eh, maybe! I
Shouldn't be here, but
Oh, well, this is awesome.
My life is changing.
Everything will be different now!"

A small, androgynous individual with short, spiky dark purple hair rose upwards from the comforts of the bed as the alarm clock had begun to ring up a storm. Numbers on the device reading zero eight zero zero, the young adult rubbed the eyes. Today would be the last day that clock would ring inside this room.

Stepping out of the bed, the young adult stared off into the bedroom mirror. Hyena ears out, the individual closed the eyes. Can't have those out the day before departing the home. Pajamas taken off, and fancy little dark violet dress suit slapped over a knee length skirt, the young adult headed off towards the washroom.

Fangs brushed, and light mascara put on, the young adult's mismatched purple and green eyes practically glowed. Twisting the cap off his prescription bottle, the beta blockers had almost been downed like candy. Bitter taste lingering in the mouth, the individual walked into the kitchen as if time was going to fade away at any given moment.

Sitting at the kitchen had been a tall man with short jade green hair pulled into a high ponytail, and razor sharp teeth. His large dark brown freckles practically decorated his entire face. Biker jacket hanging over his shoulders, he looked like he wanted to kill a man if he did not have any coffee. Blue violet eyes looking as done as dinner, the young adult waited until his brown doom water had been finished.

Walking into the kitchen had been a short young adult male with short blond hair that went down to about his chest with dark purple highlights evident throughout his locks, and violet eyes to match. Adorning a shirt that read, I Love Fried Chicken with the heart shaped like a chicken, the individual tried to not cringe. His half brother, Faxi, at it again with his stupid graphic tees. He would miss that a little after tomorrow, he wouldn't lie.

"Good morning, bro," his older brother greeted. "Are you sure you want to go to Beacon Academy still? We can ask them to cancel your enrollment before it's too late."

Taking out his notebook, the young adult wrote down, don't worry, Pira, I will be alright. The doctors said I can engage in physical activity now, right? He could see a look of worry on his older brother's face. What was he so concerned about? They finally found a dosage of beta blockers that could let him lead a normal life, so why the pushback?

"We know that's what they said, Siorc," his older brother Faxi said. "But, that's far from the only reason we think you should withdraw. They're going to find out you're an Ingne, as well as a chimera." There was a tone of worry in his voice. "Not only that, you're enrolling a year later than most normally do."

Brothers worried about him, the hyena wrote down, you two are such worrywarts. I'll be alright. They won't find out I'm a chimera if I don't talk. Party of two looking at the notebook in unison of one another, they both shook their head at such prospect. Why were they so worried about this? All he had to do was pretend he was a faunus, right? He already knew what he had to do, no big deal.

"Well, we're just looking out for you, kiddo," his older brother Pira said. "People are going to find it weird you're enrolling at eighteen instead of seventeen. Are you sure you still want to go?"

Nodding, the chimera shrugged. Did it really matter if it'd look weird if he were enrolling a year later? He could always just pretend he had an early birthday, or something. Not like anyone was going to ask him about it. Did it really matter? He was going to a battle school, not a normal academy with math and science, at stuff. He was fighting Grimm, not the multiplication table.

"Also, if you feel ill at any given point, you need to call us on your scroll, alright?" Faxi said. "We've arranged with the academy to come get you if you have an attack."

Writing out, I'll be alright into his notebook, the young adult let out a sigh. He supposed, even as the years passed, he'd still be the baby of the family, wouldn't he? He was an adult now. But, he knew, in the eyes of his brothers, he would never be seen as one at any given point. Well, oh, well, that was life.

Spending the rest of the day with his brothers, the faithful morning soon arrived. Brothers seeing him off, the chimera gulped as placed himself on the airship. He still had a chance to turn back. Maybe he didn't have to go after all. But, the chimera slapped his cheeks. That's quitter talk he had already come this far, hadn't he?

Seating himself, a tall blond hologram made a speech welcoming multiple people to Beacon, and that coming here was a privilege. Hearing such, the hyena struggle to comprehend such. This was an elite academy, huh? Maybe he didn't belong here after all. Should he tell his family to pick him up immediately?

But, the beacon student shrugged. He should at least see how things go for him for a month or two before quitting. Airship leaving the station, the chimera almost immediately felt a wave of fatigue flow through him. Nodding off, he could feel himself dragged to dreamland. However, that didn't last long.

"Princess, could you like, stop snoring?" person one asked.

"Yeah, it's really annoying," person one complained.

Rubbing his eyes, the hyena gazed at the two people complaining. Standing in the corner had been a bunny person with bright pink hair and a suit. Were they a faunus? He was surprised to see so many faunus amongst the attending students here. Maybe he'd be able to blend in a little better, knowing this.

Standing in the corner with an annoyed look on her face had been a very short young rat lady with very short brown hair. Winter coat upon her the chimera did not know if she were a faunus or chimera. They weren't just cat creatures, right? They couldn't have been. But, what did he know? He didn't know much of anything.

"He wasn't snoring that loud," another voice added.

"Yeah, Nousagi," a fourth voice added. "Barely snoring at all!"

"Why are you defending them?" the pink haired rabbit, Nousagi asked. "He's probably going to be dead weight at the academy! I won't let someone like them become my partner for the next four years."

"Same here!" rat girl exclaimed.

"Whatever you say, Krysi, you parrot" person three said. "Dude wasn't snoring that loud, anyway."

Tall man with blueish-grey hair defending him, the student gazed at the man's matching eyes. Something was off about this person. He had the chimera eyes. Person next to him being a short girl with shadowy black hair and a light green dress the hyena couldn't help but wonder. How many new students were attending this year? Probably hundreds.

"Don't mind prince Nousagi, they just think they're all that 'cause their daddy some president of a dust company," grey haired man said. "I'm Eclater, by the way, and this is Dove. Holler if you ever need our help."

"Some students here are a little snotty rich kids," Dove said. "Watch out for them."

Airship soon reaching its destination, a metallic walkway had soon been beneath the chimera's feet. Tall building practically towering towards the sky, the beacon student practically had stars in his eyes. Accidentally summoning his curved blade as he excitement spasmed, a young girl screamed.

"Hey, you, didn't anyone teach you manners?!" a girl on the floor said. "Don't swing your blade around if there's no Grimm!"

"Master's sorry for hurting you!!" the hyena's blade shouted.

"And your blade even talks, great!" the girl screamed. "I hope I'm never on a team with you!"

Cat girl with bright orange hair running off, the hyena made his blade disappear from behind him. God, why did he do that? He was about to leave the worst of impressions on everyone at this school, wasn't he? Pointing his blade at someone by accident like that. So much for smooth sailing and a chance at a new life. That girl is going to tell people he's a maniac.

Running towards the school building, the young adult huffed and puffed up a storm. No matter how much time were to pass while on his new beta blockers he still couldn't push himself more than a little. Would he ever graduate from here? Maybe not. Panting up a storm, he could hear two students make fun of him.

"Out of breath? You won't last a second at beacon, kid," voice one exclaimed.

"What she said," voice number two said. "If I were you, I'd drop out now while you still have some dignity."

Hearing such, the chimera gazed at the two naysayers. Standing up high looking ready to laugh him into oblivion had been a short young woman with jackal ears. Her sky blue hair pulled into ponytails, she had goggles on the top of her head. Dark brown skin glowing against the sun, and bright pink pilot outfit upon her, the hyena held back the urge to bark back. He won't last a minute in beacon? What makes her think she would with that attitude?

Standing next to her had been a young woman with long blonde hair and quite unusual looking eyebrows that were bristled and gold. long golden dress practically covering her feet, she along with the previous girl both had bright orange eyes. These two, who did they think they were telling him to drop out? He hoped he'd never have to be on a team with them whatsoever.

Reaching the school, the day had gone by in a flash. Being summoned to the next area, multiple students had all been crowded into a new room. Tall man with grey hair and sunglasses on the stage, the beacon student turned his attention towards him. Man saying everyone would be heading for the temple in emerald forest, the chimera gulped. A test already? School hadn't even started yet! But, the last thing spiky man said added a brand new layer of worry.

"The first person you lock eyes with will be your partner," the headmaster of Beacon Academy said.

Hearing such, the hyena could feel his knees turn to jelly. Ah, right, he almost forgot. This battle school would have people working on teams. How could he forget something like that? He was going to have to talk to people. Terrible, terrible, how awful. If anyone found out he was a chimera he would become six feet under shortly.

Put on a launching catapult along with the rest of the students, the young adult had gone flying. Letting out a scream as such occurred, a deep dense forest soon awaited him. Heart pounding out of his chest, he let out a groan. Ah, maybe coming to a place with such high physical activity was a bad idea after all. Catching his breath, everything had soon got a lot worse as he had locked eye contact with someone.

Orange haired cat girl's orange eyes locked with his own mismatched ones, the hyena could hear the young woman groan. Adding his own groan to the mix, he knew what she was about to say. Why was she matched up with this loser who can't keep his sword away? Well, ditto goes for her. He didn't want to be paired up with her, either.

"Ugh, why did I have to lock eyes with you?" the cat girl asked. "I wanted to be partners with Oluchi or Regina!" She then turned her head off towards the sky blue haired girl. "Oluchi, trade partners with me!"

"Eew, no, you're with that weakling who can't even run a meter!" Oluchi shouted. "You can keep that loser!"

"Same," Regina said. "I'm not switching!" As they said such, they ran deep into the Emerald Forest.

"Aaah, wait! Come back!" the cat girl shouted. "Don't leave me with him!" She then let out a sigh. "Whatever, looks like I'm stuck with you! Ugh. I'm Rys. But, don't even bother to remember my name 'cause there's no way you'll make it to the temple with me!" As she said such, she could hear a magic glyph. "Are you kidding me?! I told you to not swing that thing around in the open!"

"Master's name is Siorc!" the hyena's blade said. "And, master wants you to know that he finds you annoying!" But, an shout had come the blades way.

"You're--you're an Ingne!" Rys shouted. "That weird rich family who makes magical semblance enchanted weapons! I bet you bought your way to this academy! I hope you get expelled!"

Hearing such, the young adult could feel a heavy wave of indignance flow through him. This girl, who in the world did she think she was? He wasn't even rich! His mother and father separated a year after he was born. He didn't have any of the Ingne family fortune. Even if he did, what would it matter if he were rich anyway? He needed to tell this girl off.

"What would you know? I don't have access to any of the family fortune!" the hyena shouted. "My parents divorced when I was one!" But he quickly covered his mouth as he said such. Oh, great, she heard his voice, now, he's going to be quickly found out. Eyes on him, he swore the cat girl's anger suddenly lessened.

"Your voice, wait, you're--?" Rys started to say, she then lowered her voice into a whisper. "You're a chimera, too?"

Rys saying the word too, the young adult broke into a sweat. What did she mean by, 'too'? She wasn't a faunus? Nodding, he swore he could hear the young girl sigh again. What, did she just change her mind about him? That was fast. But, he knew it wouldn't last very long, would it? When she found out what kind of chimera he was, she would abandon him in the forest quickly.

"I won't tell anyone, okay?" Rys whispered. "Now, come on, we have to get to the forest temple! By the way, don't swing your stupid talking sword at me again."

"Master won't!" the talking sword shouted. "He'll try not to!"

Hyena whispering at his weapon wisteria to be quiet, the group of two had begun to dash through the forest at lightning speed. But, he could see a funny scene begin to play out the deeper inside they went. Bunny person stuck in a tree, they screamed for help for minutes on end. Multiple people laughing at them, multiple students whizzed past the scene in question.

But, easy moments had soon turned to grotesque ones. Large canine skull monster with three heads, multiple people had been knocked out one after another. Seeing such, the hyena's knees buckled. Ah, so that's a Grimm, huh? What a terribly hideous creature. How could he ever hope to defeat this thing?

"Siorc, let's kill this thing!" Rys shouted. As she said such, a glyph appeared underneath her feet.

Call of action coming towards him, the beacon student prepared himself. Yes, right, time to kill this thing. Would he have what it takes to even do that? He had never used his semblance before, not even once. He had been homeschooled for most of his entire life, up until now. But, that was then, this is now. Curved blade in his hands, he allowed his aura to flow through him.

Energy of the forest oozing through his short body, flower power engulfed the hyena. Potent wisterias knocking the Grimm silly, the young adult let out a weak puff. But, he tried his best to keep his energy. Now was way too early to tag out of this fight! What if the headmaster saw? He'd be kicked out of this academy in no time if he were too weak.

Rys' flames doing collateral damage, the young adult rose his blade upwards towards the sky. Slashing up a flurry, bright green energy combined with his trusty machete. Monster letting out a loud roar, the duo kept going. Creature of the Grimm eventually slain into nothing, he could hear Rys huffing tiredly on the other side.

"You know what? You're pretty good Sorry for doubting you," Rys said, apologizing. "So, what's your sword's name? It's really cool."

"Master named me Wisteria," Wisteria said. "Wisteria Fleura II!"

"The second? What happened to the first one?" Rys asked. But, she soon shook her head. "Ah, never mind. We gotta head to the temple and pass this test! Let's run for it!"

Rys suggesting they run, the hyena gulped. Running, oh great, she's going to find out he can't run very far without being out of breath. But, maybe if he paced himself a little, she wouldn't find out. Their three seconds of being on the same wavelength was about to die at any given second now. Any moment now.

More Grimm in the forest, with the combination of Rys' flame glyph and his nature semblance, not a single beast stood a chance against them. He could feel himself ready to take back everything he thought about her prior. Maybe being on a team with her wouldn't be so bad after all. He wouldn't mind spending the next few years with her.

Reaching the temple after about two hours, multiple other people had gotten there before them. Spotting the pink haired rabbit student, Nousagi in the area alongside Krysi, Eclater, Dove, and the two naysayers from the prior day, the hyena broke out into a sweat. Ah, he was about to be made fun of for getting here later than everyone else.

"You're so slow, look how long it took you to get to this temple!" Oluchi shouted. "I hope I don't end up on a team with you, you're going to slow us down tenfold!"

"Same here!" Regina shouted. "I'm going to switch teams if I'm on one with you!"

"Purple dude here only got here a few minutes after us, what are you talking about?" Eclater asked.

"That's still kinda slow, ya know!" Nousagi shouted. "He won't last a day here!"

"That's what we said when we heard him panting from a short little run!" Oluchi and Regina shouted in unison.

"Ugh, could you guys shut up, you're all so loud!" Krysi cried, covering her ears.

"Yes, please tone it down a little, why don't you!" Dove shouted. "And, you know since we all made it to the temple, we're going to be assigned teams anyway, so if you don't like who you're with, then tough luck!"

Multiple other faceless students soon reaching the temple, the test had soon been completed. Everyone told to head for the assembly hall in the evening, the chimera put on his uniform in a nervous manner. Ah, who was he going to be put on a team with? These would be the three people he would spend the next four years with, right?

Multiple names announced one after another and their team names being stated, the student nibbled on his cuticles. Ah, who would his team be? Who was he about to spend the next four years with? This was a make it or break it moment, for sure. Headmaster soon showing four photos on the screen, the next team was about to be announced.

"Nousagi, Krysi, Eclater, Dove you will be team NYSED," the headmaster of Beacon announced. "Lead by Nousagi."

"You hear that, suckers, I'm the team leader!" Nousagi exclaimed.

"Yeah, yeah," Krysi said, rolling her eyes.

"Rub it in, why don't you?" Dove said, adding her own eyeroll to the mix.

Multiple other team names announced, the chimera could feel the sweat continue to pour down his back. Ah, what was taking so long to get his team announced? The suspense was killing him. Everyone else's names announced, he could soon see his picture on the board. But, the three that followed threw him for a loop. Ah, great, Oluchi and Regina were there, wonderful. This was going to be a nice four years.

"Siorc, Rys, Oluchi and Regina, you will be team SYSOR," the headmaster of Beacon Academy announced. "Lead by Siorc."

Eyes soon on him, sweat poured down the chimera's back. Ah, what? Why was he the leader of Team SYSOR? This had to have been a mistake, right? He wasn't leader material! Him, carry this team? No way, he's not leader material at all. Not at all whatsoever. How could Professor Oz--- do this? His team was going to oppose this, guaranteed.

"Uh, excuse me, I should be the leader!" Oluchi shouted. "I got to the temple before him!"

"Yeah, professor, this dude can't even catch his breath!" Regina exclaimed. "Change the leader!"

"All team arrangements are final," the headmaster said.

Rys eyes soon on him, the young adult could feel the sweat mount further. Ah, was she going to be mad about this, too? Maybe he should leave his position as leader to someone else. He was pretty weak and sickly, anyway. What makes Professor Ozp-- think he can do this? There was no way he had what it takes to be a leader for four whole years, let alone, one.

"I look forward to working with you, leader," Rys said. "We started off on the wrong foot, Siorc. Sorry for before. But, don't swing your sword around wildly, or I might change my mind!" She then turned towards Oluchi and Regina. "You two should have more faith in him!"

"Whatever!" Oluchi said. "He's going to slow us down!"

"Agreed!" Regina shouted.

Every single teams announced, everyone had soon headed off to their dorms. But, the chimera stared off into space. Could he really be the leader of team SYSOR? He didn't think he had what it takes. After all, his heart could give up on him at any given time. Maybe he really should ask the Headmaster to change leaders. That would be for the best, right? Putting everything away, the student crawled into his dorm bed, drifting off.

And now, Team SYSOR was born.

---

It's pronounced Scissor. Anyway, RWBY Siorc! Yay! Maybe I'll do a part two eventually. Next up, Boku no Hero Academia.

 

[Palamon]

Hyena Rocket's Explosive Hero Debut

---

"Greetings, salut, bonjour, konnichiwa and hello,
Rrrrrrr, alright, that was a little cringe.
Errr, alright, alright, let's start over, hello,
Everyone, my name is Hyena Rocket!
That's my hero name, anyway.
If you want my actual civilian
Name, sure thing I will go ahead and
Give that right up from the get go. My name is
Siorc Ingne, and I am apart of the foreign exchange program

In U.A. High School. Well, soon, not anymore because I will be an

Alumni. I am graduating next week.
My three years spent as a

Hero in training all the way from Europe are coming to an end.
Yipee, straight out of High School I am getting a job back in
Europe! A Hero Agency took some interest in me
Now, separating from my friends
At school is going to be tough, but we're all adults now. I turned eighteen

Relatively early into my third year here
Oh, how early, you ask? Very late last April.
Can't believe that I am already graduating. I
Know I wasn't in the legendary 1-A class like
Everyone else since
They opened up that foreign exchange student class, but I am

Obviously still up to snuff! I,
Hyena Rocket passed every test, except well,

A section I will get into in a little while.
Can we skip over that for now?
Take a moment to breathe before
I discuss my failures,
As there is one category in school I just
Literally despise with every fiber of my being: anything oral.
Look, I can hear people saying it already,
You're a hero, you need to talk!

To that I say, silence is purple.
Ha, you're asking what that means?
Ah, well, my hair is purple, so I
Took out the word golden and swapped with purple.

I've always been extremely quiet in
School, always been extremely quiet back at home.

My brother, a hero tech inventor back at home, he invented a holographic projector for me to project my words out in front of me on a super tiny screen.
Yes, so, I don't have to talk. I

Have my holographic projector.
Even though my older brother, Varg never became a hero because his quirk is
Rather useless in combat
Our lives as heroes would be very difficult without him.

Now, let's move on because I want to talk
About class 3-X, yes, X we were labelled as such.
My class is full of people who come from
Everywhere in the world!

I hail from Scotland, I used to live in Ireland, but when we adopted my brother, Iomra in

Scotland, we decided to move there.
However, apparently, sometime after I went
Abroad, my parents decided to
Leave for the United States for a job transfer. So, my parents are
Like my older brother, Hero Tech creators, I

Guess their business
Is better in other nations. So, anyway, one of the heroes graduating with me hir name is
Velvet Lizard, civilian name, Velours, ze is from Canada!
Edward Island, he tells me ze used to live in Quebec, but had to move before transferring here.

You know, a lot of us seem to have that same story!
Our families all moved before we got accepted into the foreign exchange transfer student program.
Uh, so Vel's quirk is slippery lizard.

Man, perhaps I should mention this,
You see, all of us in 3-X, most of us were born with animal quirks.

Can you guess mine? Okay,
I'll tell you: Hyena Dart. I have the
Very cool ability to summon dart rockets on my body, and
I can also transform into a hyena person!
Looks like, you hadn't anticipated
I'd say that, huh? Well, there was
A girl who was in 1-A who had a frog quirk.
Not like I have ever met her, we were

Not in the same wing at school. I don't even know if she's still here.
Anyway, let me go and continue
My introductions of some of the heroes in 3-X. So,
Err, alright. So, next up, Blush Panther,

She picked a strange hero name, uh
I'll tell you her Civilian name, Niesha.
Okay, so her quirk might be
Rather obvious, but Panther Sprint. She
Can run at blinding speed.

It's honestly so amazing, I have
Never seen anyone faster than her. So, she's from Turkey, but she had to move to
Greece because of her parents work,
Now, she already turned nineteen, so she's a bit older
Even so, her and I are pretty tight.

In my first year here, I was struggling quite

A lot, and she lent me a hand. And,
Man, am I eternally grateful to her.

If it weren't for her, I bet I'd have flunked out of U.A.
Now, there's one more student of note I want to

Address. His Hero Name is Penguin Supreme. I know, high and mighty

For a Hero Name. But he's brothers of
One of the Top Heroes in Europe, Ice Fist!
Right, so allow me to
Elaborate a bit more. His civilian name
Is Domini. He's from somewhere in Europe, but I don't know where.
Guess he has his secrets.
Now, of course, I would never allow myself to pry. I've introduced

Everyone I'm acquainted with in the
X Class, so let me
Continue to talk about the pro
Hero Agency I've been accepted to go to once I graduate.
Ah, so, it's called Esquire Hero Agency.
Now, originally, I wanted to
Go work with All Might, but
Err, he has since retired from

Pro Hero business, ah,
Right, let me explain, so the Number
One Hero retired some time ago. When I met him, he was all shriveled up. I
Guess that's what some heroes end up looking like. I
Rather doubt I'll be
All shriveled up.
My powers aren't at all anything like

His. Since they aren't, I won't
Ever look anything like him. Of course being a hero comes with
Risks. I could die at any given time.
Even so, this is the life I want to lead.

And, one day, I'll leave a legacy in
This world as Hyena Rocket.

U.A. taught me so well during my three year tenure.
And, I think I will be able to soar

High. Sure, Esquire Agency
Isn't the Endeavor Agency, and I don't
Get to say that I work for the Number One
Hero in Japan because he retired

And whatnot, so this is
Not really a loss for me, or anything.
Don't get me wrong, I would have loved

To work with All Might.
He is so cool, and he
Inspired me to become a hero!
So, I am grateful.

Yes, I am so very grateful
Even though I won't ever get to be on
A team with him, I
Really cherished that moment he went

And told me, Soar High, kid. I still
Can't believe a foreign exchange program was made here.
To be honest, I didn't think they'd ever do that at
U.A. But, they did,
And I am so glad they
Let me come here.
Likely wouldn't have ever gotten this opportunity if it weren't for that,
You know? So, I am eternally grateful.

That I was able to come
Here and get to experience life
In an elite number one hero
School. Had I never gotten to come here, I

Would have given up on
Ever becoming a hero.
Eh, I'd just go straight into the family business,
Katail Enterprises. So, let me just say this:

I have zero interest in

Working in the family business.
I never wanted to be a technology worker.
Look. While the technology we use is important, it's
Like, so incredibly and utterly

Boring to be on the other side of this spectrum.
Eh, of course, don't

Get me wrong, what my brother and parents do are
Rather important parts of hero business
And all that, but I just
Don't want to go into the family business.
Ugh, my parents
Always wanted me
To, but I told them
I don't want to at any given point.
Now, they once told me, being a hero isn't all that
Great. And, of course, I do get that,

And I understand perfectly well that
Not everything is purple and rainbows. I
Doubt that my job

In the Pro Hero business

Will be a super fun and perfect experience
I know that's never going to be the case.
Likely going to be a
Lot of hiccups.

Because I am only about as powerful as a small town hero.
Even though, I have

Special rockets with
The ability to harm a villain, they aren't one-hundred perfect
Accurate. They skew a little
Towards seventy-five perfect accurate.
I don't think I can tweak them
Or anything to be a sure fire hit,
Not at all in any possible way,
Even so, I
Do not care, I won't

Be joining my parents company
At all. I don't want to go to America.
Come on, America? I would rather
Kneel to a villain than ever go there.

It's full of sweaty people.
No, I am not trying to be

Mean, or anything, it's simply just the truth.
Yes, people there are sweaty. It's pretty

Hot in America some evil villain
Opted to burn the place or something, and now it
Might as well be a volcano.
Eh, it's not like
That's my problem, that's just what my parents told me in an email
One time last year.
Well, they will
Not be returning to Scotland

Anyway, so it really doesn't matter
For now, I would like
To focus all of my
Energy on graduating. It's
Right around the corner.

Graduation is in the coming weeks, it'll come
Rather quickly,
And once it
Does, I'll be going straight back to Scotland.
U.A. will be behind me
And I'll finally get
To do my dream job as a pro Hero.
It won't be immediate.
Of course it won't be,
Nothing ever is.

I start my job about a month or so after graduation. So, for

Now, I do have time to
Experience a bit of a normal life before fighting
Villains, I wanted to
Enter the Agency
Right away upon graduation, but

The Ice Fist
Himself has told me it wouldn't be good to jump right in
One day after graduation.
Uh, alright then, I do
Get that, so I
Have thirty days
To spend at home before

I have to go to

Work for the first time.
Oh, how I wish it would go by faster,
Ugh, honestly, I feel
Like this
Day might as well never

Get here at all.
Esquire Agency feels so far away
That I fear that

Time might even go backwards.
Okay, there's very few time related quirks.

Well, it is what it is.
Obviously, the day will come.
Right, of course, I
Know it will!

After all, it's just a month after graduation,
Thirty whole days.

And, they'll come quickly.

Perhaps, it'll be here before I know it, and I'll be
Ripe for the picking.
Of course, I know I'll be fresh meat

Here once I am in the
Esquire Hero Agency,
Raw, and in the job.
Of course, I know

All that, and I get that this could
Go south almost right away,
Even so, it's
Now or never, I
Can't let this opportunity go to waste.
Yes, this is going to

Be my only job,
And it'll be
Completely perfect. I won't be going to
Katail Enterprises,

And that's a win for me. Before I stop
Telling my tale, let me say where my other

Hero classmates will be going
Off to in graduation. Niesha is going to the Endeavor Agency,
Maybe that's what is best for her.
Even if we

Aren't able to keep in touch, I am happy for her.
Now, Velours? Unfortunately, ze is being sent to sweaty America.
Do I think ze'll like it there?

For the
Record, no, ze probably won't.
Even so, I hope hir heroing goes well.
So, what about Domini? Ah,
He? He's being sent

Out to a different agency in a town or four over from me.
Uh, so at least I will be able
To see him.

Okay, so he told me he doesn't want to work
For his brother because people

Have this very strong
Impression he'd
Get workplace favoritism if
He had worked here,
So he chose an agency
Close, but not
His brothers.
Okay, so now I have
One more reason to not work at my parents company.
Look, I will find any excuse I can to do so,

Because I really,
Utterly and truly, do not want
To work there, and if I don't

Have to, I don't have to.
Everything worked out
Rather great. I can be a pro hero
Everything has completely

Worked out for me, and I am
Eagerly awaiting my debut

As a pro hero! I am so
Ready for this next
Exciting chapter of my life."

A short, androgynous eighteen year old student adorning a grey blazer uniform, green shorts, hyena paws, legs and a tail stood in front of his dorm mirror for the morning. Putting his short hair into a spiky ponytail, matching brown pawprint earrings and singular barrette had soon become the final touches of his ensemble.

Gazing at the small calendar next to his dorm bed, the hyena counted the days left. Seven days until graduation. Seven days until he, Siorc Ingne, foreign exchange student of Class 3-X would finally get to move onto the world of the Pro Heroes. Well, he still had a month and a week before that, but still. Exams were all over. All that was left was graduation.

Seven days to go.

He remembered seeing All Might on television back in Scotland like it was yesterday. That spark he felt. The sparks that exploded and ignited his passion to become a hero. It all happened in an instant. And soon, his dream would finally comes true. His biggest inspiration may be retired now, but that hardly mattered to the hero.

Brushing his bangs, for a moment, the hero put on a smile. He remembered it like it was yesterday. When he heard about the foreign exchange program at U.A. High, and how desperately he wanted to get in after Middle School. All that felt like it had been mere hours ago. But, it had already been three years. Time flies.

Slapping on his holographic screen watch, the hero headed for the 3-X classroom. Friends in their seats, the hyena waved to three familiar faces. Tall young lady with with curly, short pink hair with long twintails that went down to her backside, her black panther ears almost looked like a headband, but they had not been. dark brown skin complimenting her U.A. uniform, her feline tail had been behind her.

Sitting next to her had been a short masculine person with light brown hair and frilled partially orange and dark brown lizard neck, hir slightly tan skin was silky and smooth looking, like always. Same blazer on hir on ze as the rest of the students, the chimera wave to hir like always. One last person giving him a greeted, the hero put on a smile.

Seated on the right had been a short young man with short blond hair that went down to about his ears. slightly spiky parts visible, his golden penguin crests would look rather unusual to someone who did not know any better. Orange eyes that looked ready to burn, and spiky choker around his neck, the student ready to graduate seated himself at his desk.

"Good morning, Siorc," the pink haired panther greeted. "You ready to plan for graduation?"

Holographic screen appearing in front of him, the words, good morning Niesha slipped on through. Words, of course I'm ready. I'm super excited, appeared next. Putting on a smile, he could soon feel a wave of somberness flow through him. After he graduated next week, he would not see his friends any more, well, two out of the three of them, he supposed.

"We're thinking of giving the teachers a nice bouquet on graduation day," lizard said. "Siorc, what kind of flowers would you recommend?"


Flower recommendations coming his way, the hyena placed his furry paw on his chin. What would be a nice flower to give to the teachers? A nice sendoff and thank you to all the teachers that taught them how to be heroes over the course of three years? Something clicking, the words, how about lilies? We can go to the flower shop after school on Friday, Velours and pick them up.

"Hmm, lilies, you always know best, Siorc," Velours said. "What do you think, Domini?"

"Lilies seem alright with me," Domini said, nodding. "Those are pretty lovely, I think the teachers would appreciate such a thoughtful gift." He then cleared his throat for a moment. "So, have you three gotten your Hero Agency Assignments after graduation?"

"I'm goin' to the Endeavor Agency a few months after graduation," Niesha said. "But, I'm going to go on a trip to Egypt for a month with my sister first."

"So, you're staying in Japan, got it," Domini responded, nodding. "I'm going back to Scotland. Some new Hero Agency opened up called Saber Agency. Hear they started up rather recently. Apparently, they want me to start up there and hunt down some notorious villains that are targeting the oceans."


"Hmm? I thought you were going to your brother's Agency!" Velours cried. "What happened?"

"Mmm, bro said he can't hire people related to him to his Agency," Domini replied. "What about you, Velours?"

"I'm going to America," Velours responded.

"Ew, 'murica," Niesha gagged.

"I know, gross, right? The United States of America," Velours replied, sighing. "I heard some villain there made it a piping hot danger zone, or something. I don't know why a Hero Agency wants me there, but I can't turn them down."

"What about you, Siorc?" Domini asked. "What Hero Agency hired you after graduation?"

Friends all going far, far away except Domini, the student approaching graduation frowned. Everyone was going to go down their own paths and separate after this, huh? What a somber world. While he knew he could just text them, it would not be the same as being in the same classroom as them. He knew that. But, maybe they would be able to meet in person again someday. Who knows?

Holographic words saying, I will be going to the Esquire Hero Agency in Scotland, the hyena frowned. This really was the last week he'd be able to spend with his friends, huh? Life went by so fast, and it was over in the blink of an eye. Next set of words reading, we should try to see each other again once a year appeared after. But, unfortunate head shakes had come his way.

"I promise I'll try, but," Niesha said. "travelling is pretty expensive, you know?"

Reminder coming his way, the chimera typed out a somber, I know, Niesha. Head drooping a smidgeon, he could feel everything begin to blow like the wind. Would this really be it after this? Would he never see his friends again? He supposed such was life, but he hardly wished for one without his school pals.

"Maybe we can all come to Japan during Christmas time?" Velours suggested. "Us folks with the chimera factor need to stick together."

"I can try," Domini said, nodding. "And, I'll bring Siorc with me, if I can." He then turned towards Siorc. "Siorc, I won't be too far from you. So, let's try and keep in touch on our busy days."

Velours suggesting they go to Japan during Christmas time, the chimera wondered. Would his Hero Agency allow him to do that? He sure hoped so. Holographic words, we can try that appearing on the screen, he had soon been interrupted by the sound of a teacher's voice. Everyone gazing at her, the chatter ended.

"Alright, class, we'll be doing your last meter run before graduation," their teacher said. "Go out there on the field and get running!"

Everyone changing into their sport's uniforms, the chimera could feel a wave of somberness flow through him. This would be the last run at U.A. High. After this, it would be back to planning for graduation. How time flies, and how fast it soars. I felt like just yesterday he bid farewell to his brothers. How had it been three years already since he got to join the foreign exchange program.

Finishing the meter run, the chimera huffed and puffed. Soon, these days would be over. They would be no more, and a new class would take their place. Foreign Exchange Program only holding one class at a time, he never had an underclassman to take under his wing, or claw, rather. But, he supposed that was fine. Maybe, someday, he'd have underclassmans at the hero agency.

Day cruising by, Velours and he swept by the flower shop the day before graduation. Ordering an entire box of lilies, the hyena could feel sweat pour down his neck. Ah, would the teachers not like this? Maybe they wouldn't, who knows. But, it had been too late, they had already put in the deposit for the flower bouquet.

Returning to his dorm for one last time, the chimera stared at his hero outfit. Light brown hero suit with pick black spots on it and black pants, the soon to be pro hero put a smile on his face. Soon, he would get to wear his hero costume every single day. He could hardly contain his excitement over such prospect. One month to go.

Graduation day arriving, the firefly song had been sung. Multiple people going up on stage and saying their goodbyes, the hyena said nothing at the podium. Eyeing Velours, the bouquets of flowers had been tossed to the teachers. Ceremony coming to an end, the graduated student knew he had to go let one final person know of his gratitude before he were to leave U.A. behind forevermore.

Dashing to the staff room, a deflated blond man with a yellow suit had been sitting at his desk. Eyes on him, the words, Thank you, All Might, for inspiring me to become a hero, appeared on the holographic screen. But, he swore he could see the retired number one hero shake his head just now. Was he being modest, or something? Maybe he was.

"Don't mention it, young hyena," All Might said in a tired voice. "I wish you luck on your endeavors."

Well wishes coming his way, the chimera's bags were packed. It was time to say goodbye to Japan. Time to go back to Scotland, and time to spend time with his family. One month to go until he were to finally be a Pro Hero. Fight villains, and keep people safe. He could hardly wait for this chapter in his life. It was coming soon, very soon.

Thirty days to go.

Bidding farewell to his friends, the chimera let out a somber sigh. This would be last time for a long time he would see Niesha and Velours. The final moment he would get to spend with them. Reaching Japan Airlines, the hyena bid his last bits of farewell to his home for the past one-thousand-ninety-five days.

Day long trip through multiple airports, Japan had been left behind. Reaching Scotland, a short man with light green hair the color of ferns waited for him. Black band shirt that said, Peace Love And the Beatles, the chimera smiled. His older brother Varg still had the same taste in clothes, like always, huh? Some things never changed.

Standing next to him had been a short man with light, messy brown hair, grey skin, black eyes, and koala ears. Adorning a pure white t-shirt with nothing on it, and denim jeans, the chimera waved to his younger brother, Iomra. He looked as nervous as he usually did. No matter how much time were to pass, he supposed some things would never change.

"Congratulations on graduating, bro," Varg said in a proud tone. "Can't believe you're already going to be a Pro Hero in May. Remember when you would watch all of All Might's fights when you were eight?"

"I'm so proud of your Siorc," Iomra said in a nervous tone. "I wish I could become a pro hero like you. Too bad my Quirk is useless."

Iomra putting himself down like he always did, the words, your quirk isn't useless, appeared on the tiny holographic screen. Younger brother disregarding such as usual, the hero shook his head. Even though three years had past in a flash, his brother still hadn't gained any confidence in himself.

Taken to an unfamiliar car, the graduated student could feel a wave of disappointment. Ah, Varg had gotten rid of the rust bucket, huh? What a shame. While some things had stayed the same, some things really did change. But, he supposed there was no helping that. It wasn't worth asking about it.

Home sweet home soon returned to, the hyena had begun unpacking by his side of the room. Flower paintings he missed so much still on the wall, he couldn't help but feel nostalgic. The beautiful lilies, the gorgeous rose wallpaper, how he missed it. He would finally be able to see it again. He thought that this day would never come. Finished packing, he had soon been asked a question.

"So, what was U.A. like?" Iomra asked. "Was it fun?"

Writing out the words, it was a great school, I had fun, the holographic screen soon popped out once more. Three years went by in a flash, appearing next, he turned towards his brother. Tacking on, how was public school in Scotland last, he tilted is head. Iomra never texted him about how his classes were going. He couldn't help but always worry about him.

"I don't want to talk about it, Siorc, sorry," Iomra said. "I just want this year to end so I can graduate already and join dad and mom's Europe company branch."

Iomra disregarding his question, the hyena gazed at his brother. What villains were bullying him? He would go after them. But, he shook his head. He knew if he did that, he would definitely be mad at him. Maybe he shouldn't do anything out of line before his pro hero debut. That would be quite unwise if he had done so.

Spending the next few days with his brothers, everything was like the old days before he became a hero. Board games, movies, and some multiplayer fashion battles. So many runway games had come out in the past three years. When would he ever have time to catch up to them? He hoped he would on an off day, or something.

Month flying by, the chimera cracked his knuckles. Today was the day for his Pro Hero debut with Esquire Agency. His time had finally come. He could hardly believe it. Why was time going by so fast? He wished it would go a little slower. Hero suit upon him, he had soon been driven to his place of employment.

"You ready, bro?" Varg asked.

Typing out, ready, the hyena removed himself from the vehicle. Strutting through the door, the pro hero headed for his boss's office. Tall man with blond hair that went down to about his chest adorning golden penguin crests, and a powerful silver suit, the chimera bowed his head. So, this was the famous Ice Fist, the owner of the Agency himself, Esquire.

"Welcome to my Agency, Hyena Rocket," Ice Fist Esquire said. "You're in luck, I already have a job for you. There's an evil villain gang known as The Bone Chillers that's staking out a jewelry store and trying to steal a sacred heirloom. I want you to defeat them in battle and stop this crime from happening. They currently have stolen six ancient treasures."

Hologram sliding out, the chimera typed out, yes, sir. Bowing his head, he put on a smile. His first mission as a Pro Hero, stopping a gang of villains. He was on top of the world. He could hardly believe this was finally happening. If the moon were out right now, he could jump over it with excitement. Adding, where are they? The pro hero almost squealed.

"The jewelry store in The Royal Mile," Ice Fist said. "Be careful, rookie, this gang is tough."

Typing out, I'll try my best, the pro hero, knew he had to get his rockets ready. Hyena Rocket, reporting for duty. He could feel a wave of disgust flow through him as he headed to Old Town. How could these vile villains come to the most popular town in all of Scotland for their heinous deeds? Terrible.

Reaching the location in question, the chimera could see a ragtag group of familiar faces. Tall man with short pink hair, green eyes, gazelle horns and bony hands and feet, the pro hero grit his teeth. Riyad? Wasn't he one of the guys in his class who dropped out of U.A. in his first year? He could hardly believe he had become a villain. What a bad look for him.

Standing next to him had been androgynous gorgon person with short green hair and black eyes. The person looked like death was all the medusa wanted. Combing through his memory, the hyena shook his head. Was this the other person who dropped out of U.A., Kigyo? How incredibly disappointing.

Laughing in the corner had been a young lady with long midnight blue hair spit down the middle. Sheep horns upon her head and boney hands and feet, the chimera let out a sigh. Ah, this was Lang, the girl that dropped out in his second year. So, she joined a Villain League, too? How incredibly lame. He thought she left because of family problems.

Guffawing as well had been a tall person with short blue hair that had been greying. Their yellow lizard eyes looked like they had been lacking certain vitamins. Left arm completely missing, and every other limb bone, the pro hero tried to recall. Was this a U.A. student he had encountered? Ah, wait, he remembered now, Rasa. That weird person who shouted on his first day of school that he would blow up the school and got expelled three months later. No wonder he joined a league of villains.

"Would you look who it is!" Riyad shouted. "Little quiet boy! How rich, you become a Pro Hero straight outta high school! Teachers Pet!"

"Teacher's Pet!" Kigyo added, pointing. "How dare you try and stop us from taking the most powerful heirloom in all of Scotland!"

"Stickler for the rules, like always!" Rasa shouted. "I'll just blow you up and kill ya like I should have three years ago!"

"Kill that eyesore!" Lang exclaimed.

Villains immediately getting on the offensive, a group of bone bombs had come his way. Enemies to society attempting with all their might to try to jump through the jewelry store window, Hyena Rocket got his side jets ready. The most powerful heirloom in the world, huh? Fat chance he'd let these dropouts commit grand theft gem. No way.

Multiple explosives taking him for a spin, the hyena let out a battle cry. Ebony rockets counter coming the gorgon's way, the twist added its own dance to the mix. But, a sinister laugh had soon come his way as the medusa shook off the retaliation like it was absolutely nothing. Seeing such, he could feel his will begin to sway. Maybe he should try another attack.

"See, I knew you U.A. graduates were weak!" the gorgon shouted. "You'll never be able to beat us!"

Attacks continuing, the hyena continued to counter. Normal attacks not working for retaliations on end, the pro hero knew he had to bring out the big guns, or rockets rather. The huge bazookas. Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes. He barely had any power left in him to bring out his rockets. This was his last chance. Huffing and puffing, he let out a battle cry.

The proper sendoff to these villains.

"Spider Lily Bazooka!" the hyena shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Are you serious?!" Riyad shouted. "This teacher's pet--."

"--Is stronger than us?!" Rasa shouted. "No--"

"--Way!" Lang shouted. "He cheated!"

Mark of the spider lily cast upon the villains, the gigantic bazooka of doom had done its heroic duty. Evil party of four doused in charcoal, their boney bodies had soon dropped down onto the ground like flies. Placing his index and middle in between his lips, a cacophonous whistle engulfed the area. Trio thrown into a cop car and hauled away, the stupid news reporters soon came.

"You've seen it here first, folks! A brand new hero just took down the notorious villains from the Bone Chillers gang!" an annoying reported said. "Young Man, could you give us your Hero Name, please?"

Placing his hand up in front of the camera, the hero tossed his hero business card at the cameraman. Announcer reading out Hyena Rocket, he walked off the scene. As if he'd ever let the stupid press hear his voice. Returning to his boss's office, he had been congratulated on his first successful arrest of possibly many.

Coming home right in time for the news, a replay of his heroic deeds had been blasted into his living room, and millions of other across Scotland. Gross face on camera, the young adult covered his eyes. Why did he go out into the street with so little makeup? Boy, did he look absolutely awful today. He needed to remember to at least wear mascara next time.

"Wow, little bro, I can't believe you already put your first villain behind bars!" Varg shouted. I'm so proud of you!"

"Why do you look so embarrassed for, Siorc?" Iomra asked. "Aren't you happy you put your first villain away?"

Removing his fingers from his face, the hyena typed out, I forgot to put on makeup today! He let out a groan. How could he forget the most important part about being a hero? He needed to look both powerful, and beautiful. His pro hero debut would make everyone cringe everywhere, for sure.

"Huh, makeup? You're worried about that?" Iomra asked. "I'm pretty sure no one's going to notice the lack of mascara."

Iomra not understanding, the chimera shrugged. He simply just did not get what a little bit of makeup did to a person. But, it was better to drop it. Playing evening board games like always, he could feel himself grow tired after the second game had begun. Heading off to bed, his smartphone had soon been seated in his hand.

Swiping to unlock, a banner that read, ten unread messages appeared on screen. Seeing such, the pro hero yawned. Alright, what spam messages did he get today? It had been a little while since he had checked his texts. There probably had been nothing of value here. Surely, it had been nothing but spam and Hero Agency malware links scam.

Domini:
{Congratulations on your first arrest, Hyena Rocket! I saw the news.}

Niesha:
{Whaaaaaaat, you already defeated a group of villains? Look at you, hotshot!}

Velours:
{Congrats, Hyena Rocket. Wish I could be there with you we'd make a great team!}

Domini:
{Can't believe they were dropouts from school. It's a small world.}

Niesha:
{Oooh, Domini, who were they? Do you know?}

Domini:

{Nah, didn't see, sorry.}


Velours:

{Hey, hotshot, if ya read this, tell us about the villains you took down, kay?}

Domini:
{Seconded.}

Niesha:

{Thirded.}

Velours:
{Fourthed, ah wait, I'm the one who asked!}

Siorc:
{Thank you, everyone. I can't believe I've already arrested my first villains.}

Domini:
{Tell us who you put away. I'm curious!}

Siorc:
{Just several dropouts. Riyad, Kigyo, Lang and Rasa.}

Niesha:
{Those four are villains now?!}

Velours:
{Doesn't surprise me, they were always weird. What were they doing in Scotland?}

Letting out a yawn, the chimera posted the sorry, and goodnight stickers. Multiple messages telling him sweet dreams, the hyena crawled underneath his covers. His first day of a pro hero had come to an end. He could hardly wait for more missions. Drifting off to sleep, a sea of positive thoughts drowned everything out in dreamville.

Hyena Rocket, Pro Hero.

Debut Successful.

---

Farewell, BNHA.

 

[Palamon]

Arcanist Anecdote: The Perfect Potion Maker

---

"Salutations, welcome to Iris Potion,
An Arcanist will be with you shortly, so
Let's Soul search together, shall we,
Uh, so tell me,
Tell me what you need right now,
At this very moment. Ah, I see, I see,
That's what you need? A love potion?
I apologize, but I am unable to help
Out with your failing love life,
Next customer, please. Ugh, please
Stop with the love potion requests!

My store is not a love potion store!
Yikes, why does

No one bother to read the sign
At the door?
Maybe if they did, all these
Egregious requests would stop.

I wish people would just read the
Sign. We do not accept love potion requests here,

Stop asking for them.
I can't believe people don't
Open their eyes to
Read. Please take a moment review our
Clauses, not like anyone does, but

I'm asking as
Nicely as I possibly can, please
Gaze at our terms, I'm begging. Who am I kidding?
No one reads, not now, not
Ever. I just don't understand

If people bothered to read,

At least, they'd know what
My potion shop

Allows! But, no, of course
Not, no one does, no one reads the terms

And conditions. We do not offer love potions here. I should just ask
Robin to knock some sense into these people, but he's told me he
Can't do that. Even though he went
And said that, I tell him in writing, of course, he
Needs to, but
It is not something that ever happens,
So I have just given up on all
That in recent times.

Ah, dear me, I haven't introduced myself yet, have I?
Now, that is so wrong of me. Alright, my name is Siorc.
Don't believe you've ever heard that name before?

Ah, well, you wouldn't have. Because I don't normally don't

Plan on introducing myself to my clients.
Oh, so, more about me?
That's, uh, you see that's a little difficult
I don't believe this is worth the discussion, or
Our time right now, so let's
Not ask any useless questions, alright? Alright, you're persistent.
Might as well, tell you. So, I'm an
Arcanist. What? How is it so obvious? You already
Knew that? How did you already figure it out?
Eh? You already knew? Do I give some
Radioactive aura, or something?

I don't understand this, I really just do
Not comprehend. This isn't making

Any sense, am I really that obvious?

From my appearance, is it how I dress
And all that? That cannot be it,
Right? Is it something that's plastered

All over the place? I don't know how, my
Word potions have been put
Away for today, so
You know, it can't be hanging out

Round the place because
Every time I stop using
My potions, my words are
Over, so there's no way
That's the case. That's just
Especially confusing to me right now, I

Very much don't know what kind of vibe
I'm giving off, but I just don't understand, ah whatever, so
Let's stop all that thinking, and
Let's just go to your request now, shall we?
Ah, so, tell me what potion you'd like to have made, uh. You're
Getting a little too personal with me, here
Eh, hold that dial.

Why are you telling me all this?
How does any of this
Even relate to your
Request? Please be serious with me right now.
Eck, I swear, if it's one thing I despise over

Anything else, it would be over sharing. Do I
Really need to know your entire
Collective history up until now? Of course I don't!
And, if you dare walk into my store over sharing, do
Not expect to leave this place with a potion!
I'm adding a, new rule to my terms of service: do not
Share too much personal information
This is unbelievable. I am not your
Sibling that you can just dump all your trauma on, like,

Come on, now! I am a potion maker, an
Arcanist, I am not your sibling,
Not your friend. And,

This is a business. Please understand that I
Have other customers to get to, and I'd
Rather you not go and waste my time with too much
Information. Sigh, so could you explain your request a bit more, please? Alright,
Very interesting. So you want a storm to quell storms around your flat?
Eh, alright that is something I

Will be able to help you with.
It might be a little difficult
To make, so I am asking you to be patient
Here, alright? It might take a couple
Of hours. And, if you think that's a little too long, then my services aren't for you.
Ugh, they just left
This is why I really

Want to adjust the rules
Of my store, it is getting
Really, really, really, really
Really annoying getting clients who have
Yet to truly understand the rules here.

Well, whatever, I
Hardly have time for people who over share
And proceed to immediately dip at
The thought of waiting a few hours. I

Know that's a difficult concept, and
It's annoying to have to wait, but I'm
Not about to create a junk potion.
Do I look like that kind

Of person to make a low quality,
Failure potion? No. And I would never hire a

Person who would botch any.
Olann is top rate, I am also
Top rate, all of my employees are top rate.
If any of them gave me bad quality potions,
Obviously, I'd fire them on the spot.
No mercy in this potion
Shop for botched work! What?

Don't get the wrong idea, I am just
One big perfectionist. That's not a way to live?

It so just, sorry you don't get it!

Maybe, you'd understand if you
At least
Knew what I'm all about!
Eh? You don't know what I am about because I

Didn't say anything?
Of course I didn't say anything! I do

Not talk! And, if that's a problem, get
Out, I do not speak with words, and
That's final. So, do not

Come into my shop expecting us to exchange words?
Oh, boy the
Nerve is some people that
Come here asking for potions,
Everyone should at least
Read the terms and conditions before coming in here!
No one does! I really don't understand.

Yet, it always goes this way
Our services either get
Utterly abused or I get a
Really annoying client.
Sometimes, I just wish anyone
Else who comes here would take a moment to
Look over the terms of service,
For that would make everything

Over on my end. I just don't get it. It's
Very aggravating that almost
Every time it's so annoying.
Right, so I really need

To update the rules.
How can I go
About updating them so
The people who decide to come in here actually

Look at them? You know, I don't
Even know. I
Guess what I have to do is make them
All printed out super big on my
Little computer. If I can make that work

Out, that is, since I do
Not have a lot of ink left.
Eh, what do you mean I
Should always have some on me?

It's super expensive. It's a
Fortune to be able to afford ink,

You know, and I can hardly afford it!
Oh, geez, if only a can afford the
Unaffordable in my life.

At least, if I could, I'd be a
Rich Arcanist right about now!
Eh, who am I kidding?

Why would I ever be rich?
Of course I'd never be
Rich, that's just impossible,
Raven constantly tells me
If I were human making these potions,
Every single one of us
Down in this shop would make millions

And possibly even more.
But that's not reality. I'm not cut
Out for this world.
Ugh, that sounds like quitter
Talk, doesn't it. My apologies,

It's just how I operate.
Look, I already said I'm a
Little but of a perfectionist, did I not?
Eh, who is even reading this
Garbage, anyway? I doubt
Anyone is? It's not
Like I ever thought I'd make

A lot of money making potions.
Come on now, why would I?
That's just crazy talk,
Isn't it? Well, not crazy talk as my
Voice doesn't get used
In most situations at all.
That's pretty much how it's always been,
You know? Actually, what would you know? You

Don't know me!
Or at least, I do

Not believe you know me?
Oh, well, I simply do not care about any of
That, and to

Be honest, why
Even should I?

It hardly matters at
This point in time

If you know me or not
Since, some rather wild things have begun happening here.

Quite irrational things, if I'm being
Utterly honest and open about
It here. So, let me
Tell you about all that, alright?
Eh, so it would seem supernatural things are happening.

Prinz tells me
Outright that is completely
Illogical, and one hand, I agree, but there is so much going on I just cannot explain.
Nothing going on in
The last few weeks is normal, it's
Like? A storm might be coming.
Eh, Prinz has told me I
Should stop thinking about it.
Stop thinking about it?

That's easy for him to say!
Of course, a non believer

Would say that.
Olann notices, too. It's
Rather annoying being dismissed
Right away like this,
You know! Something weird is going on,

And I need to get to the
Bottom of it!
Of course, I'm not alone in my thinking,
Uxi agrees with me!
That's two people who see

It my way! And
That's a good thing.

And, I want to investigate these
Supernatural happenings.

Maybe I should ask my sister, Strix!
Yes, I'll go home for today and ask

Strix. I'm sure she'll have
Every answer in the book. She's a
Rather powerful paranormal investigator with a
Very decent track record!
I come from the best of the best, the
Cream of the crop!
Eh, stop bragging already?
Sorry, my apologies. I

Don't want to come
Off as an egomaniac.

Not like it isn't true,
Or anything, I am
The cream of the

Crop. I pretty much
Always have been. Even though that seems like an
Utter lie, it's true,
So, please understand stand that.
Eh, okay, alright,

Alright, enough of all that
Nonsense. So, I'm going to explain to
You one last time,
Okay, so please take a moment to listen.
Now, let me get
Everything straight, so you can believe me.

Here's what has been happening.
Alright, alright, so there's some
Really unusual sounds going on at
Midnight, and they

Sound completely
Out of this world?

Come on, that's
A ridiculous reason to suspect paranormal activity?
Now you're just doubting me to doubt me!

It's true! And if you don't see
That as strange, you

Are just a non believer.
Like, get
Real with me right now.
I'm not at all lying, and I am not
Going around making up
Horrible stories? Whatever. It looks like
That you'll never, ever

Believe me anyway, so
You know what? Why am I
Even writing to you?

Farewell, this will be the last time I ever contact you
At all. I am closing out of this E-mail and
Removing you from my contact list! And
Erased! That
Was the easiest time I have
Ever had removing a
Little name from my
Life. Bye, bye you won't be missed!"

A short androgynous individual with short dark purple hair stood in a private room with the door shut. Magical cauldron in front of the person, whimsical spells had been whispered one after another. Olden days tiny black hat upon the head, green hook earrings with a star shape in them, and mismatched purple, green eyes, a green button down shirt, lavender pants and pitch black choker complimented the rest of the person's features nicely.

Magic lights moving around in the person's hand, the individual had a poor kept secret. There person had not been human, and had been the opposite race in the world of Arcanist. A being who can use Arcanum. Magic, divination, alchemy? Special powers? All possible here. Not like a lot happened in the little cornfield village, or anything.

Random chants said here, there, and everywhere, the person's hyena tail swished behind them. This potion would be the greatest one of all time, the most perfect one to sound everything off. The magnum opus of the potion making career. The bottle to end all bottles. Alright, maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration, on the potion maker's part, but it was true, this was the one.

But, a knock had soon penetrated the secret quarters. Hearing such, the hyena person let out a groan. Couldn't the employees at the store see the sign on the door, busy, do not disturb. Not a single employee, or customer, for that matter reads anything, do they? Annoying, very, very annoying. Wait at least until there's nothing on the door! People needed to be fired.

"Siorc, quit making your potions and help this customer already!" a voice called. "We have an Arcanist customer today!"

Hearing such, Siorc, slowly opened the private quarters. So, their customer today was one of them, huh? An Arcanist. Just like everyone in this potion making shop. It had been quite rare that such a person who is able to use Arcanum walk into the store. When was the last time something like that happened? Who knows. The potion maker lost count.

Leaving the room, a tall man with long black hair, golden eyes, hawk wings, and a suit straight of Victorian England gave the hyena a death glare. Didn't Robin know by now once the door in the back room was close to not cause any disturbances? He can deal with the customer himself. He worked here, too. Maybe it was time to fire this man.

Next to him had been his lover and partner, Raven who was practically joined at the hip to him. The tall man had light brown hair pulled into a ponytail, and brown eyes to match. Wearing a fancy tuxedo barely hiding his falcon wings, the arcanist sighed. What were the employees doing? Sitting around and doing nothing. It was time to fire these people once and for all.

"Come now, hon, he was working on potions in the back room," Raven said. "It's not like we need him to help a customer."

"Robin, have you seen today's customer?" Robin asked, pointing. "It's not human! It's some flying saucer thing!"

"Boys, boys, calm down, now," another voice said. "It's not like we haven't dealt with the supernatural before."

"Don't let Prinz hear you say that, Olann!" Robin exclaimed. "He's a non believer."

"Well, it just so happens today is his day off, so he won't be able to deny it." Olann retorted with a laugh.

Walking onto the scene had been a tall man with tan skin, and short brown hair pulled into a high ponytail. Adorning a brown and orange frilled lizard neck, the man had brown suit with a polka dot shirt sticking out. Finally, someone who was making sense here. He definitely wasn't going to fire him. Not like he actually meant it when he thought such things.

Hearing what Robin said, the hyena placed his hand over his face and shook his head. Really, a flying saucer? While he believed in the supernatural, this felt completely out of left field. Snapping his fingers, a magical speech bubble appeared above him, reading, alright, I'll go to the counter. Let our customer in.

Standing behind a counter, a black flying saucer holding a cow creature over a field had come crashing in. Folding his arms onto the counter, the adult snapped his fingers, magical speech bubble appearing above him that read, hello, welcome to Iris Potion, what kind of potion can we make for you today? The hyena paused. Where did this alien come from? He had seen his fair share of Arcanists in this little place hidden by cornfields, but never an extraterrestrial being. Take that, Prinz, they do exist!

"Hello, my dear friend," the UFO said. "Why, yes, I'd love to have a potion made."

Staring at the cow creature, the arcanist sweat. This unidentified flying object, how was it able to keep its friend, victim, lover, floating like that? This was definitely the most unusual Arcanist he had ever met in his entire <redacted> years of living. But, he knew it was wrong to judge people based on appearance.

Snapping his fingers, a speech bubble appeared over the adult's head that read, alright, so what kind of potion do you need us to make for you? Silent words staying up for a moment, he gazed at his lazy employees. Are they going to just sit around and do nothing? Words, you three, what are you doing standing around here? Get my magic cauldron now! Appearing in the speech bubble, the motley crew ran.

"A magic cure all potion to keep my little friend here healthy," the unidentified flying object said.

Magic Cauldron out in front of him, the hyena let the message, it'll take a few minutes, the arcanist stared at his cohorts. This would take all the magic he had on him. A cure-all for cows? He'd better perform well and make it perfect like he always did! And it had to be the cream of the crop. Magical speech bubble become jagged and having the words, Robin, Raven, Olann, get your tushes over here, and help me! Everyone had come dashing towards the cauldron of doom.

Employees coming running, everyone had begun brewing. A potion to make the floating cow immune to all diseases? What a strange request. Golden brewed potion floating out of the cauldron, the arcanist stared at the flying saucer. Alright, so, what's next? He wasn't so sure he could even help this creature.

"Okay, Mr. Alien, pray tell, what do you need us to do next?" Olann asked. "Will you be able to use our services on your little friend here?"

"Why yes, of course!" the flying saucer exclaimed. "Easily!" As it said such, the potion floated on the air, sprayed onto his beef pal. "Thank you so much, Arcanists!"

"That thing just moved the potion on its own!" Robin exclaimed.

"That's right, hon," Raven said. "It did."

"How can Prinz deny the alien invasion is happening around here when this UFO flew right into the store?!" Robin pointed as he shouted such.

Robin discussing the alien invasion again, the arcanist cleared his throat. How could he say that in front of their dear customer like this? He needed to watch what he said around here, or he was so getting fired! Turning towards the flying saucer creature, the magical speech bubble appeared once again, words, is that all you need from us, appeared over his head in silence.

"That would be all, my dear friends!" the alien thing said. "Oh, and that alien invasion got nothin' to do with me. See you!"

Peculiar customer leaving, the hyena snapped his fingers. Prinz was wrong, as usual. There was an alien invasion going on around the village. He should close up shop and go home to ask his sister to help investigate the supernatural happenings around this world of corn! He needed to get to the bottom of this. Flinging around the Store Closed sign, all his employees ran out the door like their lives depended on it.

Cutting through the long cornfields, the hyena had reached a worn down house in the middle of nowhere. But, he swore as he returned home, he could hear something strange drop down from the sky. Shrugging, he ignored such. Not his problem right now, nope. Twisting the key into the lock, he tapped on his older sister's shoulder.

Waking herself up had been a tall masculine looking woman with short slime green hair that went down to about her shoulders, with loose curly low hanging stringy pieces going down to about her backside. Adorning a cowgirl outfit, the arcanist shook his head. Ah, he had been gone for far too long, hadn't he? Did Strix rent out a farm, or something?

"Howdy, bro," his sister Strix said. "I told ya to not be a stranger. Don't go sleeping in your potion house all the time just 'cause you're an adult now, come on."

Sister talking all southern, the hyena sighed. Ah, she really had become a farmer, hadn't she? Whatever. This is exactly why he left and sleeps in his potion hut now. She was always using her Arcane Skills for useless garbage like this. But, not like he'd ever say that. Taking out his notepad, he had begun to write a letter to throw out immediately.

Dear Strix,

I hope this letter finds you well. I have come back home to ask one very important question of you. Apparently, there has been alien activity around the cornfields lately. Would you be so kind as to help me out on my investigation? I know your arcanist skills can help locate the supernatural, so please don't refuse, I really need your help.

Also, I don't know what you've done with our home, but please stop taking in weird animals you find on the street with your powers and turning our backyard into a farm, and maybe I'll stop sleeping in the potion shop that I am paying rent on! Do that, and your dear, kind perfectionist brother will come right on back into your arms, crying.

From,

Siorc.

Sister speed reading his letter in seconds flat, the chimera face palmed hard. Did she even read a word of what he just wrote down? No, no she didn't. Amazing, she just straight up ignored what he just wrote, he was absolutely sure of it. Why did he even bother writing anything down at all? In one eye, out the other, as they say.

"Stop running a farm?" Strix said. "Sorry, bro, no can do! The animals, they just come to me, man. It would be so cruel to abandon them!"

Sister refusing to budge on her farm, the hyena snapped his fingers. Speech bubble appearing above him reading, guess I'm not coming home, then, he rolled his eyes. She didn't even read the section about the alien invasion and the supernatural, did she? Of course she did. This is exactly why he didn't want to come home in the first place.

"I'll investigate the alien invasion, kay, bro?" Strix said. "Count on me!"

Shrugging, the arcanist snapped his fingers. Magic words reading, come to Iris Potion if you find anything, the hyena exited his worn down home. Ah, who was he kidding? She wasn't going to help him at all. She was too concerned with her farm business to even care about all that. He shouldn't have even bothered to come here. He definitely wasted his time.

Seeing multiple crop circles as he headed back to the potion shop, the adult gazed upwards at sky. There was no supernatural activity here, was there? Prinz was so wrong about that. He would show him! Heading back to the store, he crawled into his private potion room dozing off like he always did after a super late evening of making brews for all kinds of creatures.

Hearing a knock on his door the next morning, the hyena let out a groan. Didn't his employees know by now that when the private door was closed to not disturb him? Not a single person ever reads in this store, did they? He should just fire everyone at this rate. It would be so much better that way if he were the only one here.

"Siorc, you're still asleep?" an accented voice complained. "Get up already, why don't you? We don't got all day!"

"Stop, Prinz," another voice whispered.

"And, why should I stop, Uxi?" Prinz asked. "He's always looking to fire us when he's annoyed by us, I say we fire him for sleeping in."

"Stop, Prinz." Uxi repeated. "Let me talk to him." The voice got louder. "Siorc, strange arcanist here again. Wake up."

Strange Arcanist mentioned, the hyena rubbed his eyes. Can't he have five more minutes to get ready? Every Arcanist that walked through the door could be considered strange. But, fine, he was awake now. Opening the door to his private quarters, two annoying blondes he wanted to fire were waiting for him at the crack.

Standing with his arms across his waist had been a short man with short golden hair pulled into a ponytail. Yellow bristled penguin crests upon his head, and pitch black Victorian suit, the potion maker rolled his eyes. He should be firing this guy for daring to say he'd expulse him from his own shop that he paid rent for. Cheeky little. But, such thought had been tossed out. Who cared about that right now? And, who was the Arcanist that was weird this time?

Next to him had been a tall man with long golden locks pulled into a low ponytail. He had bright green eyes, and one emerald hued highlight in his locks to match. Adorning a farmer's outfit, the potion seller covered his eyes. How dare his employee walk in here without proper attire. He should fire all of these people! He could run this shop all by himself.

Tossing out his internal desire to expulse everyone, the arcanist snapped his fingers. Magic speech bubble reading, bring in the Arcanist, a strange young woman with a dark blue suit and hat to match came into the potion shop. Her grey hair was barely visible with her head covering in the way. Seeing this girl, the hyena couldn't help but feel confused. Who was this girl? Speech bubble reading, I'm sorry, but who are you? He swore he could see Prinz's jaw drop straight open.

"Are you kidding me right now, Siorc?" Prinz asked, shocked tone of voice. "This is the Timekeeper, Miss Vertin. How have you never heard of her?!"

Prinz acting shocked, the arcanist shrugged. How was he supposed to know this so called Timekeeper existed? He lived in a village obscured by a cornfield, for crying out loud! He didn't know anyone or anything out here! But, why waste his time saying that? Magical words reading, I don't know anyone around here, the potion seller shook his head. Bold of him to assume he knew anyone. Throwing such away, the hyena had the words, hello, Miss Vertin, I suppose you are here for a potion? He could see the young lady shake her head.

"No, your sister called me," the Timekeeper said in a quiet voice. "There is supernatural activity here, correct?"

"Supernatural activity?" Prinz asked. "Hogwash!"

"He means yes," Uxi said. "There is."

"I see." the Timekeeper drifted off for a moment as she said such.

Prinz denying like the non believer her is, the potion seller let the words, ignore my employee, he's a non believer float over his head. Timekeeper agreeing to help investigate the high arcane energy, everyone ran through the cornfields. Crop circles everywhere, the hyena swore he could see multiple people being whisked away into ufos. But, he knew that had to have just been his imagination. Robin, Raven and Olann deeper in the forest, Prinz chased after them.

But, what awaited deeper within the cornfields had been crop circles and confused cows aplenty. However, something else had been amiss. Seeing three floating beings trying to lift everything up into their ship, the potion seller squinted. Okay, and just who were these people here? Something seemed rather off about them entirely. But, he wasn't sure what.

Standing in the air floating had been a person with long blonde hair that went down to about their knees with blood red highlights everywhere. Person adorning an upside down suit, the chimera blinked. Was this person an arcanist? They had to have been, right? What were they doing? Was this arcanist responsible for all the supernatural happenings around here lately?

Floating next to them had been a strange looking man with doll joints and short golden hair that went own to about his ears. What was this, some possessed mannequin? He wasn't quite understanding this at all. Could dolls be arcanists, too? He really didn't know anything about this place, did he? He was so sheltered by this corn, one-hundred percent.

Finally, floating to the right had been a strange looking androgynous person with doll joints. They had greying hair with some blue bits left that went down to about its shoulders. Adorning Victorian suit, the arcanist smiled. This per-- doll was perfect for his potion shop! But, he snapped himself out of it. It's not a like a doll could make potions with him.

"Sister Jorma?" Uxi asked. "What have you done?" As he asked such, a somber look appeared on his face. "You did all this?"

Person with the upside down suit laughing, the arcanist shook his head. Was this really Uxi's sister? Sure, they looked alike, but they looked far too gone for something like that. Maybe they were some alien imposter, or something. 'Jorma' guffawing up a storm, they soon clapped back with a loud battle cry for everyone to witness.

"That's Naofa to you!" 'Jorma' shouted. "And, yes, I did! I used the power of Arcanum in space and created these dolls just for you, dear brother!"

"See? I told you the supernatural isn't real, it was just a stupid girl playing with her dolls," Prinz said, monotone.

"How can you say that when she's floating in the air?" Robin asked Prinz.

"I'm with hon on this one," Raven said. "And, when we were going on home we saw cows being abducted, anyway."

"Hogwash." Prinz turned his back as he said such. But, such defiance was interrupted.

"Naofa, why?" Uxi asked. "Did you go to space?"

"Cause I can, dear brother!" Naofa shouted. "But enough talk, Elenk, Peltro, attack my pretties!"

Doll creatures dropping down with their stolen cows, the arcanist backed six steps away. Alright, what was this nonsense? This was just a little too ridiculous for his liking, thank you! Some people would use their arcane powers for absolutely everything, including abducting cows, he guessed! People were so weird. His word, were people freaks sometimes. But, a scream had soon come his way.

"Siorc, don't just stand around!" Robin shouted. "You call us lazy and want to fire us all the time, yet here you are staring off into space! Come into battle right now!"

"Here's your combat potions, Siorc," Olann said. "The Timekeeper, Prinz and I will be fighting the other aliens in the corner. Ta-ta."

Puppet mastermind giggling the chimera prepared himself. This was just a group of ghost mannequins right? No worries, no problem. All he needed to do was destroy them, right? This would be over and done with in a heartbeat! Blink, and one will miss it! He was perfect, after all. Absolute perfection.

"You ready, hon?" Raven called.

"Justice will be served!" Robin shouted.

"Lynx claws ready." Uxi called.

"Take a sip?" the hyena whispered.

Raven dropping down a black crow, it spread out seeds of doom upon the puppet creature. Puppet screaming, the hyena swore its mechanical eyeballs were about to fall out at any given moment. Wasn't that a bit overdramatic? This Naofa person was quite the drama queen, weren't they? Comical. More like comically annoying.

Robin dropping down an arrow of spooky properties, the doll named Elenk's mechanical arms flopped off. creature letting out a shout, the arcanist couldn't help but feel bamboozled. How could these two fight so sloppily? He ought to fire them for such a shoddy performance! But, he obviously knew he couldn't do that.

Uxi charging at his sister with his lynx claws, some sort of barrier closed in on them. Hearing them laugh, the arcanist held back a fist, for a moment. What a strong loser this person was. But, he took back such point immediately. Man, that was childish of him to think. Absolutely appalling. Whatever, it was his turn to fight.

Poison potion thrown across the battlefield, the doll people's limbs had become rotten, in a matter of moments. Seeing such, he let out a laugh. Ah, perfect, perfect, his brews were excellent, as always. Enemy looking ready to take their turn now laughter had come his way. Had his brews not been enough, or something? Impossible! They were perfect!

"You're pathetic if you think that's enough to stop me!" Naofa shouted. "Elenk, Peltro, get them!"

"Yes, queen," Elenk said, monotone.

"As you command, master," Peltro said, monotone.

Dropping down his poisons once more, the chimera kept his potion brews going. And just who was the pathetic one here, huh? Creating doll people and causing weird phenomena in the cornfields. They were the most pathetic one here, no one else. Casting spells one after another in a turn style combat, he could slowly feel his energy drain from multiple attacks one after another.

Puppet still kicking after multiple turn, he could hear Uxi continue to ask questions. Hearing such, he supposed he could empathize with his employee a little. It must have felt pretty terrible seeing what happened to a sibling after their long absence, right? But, of course, nothing was worse than a sister turning a backyard into a farm! That was the worst of them all!

Attempting to get his mojo back, he could see Robin and Raven turned into stone. Seeing such, the arcanist snapped his fingers. This Naofa being had the power to petrify people? Unbelievable. What a powerful force to be reckoned with, if he did so say himself! Ah, what was he doing, praising the enemy? If he weren't careful, he would be next!

Dropping down herbs of doom, the hyena watched as the enemy's defenses dropped down. Such, however, had not been met with kindness in any shape or form. Boomerang of stone coming his way, the potion maker screamed. No, no, no, he's not turning to stone here, no way! He's not some weak and pathetic loser like Robin and Raven! Ah, no, that was juvenile of him to think. Cut that out right now. Enemies turning the table, he could feel his vitality drain.

But, eventually after enough casts had been laid out, he could feel the powers broiling inside him reach maximum. Team members breaking free from their stone prisons, as well, they made their chants in turn as well. Channeling all his power, the potion seller was ready to make his one and only scream in this battle.

"Welcome to Iris Potion! Today's brew? You!" Siorc shouted.

Large potion appearing on the battle field, the chimera stirred a magical pot. Gigantic tree climbing out of the cauldron, it tossed itself onto the enemy. Vines soon covering the enemy's faces, the potion seller let out a laugh. Ah, yes, the perfect brew, the beautiful tree special, his favorite of all time.

"I am the hawk of love and justice!" Robin shouted.

Robin flying upwards towards the sky, his hawk wings were practically on fire. Seeing such, the arcanist turned around. God, not that attack again. It was always fire, fire, fire, and electricity with this guy. Why did he hire him again? Honestly, he forgot. Well, whatever. Right now, that really didn't matter at all, whatsoever.

"You just stepped into my trap!" Raven shouted.

Raven dropping down a bird talon shaped trapped, the hyena shook his head. What in the world was this man's Arcanist powers? Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Truly astonishing how this falcon is even considered an Arcanist at all! He was a shame to all things magic. Didn't he think to try and learn other spells, or something?

"Snake eyes," Uxi whispered.

Uxi closing his eyes for a moment, a huge burning pupil appeared on the opposite end of the battlefield. Seeing such, the potion seller tried not to laugh. What was this? Absolutely pathetic. He should have fired this entire motley crew a long time ago! But, he was soon proven wrong. Dolls and the lynx clawed man's sister turning to dust in a matter of moments, the battle was over.

"Back to the shop," Uxi said. As he said such, he turned around.

"Hold on a second, Uxi, your sister just turned to dust!" Robin shouted. "Aren't you at least a little sad?"

"She'll be back." Uxi continued walking.

Returning to the potion seller shop with the rest of his employees, the hyena gazed at the Timekeeper, for a moment. What a mysterious young woman. How in the world did his sister even find this girl, anyway? But, she had left before he could even ask any further questions. Returning to his work as always, the world of corn went back to normal as if the arcane energy never was there in the first place.

Day passed by, and his potions were perfect like always. But, the hyena couldn't help but wonder a lot of thing as time strolled on. He had heard something weird when he had joined back up with the Timekeeper. She had said something rather strange, feeling himself flashback for a moment, he could feel a sepia filter apply to his brain.

Timekeeper: (monotone). <The storm hasn't come here yet, it would seem.>

Robin: (dumbfounded). <You mean, the storm could come here any point?!>

Timekeeper: (monotone) <I believe so.>

Raven: (confused) <Miss Timekeeper, if I may, there's nothing here of interest to be erased, right?>

Robin: (dumbfounded). <That's right! There's nothing here but cornfields and some supernatural happenings! It's not like wiping out this part of history will be meaningful to anyone, let alone this so called storm of yours!>

<The timekeeper had been silent for a long time after that. Did she not have an answer for that? Who knows? Who cares. Maybe she didn't quite understand the storm as much as she thought she did. Robin and Raven continuing to ask their stupid questions, the flashing time went forwards towards the present once more.>

But, even as the days passed forward, the hyena couldn't help but be consumed by multiple thoughts. So, when the storm were to come, would this place be erased from time? He didn't know, and it's not like he was going to ask. He was never going to see that Timekeeper again, was he? That's how life was. He would forget he ever met her, and life would move on.

Strange, even further supernatural customers would come into his potion shop in the days following. More and more alien creatures stopping by, a lot had fallen by the wayside. What was happening to his cornfield town? He supposed that alien invasion was real, after all. Take that, Prinz! He was wrong as usual. He was never right about anything a day in his life! But, as the days went on, he couldn't stop thinking about it. The things the Timekeeper had said. Closing up shop for the day, the potion seller drifted off to sleep.

When the storm were to come, what would happen to his potion shop? Would it be gone? Would all his hard work be erased from history? Would his era as a potion maker be over? Shaking his head, he tried to drown out all his thoughts. Storm, shmorm, that was just a hypothetical, anyway! It's definitely never going to happen! Right?

The storm wasn't coming, was it?

Was it?

---

Siorc as a perfectionist? Siorc as a perfectionist. Also, the day I wrote this just happened to be the day that Reverse 1999 released a brand new version update.

 

[Palamon]

Hyena Wizard Puppetry

THERE'S TRANSPARENT TEXT IN HERE. Can you find it?

---

"Uh, hello there, I guess?
Hello, nice to meet you, I guess?

Hi. Stop introducing myself already?
Eh, sorry, sorry, my most
Lucrative of apologies, I'm just a
Little nervous, is all.
Okay, so, where do

I begin? Honestly? I don't know I'm not

Good at talking, I have made a little puppet floating in middair do that for me.
Uh, so, I haven't a clue where to
Even begin? What in the world
Should I say? I have always
Struggled with words when my little puppet isn't active. Ah,

No, no, let's not focus on
Any of that. If I keep on
Mentioning all my shortcomings,
Especially now, I am pretty
Sure everyone will just click away. Alright, alright,

So! Introductions. How do
I introduce myself? Alright, alright,
Okay, I just need to do it.
Right, right, okay,
Come on, come on,

It's not that difficult. It's not that hard--

Ah! Okay, here goes, just do it like I'm writing in my diary!
My name is Siorc Ingne,

And I'm a young adult wizard from

Qecharin, a small little village near an enormous city.
Uh, have I ever been to the city?
I have, I guess, but I prefer to
Evade going. Because, I have like
Two major secrets, okay, actually

Well, four secrets.
I guess to say time I'll
Zay, ahem, say
All four here for those
Reading. Alright, so for one, I might look human to a
Dumb, untrained eye, but I am not. I'm a hyena chimera.

What, that's weird? Look,
I don't know, alright? Apparently,
This extremely powerful wizard one day
Had the audacity to do

A forbidden spell.

Huh, what is that forbidden spell,
You ask? Ones that tear the fabric of the universe.
Err, so, the story goes this wizard used magic to create a brand
New species using an
Advanced, illegal DNA spell, and

That's when my race, chimera was born,
Ah, apparently, my race
Is quite small, there's
Less than five-hundred of us, uh, I estimate

About? I don't know, two-hundred, if even that.
Not like I know, cause I simply
Don't, and it's not in my place to try and

Say otherwise. Well, whatever, let's continue my secrets.
Haa, secret two? I have
A shark brain that I was
Rightfully named after, what? Naming children after brains is weird? I
Know, okay? My sister is Coiote, my mother is Kojote, and my grandmother? Prateria, which comes from prariewolf,

But, that one I don't understand, grandmother has a coyote brain, my mother and sister, too.
Really odd that I was born with
A shark brain, right?
I'm aware. It's
Not like I am unaware.

Well, I'm still related to them.
Ha, so, let's just move on
And get on with
The next secret, shall we?

Third secret, I am not a man.
However, I was unfortunately, born one
And, I'm forced to conform
To the boy box in my village. Yet, I have

Decided to rebel in my recent years and go
Out in a little bit of
Eyeshadow. I'm androgynous anyway,
So, most people do

Not notice, not care that a 'boy' is
Out in makeup. You know,
They say cosmetics are

Magic for your face,
And, naturally, I do agree. But, like all
Knots, they do
Eventually come undone.

Ah! Don't get me wrong,
No one in my family cares about how I express myself,
You know? But, it is a

Secret I am unhappy as a 'male'. I don't quite see myself in
Either box, mind you, but I guess, I do
Need to be extremely careful around the elderly
Some old wizards apparently
Eat out people like me.

Well, whatever, anyway, that's way too
Eerie, isn't it? So,
Let's move onto the
Last secret, shall we? Alright,

Now, this is going to be a lot to take in, so
Eighteen deep breaths, okay?
I am hiding a dangerous
Tazmin inside me.
Huh, what's a Tazmin?
Errr, alright, so let me explain.
Right, so, I am going to just explain

Dutifully, a Tazmin is
Our powers, and most people have three,
Each corresponding to a type of magic power
Specific to them. So,

My safe Tazmins involve
Animating dolls, or puppets and
Growth of special flowers to aid me, but unfortunately
I have a dangerous Tazmin.
Can I even talk about this?

Not really, but
Oh well, I guess I
Will for the sake of it. I have a

Destructive Tazmin that can delete all landscapes within
One-hundred-ninety-nine meters of me. This includes people.
Eh, but I have control over it. And, I'm trying to
Shrink the radius to miniscule so that

In the event
That it accidentally activates, I don't kill anyone.

So, I try my best to shrink
Off that rather large

Radius. Well, I guess it doesn't
Even matter, though,
Cause no one has
Ever seen me with this
Nasty, awful and destructive
Tazmin as I have the ability to control it. Now
Let's talk about one last thing,
Yes. So, there's this Wizard University. Do

I go there? No, I don't

Go there, unfortunately, I am a sickly person.
Okay, so most of my early years?
They were always

Spent in hospitals and doctors offices trying to find a way to
Cure me, or whatever.
One day, apparently, a doctor with the
Ultimate medical Tazmin came up with
The miracle drug, or something.
Eh, so I'm now healthier with this
Dose of magical medicine or whatever,

But, even still, I have to go for routine doctor visits
Yet, I feel fine these days.

Something about lethal side effects,
Or something? I don't know, that
Might be it. If that had happened, I'd have
Easily just have gone and

Passed away by now,
Right? So people really
Ought to stop worrying about me.
For what it's worth,
Even if I am hit with the
Side effects, I'll be fine, or rather, I
Should be, right? I don't know.
Oh, well, so let's
Resume the discussion

About the University I was
Talking about. Alright, so let's

Start with me saying, that you have to be scouted,
Or personally invited to attend.
Maybe most people don't
Even know that, though, but

Perhaps, that's because I never
Really heard that anyone has ever
Enrolled, just been
Scouted or invited.
The scouting process is--, well,
It's kind of weird. There's these undercover
Guys around the world who go
Out and watch young adult wizards
Unleash their powers, or
Something and if they're deemed desired by the

University, they're given a magical pc and transported to a far away distant kingdom called
Nebulees, or rather a secluded section of
It. To be honest, I doubt I'd ever get scouted. I am
Very undesirable, you see? I take an
Especially high amount of medicine.
Right, but there's also
Something else, something kind of terrible.
I hear that some people who go
There completely disappear and aren't heard from again.
You know, that's incredibly scary

To me. Imagine getting scouted to a university, and
One day being reported missing.

How is no one doing anything about it?
Eh, at least that won't ever be me, at
Least that will
Probably never be me.

You know, I hardly know if I would ever get to go.
Obviously, I am quite
Undesirable as a sickly hyena chimera.
Nobody would want me to
Go to a prestigious university knowing that I have

A condition. So I know I
Don't got any shot at this.
Uh, well, oh well, it's not
Like I want
To get scouted, or anything,
So fine with me.

This world is just
One full of magic users and we

Hardly are invisible,
Or anything, I personally do
Not see any sort of benefit of going here,
Eh, but I guess

That since I have never been there, I
Have no say in this.
Even so, I think
It goes without saying, it's
Really odd that wizards have just disappeared after going here.

Maybe they're sent to
Another world, or something, but let's
Get real! That's just unlikely,
Isn't it? I don't think there's other world, or rather,
Can't say there is.

But, I really am beginning to
Ultimately suspect
That's the case.

It's pretty weird, right, for students to

Just disappear like that, right?
Ugh, to be honest, I
Shouldn't be going and
Thinking all too

Hard about all this, or I'll go
And fry my brain. I
Very much do not want to overheat and burn myself up,
Every time I overheat, I have issues.

Obviously, I despise when those readers go under my tongue.
Nowadays, the taste of that plastic, and little beep still rings in my
Ears. I have bad memories of the little beep.

In the doctors office, it's
So slow, and I
Seethe when they're done recording the numbers.
Ugh, so I really can't allow myself to overheat.
Especially now that

My medicine has been working so well.
Yes, it's a better life without people's hands on

My forehead, and telling me
All the very obvious: 'you feel very hot, did you
Go overheat yourself again, dear?' And, that next part
I dread, 'Get the rod and stick it under your tongue, sweetie, we need to
Check.' Ugh, I absolutely despise this sentence.

I hate when people
Slap their palm

Down on my forehead,
And inform me I feel very hot.
Now, when I was younger, just so I could
Get out of going to the doctor, I'd put the rod in cold water
Every time so that beeper would
Read lower, but,
One time, I got caught in the act, and my mom
Ugh, she punished me and
She shot a rod into my ear, and

It hurt like heck, let me
Tell you, so after that day, I stopped dipping it in

Cold water, and just let that
Annoying rod beep into that
Noxious red zone.

Well, what happens when
It's red? I'm forced to go to the doctor. I am overjoyed that I'm on
Pills now so I no longer overheat as much.
Eh, but even still.

Obviously, I won't get to go to the
University, as I used
To be very sickly. I am

Especially sure my kind is
Not welcome at
That place, especially since there
Is a chance my magical medicine might
Rupture one day and I'll be back to being sickly again.
Eh, well, it's not like I

Can't just hone my
Own skills anyway? I have
Unleashed my full
Not dangerous powers completely on my own
That's something I can say, or
Rather, would say
If I talked, remember,
Everything is communicated through my
Special puppets, I do not speak.

I just don't vibe at all with
Flapping my gums, I do

Not whatsoever in any shape
Or form. And you know,
That, since I don't even

Chat, there's simply no way
At all I'm getting scouted.
Really, it's kind of crazy to
Even think I'm material
For something like that.
Ugh, whatever, to be honest, I
Like my slow life

In my home village, I like where I

Am now and I will never want to change that.
Maybe I would if I had

A different life, but I don't. It's not
Like I go out of my way to meet anyone,
So, a university isn't an
Option I have ever considered.

Quite honestly, I don't have what it takes,
Ultimately. Besides, let's be real,
I'm also a chimera,
To be honest, why would anyone
Ever open the doors for

Someone like me?
I'm absolutely, one hundred percent
Certain, I don't belong there, I
Know most people scouted there are
Likely just human wizards.
You know I know that, right?

It's probably just a human university,

Not a multi species one.
Eh, so it's not like I'm
Ever getting scouted, I
Don't quite count on it,

Really, so I just go
On with my life at home,
Unleashing safe spells,
That's just how
It is, and how it'll always be.
No need to crack open a new
Egg, right? Because I honestly

Don't need to. I
Obviously am fine as I am here.
Cannot be forced
To break
Out of my spell if it's
Rotten to the core, right?

Very much so, my shell
Is rotten, and it's quite never going to break,
So, that's life, now,
Isn't it? Some go great places, others
Take a gamble, and
Some? Nothing at all. I am

Somewhere on the nothing at all scale.
Oh, well, it is like

I said, I am

Not changing anything
Even if I could, I won't
Ever, because I
Don't want my destructive

Tazmin to activate and
Overtly cause damage

To the world around me.
Ha, what? Going could help me control
It? Uh, no! Besides, I have control.
Not using it? It's that simple, you
Know. Consider that

A solution that is the
Big one out of the small
Ones. I don't call
Upon my destructive powers, and
That's just how it all goes.

Well, whatever, this is
Hardly a problem for me.
Eh, so, anyway,
Today, it's my turn to
Head over to the city and buy groceries.
Eh, what? Why go in
Rotation? Because

It's fair to me, my sister, my mother and grandmother!

That's how things go
Round here, we divvy
Up all our chores and
Let them rotate on a wheel.
Yes, that's how it

Will always go for us
And how it'll always be.
Now, this time it's my
Turn to go out, get

The produce,
Our meals for the week, and

Go on with my day.
Oh, I make it sound like I find this

Outrageous? I do not! You're not
Right at all, on that front!

Not at all in any shape
Or form, whatsoever, so don't say
That to me , ever,

Alright? I'm grateful
To my mother for setting up the rotation, because sometimes I have no energy for more of the

Problematic chores, if you will.
Right, so anyway? Any
Expectations? No. It's just a normal
Shopping trip, so I don't
Especially have any.
Not like I'm going
To get scouted,

I've established this before, I am

Rather sickly without magical medicine, and
Even not taking
All that into consideration,
Look at me,
Look, I'm a chimera!
You know, not a human?

Don't get my hopes up
On something that is simply

Never going to happen.
Obviously, this is going
To be my usual shopping trip. I

Know nothing is going to happen, it's
Not like I'm going to get scouted
Or invited. It's never happening!
Well, whatever, let's go on my super normal, run of the mill grocery run. Okay? Okay!"

A young androgynous young adult with short purple hair pulled into two round buns with braids going down below them, a shooting star hairclip had been slapped down upon the center of the person's head above the bangs. Matching magic wand earrings, mismatched purple and green eyes, the individual removed a light yellow overcoat with a purple center and bright colored skirt to match.

Heading for the washroom, the person washed the face. Magic wands in the hands, a magical puppet creature floated in the room. Whispering things into the floating felt creatures nonexistent ears, the person opened up the medicine cabinet as such had always occurred with every given morning. Prescription in hand that read, Siorc Ingne, (m), take three capsules every morning, downing the medicine, a hyena tail popped out from behind him. Sighing, he closed his eyes. New morning, same old nonsense.

Letting out a yawn, the hyena opened up the calendar application up on his phone. Grocery day plastered on the date in front of him, the hyena blinked, ah, right, today was his day to go out into the city and buy the food for this week. How could he have forgotten something like that? He should get ready to go for the day.

Stepping into the kitchen, a tall woman in her thirties stood behind the counter adorning a white button up shirt. She had long light purple hair that looked like it could blow away across the wind, and light purple eyes to match. His older sister has hard at work chopping lettuce by hand like she always did. She could use a little magic in her life, to be honest.

In the corner of the kitchen had been a short middle aged woman that had been approaching mid fifties. She had long dark purple hair that went down to about her backside. She look rather young for her age, but such had how it was for his race. Next to her had been an elderly woman approaching mid seventies. Light purple hair looking very thin, it could become as white as snow at any given second. Puppet floating beside him, the hyena waved to his kin.

"Our favorite wizard is awake!" his sister exclaimed. "Morning, champ."

"Siorc says good morning, Coiote!" the puppet next to him exclaimed for him.

"Good morning, Siorc," his mother said.

"Good morning, Siorc," his grandmother greeted. "It's your turn to go shopping today, no?"

Nodding, the hyena almost let out a giggle. Man, his sister was such a tease sometimes. Her favorite wizard, huh? She was his sister, of course she had to say that. Family bias and all that. The usual. He knew how it goes. Such was life, though. There's always favorites out there. And the only world he knew was his family.

"We'll be going out soon!" the puppet exclaimed for him.

"Great! You should be on the lookout for anyone wearing red sunglasses!" Coiote exclaimed. "I hear Nebulees is scouting people out with powerful Tazmins today!" She smiled as she said such. "Here's your grocery bag!"

Grocery bag handed to him, the hyena shook his head. Him, getting scouted to go to the wizard university in Nebulees? Fat chance of something like that ever happening. He was a chimera. And, chimeras like him were definitely not welcome in that kingdom. Besides, he was a but a feeble young adult in Qecharin with not very interesting Tazmins. He would never be able to impress an undercover scouter.

Puppet and he waving goodbye to his kin, the chimera headed upon the dirt pitted road. It was going to be a long ten minute walk to the city's market. Living in a remote village all his life for the twenty years of his existence, he hardly knew what the rest of the world might have looked like. But, he supposed he didn't need to. Most of his formidable years had been spent in doctors offices or hospitals. He knew he should be grateful for the magical medicine that had been crafted for him in more recent years.

Reaching the market after about twenty minutes, the chimera repeated the grocery list over and over in his mind and to his puppet pal. Produce, meat, vegetables, and tea. All the weekly essentials that were needed to last seven whole days. Slapping it down into his red cart, he kept moving through the store. But, he had soon seen something rather unusual.

Spotting a thug attempting to sneak a box of cigars out of the door without paying, the chimera blinked. He should do something about that, shouldn't he? He always wondered why the killer drugs were always out in the open like that at this small grocery store. But, he knew he couldn't just sit around and let this potential criminal get away with it.

Hiding a left star shaped wand behind his back, a group of vines had soon appeared in the hyena's hands. Lassoing, the thug had soon been wrapped up like a present. Thug screaming they're innocent, the chimera whispered into his puppet pal's nonexistent ear. Cracking his knuckles, the young adult pointed at the larcener as employees strolled by.

"I'm innocent, I tell ya!" the larcener shouted. "This dude's crazy!"

"Check his coat pockets, shopkeep!" his puppet pal shouted. "It's loaded with ciggies!"

Employees digging through the thieves pockets, an entire store's worth of boxes of cigarettes and had dropped out of his coat pocket. Manager screaming for the cops, the man had soon been taken away, screaming something along the lines of, if they don't want their cigs stolen, put them behind glass, the young adult shook his head. He can't believe what he was thinking, but he agreed with the thief.

Commotion dying down, the wizard continued along his way in the tea aisle. But, He had soon felt a tap on his shoulder. Feeling such, the chimera flinched. Alright, who was this now? Another thief. Turning towards the person, a wave of shock soon flowed through him at what appeared in front of his mismatched eyes.

Blond man adorning red sunglasses a wave of shock flowed through him. Wait, hold on, a scouter from the wizard university in Nebulees? Coiote was right, there was one here. Man rummaging through his pocket, a brightly lit golden card had been placed into the tip of the guy's fingers as he bowed his head in a polite manner.

"You seem like a very powerful wizard, young man!" the sunglasses man shouted. "I'd be thrilled to invite you to our wizard university!" The card shook in his fingers as he was filled with glee.

Invitation card handed off to him, the chimera blinked. Wait, him? He was invited to the wizard university in Nebulees? Really? But, he was a chimera. He was going to change his mind when he found out! Should he tell him? Maybe he should, he has to know about that, right? He feels obligated to say something to him about it. Whispering in his puppet pal's cloth, it spun around in a circle.

"Master's a chimera, ya know!" his puppet pal said. "Are you suuuure you wanna invite him to your university?"

"Oh, I'm sure!" the red sunglasses man exclaimed. "We've invited multiple of your kind already! And, we even have teachers there just like you!"

Hearing such, the hyena gazed at the glasses man. Really? There really were other chimeras in the university in Nebulees? For certain? He didn't know what to say. Maybe he was dreaming. Perhaps, he was. Pinching himself, he let out a shout. Okay! No, he wasn't dreaming. Definitely not. Staring at the wall, he thought it over. Maybe he should go. Leave the comfort of his own village. It was about time after all.

"So, what do you say, young man?" the red sunglasses man asked. "Would you like to attend?"

Whispering in his puppet pal's ear, the chimera scratched his chin. Did he want to go to this university? Nodding to himself, he pumped his fists. Heck yeah, he did. This was about to be a life changing opportunity. All he knew his entire life was doctors, hospitals and high temperatures. But, he finally had something to control all that. Something to make him normal. Puppet spinning around him, it soon chirped.

"You betcha!" his puppet pal exclaimed. "Master'll go!"

"Amazing! We really appreciate it!" the red sunglasses man exclaimed. He then rummaged through his pocket. "Here's your portable transporting device! Start packing tonight, and you'll be sent to the kingdom of Nebulees tomorrow!"

Little pocket computer handed to him, the wizard blinked. What is this thing? Runic symbols on it, he wondered. Why did this little thing feel so strange? Something wasn't right here. But, he knew he shouldn't overthink it, right? This person was kind enough to scout him, after all. Why be suspicious.

"Master will see you there!" his puppet pal shouted. "Tomorrow morning sharp!"

"Great, great!" the red sunglasses man exclaimed. "Can I get your names?"

"Master's name is Siorc" his puppet pal exclaimed. "And puppet's name is Quelea!"

"Cool, cool, so like the bird. You're a neat dude, you know that?" the red sunglasses man exclaimed. "See you tomorrow!" He then turned his back. "Another brand new victim...excellent."

Man leaving the area, the chimera blinked. Did that scouter just whisper something? But, he shook his head. No, he had to have been mistaken, right? He had to have been. Why would he whisper something underhanded? No way. Most certainly not! He was hearing things. Definitely hearing things.

Shopkeepers paying for his groceries as a gift for his heroism, the hyena blushed. Was he being rewarded? No, no, he should pay for the stuff like everyone else! But, the employees refused. Heading back home, the chimera told everyone the good news. Or presumed good news. Would he even be allowed to go, who knows? But, to his surprise, his family was ecstatic.


"Of course you can go!" his mother exclaimed. "We'll have to arrange for your medication to be transported with you, though. But, that shouldn't be too difficult. Make sure you take your current supply with you, and don't skip any days!"

Nodding, the chimera could see his older sister and grandmother crying. He wasn't quite sure why they were sobbing. Surely, he could visit, right? It's not like this university was like, a prison, or anything, right? He could probably call them up on the phone if he so desired and convey what he wished to through Quelea. Right? Right.

"My little brother is becoming a real adult now!" Coiote cried. "I'm so proud of you!"

"My grandson is all grown up now!" his grandmother cried. "Going off to a prestigious university!"

But, as the wizard packed up, he stared off into space. Wait. Hold on, the university. What if they found out about his dangerous Tazmin? The bad one, that could destroy things? Would he still be welcome with open arms, then? Perhaps not. He was going to get kicked out, wasn't he? He needed to keep his third one in check so he wasn't a problem for everyone around him.

Bags all packed and ready to the next morning, the hyena downed his medication. What would happen if they didn't refill his meds? He was starting to feel nervous. He would one-hundred-percent overheat if off them too long, and have a stupid rod underneath his tongue. He definitely didn't miss those days!

Bidding farewell to his family, the chimera pressed the glyphic key in the center of the tiny little portable machine. Teleported somewhere else in an instant, a nice large golden building beside a forest had soon been within his field of vision. This was the wizard university, huh? Amazing. This was a golden opportunity to start his life anew. Wheeling his suitcase up the ramp, he saw signs everywhere pointing towards some sort of assembly hall.

Seeing a lot of people in the crowd with inhuman ears, the hyena's cheeks grew hot. Ah, there really were a lot of people at this university that were chimeras like him, huh? Incredible. Absolutely amazing. He belonged in this world after all, he supposed. Welcoming ceremony feeling very warming, he soon dashed towards the other animal eared university students as the crowd cleared out, huffing a breath. Spotting six stand out individuals, the chimera wave.

Standing at the center of the tiny group of six had been a short young man with dark skin. He had dark blue cornrows that looked rather slicked back, Panther ears sticking on the top of his head, he gazed at the next person. Next to him had been a tall young woman with fair skin and rabbit ears. She had long, spiky orange hair pulled into pigtails, and a what looked to be a sailor outfit. Her white eyes were practically invisible, for some reason.

Cowering in the corner had been a young lady with light skin, and a greying bob cut. Seeing her, he couldn't help but feel bad for her. She was only in her twenties, and she was already experiencing early signs of her locks ageing, huh? Yellow sclera, and inhuman eyes, he gazed at the next person. Young lady with golden hair and skin wearing what looked to be dolls clothes, the chimera blinked. Was she some kind of mannequin of someone else? Weird.

Shaking their head with their arms across their waist had been a young androgynous person with light blond hair and orange eyes. Part of their hair pulled into a squiggly ponytail, he could see something rather unusual about them. Golden penguin crests upon their hair, he tried to not blink. Blue haired man next to him with a backwards mermaid tail the wizard waved again. What an interesting group of chimeras.

"You--why are you waving like a moron?" cornrows asked. "Stop trying to get our attention, human! We see ya!" But he then bent down to whisper. "Unless you're? One of us?"

Nodding, the chimera waved his magic wand, Quelea appearing and doing a little dance, he whispered into his puppet pal's nonexistent ears. Mechanical power brimming with energy, it spun around some more. But, the party of six gazed at him like he had seven heads as he did such. Snapping his fingers, they snapped out of it. Alright, maybe it was time to back up on the theatrics.

"Master's a chimera, just like you six!" Quelea spoke for him.

"Are you now?" cornrows asked. "Neat. Name's Bogart, what's yours?" He extended his hand as he said such. "Also, tell me your Tazmins."

"Master's named Siorc!" Quelea shouted. "And, Master's Tazmin's are Vine, animation, and--! Well, master can't reveal his third one just yet!" They then did a little dance. "Master wants to know everyone else's names, please!"

"Huh, what?" the orange haired rabbit lady asked. "Name's Hatsu. Huh whatchya lookin' at? I know I look like a girl an' all that, but I'm a tried and true dude!" He pumped his fists as he said such. "My Tazmin is close range flaming fists!"

"Me Plata," the greying girl said. "Sorry, Plata don't hear well, so I talk funny sometimes." She tried to hide everything behind a smile. "My Tazmins are small scale quakes, and gravity adjustment."

"Greetings, I'm Valaha," goldilocks said, bowing. "And, as you can see, I can turn things around me into dolls. So, watch out!"

"Why do I have to introduce myself to you, unintelligent lout?" the penguin person asked, sighing. "I am Baron, but don't even bother to remember my name, because I'll decimate all of you at the top of the university." They wagged their finger as they said such. "I don't tell my Tazmin to stupid people, so don't ask!"

"Woo wee! Talk about hostile, huh?" backwards merman tail exclaimed. "Sup, name's Brume. And, my Tazmin is water manipulation! But, don't worry, I'm a pal! Pleasure to meet you all."

Bowing, the chimera had soon been lead off to the on campus doctor. But, the hyena couldn't help but feel a chill upon doing so. Meeting a panda man with silver hair pulled into a tiny side braid, he couldn't help but get an eerie feeling from him. Something wasn't right with this man. Something wasn't right at all.

"Greetings, ah, you must be Siorc, no?" the panda man asked. "I am Doctor Jiaolong. You will be taking your medication in here in the mornings, I presume? I received a message from your family in Qecharin."

Nodding, the wizard did not know why, but something felt rotten about this doctor. Something was quite quacky about him. But, he supposed, that's how he felt about all doctors over the years and their medicines. That's how he always saw them. As little ducks who always promised to help him get better, and never did. Was he yet another one of those?

"Make sure you come by every morning!" Doctor Jiaolong said. "Although, I cannot guarantee your medication will be transferred over, apologies. But, I will try my best."

Nodding again, the young adult blinked. Did he just suggest that he medication might not be able to come? Oh, no, what'll happen if he overheats or feels ill during a lecture? That wouldn't be very good, would it? He needed to ensure a supply would be provided for him at all costs. Waving goodbye, he could hear the doctor call out to him.

"Take good care of yourself!" the doctor called out. "Sucker..."

Exiting the doctor's office. The hyena swore he could hear something said under the doctor's breath as he left as he left the room. But, he shook his head. Surely, it was just his imagination, right? What could he have possibly said, anyway? Probably nothing important, he supposed. Nothing to worry about!

Slapped a dorm card into his hand, the hyena headed off to the dormitory block. Bogart, Baron and Brume his roommates, he stared off into space. Ah, he sees. So, he was in a four person suite. It was going to be very rowdy in the mornings. Putting his clothes away in his designated drawers, a rather unusual rules meeting had soon been held.

Days passing, his first days of lectures had soon been ready to be held. Taking his medication in the morning, like always, he swore he could see the university doctor study him intently. Why was he looking at him like that? He did not like these stares one little bit. This guy was shaking up to be quite a quack.

Ready for his first lecture, the wizard gazed at the professor. Tall man with dark brown skin, long, dark brown hair, jackal ears, and covered up right eye, the chimera wondered if he and Bogart might have been brothers in some way. But, he supposed not. Jackals and panthers were completely different animals after all.

"Good morning, wizards, welcome to your brand new life at your wizard university," the professor said. "My name is Professor Sani. And, I will be your lecturer four days a week." He then slapped a syllabus. "Read over your syllabuses for the semester!"

Opening up his syllabus, the young adult squinted at the first page. Lectures four days a week, one day in field practice, and the weekends for dorm study, the hyena rose an eyebrow. Huh? Hold on a minute. Wasn't a university supposed to work on a five day schedule? Something wasn't right here at all. But, he brushed it off. He wasn't in some normal human school, he was in a wizard university now.

Professor explaining there will be tests on magic every month, the chimera held back the urge to sigh. This was going to be a long, long way off to graduation, huh? Lecture coming to an end after about three hours, the wizard recalled something weird he had heard in passing once, something off, something most unusual.

He had recalled hearing a rumor from multiple people when assigned grocery shopping. Most people did not return once coming to the Wizard University. He did not understand this last bit. Was it simply just hard to graduate here? Maybe that was it. It was difficult to pass this university and become a professional wizard in the magical world. Surely, that was it.

Four passed in his new world. Taking his medication, like always. Every time he would enter the doctor's office, he would look at him almost sinisterly. What was this man hiding? He was staring to field a little scared, like he was waiting for something. Something big to happen. But, he supposed he was imagining it. Heading outside for field work, he was starting to get a bad feeling. But, such negative vibes were noticed.

"Yo, Siorc can ya turn off that negative vibe?" Hatsu asked. "Else I'm gonna have to rename you Nancy!"

"Hatsu, maybe he's just nervous," Valaha said.

"Yeah, it's our first in field work!" Brume exclaimed. "How ain't ya nervous 'bout it? This might be where we are for, like, ten years or more!"

"Ten years? How impudent of you," Baron said, shrugging. "Naturally, I'll be at the top of the lecture and become a professional before all of you!"

"Plata don't know what penguin said," Plata said, holding her ear. She then let out a cough. "But, I know penguin said something insulting!"

"You are so rude, Baron!" Bogart shouted. "Watch! You'll be the first one to disappear, or something! Don't say I didn't warn ya!"

Bogart mentioning people disappeared, the hyena shivered. Wait, was that really true? Why was he saying something like that? There was no way something like that would actually happen, right? Right, right? No way. That had to have been a mistake, surely. There was no way something like that could really happen.

"Waah, don't say stuff like that!" Quelea shouted. "You're scaring master!"

"Why don't you let your 'master' speak for himself!" Baron cried. "Stupid puppet!"

"Sorry, no can do! Quelea is master's lips!" Quelea cried.

"Whatever, in that case, it's time for working in the field." Baron ran of as he said such.

Large field with magic apparatuses everywhere, the chimera's eyebrows twitched. Ah, so this? This was an obstacle course, huh? He was an adult, alright. Or, was he? He was staring to feel like this university was treating him like he was a child, or something. But, he supposed he was probably imagining it, wasn't he? Probably. He didn't know.

Days had begun to pass by in the university, and things had been rather normal. He could feel himself getting used to the Wizard University. But, something had been feeling quite unusual as the days went on. Something off, something didn't feel right. Medication refill not being ordered after two weeks of being here, he tried to remind the doctor about it.

But, no response had been given on such subject. He could feel his cheek grow hot when he did not answer. No, if he isn't going to get a refill, his health with die. He will go back to being weak, in pain, no energy. Why wasn't he contacting his doctors? He knew his mother and grandmother had magically faxed over the information. But, he shook his head. He still had a month left on his current supply. He'll be fine, right?

Weeks would begin to pass, and field work had gone on, but the hyena could feel something off with one of his Tazmins. The secret one he would keep hidden. The destructive one he knew he couldn't tell anyone about. Something was shifting with it, something major, but he didn't know what it was. And, maybe it was better he didn't.

Until one day, it happened.

The explosion he was worried about.

Nearing a month into his stay at the university, the hyena could feel his energies start to break. Ah, what was this unsettling feeling? What was this feeling of doom inside him? Feeling a ticket inside him, he groaned. Oh, no, the destruction Tazmin, it was going to blow. He was going to blow. He was going to blow. Torso glowing, he let out a scream.

Boom.

Entire forest gone without a trace, the wizard could hear screams in the distance. Running towards the noise, the chimera dropped to his knees at the sight before him. Pools of blood everywhere, the hyena let out a scream. No, no, there were bodies everywhere. This was his doing, wasn't it? He thought he had that destruction Tazmin under control! Entire kilometer of trees wiped off the map, he mourned the loss of the forest.

Professor running towards him, the chimera held the sides of his head. Oh, no, he's in trouble. He's going to get expelled! He's so, one-hundred percent getting removed from this university! Absolutely, one-hundred percent without a shadow of a doubt. Absolutely! He's gone, goodbye, so long! Time to go back home! But, he could hear the professor clap.

"Wonderful, wonderful!" Professor Sani shouted. "That destruction Tazmin is simply wonderful! So, wonderful in fact that--" He swore he lowered his voice into a whisper. "So wonderful in fact you'll be a beautiful new specimen to experiment on."

Teacher whispering, the hyena tilted his head. What did he just say? He didn't know. He didn't know. He was in trouble, wasn't he? Quelea asking what he whispered, he shivered. Oh, no, he was so about to get expelled. Was this it? Was this how it ended? After one little explosion? It was done, so over. But, he would soon be told something odd.

"Why, of course not!" Professor Sani shouted. "Quite the opposite, actually! Do you know how powerful you are?" There had soon been a sinister smile on his face. "Yes, you do nicely, very nicely." There had been an odd giggle.

Professor whispering something incomprehensible, the chimera scratched his head. Huh? What was that? He didn't know, but he supposed it wasn't anything to worry about. Returning to the dorms, he tuckered out for the day. Forest returning like nothing happened, he wondered, the people, were they magically restored a well?

But, such did not happen. Week going by, something odd had begun to happen within the university. Multiple people disappearing one after another, something wasn't right. Where was everyone? Were they skipping lectures? Were they skipping field practice? He was starting to notice the lack of people.

Such had not been the only terrible thing to occur. Medication not refilled, the chimera could feel everything take him for a ride as he reached the end of his supply. Why hadn't the doctor refilled his meds? No, this wasn't good. This wasn't good at all. He was going to be useless in a matter of weeks, days. This wasn't good, this wasn't good at all. Not at all.

More people going missing, the chimera's dorm room had been practically empty. All the other chimeras besides Bogart nowhere to be seen, he could feel the paranoia eat away at him. Where had the university body disappeared to? The teacher never listed anyone as absent, either. It was like they didn't exist. A few hiccups occurring during field practice, he could feel himself grow weaker by the day. And, that's when it happened. The worst outcome.

Overheating day.

Cheeks feeling on fire, the chimera's heart practically leapt out of his chest. Ah, how long had he been off his medication now? He didn't know anymore. Wobbling out of his dorm bed, he could feel the thing he despised the most. A cool palm on his forehead. He knew what he was about to hear. The thing he didn't want to. That stupid phrase. The dumb one.

"Siorc, you feel very hot," Bogart said, sweating. "Are you overheating, or something?" He placed a claw on his own forehead. "Have you not been taking your meds? Let's get you to the university doctor."

Trying to beg to not go, Bogart would not listen. No, not the university doctor. That quack refused to fill his meds! He was to blame for all this. But, it was no use. Dragged there, he had been forced onto the bed. Stupid rod put under his tongue, he could hear the accursed red beep he despised so much. No, god, he had overheated. Send him back to the dorm please.

"Doctor, is he going to be alright?" Bogart asked. "I don't really know about his condition."

Doctor smirking, the hyena's heart raced at the device in his hand. Mask in his left panda palm, the wizard let out a yelp. No, what was he doing? What was he trying to do? Attempting to make a fuss, such failed, immediately. Accursed thing soon placed upon his mouth, gases soon engulfed him, slowly, gently.

"Sleep now, next experiment," the doctor whispered.

Doctor whispering something incomprehensible, the hyena could feel his consciousness slip. Huh? What did that quack just say? Eyes fluttering closed, he could hardly hold on anymore. Never mind. He couldn't keep his eyes open anymore. Goodnight, world, wake him up with the springtime ends.

But, when he opened his eyes up next time, an unfamiliar world soon awaited him. Strapped into some metal bed, the hyena's eyes opened wide. Where was he? Where did that quack doctor take him? Iron helmet slapped onto his head, he let out a scream as a realization had kicked him in the shin. The people had gone missing. Is this where they had been taken?

Turning his head towards the right and left, the chimera could feel everything break at the sight in front of him. Multiple familiar faces inside glass boxes, the hyena could feel something in his soul as he raised his helmeted head upward. Everyone in those capsules, they were dead, weren't they? Preserved corpses, little trophies. He was next, wasn't he?

Baron in the number one capsule, the hyena could feel himself about to crack. The penguin got what they wanted, didn't they? They were at the top of this university. Seeing Hatsu, Valaha, Brume and Plata in the capsules, as well, a realization washed over him. He was next, the next wizard to become a trophy.

Doctor crawling by at lighting speed, the young adult knew what he had to do. He had to get out of here, he had to. But, he could feel himself grow weak. No, no, no, this is bad. This is bad. Very bad. This university, they didn't refill his medication on purpose, didn't he? He knew it. This place was suspicious from the beginning.

"Stay still," the panda doctor said. "That Tazmin inside you is very valuable. We want it."

"No!" Siorc shouted.

Boom.

Body glowing, everything around him had become dust. He could feel tears fall as he ran off. All those university students, they didn't know what happened to them in the end, did they? All those rumors, those rumors that people never returned from the wizard university, they were true. He had to get out of here. He had to tell Bogart with his own words, not Quelea, the truth of everything here. He had to run. And he had to leave this place. Dashing back to his dorm room, the panther was still there.

"Siorc, you're back?" Bogart asked. "I thought they took you away."

"Bogart, we have to get out of here!" Siorc cried. "This place, it's all a lie! They, they're just using us for our Tazmins!" He could feel tears stroll down his face. "Let's use those things they gave us to get here and go back home!" But, a stupid palm had been plastered onto his forehead.

"You're still overheating, aren't you?" Bogart asked. "Come on, let's get you back to--" But he had been interrupted by Quelea.

"Bogart, did you listen to what master said?!" Quelea shouted in Siorc's stead. "It ain't safe here! You could be next!"

"What do you mean, next?" Bogart's voice dropped as he asked such. "Siorc, what happened after they took you?"

Heart racing, the hyena was soon waterworks. Ah, what could he say? All the other chimeras were dead? No, no, how could he say that? He couldn't say that? Whispering to Quelea, the wizard waved his wand. Of course he couldn't. He was about to be told he was overheating again, right? Of course he would.

"Wait, Siorc, the other chimeras," Bogart asked as his voice cracked. "Are they dead?" His eyes grew wide as he asked such. "The human wizards that went missing, too, are they also dead?"

Nodding, the waterworks continued. They were dead indeed, gone, removed, trophies in a box. Used for their Tazmins. He could see Bogart's face grow dark as he affirmed such. Panther's body glowing, the wizard blinked. Come to think of it, he never learned Bogart's Tazmin, did he? What was it? Did he ever say?

"I'll transport you home with my Tazmin," Bogart said. "Hold on."

Hearing such, the chimera blinked. Wait, what about him? Was he going to stay here? But, he had soon been sent back home like nothing happened. He could feel the questions roll in. Did Bogart stay there? In that 'wizard university'? Mother, sister, and grandmother not questioning his return whatsoever, and oddly fine with his departure, he stared off into space in his room as the scenes of that horrifying place in that university. News story playing about the multiple university students that had gone mission, the chimera could feel a question rush as his family gazed at him.

How many people's Tazmins were used for energy?

---

Highly encouraged to highlight for secret text. :) Have fun.

 

[Palamon]

Siorc Ingne Wa Yuusha De Aru

---

"Hey, there. My name is Siorc, I am an
Ever quiet third year exchange student from Europe, and a hyena chimera. Hmm,
Like, what is that? A
Little blessing from something called Shinju-sama,
Otherwise known as

The Divine Tree, before coming abroad
Here, I won't
Even try to lie about this, but I had never heard about the Divine Tree!
Right, so mother, she's a researcher and historian
Eh, and she heard about the Shinju-sama. And we

Moved abroad to Japan as a result,
Yet, I decided to live separate from mother to experience a brand

New, independent life.
And, to be honest I had
My reasons for this,
Eh, so you see,

I don't wish to, for any reason to
Sport the male

School uniform. What,
Is that weird, or something?
Okay, listen, I do not like being seen as masculine.
Right, so, I decided to live separate from my mother in my first year here so I
Can assume feminine expression.

Though I don't think my mother would
Have anything negative to say,
I decided in the end I'd
Rather not face that possibility of her rejecting me.
Do I think she would do that to me?

Yeah, I don't quite know if I am being
Especially honest
About this because I haven't ever told her how I feel, or
Rather, I won't be telling her

At all. I don't speak.
But, that's pretty normal for me.
Of course, I never speak.
Uh, so that's how I've always been, a non
Talker. I have rarely ever spoken.

That's completely a normal thing for me.
Oh, that's a little weird? Apologies, this is how it is.

Guess some people find it
Rather weird that I
Am simply not a talker, honestly, though
Does that matter?
Uh, well, I suppose it is
About time
To change the subject to something
Else, right?

I guess I probably should.

Ah, alright, well, give
Me just a moment to figure that

All out. Ah, okay, so
Let me talk about
My school a little.
Okay, so I'm a third year, and this is my final year.
So, I am eighteen, going
To be nineteen in April.

Now, this is my last year here,
I'm graduating in the spring.
Now, of course, when I first started going to school,
Everything was pretty different.
This new world was pretty foreign to me. As an
Exchange student from the continent of
Europe, I needed to learn a
New language pretty fast. Learning to read and write

It, since, let me say it

Again: I do not speak at all whatsoever.
Maybe I would if

I wasn't so afraid of being judged for
Not sounding like

A girl, to be perfectly

Honestly, I have never
Ever, enjoyed my voice. When I was
Rather little, I rarely, if ever
Opened up my mouth. Did this

Concern mother? Quite a
Lot, yes, but she
Ultimately understood me in the end that I'd rather not
Babble, I'd rather not speak

About anything at all, whatsoever.
That's how it's always been.

My school life has always been the same,
You know, but the

School excused it as I put on my transfer notice, I
Cannot speak the language, only write,
However, that's quite
Obviously a lie I told so I don't have to
Open my mouth. Okay,
Let's move on

With this, shall we? Alright, so
I'm in my schools hero club!
That's pretty cool, right?
Haha, so turns out there's three other transfer students here

From Europe who came together with
One other shy student to make a hero club together.
Uh, so let me start off by saying, all of us here
Really like helping

Others and want
To join public service
Here when all of us graduate!
Eh? That's not going to pay
Rats butt? Okay,

So? Let's be honest? Who cares about
That! I just want to help others, that's my
Ultimate purpose in life.
Doing my utmost to make sure
Everyone is happy, and
No one gets hurt!
That's my main purpose in life,
So I joined the hero club.

It's mostly helping drive out invasive critters

And looking for lost critters, and
Maybe going from place to place to read

A story to

Sick kids in
The hospital.
Uh, well, what do I do there since I
Don't talk? I do the puppetry.
Eh, that's hardly hero work? That's
Not true?! Putting a smile on
Those kids faces, I feel like

A hero! Not like, a
Big one, or anything like that,
Really, but a small
One that's trying my utmost to help
A kid in pain see a brighter world!
Do I get on the more interesting side?

Ah, well, I clean up beaches and parks!
No, not heroic enough for people?
Does that matter, though?

In my own way, I'm just a hero. I know it's

Like, not really something that's not the definition
Of a hero, but I
Very much consider it the definition of one,
Even if it doesn't count to others, I

Hardly care a bit! Not
Even in the slightest!
Listen, as a chimera, I care more about this
Planet than others do.
Is that word confusing?
Never heard of it before? Should I
Go over it? Alright, so mother says, the Divine Tree blessed me with traits of a hyena.

Perhaps, it doesn't
Even matter at the end
Of the day, however since I can hide these features.
Perhaps, I wasn't clear on this
Like, I can blend in
Easily with humans, so no one

Except my club knows about this,
So, this is something that doesn't matter.
Please don't get me wrong,
Even if more people knew, I
Can't say that
It'd change
Anything anyway, I have no intentions of
Letting pretty much anyone know.
Look, I'm sure most people will think, I'm weird.
Yet, that's just hardly something

That I ever think about.
However, that's just the beginning.
Eh, so, remember how
I said my mother is a
Researcher? She heard about the Divine Tree when I was

Graduating from private junior high
And all that nonsense. And that's when she told me her
Research is taking us abroad.
Do I think this was
Especially short
Notice at first? Yes,
Since I will be

Incredibly honest, at first the Divine Tree seemed

Like utter nonsense. As,
I haven't ever heard of it. Found it
Very ridiculous and all that. But,
Even so, that's when I learned, it's

A pretty important thing in this world,
Like super, extremely important.
Okay, so let me just start
Now by saying that apparently this Divine Tree is like the
Entire world, or something. Or

So my mother says, anyway.
Or so she has

Speculated, anyway.
Of course, she could be wrong,
Maybe she is
Eh, like I said, I live completely separate from her.
This was my choice
In the end, so it's not like I ask
My mother for updates.
Eh, so, one thing I did learn
Super quickly

Is that, the Shinju-sama are worshipped here.
They're worshipped by everyone.

I should go ahead and
Say this since it's,

Perhaps something that is
Rather important but,
Everyone every single day must pray
To Shinju-sama, and leave
Them offerings, or something like that.
You know, to be honest,

I have never seen something like
This before, and up until I

Came here, this isn't something I had ever seen, not even
At my old school in Europe did we have to go pray to God in the morning and afternoon.
Now, of course, I won't

Go ahead and judge another country for their practices.
Even so, I am still happy
To be here, in the hero club.

Perhaps I should go ahead and
Report what I am going to do today
Err, alright, so let me start by saying
That we're going to be driving out
These rabid racoons today!
You know, I know that sounds

Like weird, but, lately
Over here, animals have been acting kinda weird?
Now, something I just have to
Explain is that
Lately, critters have been acting confused!
You know, I know that sounds weird,

But, it is my duty as a hero in the hero club to
Ultimately help all
That I can! Because

It's been getting much worse lately,

However, be that
As it may, I'm
Very dedicated in
Everything that I do, and so is

The rest of the
Hero Club!
Even though the president sometimes

Has something to say about it occasionally,
Everyone does tend to agree.
Right, so,
Our mission today is to

Chase out raccoons invading
Little farms nearby our school.
Uh, I know that might
Be a very, very, very

Strange thing to hear,
Of course it is, but let me just say

I don't really mind if it sounds

Abstract. It'll pass with time, well,
Might anyway. Like I've said, it's fine with me.

Not like I expected to see raccoons
Over here being rabid,
Though, I suppose it is what it is.

And, I'm simply happy to
Let gardens thrive. My
One true love? Not boys, girls,
Nature. It's always going to be my
Ever adored until

The very end
Of my life. Oh,
Don't get me wrong, I don't just find nature attractive know that's
A little odd, but, I will be honest I don't care.
Yes, nature is my first love. Always

Will be, and it always has been.
Especially since I have

Always been so connected to it
Rather close knit. I am
Especially more tied to nature, being a chimera.

Do I feel like I belong in the savannah?
Really, I suppose
It truly doesn't matter
Very much. Of course, yes,
I would live in a tent in
Nature if I could. I
Guess I should have if I wanted to, but

Oh, well, I have a school,
Ultimately, I'd rather not be made fun of for being
The homeless kid. Ah, apologies, that's

Rude of me, isn't it?
As, more often than not I work at a homeless shelter.
But, I don't want people judging me, so
I don't live outside.
Don't have much to say,

Really, so anyway.
After my classes and
Cleanup end, I'm
Off to the hero club,
Off to wherever I have to go to
Nix these raccoons.
Something tells me if I don't do anything, someone will just

Kill them, and
I absolutely can't allow that!
Like, of course I can't
Let something like that happen.
Innocent poor, sick animals in the wild don't
Need to be killed. We're
Going off to the

Animal hospital after we

Lure them into a box. And,
Of course, it's much easier to
Clear them out this way
And all that, and I will
Likely catch them all.

For now, that's enough of
All that, now there's a
Rumor I've heard, or
Maybe I heard this in a dream.
Err, so I have heard in my dreams, that Shinju-sama selects people with
Really high hero aptitude to become like
Superheroes or something.

Perhaps, that's just a dream.
Let me just say that it's
All just a rumor,
Not like it matters, right?
There's not much to
Say about that in the end

As it's nothing more than
Silly rumors, why would

A superhero, or magical girl exist?

Come on now! That's
Hardly something that's real?
It's all just fantasy, fiction, completely
Make believe, of course it's not
Even real. Why would something like that be
Real? It's never been something
At that could be.

I don't know though, I

Feel like at least I have heard
Every so often though people get chosen,
Eh, probably just a dream, so
Let's not believe it. Even if it were, I

Cannot say I'd be chosen.
Like, it's a girl thing, right?
Obviously, not being an anatomical girl,
Shinju-sama wouldn't
Ever pick someone like me,
Right? Of course not.

There's quite
Obviously no way that's happening,

Not any sort of chance
At all whatsoever. And, I know
That's how it is,
Ugh, well, I would
Rather not have to repeat this
Even though I already am going

To, but I am not an anatomical girl, I
Hardly think I would be chosen.
And also, I'm a chimera.
Not the chosen one they

Might want. Well,
Oh well, I am just
So happy that I can help
Those in need as I am now,

Since this as it is, my last year.
Once I graduate,

I have to go ahead

And say goodbye to
My Hero Club, say goodbye to my

Hero Club friends,
And then face challenges in the adult world.
Perhaps, I will see my friends in
Public service, but
You know what?

That's life, and
Obviously, I anticipated that.

However, even though I'll soon be moving on, and
Even though I'll be
Leaving it all behind eventually, I
Plan to help everyone while in the hero club. Watch over me, okay?"

A short, androgynous eighteen year old individual with short purple hair that went down to about the chin pulled the hair up into a tiny ponytail from the back. Slipping a bright pink ribbon with lilacs on them, the person could feel the hyena tail stick out from behind the back. Blushing, the person let out a barely audible wail. Oh, great, not again better hide that.

Adorning a pitch black school uniform with a long ankle length skirt, the person slapped on a lilac shaped hairpin. Smiling at the mirror, the student's heterochromatic purple and green eyes stared back at the reflection. Flower earrings put on, as well, the young adult could feel a bittersweet taste of chocolate in the throat. This would be the last six months as a High School Student before parting ways into the adulthood world.

Phone vibrating as the hyena person brushed the hair, the person stopped doing such activity. Who could possibly be texting now? It was far too early in the morning for this. Was it the school club? Spam, something else? Well, oh well, there was still about fifteen minutes before having to leave for school. Opening the phone, a surprise name appeared in the notification bar.

{Mother}
{One new message.}

Reading such, the student practically flopped over. What was mother doing texting after all this time? When was the last time a message had been left? The person did not know. Months, a year? The student had stopped keeping track. Ever since moving abroad and deciding to live alone, the messages had become more infrequent. Was a historian's life that busy? Sighing, the late adolescent unlocked the phone.

{Mother}
{Good morning, son, I apologize for the lack of messages I have been sending you. Work has been quite busy for the past while. But, I do think I should let you know some things before I leave for my next country to research their history. Apologies for not telling you this sooner, I have been going abroad for work for an extended period of time. But, now that I am back in Japan, at least for a day or two, I have something important to tell you about the Shinju-Sama (Divine Tree).

There's something I have recently discovered. A folklore, if you will, that for centuries, in Japan, young women are selected by something called the Taisha to fight some evil force known as Yuusha, or hero. They seem to be highly tied to the Divine Tree that this country worships wholeheartedly. Unfortunately, though, I cannot seem to find out much more about it, but I know you like nature, so I thought I would let you now what I discovered.

I will be leaving Japan on Wednesday, so why not meet me at a café after school on Tuesday? You don't have your Hero Club activities that day, do you? I recall, last time I was able to contact you, you told me about your afterschool activities. I presume that you still go around the neighborhood helping people? Feel free to ignore my message if you do not have time to see me.

I don't know when I will be back in Japan. So, this is likely the last time I will be able to message you for awhile, Siorc. But, I'll try to be back in time for your graduation. It's now October, so you have six months to go of your school life. So, let's try and catch up before I leave again. Okay? This might be the last time I can contact you at all.

If not, I hope no one has found out you are a chimera. If someone were to find out you were a creature blessed by the divine tree, I fear there would be chaos. So don't let anyone know about your "condition", okay? Promise me, son. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. I know you're in Japan now, but things are different than they were when we were in Europe.

~With love,
Your mother.}

Reading the wall of text, the hyena let out a sigh. His mother is going abroad for work again? What was the point of moving to Japan if she wasn't going to even bother staying here? He supposed he felt grateful he had decided to live in a small apartment all alone, and his mother paid for it. Maybe he should have just stayed back in Europe all alone. He was self sufficient enough.

Quickly cooking his morning eggs, the chimera stared off into space. Go meet his mother at a café tomorrow? Should he? He hadn't seen her since living life alone two-and-a-half years ago. There was no way she'd approve of how he dressed. Did he have any masculine clothes? Shrugging, he let out a sigh. Of course, he didn't. He threw out all his old clothes when moving here. He supposed he'd have to go and buy some baggy clothes for tomorrow. He knew she'd freak out when she saw him in a a dress. Probably.

Finishing breakfast, the chimera dashed off towards school. Bright, sunny October day, the chimera smiled at the beautiful trees. It sure was a pretty day for autumn. He couldn't get over how gorgeous Japan had been since moving here. Even the language was nice to look at, and hear. Not like he was a Japanophile, or anything. Clutching his communication whiteboard, he opened his shoe locker. School shoes on, the student headed for the classroom.

Long, boring day of classes droning on, the young adult held back the urge to slap his head on his desk. God, why were the school days always so long and tiresome? What use would any of this knowledge about the circumference of a circle even do for him? The teachers always claimed they would use this stuff in their adulthood, but they never would in actuality, would they? He was starting to lean towards they wouldn't.

Hearing the final class bell ring after six hours, another useless school day had passed. Everything dragged today. He couldn't help but think about the Hero Club all day. His mother all day. All of that stuff. Paying any attention in class had been quite difficult today. But, he knew he had to pretend like he was listening. Teacher saying the usual end day lines, the chimera stood up from his chair.

"Stand, bow, pray to Shinju-sama," the teacher said.

Everyone bowing towards the teacher, and sending their prayers to the Divine Tree, the chimera gazed at the offer table up above. Who was Shinju-sama, anyway? He knew everyone in Japan seemed to worship them. Back in Europe, nothing of the sort existed. He had been here for two-and-a-half years now, and and had simply accepted things as they are. No need to question it.

Cleanup duty coming to an end, the hyena dashed to the clubroom. It was finally time to meet with the Hero Club! Slamming open the wooden door, the hyena wrote, hello everyone! On his communication whiteboard. Eight eyes gazing at him, warm smiles had come his way, like they always did. There were only six months left of this, huh? He could hardly believe it. Time flies.

Sitting at the back left chair had been a tall young woman with short pink hair pulled into a tiny braid. Pink eyes and rabbit ears to match, her hair adorned a black hairclip. The leader of the hero club, Kouneko, she was pretty, like always. When he had learned another chimera was here, and she lived in Japan, he couldn't help but feel overjoyed. He wasn't the only one out there.

In the back right chair had been a short young girl with bright golden blonde hair. Adorning penguin crests on her face, and a safety pin earring, her orange eyes burned brightly. Wearing the first year ribbon, a somber smile had been plastered on the chimera's face. Holly, he could still remember when she told him she looked up to him as another student studying abroad. But, after April rolled around, he would never see her again, would he? Probably not.

Sitting in the front right chair had been a short young woman with dark orange hair pulled into a high ponytail. Rabbit ears flopping around, her white eyes looked like they had lost all life in them. Why did Shiroka look so nervous for? He recalled when Kouneko invited her sister to join the club last year when she joined as a First Year. Time was moving by way too quickly.

Seating themselves in the front left chair had been a young feminine appearing person with bright reddish pink hair swept into a side ponytail. Adorning brown skin, and pitch black frog eyes, scars had been visible on their face. But, something had been quite different from them from the rest of the students. Adorning plant arms, legs, and green ears, he always wondered how Cedre functioned without sunlight. But, he knew it was best to never question all of that.

"Cleaning duty today?" Kouneko asked. She could hear a whiteboard be scribbled on as she asked such.

<Yup, cleanup duty.> Siorc's whiteboard said. Eraser squeaking, new words appeared. <You guys ready to go help the neighborhood farm with their racoon problem?>


"Yup!" Cedre exclaimed. "I brought the gloves! Been hearing them rascals been eating all the fruits and veggies! I can't wait to help them!"

"Totes. You know, I've been seeing lots of raccoons in my host family's house!" Holly cried. She turned towards Cedre. "Well, Seeds and I have been anyway!"

"I, I don't know," Shiroka said, voice drifting off. "Aren't racoons kinda scary when they're sick?" She then turned towards her sister. "Nee-chan, do we really have to go help out the farm?"


"Of course we do! Remember the first rule of the Hero Club?" Kouneko asked. "Never turn down anyone who asks for help!"

"But, nee-chan, there's been a lot of reports about rabid animals lately," Shiroka replied, voice weak. "Are you sure we should be dong this?"

"Aww, come on Shirley, you're so cautious!" Holly exclaimed. "We'll be fine! We got Siorc with us, right? And he always knows what to do if animals get out of control!" She then lowered her voice into a whisper. "Besides, ya know, we're chimeras? Animals are drawn to us, so they'll naturally listen to us."

"Okay, I trust you." But, Shiroka's voice shook as she said such.

"Is everyone ready to go?" Cedre asked.

Gathering the racoon caching equipment, the group of five nodded. Finally, it was time for hero business. Well, maybe just helping business, not full blown hero hero business, but helping people, he could never shake off the warmth he felt when people thanked him for saving their cat. He could never get over that feeling of all those who were grateful for their help.

Elderly neighbor's farm run to the brim with rabid racoons, the chimera had begun rolling. Creatures rounded up one after another, the hyena huffed a breath. Yet another day of poor, sick creatures all gathered into a box. He didn't know why, but this had been happening quite a lot lately. So many animals had suddenly gotten ill. He couldn't quite fathom how such could happen, all at once like this.

Elderly thanking the Hero Club, the chimera couldn't help but smile. Another job well done by the Hero Club! Heading off the animal hospital, the feral creatures had soon been left in the care of the professionals. But, as they had all prepared to leave, the Club President's phone jingled. Leader's cellular device turned towards her, the chimera swore he could see her eyes pulsate.

"Sorry, guys, it would seem something came up," Kouneko said, rubbing her right hand against her hair. "I can't go out for dinner like we always do today. See you all tomorrow?" She headed for the automatic doors as she said such.

"Wait, nee-chan, what's wrong?" Shiroka asked.

"Sorry, I can't tell you yet," Kouneko responded. "Private big sister business. See you all tomorrow."

Exiting the animal hospital, the hyena stared off into space as he headed home for the evening. Lately, Kouneko had been acting kind of strange. She had been staring at her phone more often lately. Getting random texts. Was she going through something she couldn't talk about? She knew that she had lived alone with her younger sister since middle school. Was there something so terrible going on, she couldn't tell her friends, even younger kin?

Warming up some instant noodles, the hyena tried to stray himself away from such topic. It really wasn't his business whatever she went through, right? Outside of school, and the Hero Club, they had their own separate lives. Homework, jobs, other responsibilities. He knew that anything that happened outside of school was not his business.

Waking up the next morning, the chimera read the message his mother sent for the day. Asking once again if he could meet her at a café after school, the chimera shook his head. Should he really go see her? He kind of didn't want to. But, he knew if he didn't, she'd probably be angry. He supposed he could borrow a baggy out from he drama club.

But, during class, the chimera could hear a loud blaring siren coming from his school bookbag. Students staring at him, the hyena broke out into a sweat? Huh? Why was his phone making that noise. Didn't he put it on silent before he left for the morning? But, that's when something rather peculiar came into shape.

Everyone except him frozen into place, the chimera blinked. Huh. Why did time stop of all of a sudden, what's going on? What in the world was happening? He didn't understand. He could soon hear Kouneko's voice in the hallways. Racket getting louder, the student dashed out of the classroom. Cedre, Holly and Shiroka behind her, the late adolescent wrote down, what's going on? Why is everyone frozen?

"Come to the clubroom, and I'll explain everything," Kouneko said, voice low.

Running to the clubroom, a strange suitcase had been sitting at the table. Seeing such, the hyena turned towards Kouneko. What was this little box? Was what his club leader keeping from them yesterday? He could feel his questions begin to pile up one after another. What was this? What Kouneko sighing, she soon let the explanation go.

"You see, everyone, we've been chosen by the Taisha," Kouneko said. "You see the warning on your phones?"

"You mean Forestation Warning?" Holly asked. "Senpai, what doe that mean?"


"And, is that why everyone's frozen except us?" Cedre asked.

"Yes," Kouneko responded. "We have been chosen to become yuusha."

"You mean, we're it?" Shiroka asked. "Nee-chan, why us?"

Club leader explaining they had been chosen to be heroes, the hyena blinked. Him, a Yuusha? Was this really alright? He wasn't an anatomical female. He didn't quite see himself as a boy. Did the Taisha make a mistake, or something? He thought they only women had been selected to for something like that. He knew he needed to bring that up.

<Wait, me?> Siorc's whiteboard said. <But, I'm...> But the siren blared once again.

"I don't know, but we don't have time to discuss this!" Kouneko cried. "Everyone, take your new phone and follow me!"

Chest opened, a brand new smartphone with a strange application had been on it entitled yuusha. Running towards a strange world that was a rainbow forest, large white monstrosities had been charging towards everyone. Club leader explaining that everyone had to hit the transformation app to fight, the student stared at the monsters up above. Those things were something he had to fight? Why?

Kouneko pressing the the touch screen on her new phone, a bright pink hero costume with flowers on it had been upon her. Large bow in her hand, and little pig floating next to her, she had begun shooting at the strange new enemies he had never seen before. He could feel his knees buckle as she continued. How can she fight these like it's no problem?

"Nee-chan, what are those things?!" Shiroka cried. "And what is that creature next to you?"


"They're the Vertex. They're our enemy. If we don't destroy them, they could end the world," Kouneko responded. "And, that thing next to me is a fairy. They serve us Yuusha in battle. But, there's no time to explain! You guys have to transform."

"On it!" Holly cried. "You just press this app, right? Aaand presto!"

Holly adorning a bright yellow hero costume with daffodil hairpins, a little floating cat, the youngest club member soon adorned a sword in her left hand. Seeing such, the hyena stared off into space. Was this really happening, or was he stuck in some sort of dream? Maybe he was. Maybe this was all just a nightmare.

Shiroka adorning an orange hero costume with a dog creature floating next to her, she soon had a pair of gauntlets over her hands. Cedre proceeding to adorn a red one, and seed creature, the hyena gulped. Should he really transform? Wasn't he taking this opportunity from another girl? Maybe he shouldn't do this.

But, the battle had immediately taken a turn as he gazed and watched everyone fight. Seeing such, the chimera's eyes pulsated. Maybe he should transform after all. Who cares if he was chosen by accident? He was Siorc Ingne, member of the hero club! Third Year Foreign Exchange Student! It was his duty to stop this! He had to.

Pressing the button on his new phone, a blinding light soon engulfed him. School uniform disappearing, a light purple dress with lavenders had adorned his short body. Bright violet spear with flowers below the metallic bits, and fairy in the shape of a rose next to him, the hyena couldn't believe it. Was he really a hero? That text he got from his mother the other day, this yuusha stuff wasn't a folklore at all.

Club leader soon shouting how to defeat the vertex, everyone surrounded the creature from every angle cornering it from the back, the party of five let out their flowery attacks one after another. Creature successfully held off, he had soon been told something horrible. Words he did not wish to hear at any given point whatsoever.

He had to scream a tenant to banish these creatures.

Hearing such, the yuusha grit his teeth. Was Kouneko being serious right now? No, now way. He couldn't do that! Shout a battle cry to seal this thing? Nope, nope, nope, no thanks. He'll pass. Why did he have to do that? Gross, disgusting, awful. Did he have to? Can someone please, wake him up from this nightmare?

"First! Always help everyone in need!" Kouneko shouted.

"Second! Be kind to everyone!" Holly shouted.

"Third! No matter what, remember you're never alone in the Hero Club!" Cedre shouted.

"Fourth! We're all friends here!" Shiroka shouted.

Everyone shouting the Club Tenants, the hyena stared off into space. Did he really have to do this? Did he really have to shout a tenant? He could feel his throat close at such thought. No, why? Why did it have to be a battle cry? But, he shook his head. Sometimes, in life, people had to do things that made them uncomfortable. Opening his mouth, he let out a shout.

"Fifth! We're all heroes!" Siorc shouted.

Vertex soon sealed, the weird forest had soon vanished like it had never been there in the first place. Time resuming back to where it had been left, the chimera blinked. Hold on, so when they were in that weird forest, time stood still? How peculiar. He didn't understand this at all. Maybe this was just a dream. Meeting with his mother at the café, she had said something weird.

"So, you've been chosen to be a yuusha," his mother said. "I see, just like your grandmother."

Hearing such, the hyena tilted his head. Wait, what, hold on, his grandmother was a yuusha? He didn't understand. His mother told him that yuusha stuff was just a folktale! Was she lying? She supposed if she had been, she had her reasons for doing so. Writing down, why did you tell me, mother? He had soon gotten a response he didn't expect.

"Because, son, I don't want you to be dragged into this," his mother said. "You've always been pretty feminine. Far more feminine than almost any girl. I knew they'd choose you, just like your grandmother back when she lived in Japan, in her youth."

Hearing his mother affirm his femininity, whilst explaining everything about his grandmother, the chimera could hardly follow what he was hearing. Was this really true? He didn't know if he could believe any of this. Maybe this was all just a lie. It had to have been. It couldn't have possibly been the truth. Paying for his meal, the student headed home.

Staring at his new smartphone and fairy creature, the late adolescent tried to process everything. He was chosen by the Taisha to be a hero. He had to fight the vertex, from here on, his life would be completely different. Fighting evil, saving the world. Was this really his new life now? He was graduating in April, what then?

Tossing and turning in his bed, the thoughts rumbled. Did he really have what it takes to be a hero? Maybe he didn't, maybe he was too weak for that. The Taisha, they made a mistake, didn't they? Choosing him. A chimera, and not to mention, a foreigner. He really took this away from another girl, hadn't he? That wasn't good, right? When the Taisha find out, he'd be ex-heroed, for sure. But, the negative thoughts soon raked as he could feel himself about ready to drift off into sleep.

He was a real hero now. A true yuusha. It didn't matter if he had taken the role from someone else. With this power, he could save people. He could do something about the rabid animals. He could do something about all of these very odd things happening lately. All of this could change. All of these awful problems could finally be solved. And, he knew that. Catching the zs, one last thought kicked in.

He was a yuusha. Siorc Ingne, yuusha of the hero club. First. Always help everyone in need, second, be kind to everyone. Third, no matter what, remember not a single person is ever alone in the Hero Club. Fourth, everyone is friends here. Fifth, they're all heroes. That's right, they were all heroes, of course they were. Every single one of them, the five of them together, they were heroes. There was no doubt about it anymore. Don't listen to his mostly absent mother. What did it matter that his grandmother was once one, too? All nonsense that didn't matter in the long run.

Zzzzz, zzzz, zzzz.

He was a hero in full bloom.

---

In celebration of Yuuki Yuuna Wa Yuusha De Aru's tenth anniversary, I ended up writing Siorc as a Yuusha! Three anthologies to go before I move onto my next work... aha.

 

[Palamon]

Queen Elara of Deimos

---

"How do I greet people? I have no idea,
Even so? I extend my greetings to you,
Little one, welcome to the moon kingdom, you from another
Lunar plane? Are you just visiting?
Okay, well, since you're visiting,

I'll introduce myself to you!

Ah, well, alright, please, if you'll allow me but a
Moment, ahem, ahem, ahem,

The name is, ah, what,
Huh? Don't hand over my Civilian name?
Eh? Are you sure about that? Fine!

Queen Elara, that's my queen name.
Uh, so if you haven't figured it out by
Elara, I am the queen of the moon.
Err, so, I am the queen, of this lunar plane.
Now, might I ask, what questions do you have for me?

Okay, so go ahead, what questions do you have
For the queen, dear visitor from

The moons of Mars?
Hahaha, wait hold on, could you
Err, repeat your question, please? Is the

Moon queen hiding any secrets?
Okay, first of all,
One, I don't think anyone asked. It is
Not your business at all whatsoever

Come on now, don't ask
If I have any secrets. I
Very much cannot tell you about
It. And, why should I
Let a secret or two slip?
I'm appalled you think, I
Am going to entitle you to the secrets of Deimos royalty!
Now, honestly, those from Phobos, we are on friendly terms? Do

Not get me wrong, but I
Am not handing over
My secrets. You all should know that
Everything regarding who

I really am is an extremely close guarded
Secret, alright? So, do not bother asking

Something that doesn't matter to you!
I, what? There's a rumor
Of concern? What, do tell! A
Rumor that the real Queen Elara died
Countless years ago, and a male body double

Has been assumed for centuries?
Uh, I beg your pardon, what? Where did you
Hear that from? That's not

True at all, okay? It's
Hardly true, that's lies
And conjecture! I know you are
Trying to stir up unrest, but guess what?

It's not going to work.
So, get out of my castle

And never return here, alright? And, they're gone.

Man, alright, they're finally gone.
And, here comes my staff, they
Left to allow me to
Err, deal with this foreign person alone,

Now, they're calling my name,
'Are they gone, Siorc?' I nod, but I think they
Might still be lurking outside the door
Eavesdropping. Oh, by the deities,

If they hear my normal name, I

Know what's going to spread, 'the queen is
Not who you think she is, she's a man!'
Okay, first of all, that's
Wrong. I am not a man.

But, I'm not a woman either.
Uh, so that person,
They did actually guess correctly,

The truth is that the first queen Elara
Has passed away. She did
Awhile ago. About, give or take, two moon years ago. We were both identical
Twins. When my sister was little, she was assigned the opposite. But

In her youth, we got super
Special moon serum,

And she became the

Girl she always wanted to be.
Uh, when did all that happen
Again? When we around around four.
Right, so we both
Did not care for our birth assignments, but
Even so, after some years, she assumed the throne, but a
Disaster struck our moon kingdom, and

She sadly passed away, our parents
Even our parents passed away, leaving only me. I have never been in the public eye when my sister was queen, so no one knew of my existence.
Can I just say that I
Really never did understand why I had to be hidden?
Eh, I hear twins aren't looked highly upon in
The Deimos society. Or, from what I know,

At least, that's what I was
Lead to believe. I've always been left out of photos, ceremonies,
Since twins are seen as a bad
Omen, or something, so according to the world,

I don't exist. I honestly don't get that

At all. Until we were sixteen,
My mother was the queen, but she stepped down

Not too shortly after the coming
Of age ceremony, I of course was not invited to
That. Oh, uh, sixteen in Deimos years, by the way, which is about

About, sixty-four earth years. In terms of human terms.

My race is kinda not the same
As humans, I have met a few in my two hundred eight (fifty-two), years of living.
Now, here on Deimos, everyone is infused with the genes of animals. From

Earth. I know, I know makes
Very little sense, doesn't it?
Eh, so, you know, some time ago,
Now, I am

Talking, a human millennium ago, add on fifty-two a
Human scientist visited Phobos and Deimos and brought
Over earth animal DNA in these
Ugly little vials. And,
Get this, they decided to make my ancestors targets. My family are partially
Hyena. And my servants? They're hawk, and penguins.

I don't know the reason they did this, nor do I know

Why. But, it ruined
An entire moon's DNA forever.
Same goes for Phobos.

But, I cannot do even
One thing about it to
Remove what became of all this.
Now, you might be asking: how long do us Deimosians live?

Oh, in human terminology, or Deimos terminology? About? Between? two hundred Deimos years to two hundred fifty. Which is eight hundred human years
Now, we do not age as fast as humans
Even if that seems pretty obvious,

It probably isn't

At a glance, well, I am over two hundred in human calendar, but
My body does not age like that of a human.

Now, in human terms, fifty-two is middle age,
Over here, middle age is one-hundred
Twenty-five in Deimos years. Or

As you humans know it, half a millennium.

What? That's not probable?
Okay, listen, we were birthed time by a human who
Made their way onto Deimos
About like, human centuries ago. They helped us figure out we are
Not the same as

Earth. Which, should be obvious, but
It isn't. Well, until humans gifted us
Time, we didn't know anything! We
Had just not known anything
Everything was a mystery to us, so, anyway, we age at the
Rate of four

Earth years. So, it's kind of like uh,
Huh, what was it called again? A leap year.

Now, apparently that is a weird phenomenon
On Earth, every four years,

One extra day is on their calendar,
Now, that's weird to us Deimosians,
Even so, I guess we age four times slower, I

Know to a human fifties is half their life, and two hundred eight is
Not a number most humans
Obtain, but we here do.
Well, my sister didn't
She passed away. And my parents did reach it, but

They also passed away far before life expectancy.
However, the public only knows
About the Emporer and Empress passing away.
They didn't hear about the queen's passing.

Now, people are probably thinking,
Aren't you lying to your people?
Maybe I am. But if the throne remained unoccupied
Everyone would try to steal the throne.

I have to maintain it. Even
Though I had to be hidden my entire life,

I just had to take action
Since the real Queen Elara

And I were twins, identical at that, no one

Suspects anything, we don't sound alike, though
Even so, I never talk and I utilize a recording box to
Convey my sister's will. It is
Rather draining to do things this way, but
Everything she wants me
To say was recorded way before she died.

My parents made her do it,
You know, in case of an emergency, if she can't be

Queen? I was instructed to assume the throne as who she was.
Ultimately, I am Queen
Elara now. And, no one suspects a thing. I lip sync
Everything. So, it is
Not like anyone is onto me.

No one really knows the queen passed
Away, except all of
My, well, the real Queen
Elara's servants. As,

They have been with
Our family for generations from kid

To kid. And, so on, they
Have met me, and they knew me as
Elara's secret twin. Well, I do have a small confession, actually.

Please don't be angry.
Uh, there's a way to tell us apart
Besides our voices, when she was
Living, my sister had brighter hair, but
It is impossible to tell at a glance.
Come on, what were you expecting me to say?

I'm bigger and blobbier?
Stop with that nonsense, okay? The real

Queen Elara's hair illuminated against the sky brightly.
Unfortunately, my hair cannot
Even do this. It has never,
Ever, not even once been able to.
Never has been, a few noticed

Early on, and my servants
Lie: sorry, Queen Elara has lost
All her sparkling
Radiance due to the trauma of losing her parents!
And, the people, well, they

Ate this lie up entirely. I do
Not get why they believed it, but they
Did and that's the story we've stuck with, but

It's only a matter of time.

A lot of people are
Mildly skeptical about this claim.

Now, some people claim that's not possible.
Of course, I've heard
That a million times,

That it's not possible for a member of the
Royal family to lose radiance.
I've heard this so many
Countless times, but we
Know what to do
In order to counter as those who do
Not believe: that they don't understand what the queen is
Going through! Which shuts

All the skeptics up. I guess
Not all of them, but a majority
Yield their skeptical thinking
Over hearing this point, at least I think.
Not like it really matters
Either way, I guess.

Well, now none of that
Even matters, because I am expecting the worst.
Let me just start by saying: it
Looks like an invasion is

Nigh. I do not think that Phobosian was just visiting,
Obviously. Now, I might be jumping
To conclusions, but Phobos and Deimos have had

Lots of bad blood before.
I've heard that there was a war before. A few of my ancestors
Keeled over in this war.
Even so, that war was the start of an

Invasion on Phobos, not Deimos.
There were some really bold

Morons who had the galls to try
And invade the neighbor moon.
The world was very different during
This time we didn't get along
Eh, by we I mean Deimos, because I wasn't
Ripe and kicking during that war,
So I only know how

It is told in the scrolls.

During my grandparents era
Our moon was drastically different,

Here, on Deimos,
Our nation despised Phobos.
We closed our moon to visitors.
Everyone from Phobos was banned from coming here, because one
Vixen was afraid of an invasion.
Even despite that, they
Rashly went and attacked the other moon.

From then on, Phobos and Deimos
Entered a war. Who won?
Ah, well, here's the
Rather strange part,

All surrendered. It's quite odd.
Now, right now, Phobos and Deimos are straining

In our relationship with one another, I do
Not know why, this
Came to be
Once I took
My sister's place on the throne.
It's really strange, and I do
Not understand, there's just something I am not
Getting here at all.

I wonder if Phobos just knows I am
Not the real Queen. That
Very much could be the case
And they sent an interviewer to try and expose me.
Something like that, probably, but
I'm smart, so
Obviously I would
Never say, 'Oops, sorry,

I'm not actually Queen Elara,
Te hee! I'm her secret twin.'

Man, if I said that
It'd be disastrous for the entire moon. Let me
Go ahead and remind you twins are a
Horrible omen on Deimos.
They also are on Phobos

Because Mars' twin moons never
Even saw eye to eye, so in our culture,

A twin birth has always
Been a bad thing, it's always been
One of the worst things.
Ugh, I know to humans,
That's pretty weird

To hear, right? It's
Obviously weird, because

Humans have twins
All the time, don't they?
Perhaps not all the time,
Perhaps not, I shouldn't
Even say that, it's
Not true, but even so.

It's not a bad omen

For things to come on
Earth. I don't know their population
At all, of course I don't, but it's
Rather larger than ours by a mile.

There might be an invasion
Happening soon, and
Everyone will have to do Moon

Wars Two, I really don't want to put
Our nation in war with Phobos, but
Really, I might have to
Soon. I might have no choice in
The matter. Going to war would be

Horrible, I don't have
Any ability to fight
Since I just have no training.

You know that is how it is, I never
Existed, according to
The entire world, so I never got

To train, so if Phobos goes
On to attack us, I

Can't fight back.
Of course I can't, I
Might be a queen right now, but
Even so, I

Barely can govern, I am an
Utter failure in
That department.

It's the real Queen's recordings governing.

And I am just sitting in the
Majesty chair. It's

Really tiresome lying to
Everyone, but I don't have
Any choice, I really
Don't. But even so, if they invade, I have to protect Deimos.
Yes, I have to protect

The moon, I have to protect
Our people. I have to

Protect everyone. I
Really can't just sit
Over on my
Throne and do nothing! I cannot.
Even if I'm weak and
Can't fight back, I, really
Truly have to, no matter what. For Deimos, for everyone."

A young appearing androgynous person with long dark purple hair let out a loud yawn. The typical morning knock could be heard from the opposite side of the door. Raising upward, the individual rubbed the eyes. Yet another day had arrived on the Mars moon of Deimos. Feminine print pajamas with crowns all over them, the entranceway soon opened wide.

Coming into the room had been a short youthful appearing woman with extraordinarily long brown hair that went down to about her backside. There had been a tiny braid in the fringes. Brown eyes to match, her hawk wings almost blended in with her hair. Bird tail behind her, as well, the person had been lifted up from the sleeping quarters.

"Good morning, Siorc," the woman said. "Let's get you ready for the day, 'Queen Elara." A snap of the fingers echoed throughout the walls.

"Good morning, dearest Wren," a loud speaker broadcasted. "Take me to the Water Closet, would you?" But a sigh entered the bird woman's lips.

"I told you that you don't have to play the Queen's recorded words unless there's people from outside the Kingdom around," Wren said, sighing. "You know that, right?" She then lowered here voice into a mumble. "Why doesn't he ever listen? Swear to the Moon Lord, he should."

Guided to the water closet, a full body mirror laid out in front of the queen. Seated in a chair, the royal could see the hyena tail sticking out from behind. Fur sticking up, a groan echoed throughout the room. Slept on it funny again. By the moon lords, it was time to stop that. Growling at the reflection, a sour look had been on the face.

"What's got you so annoyed?" Wren asked. "I'll put oil on your tail in a minute, alright? You know, your sister, the real queen, was much less picky than you! No wonder people suspect you're a fake." But, another voice had soon been added to the mix.


"Hmm, darling, what was that about people suspecting our little Queen could be a fake?" the voice in the hallway said. It was a high pitch, but tenor.

"Malika, you can't be serious right now," Wren said as she brushed the queen's hair. "You've seen the civil unrest outside lately, right?" She pressed the bristles down harder as she said such. "They're saying like, 'the queen has been replaced by a man. The real Queen Elara was kidnapped and replaced with a body double. Nonsense like that."

"Well, darling, Siorc really isn't that good at governing Deimos, so it's no wonder people suspect him of being a fake," Malika responded, laughing.

"And you, you call yourself the Queen's Royal Guard?" Wren asked, annoyed. "You're supposed to be an iron fist, you should be the one who knows that more than anyone else. You're a failure as a guard, and a chimera."

Standing at the edge of the door with a dark blue dress had been a very tall woman with long blonde hair that went down to about her chest with right swept bangs. Golden penguin crests replacing her eyebrows, she adorned a beautiful golden dress. Bright orange eyes almost glowing like their moon from an outsider perspective.

Wren insulting the best royal guard in the castle, the hyena let out a growl. Who did she think she was, insulting the best of the best? When his sister was still alive, she gave Malika gold medals of honor. And, yet, here she was, suggesting she was a failure. Tone it down a notch, why doesn't she? No wonder she was the least favorite royal retainer.

"My, how rude!" Malika cried. "I have won twenty best guard medals in my fifty-two Deimosian year tenure, I'll have you know! But, I get it, you're super jealous of me!"

"Am not," Wren called back like a child. "Whatever, anyhoo, do you want a bun today, queen?"

Nodding, the royal retainers reached for a rubber band. Hair put in a high bun, the queen's mismatched purple and green eyes were soon visible. Crescent moon shaped hairpin clipped onto his hair, and earrings slipped onto the edge of his ear lobes, a somber sigh had been released from the royal's throat. Another day assuming the role of Queen Elara, another tiresome monotonous of royal activity. Yawn.

Royal guard dressing him up in the dark blue dress like he was a doll, the chimera curled his fingers. Right index finger tapping her hand three times, he silently mouthed the word, the altar. Lifted from his water closet chair, a small smile had spread across Malika's face. But, an irritable frown had soon appeared on Wren's.

"Earl's still cleaning your prayer altar!" Wren exclaimed. "Ever since that Japanese human from Earth came on a research trip, you've been obsessed with praying to the dead! You know, it's kinda weird. Us Deimosians live up to one thousand human years. No need to pay respects."

"Now, now, darling, that's a little rude," Malika said, shaking her head. "Let him say hi to his sister before we address the nation."

Taken to the prayer altar, a short young appearing man with short blond hair's rags had been dusting the wooden surface tops. Braid going through his bangs, a dark grey suit with sparkles all over it left glitter deposits all over the floor. By the moon lords, he thought he told Earl to not wear ridiculous outfits like that in the castle. Not like it mattered, though, he guessed. He never listened. Biting his lower lip, the royal huffed a breath.

"Why do you look so grumpy today, your grace?" Earl asked. Index finger pointing his way, he let out a gasp. "Oh! The glitter. Well, something bad is probably happening today, so let me wear my disaster couture, 'kay?" He rubbed the altar faster as he said such. "Anyhoo, lemme finish dusting your prayer altar! I'll done in just a second!" Rubbing faster, he whistled. "Done!"

Altar all sparkly clean, the chimera walked towards it. Tugging the rope, he clapped his hands twice. Prayer sent to his parents from beyond the grave, he sent an apology for all the mistakes he had made since their departure from the world. All the little slipups when addressing the nation. All the fumbles. Everything.

Staring at his sister's picture, the queen let out a sigh. Why did his sister have to leave this world behind? She was a better ruler than he could ever hope to be. She was able to rule the world of Deimos with an iron fist. She could kill the monsters from the Asteroid belt so easily. But, not him. He couldn't do anything like that. He didn't ever have what it takes.

Hearing a racket outside, the chimera's ears rung. Why was the civil unrest so high lately? He didn't quite understand. Every morning, he would hear screams from the window. He could hear the screams getting louder and more powerful as the moon moments kept going. They were much more furious today than they were yesterday. Moving towards the paned glass, he pressed his ear to it.

"Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake!" The chorus chanted in protest. But, he had soon been pulled away from the window.

"Queen, remember what tracks have to be played to get the people to stop rioting," Wren said in a serious tone. "Channel six, Channel seven, and Channel eight. Tap your foot thrice for six, four times for seven, and five times for eight, alright?" As she said such, she pushed him towards the door. "Now stand by the podium, and listen to the citizen's concerns."

Pushed in front of the royal podium, hundreds of angry eyes were on him. He could feel the sweat mountain. Oh, man, the citizens of Deimos weren't just mad, they were absolutely apepoop. What was happening? Who tipped them off? The unrest in the nation had been getting far too out of control lately. He could have sworn he was able to calm down the disarray. Was it because of that Phobos visitor recently? Everyone saw that, didn't they? But, he didn't answer any of that person's questions. Why the anger?

"Admit it, you're a fake!" an angry citizen shouted. "You're an imposter! Queen Elara's body double!"

"We saw that Phobosian enter the castle!" an angry citizen shouted. "Care to explain that? Phobosians are prohibited from entering the Royal Castle, I thought! Unless, you're a phony, and the real Queen Elara was kidnapped!" A gasp soon interrupted them.

"Are you the Phobosian who waltzed into the castle the other day?" the gasping citizen asked. "Phobos has invaded Deimos! We're going to have a war soon!"

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!" All the citizens cried in unison.

Citizens giving a public outcry of invasion conspiracies, the hyena tapped his foot thrice. Not these rumors again, that the neighboring moon, Phobos has invaded. No, it hadn't. Who was claiming that? Who started that rumor? However had was wrong. Completely and utterly incorrect. Broadcast soon playing, he synched his lips.

"My dear citizens, I urge you all to calm down!" the broadcasted voice of the real Queen Elara cried. "Worry not, for Phobos and Deimos are on friendly terms! They would never invade us, I assure you!"

Entire army letting out protesting chants, the royal's eyes pulsated. Did he have the wrong recording play? He did, didn't he? Tapping his foot four times, sweat had begun to mount as people once again screamed he was an imposter. He could never get used to this. The limelight, being out in the open, none of it. Every day, the unrest had worsened. It was unbearable.

"You doubt my words?" the broadcasted voice asked in a demanding tone. "Our border control at the surface is tight! Fear not!" But the protests continued.

"Oh, really? Yeah right!" the citizens cried. "There's no one there!"

"Ain't no border control at all!" another citizen cried. "If you were the real Queen Elara, you'd have gotten a notice from Deimos hall!" But, the chatter soon continued.

"Yah know, I heard from my mother's mother dat the real Queen Elara died fighting the Asteroid Monstrosities!" another citizen cried. "And that she has a twin brother! Have ya noticed, ya'll? The conditions on Deimos have deteriorated! An' I think it's 'cause the twin is pretending to be the Queen!"

"Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake!" Everyone chanted.

Royal retainer glaring at him, the queen broke out into a sweat. Oh, by the moon lord, how did it get to this? He knew the outcry had been getting worse in the past two moon years since her death, but he had no idea how bad it had gotten. Was it because his hair didn't glow like hers? Were her recordings missing context? He didn't know. He could feel his head spin as the chants only got louder.

"Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake! Queen Elara is a fake!" Everyone chanted again.

Room spinning, the doubts settled in. He wasn't doing a good job as the Queen of the Mars Moon, was he? He wasn't at all. He had fumbled more than any other 'body double' ever had before. He was a failure. He couldn't convince anyone that he was his sister. But, of course he couldn't. Why could he? Falling backwards, he could hear his royal retainers call out to him.

"Your Majesty!" Wren cried.

"Your Majesty, hey! Get it together!" Earl cried.

"Queen Elara! Are you alright?!" Malika cried. "Everyone, get out of here now! Look what you've all done to the queen, you made her anxious!"

Bonk.

Waking up in his royal quarters hours later, he could still hear the civil unrest outside. The citizens, they were never going to let go of their anger, would they? Just like he thought, he was never royal material. He was better off just staying hidden by the entire world like he always had been. Covering his eyes, tears strolled down his face.

His sister, why did she have to die? And, why was he even born in the first place? Twins on both Phobos and Deimos were said to bring bad omens. They never were shown to be a good thing. That's how it had been since ancient moon times. The two martian moons had been at odds with each other for many earth centuries. The tensions had never truly gotten better, had they?

Royal retainers walking towards his sleeping quarters, a concerned look appeared on her face. But, he couldn't help but think it was actually pity. He should have been able to convince the crowd he was Queen Elara, right? Well, he couldn't. Why would they ever believe him? He didn't have glowing hair. He may have been identical to his sister in every way when she was alive, but he knew he was no match for her.

"Siorc, are you alright?" Wren asked. "You've been unconscious for three moon days!"

Hearing such, the hyena couldn't help but feel a wave of shock. Three moon days? Is she for real right now? No, no way. That couldn't have happened. She was joking, right? She had to have been. Oh, by the moon lords, she had to have been kidding. There was no way. But, he had soon been taken out of it as he could hear the rest of his royal retainer's run into the room.

"Your Majesty, terrible news!" Earl shouted. "Someone broke into the throne room!"

Earl announcing dire news, the royal's eyes opened wide. Someone broke into the throne room? When did that happen?! How did that happen. Tapping onto Earl's palm, he mouthed, where's Malika? But, he could see a look of terror appear on the penguin's face. No, something terrible happened, didn't it? How could his body have knocked him out for three whole moon days?! This was bad, this was very, very bad.

"The Phobosians kidnapped her," Earl cried. "They took her to the battlegrounds!"

Earl's voice getting more and more frantic, the chimera leaped out of bed. No, this couldn't be happening. Phobos invaded? How could this be? How could this happen? He knew that Phobosian interviewer was a lie. This was all a setup, wasn't it? The trust was down, the citizens were angry. He needed to head to the throne room now. Blue dress on, he made haste.

In the throne room had been a tall white haired man with an otter tail behind him. Adorning a leopard print shirt with glittering Phobos moon symbols, he had been accompanied by a tall messy red haired man with dark skin and ceremonial grey robes. Classified documents in their hands, he let out a scream. They had it. Right in their fingertips. The truth. Queen Elara's death records. What were they doing with that? Who were they, and how did they get past border security?

"Heh heh, it's just like our little 'interviewer' told us, Goma!" the white haired otter man cried. "Deimos's got no good defenses! Breaking in here was a cinch!"

"You can say that again, Qiongqi!" Goma cried. "And in the palm of my hands is the truth of Deimos." He then laughed. "Pretending we called a truce with this stupid moon for all these lunar years was vomit inducing." As he said such, he opened the folder up. "Just as I thought! Queen Elara is dead!" He then waved at the imposter. "Hi, hi, imposter! You'd better hurry, or your royal guard's dead!"

Heart leaping out of his chest, the royal couldn't process anything. Phobos had invaded? How could this have happened? No one told him border control had died. No one told him anything. Had this been done on purpose? His loyal retainers had been suppressing information from him, hadn't they? Why? How could they do such a thing? Lips quivering, he accidentally let out a shout.

"Wren, help, please!" Siorc shouted. But, laughs had come his way.

"Knew it! This queen's an imposer!" Qiongqi. "Just like our little 'interviewer' said!"

"Good thing the border patrol were all easy to kill!" Goma cried. "Heeey, imposter, we hope you're strong, 'cause our army will be here soon! Deimos will be ours!"

Running towards the battlegrounds, the royal burst into tears. He should have known. He should have known that interviewer was a farce. Why did he not have more security? This was all his fault. He was a horrible replacement. Twins were a bad omen after all. He should have never been born. The queen should have never died.

Reaching the battlegrounds, a grey haired frog person with the locks slicked back shot like a madman. Bullet holes all over his royal guard, the chimera dropped to his knees. Short girl with brown low pigtails, a lizard tail and frilled neck armed to the teeth with swords, the royal could feel it. It was all over. The invasion had come. And, it was his fault.

"Can ya believe it, Zinn?" the lizard girl asked. "Invading this moon was so easy!"

"And, to think the defenses were so weak, Soie!" Zinn shouted. "Should have invaded sooner!"

Invaders getting frisky, the chimera rummaged through his dress pocket. If he let these Phobosians go any further, it would be game over. Adrenaline rushing, a dagger had been in his hands. He had no choice, he had to eliminate these aliens. His royal guard, she was in danger. If he lost her, Deimos would have no good line of defense!

Lunging, the hyena rolled upon the moony ground. Backside within range, the blade soon shook hands with the body. Huffing and puffing, he kept his onslaught going. How dare these invaders abduct his royal guard. His sister's royal guard, rather. They were going down, right now. Lizard gasping for air, he could see her eyes grow dim.

"I... thought... the... imposter... was.... weak..." invader Soie asked, gasping for breaths.

"I said that!" invader Zinn cried. "Well, whatever, we've already invaded! Heh, heh, there's hundreds of us here! Prepare for--" Bonk.

"Queen, we have to prepare for war!" Malika shouted. "We apologize for not telling you about the death of Border Patrol! No one at the Defense knew!"

Running back to the royal palace, the chimera broke out into a sweat. No, this couldn't have been real. This had to have been some sort of mistake. This was his fault. All of this was. He could feel the negative thoughts beak him into a sun pie. He should have enacted his sister's will better. He should have tried harder.

He could feel the thoughts spiral further. He should have never been born. He shouldn't have ever existed. He should have died instead of the real Queen Elara. Twins were a bad omen. Why did his parents keep him? They could have expelled him into the asteroid belt. It would have all been fine had he never existed.

War strategists visiting day after day, Moon War II had soon been into full swing. Forced onto the front lines, his weakness had been showing. He could feel himself lose will as the bloodshed worsened. He shouldn't be here. He should have been the one to pass away. He knew that, war only continuing to unfold as the moon months went on, a sea of thoughts bathed him deep as a metal bullet pierced his backside. Falling back, the royal's consciousness slipped.

Some ruler he was.

He could never be the real Queen Elara.

---

This was written in two and half hours, LOL. This isn't a fandom piece, it's based on a piece I had commissioned of Siorc in a dark blue dress.

 

[Palamon]

Siorc's Starlight, the Fight for Flora

---

"Hey there, my name is Siorc.
Eh? Excuse me, that name isn't Japanese? Why,
Yes, glad you noticed that!

That's correct! It's not!
How easy of you to spot! That's right! I'm from
Europe! And I have always wanted to perform the
Revue Starlight! I know, I know,
Europe has their own branch, but

Maybe consider this!
You should know that the Japanese school is better!

No, I'm not a weeb, or anything!
And, I know, I know,
My name isn't a girls name,
Eh, well, first off,

I am not a boy or girl. I am outside such category, I just like the girls
School uniform, and dressing feminine,

So I was allowed to come here.
I don't really talk, though,
Oh because of that people
Regard me as a super easy target. People
Can't be any more wrong

About that! I am
Not an easy target.
Don't claim this about me

I am a little strong.

And, I am not about to
Make it like I

Am some weakling who can't do anything!

That's not true at all, okay? It's
Hardly the truth!
I know it couldn't possibly be!
Right, so, that's not what I'm saying,
Don't get the wrong idea,

You know, I don't
Especially believe I can
Acclimate to the top, either,
Really, but I'd love to become the top star.

For now, I don't think I stand much
Of a chance for the lead
Role, I hardly speak
Even so, if I have to
In a play, I try to, or play recordings of my voice of reciting lines, I don't
Give away this secret, I lip synch.
Now, I'm perfect at it,

Everyone thinks I'm actually talking,
Xxxxxxx, short circuiting, short
Circuiting! Ah, ah,
Huh, sorry? What was that weird feeling just now,
Ah, it's kinda like everything looped.
No, no, anyway, so I
Get lip syncing is
Especially weird! But I have

Stopped talking many years ago. Huh,
That's not a good thing?
Ugh, listen, alright, I just
Don't enjoy the practice of talking. I'm
Eighteen, alright, I can forge my own destiny.
Not like talking is apart of
That said Destiny. Do you understand

Anything I just said? No?
That figures. It doesn't make

Sense, right? An actor who doesn't
Even talk?
I know, it's weird, but it
Shouldn't be such a
Hard concept for
One to understand.

Okay, so picture this,
Now, here is the tea, I want to
Get the lead role in Starlight,
And that's when I'll let everyone
Know my real voice!
Until then, I will not let anyone hear beyond my

Gritted recordings.
And, that's that, look, I
Know, this is really weird,
Ugh, I know that, okay?
Everyone doesn't know by
Now, but once

I reach the top, it'll be that time

And I'll act as
Me, not that recording, not

That hidden tape recorder.
Hidden behind my costume.
Eh, what happens

Once I'm exposed for
Not actually saying my lines?
Eh? I don't know?

How should I know?
Uh, honestly, I do
Not think something bad will happen
Doubt it'll make any difference,
Rightz of course it won't,
Even so I don't care,
Don't care if people

Find out. Why would
It matter? I'm still a
Fabulous actor, no I don't practice with
The others, I am often in plays with the same eight people,
Hardly ever in a

Cast with anyone else, it's
Like everyone else in this class doesn't exist.
Ah, don't go and
Say nonsense like that...?
Sorry. I shouldn't act like no one

Else exists. That's
Hardly the case. I just

Have a hard time remembering the rest of the third year class.
Ah? That's weird? What do you mean? It
Very much isn't weird!
Everyone else is the same.

I feel like no one else remembers

Half of the class.
Eh, it's like we
All collective can't
Remember the faces of everyone else!
Don't know why this is,

Of course, but I'm struggling to remember a lot lately.
For one thing, I

Think everyone
Has begun looping,
Even so, I don't

Seem to remember why I feel
This way, but I feel
As though, I have
Relived my third year of highschool
Literally countless times
I don't know why I'm constantly
Getting this feeling of
Horrible dejavu, it's
This horrible sense of dejavu, I

Really feel like I'm the only one who
Ever experiences, this
Very off feeling
Ugh, what could it be?
Errr, maybe someone did something?

Ah, no, no, perhaps
Not. Perhaps this is all one big
Dumb dream, I'm sleeping.

That's probably it, that's
How it is, I know that now
Especially. Even so, I

Guess there's just a lot
I'm forgetting, and I'd
Rather not try to force
And remember all that
For now, I have to prepare
For the big play, Starlight!
Errr, why do I feel like I've done it countless times?

You know, I don't
Even know, I really don't know,
So it simply just doesn't matter.

Yet, I don't know I know why
Everything feels this way,
So everything simply just continues,

I constantly feel like I

Have done this before
And a chunk of my memory
Vanishes, and I don't
Even know why

And, every single time, I try to
Nudge myself towards remembering, I just
Don't, and simply put,

I don't know why,
The others don't seem to understand, either, and

So, I am guess it doesn't matter
Of course, if I do
Ultimately remember, I do
Not know what that'll
Do for me, I don't think I
Should force myself to

Remember, it might be an
Especially traumatizing memory for me
And all that.
Look, in the
Long run, I probably don't want to remember,
You know that's likely the

Case here, I choose not to
Of course it is,
Of course it is. It's
Like a bad dream,

Ah, well, I guess that
Hardly matters,

Because, I really and
Utterly just don't care all
That much. It's true,

All I've forgotten
Perhaps, it really isn't all that important,
Perhaps it just doesn't matter
At all, I don't want to
Remember, so I don't put
Effort into trying,
Nothing really matters
To be honest, I
Like how things are now,
You know, I guess

It's fine things

Are this way,
Maybe this dejavu isn't all

That bad, it's all just
One long dream,
One long dream where everyone claims I'm

Weak. I'm not weak, but
Everyone seems to think I
Am. I don't know, I
Know, but I guess that's pretty

Obvious by now, that I am not weak, or
Rather, that's what I

Want people to understand!
How can people see me
As a person all the way at the bottom?
That's so annoying,
Everyone says all the
Very same things! I don't
Even have what it takes to be the top star!
Really weird point to keep on repeating!

But, I guess In the end, I will
Ultimately prove everyone wrong! I'll
Take the lead

In Starlight, just you

Watch me! I will soar to the top,
I will fly high,
Leave everyone else on the ground!
Look down on me as I

Soar up to the top
Ha, what, that's egotistical
Of me? Huh,
What makes you say all

That? You just don't understand
How I feel, do you?! I just want to
Elevate to the top?
Maybe you'd understand if you see me

At my best! Which you have yet to see!
Let me just start by saying, I
Literally just want to be seen,

I just want to be the star, that's all I

Want, but, I guess
In the end this is not something that
Likely matters, since I don't feel
Like I'll ever

Become the star,
Even so, I have to try,
Countless times if I have to
Of course, I have to keep
Making my way to the top
Even if it's close

To graduation at some point! I
Have to climb to the top,
Even if it

Takes the rest
Of this school year, I need to do it. I have too much
Pride in myself? Uh, excuse me?

Shut up, I don't have
That much pride! Why
Are you saying that? You
Really don't understand anything, do you?

That's nothing I need to be ashamed of,
How could I be,
Eh? I would never be ashamed!

Come on, now, that's a
Rather stupid thing to say
Everyone here has
A lot of pride!
Maybe if you don't understand, don't say anything.

Okay, so, I have a performance coming up
For the month, but

To be completely
Honest, I'm struggling to
Even remember what this one is, I

Can't quite remember much of anything, I can't
Remember much
Of anything, ah
Perhaps, it'll all come back to me

At some point, I am
Not confident, in all that of course
Does it really

Matter what I have gone
And forgotten, like I said, I
Know it must have been a traumatic
Event if I don't remember

At all, so I

Won't force myself to.
I won't force myself to,
So don't try and get me to.
Ha, it's kind of true

Something is kinda
Off here, but I

Won't say anything
About it. I don't like
Talking, and I never did,
Can't say I ever
Have. I do

At least remember all that,
So don't act like

I forget everything, alright? I

Remember mostly everything except
If it pertains to this
School. That's all I forgot, so
Everything else is intact.

That's still weird?
Okay? And what do you know about all

That? You don't so,
How about being quiet?
Eh, well, whatever,

To be honest, I don't
Owe you an explanation, stranger,
Please can we end this interview

Already? I'm getting tired!
Not yet? Come on now,
Don't make me stay here!

Come on, I'm asking
Really nicely to let me go.
Ugh, fifteen minutes left,
Stop, please, I hardly
Have anything else to

Even say. And I
Very much want to
Exit now, so bye. Are you
Really forcing me to stay?
You can't do this to me,
Oh God, stop,
No, no, no,
Everything is getting

Wildly invasive! Please let me go! I
Hardly want to answer
One more question, please

Stop, I don't want
This on the website, like
At all, I really do
Not, so could you be
Done already, please
So I can just get one of here?

I'm sorry for wasting your time, but I do
Not want to be a part of this!

Maybe ask everyone else,
Yes, everyone else. Huh?

Why do I feel like I've done
All that before? I don't know,
Yikes, it's dejavu again. Can't stand it!"

A short, androgynous individual with shoulder length dark purple hair, heterochromatic purple and green eyes slapped down a shooting star hairclip down into the hair like the person did every morning in front of the dorm room mirror. Star earrings to match, the person adorned a dark grey school uniform that had been an open blazer with a red ribbon and short skirt. Rainbow high socks, he could hear his roommates yell from the other room.

"Come on, Siorc, hurry up!" one voice said. "You're taking too long again! Today is an important day, you know!"

"Ah, leave him, Eau, he's going to take forever, like he always does, another voice said. "He's girlier than all the girl's in this entire school!"

"Easy for you to say, Irpa, we don't have time to waste today!" Eau cried. "Today's the day, you know! The final play of our third year!"

Hearing the magic words, Siorc swung the door open. Huh, today was the day? Would they finally get to perform it? Starlight? For some reason, during his first and second year, his class didn't get to do it. Would he finally get to do it this time? He had wondered for quite awhile now why that play was absent from Seisho Music Academy for a couple years now. Had something happened?

Standing by the door with her arms crossed had been a short young lady with medium length white hair going down to about her shoulders. Adorning twin buns in her hair as well, she had light grey eyes. Adorning the same uniform as him, she then pointed straight at him with a commanding force.

"And, hide your hyena tail," Eau shouted. "You know people aren't supposed to see that stuff. "

"It's not like any of the students notice our chimera features anyway, Irpa responded. "So, why bother?"

Shaking her head had been a short young lady with long blonde hair that went down to her backside. Adorning bright pink twintains, the chimera couldn't help but wonder. How did she get around that no hair dye policy? But, he supposed people can just pretend they didn't understand what the teacher said, they were all foreign exchange students mostly from Europe after all. Bright pink eyes with star shaped pupils, and red rimmed glasses, she, too had the same uniform as everyone else. Girls getting ready, they clapped their hands together.

"Well, whatever, time for class!" Eau cried. "What do you think this year's big one is going to be!"

"I don't know, but I hope it's Starlight!" Irpa cried. "What about you, Siorc?"

Nodding, the hyena clutched his hidden tape recorder inside his uniform. Would it be Starlight? If it was, and he got the lead, this time, he would use his real voice instead of recorded lines. But, as he went to class, he wondered something. Why did chimeras exist? He believed he had heard something about some secret revue beneath the school. But, that couldn't have been possible, could it?

Reaching class, a young girl with long golden blonde hair sat by the window seat with bright orange eyes. Penguin crests showing instead of human eyebrows, she had a look of boredom on her face. Geez, way to make everything look dull, huh? Next to her had been a young woman with braided indigo hair, and bright red eyes with yellow sclera. She had a scatterbrained look on her face.

"Morning, Gris," Eau said to the indigo girl.

"Morning, Vidame," Irpa said to the blonde. "Why you look so bored?"

"Because, it's not like we're getting told we're doing Starlight, or anything," Vidame responded, groaning. "I wasted my time to coming to this school!"

"Same," Gris responded, sighing.

"Okay, moving on, then!" Irpa, said. "Hi, Cloch, Laine."

Standing by the window also looking bored had been a short young lady with dark skin. She had short, strawberry red hair, and pitch black frog eyes. Tiny pigtails to match, she kept looking rather bored. Cloch, same as always. Super bored. Next to her had been a short young lady with curly shoulder length brown hair and dual yellow star hairpins. Her slightly tan skin looked extremely moisturized today.

"I know what you're thinking," Cloch said, "So, I'm going to just say it. We're not going to do Starlight, I'm telling you. I bet they removed that play entirely."

"Ditto," Laine said, sighing. "Honestly, I dunno, think we ain't gettin' it."

"Surely, you don't think that, right, Aega, Qiulong?" Irpa asked, in disbelief.

Shaking her head had been a tall young woman with extremely curly pigtails, and jackal ears. Her dark skin looked very shiny today. Orange eyes like the sun, she looked rather done with this question. Next to her had been a panda girl with bright pink hair pulled into a ponytail, and a customized pink school uniform. Her eyes were pink, as well. Siorc couldn't believe his eyes, seeing this. Was she even allowed to do that? He assumed not.

"I'm thinking the same thing," Aega said, fluffing her jackal ears.

"It's not going to happen, trust, me," Qiulong said.

Everyone's rejection coming through, the student let out a sigh. Why was everyone so doubtful that it was possible? The young adult didn't know. But, he would remain hopeful. There was no way that it wasn't going to happen, right? This was Seisho Music Academy's bloodline! He came all the way to Japan for this place. They couldn't have held out on it forever, right?

And, that's when luck was on his side. Teachers announcing they'd be doing Starlight this year, his eyes were glowing like a Christmas tree. Starlight, finally, he could do Starlight! He could feel it in his blood, he'd get the lead! It would finally be his time to shine! The top star! The lead of this school!

"God, look at him, head in the clouds like always," Vidame said. "He thinks he's got the lead already."

"Yeah, he's totally thinking that right now, I bet," Gris said, sighing.

"But, it's not gonna happen!" Cloch said. "I'm going to get the top!"

"Yeah, no, he's too weak," Laine said. "He doesn't have what it takes."


"Agreed," Aega said. "He can't even keep up in practice sometimes."

"What are you talking about? He practices alone," Qiulong said.

"That's what I meant." Aega turned her head towards the window as she said such.

Everyone acting like he couldn't do it, the hyena pouted. Why didn't anyone believe he could do it? He knew the lines of Starlight like the back of his hand! He could totally do it! So, what if he had practiced alone? Who cares? He could still do it! He wasn't weak either! The nerve of some people, gee whiz.

"Leave him alone, Eau said. "He's the most passionate one about Starlight!"

"Aren't we all, though?" Irpa asked.

"I guess, but like?" Eau responded. "He's always seems like he wanted to Starlight most of everyone."

Auditions announced for the day after, the hyena cracked his knuckles. Who cares what everyone else says! He would definitely get the top role! He had every single line from Starlight recorded on his secret tape recorder. He was going to get this role at the top! He would become Flora! Of course he would. His time had come.

But, the day came for auditions, and he had been blown away by the competition. Everyone was so much better than him. His recordings wouldn't be good enough, would he? Of course they wouldn't. Maybe he should have recorded them again. Stronger. He should have, shouldn't he? He knew that he should have.

Days passing, his heart shattered into a million pieces. He wasn't Flora, he wasn't Claire. He had been given the role of one of the goddess girls. Why did he have to get one of those. He was supposed to be the protagonist. He needed to do something about this. He couldn't let this go!

Returning to his dorm room, his roommates were missing. Huh, where had they gone? He didn't know. He should go look for them. Leaving his dorm room, he went everywhere. Almost everywhere, but he didn't know. That's when he found a strange elevator that felt almost supernatural. Stepping in, it dropped rather dangerously. Holding on for dear life, he had soon been taken to a strange, underground stage.

Seeing Eau and Irpa fighting each other, the hyena seated himself in the front row. Huh? Wait, where had he been taken to? And, that's when an even stranger creature came onto the stage. Large giraffe watching the girls fighting, the chimera didn't understand. Wait, what was going on here? But, things only got weirder.

"Which one of you will become the top star?" the giraffe asked.

"I will!" Eau cried. "I should have been Flora!"

"No, I should have been Flora!" Irpa cried. "It should have been me. Why? Why did it have to be Qiulong?! I'm going to become the top star and change this outcome!"

"They're both fighting for the lead they wanted, I see," the giraffe said. "I understand."

Girls singing, the hyena blinked. Ah, was this? An underground revue battle royale? He didn't know why, but he wanted to join in on these battles. He should been Flora, not Qiulong. He should been Claire, not Vidame. He should have been one the leads! And he would ensure he'd get to the top! And, if he had to fight everyone in the underground ring, then so be it.

"Position Zero!" Irpa shouted.

More girls coming in the chimera ran on stage. But, he could see Irpa's mouth drop open as such occurred. Huh, what, was he not supposed to even be here? Whatever, he didn't care. He was going to raise to the top! Of course, he was. And, he would make sure of it. He would get to the top and change everything!

"Huh, Siorc, why did you come in here?!" Irpa cried. "You shouldn't be here."

"Let him be here," Eau said. "This got more interesting."

Gris on stage with a bright indigo costume, the student soon adorned his own similar one that had been purple instead. Sword in his hand, he prepared himself. He would become the top star! No matter what! He wouldn't live with this travesty of not being the lead. He practiced for so many years! It should have been him!

"Why is he here?" Gris asked. "This will be an easy fight, giraffe, just hand me the win already!"


"Boo," Cloch said.

"Yeah, boo," Laine responded.

"You're that confident?" Aega responded, shaking her head. "You're too cocky."

"Totally cocky, boo, boo!" Qiulong exclaimed.

"Super ahead of herself," Vidame said, hands stretched out beside her.

"Hmph, what are you two winners doing here?!" Gris asked. "Anyway, he's weak, he won't beat me!" She then began singing. "The lead role should have beeen meeee!"

Siorc pressing a tape recorder, his sword did the talking. Ah, so everyone here, except the winners was thinking the same thing, were they? Well, he'd show them all, he'd show everyone! He'd become the top star! He had been practicing sword fighting his whole life! Hmph, some people thought he was weak just because he was short and small, he bet! How annoying!

Swords clashing, he kept the recording going. Some people thought they were always better, well, they weren't, and he would show everyone! Reaching for the star on her coat, he let out a howl. He would be the top star! And, he would rise to the top! Just everyone waits! Continuing on, he finally hit the star. Slapped onto the ground, he let out a scream.

"Position Zero!" Siorc shouted.

"How did he beat me?!" Gris shouted. "I want a do-over."

"There's no do-overs here!" Vidame cried. "You should know that!"

Feeling the rush of victory, the hyena couldn't help but put on a crooked smile. Yes, he had won. And, he would continue winning. He would become the Top Star. He would reach the highest position and have Starlight redone. He would be Flora this time. Mark his unsaid words. He would be Flora this time!

Continuing the underground ring for days on end, he had conquered Irpa, and Eau. He had to do it. He had to become the Top Star, and he would make sure of it. He couldn't just let a world exist where he wasn't the lead! He practiced this, he did all he could! After all these years of it coming back, and yet he was just some stupid goddess! No thank you!

Keeping everything going, Cloch, and Laine had been taken out, as well. He could feel everything get closer as the competition heated up. He was going to be the unstoppable swordshyena at the top. And, he would make sure of it. He would be the undefeated champion, and everyone would forget that person they claimed was weak.

Soon defeating Aega, there only remained two more positions. And he would conquer them all. Vidame and Qiulong, he would destroy their positions at the top and take them for himself. They were the top two this year? Ha, forget that. He would decimate everyone, and they'd be sorry for calling him weak!

Reaching the top position after a month or so of fighting, he let his desire be known to that giraffe in the audience. Redo Starlight. He should have been the lead! That announcement of the lead, he would have it redone entirely. The auditions, all of it. And, he would, no matter what, be Flora! That role, it was made for him. It should have been his!

But, that's when the unexpected happened. He didn't know why, but he felt as though he had been brought back in time. And, no one else noticed. Auditions rerun, he knew he would make it to the top this time. Mark his unsaid words, he would be Flora! However, no such luck occurred.

Someone completely different in the lead this time, Siorc could hardly believe this. Why? Why wasn't he the top? It should have been him! Who was pulling the strings? His recordings were top notch! It should have been him. This couldn't be real! That underground revue ring, he would go back there and make it right this time!

Making it to the top again, he made the same plea. Redo Starlight. This time, he would be the lead. He refused to go through this a third time! He would be Flora! Mark his words! This could not happen again! He couldn't be some goddess that didn't matter! This was the play he wanted to the lead in his entire life!

But, it happened again. He had not been Flora, he had not been Claire. Were the gods working against him? Was he not good enough? Well, fourth time's the charm! This time, he would make it to the top! He would destroy everyone. That lead, it should have been his, and he wouldn't rest until he was Flora!

Making it to the top for the third time, he repeated the same plea. Redo Starlight. This time, he would be the lead. How could everyone be the lead except him? Blasphemous. And, how many times would he have to repeat this until he finally got the outcome he wished for? Maybe he should have been more specific. That had to work.

But, it kept on happening. He had not been Flora, he had not been Claire. That giraffe, this was all being done out a spite, wasn't it? Because he kept on winning, he kept on rewinding? Had this been some sort of price he was paying? Well, he wouldn't pay it anymore! He would get to the top and conquer everyone. He would be the top star and he'd become Flora.

Redo Starlight. Redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight!

Redo Starlight. Redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight!

Redo Starlight. Redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight!

How many times had he repeated this over and over and over again and still not become the lead role? He stopped counting after twenty. But, he didn't want to give up. He'd do this hundreds of times if he had to, thousands, if possible. He didn't care how many times it took to get the ending he desired, he'd do it! He'd get the ending he desired.

Redo Starlight. Redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight, redo Starlight. This had been the ninety-ninth loop, this time, for sure, he had to be the lead, but he could feel himself begin to falter in this battle.

"Siorc, why do you keep doing this?" Qiulong asked. "Why do you want to relive this play until you're the lead? Face it, there's no version where you're Flora!"

But, he refused to accept that. No, that can't be! He'll prove it this time, he'll be Flora! It's the ninety-ninth loop! This time, for sure, he'll be Flora! He would become the lead! Qiulong taken out, Siorc screamed the same line he had been for what felt like an eternity at this point. Position zero. This time, for sure, he'd get the lead!

Yet again, he had no been chosen. He could feel his will begin to sway. Why? Why can't he ever be Flora? Why was it always some else? This time, he would say it differently! Redo Starlight, make him Flora! He can't do this anymore, please, for the love of god, just make him Flora this time. How could this keep happening over and over again? No more of this.

Reaching the top, his final opponent this time around had been Vidame. When was the last time he had seen here? He could no longer keep track. But this time, once and for all, he'd put an end to this! He would become Flora. But, that's when during the fight, he had been told something he didn't want to hear.

His secret.

The one he swore he had kept tight lipped the entire time.

"We all know you know," Vidame said in a low voice. "That all this time, you've been using a tape recorder. That's why you'll never be Flora." As she said such, her blade clashed with his. "You can't even speak your own lines! So, why should you get the lead?"

Screaming, Siorc kept clashing going. So, what if he used a tape recorder with all his lines pre recorded? So what? Who cares? He, more than anyone deserved to be Flora! And this time, he'd be flipping the script! No more of this, this time it'd be all his! He wasn't playing around anymore with this stupid giraffe! Finally reaching the top position again, he screamed the phrase he had been used to.

Redo starlight, make him Flora this time. Such finally being granted, he could finally feel the sun shine over him. But, such didn't last long as the days went on. His luster, it had begun to fade. Where had it gone? Where did it run off to? His passion, had it passed away? Did it die somewhere in the hundredth loop?

And, it kept on going on and on, he forgot his lines one day, his tape recorder had not been working, he didn't know why, but he felt tired, very tired. Why was that? What happened to him? And, that's when he learned the truth. What had really happened in his most recent win. Something unprecedented, the outcome that should have never happened.

His brilliance had been stolen.

And, he couldn't help but feel the urge for revenge upon learning such. Why did this happen to him? He wo, didn't he? He should have been brimming with energy! But, he wasn't. It was all gone, everything, he could feel all the regret flow through, maybe he shouldn't have been Flora, maybe he should have just settled for the goddess roles.

Droning through, he could feel it all implode. He shouldn't have been Flora. This role, it was never meant for him. Why would it have been? He should have never been in the spotlight, he knew that. He shouldn't have. What were all those one hundred loops for? Nothing. In the end, they meant nothing. It was all so pointless. All of it.

He kept repeating such as the days drew ever to the performance. He should have just given up, but he didn't. Faithful day finally arriving, he could barely keep with the script, and he wasn't about to try anymore either. This was the play he dreamed of, huh? Why did he feel so empty? Why did he feel so hollow? All of this should have been his moment to shine, but he just couldn't do it. He no longer had it in him.

Reaching the end of the play, not a single person cheered for him. This is what he got huh? For forcing himself at the top, making himself Flora. This role, it was never meant for him, he should have known that by now. But, he kept on insisting, he kept pushing. Pushing for the role he never belonged in in the first place. He should have given up ninety loops ago, no ninety-eight loops ago. He should have never done this at all. Curtain pulled, he stared off into space in his dorm room.

He was never meant to be Flora after all.

---

So, Flora is one of the lead roles in the play Starlight in the universe of Revue Starlight. Also, happy 3rd anniversary to Silence is Purple! Celebrates by writing something else entirely...LOL. Ngl, Revstar Siorc is weirdly obsessive..kind of weird. Well, oh well!

Also, as of writing this, Revue Starlight, Relive is shutting down at the end of this month. Less than three weeks to go... I'm almost free.

 

[Palamon]

The Day A Hyena Declared Pizza a Vegetable

---

"Hello there, I guess
Ehhhh, but like who cares am I right?
Like, who cares?
Like, who cares?
Okay, whatever, I'll stop repeating myself.

I'm just like, you know super bored, I

Guess? I have been
Ultimately feeling bored
Especially for awhile now. I wish
Something would happen, I wish
Something interesting would just happen. *Sigh*, anyway.

My name is Siorc Ingne, I'm in my fourth year of college, going into my fifth.
You know, I'm starting to just get super bored.

Now, I know I already said it,
And it is very annoying of
Me to repeat this fact
Even so, I will say

It again: I'm just bored
So much of my life lately has

Simply been waking up, going
Into my lectures, tending to the gardens
Over at work, and
Really, not much else, I
Can't say I have any one

I've deemed a friend here at college,
Not like it really matters, I have my dormmates, but
Get this, we are
Not friends, I don't
Even talk to them, or well,

Anyone, really, you see. I do
Not talk. I just write
Down all that

I want to say in my diary,

And if people so choose, they can read it.
Maybe that's stupid

And whatnot, but listen, alright?

Cannot stand talking to anyone.
Of course, this has
Lead to most people simply just alienating me. Not
Like I care? I have to focus on my studies,
Especially if I want to become a professional botanist one day. I
Guess it's my fault for never,
Ever, venturing outside to the world of fun. But, I,

Siorc, just don't want to I really don't want
To. I don't know,
Ugh, I really just don't.
Does it matter I don't
Ever party, I
Never ever hang out with anyone? I always
Turn down these

Sorts of things for a reason, and
That's because I have to study,
Ugh, it's always about studying, and people
Don't like people like me,
You know? I'm always called a pet.
I really don't understand this terminology, I do
Not, like, at all. Is it because I am a chimera?
God, if that's the case,

Flip off! I quite
Literally despise when even
One single person goes and
Removes any point of my humanity by saying
I'm a pet! Oh, I should mention, I'm a
Chimera. A humanoid creature with more than one DNA.
Ultimately, I don't even know where this
Like, came from, as far as I am aware
This race I am considered
Under just magically appeared one day.
Right, as if!
Even after I said

All that, it still makes
No sense! I
Don't even know. I don't

Even know, and it's
Not like I even have anyone to ask, this is a
Very big mystery in my life,
I've never known, and I
Really wish I could have at least
One answer in regards to this, but
No one knows, nobody.
Maybe it's a virus.
Eh? Well, actually that's
Not even a logical
Thing to even think,
And, to be honest, that's
Literally the most

Stupid garbage I have ever
Come up with?
I truly can't
Even reach a conclusion.
Not like it truly matters, I
Cannot say that it
Even does in the long run,

But I do wish I knew.
Ugh! Does it even matter?
To be honest, I just, I

Literally just don't care,
And, to be honest,
This really isn't something that
Even truly matters,
Like? It's at this point just commonplace,
You know, let me start by saying,

I'm dorming with chimeras,

Five of them. You're saying,
Eh, that's a big suite?
Eh, well, yeah, it is, I
Literally go to the college with the

Monumental dorm size of up to eight per room, I know
Yikes, that's horrible. It is,
So many times,
Every single one of my roommates
Leaves and comes back wasted, or worse, stoned.
Firat, for example. Look, I

Get it! Some people come and all they
Ever do in college is party. Listen, I get
That I'm the odd one out. I get
That! But, I would rather be educated than
Intoxicated, I do
Not want to end up like the others. I
Get it, I am super, duper

Boring, I need to get
On the edge of life! I
Really, really, really get it, okay?
Everyone else is on the fun side, I
Did this to myself!

Okay, okay, I get it, I
Flipping get it!

So, what! I'm a boring little
Chimera who does all
His schoolwork? Whoopie!
Oh, I am
One of the teachers pets huh?
Listen, I don't care! I

Barely care, I don't care, I'm
Over it. I'm truly, simply
Rather over it!
Everything may be super
Duper boring, but at least I'm applying myself!

Oh, god, just now, I sounded so
Flipping childish! I

Can't believe I
Literally just said that,
Aaaaaaaah, god, I looked
Stupid there just now,
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!
Eh, quit repeating myself? No!
Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid.

No matter what I say, it's
Obviously just stupid! God,
To be honest, I don't care. I've

Stopped caring, I don't even want
An exciting life!
Yeah, that's right,
I don't want an exciting life,
Nope! Not at all!
Get with the program, alright?

It's all just a ton of

Wishful thinking, completely
And utterly wishful thinking that my
Nothing life will one day
Turn into a something life.

To be honest, I
Obviously know at this point, since I

Don't have friends, I
Really don't have any
Options for companions.
Perhaps, it doesn't matter anymore, well, whatever!

Oh, well. I can't say I care, I
Ultimately don't,
That's how my life works.

Obviously, I just don't care, I am
Rather used to being considered

A boring person, and it's
Not like I intend to party,
You know, I have never been a fan of
That. And, to be
Honest, that's never changing.
I'm not about to go ahead and change my tune,
No way, sorry. Look, I
Get it, I'm boring! I get it,

Blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.
Ugh, just can it, alright?
To be honest, uh, I want something interesting to happen, I do

Not mean a party
Or smoking, or drinking or doing drugs
That's not at all, what I mean.
Ha, so what do
I mean, then? Okay,
Now, please, hear me out!
Get ready, are you listening? I am talking, the

Extraterrestrial! Aliens! Genies holding a
Xiphos! Stuff like that!
Come on! You should know
I'm not interested in all
That stuff like partying
I already said that's
Not interesting, alright?
Get with the program. That's right, something

Extraterrestrial would be
Very incredible right now, something
Extraterrestrial would be
Really cool! Really awesome and amazing,

Hahaha, what? I
Am talking nonsense? Oh,
Please, level with me!
Perhaps you're the one who
Especially needs to have a
Nothing life become a
Something life!

Take a moment to
Open the door up and

Make some changes.
Eh, well, it's

Not like aliens are real
Or anything, I know
They're just creatures from movies,
Hahaha, but how
I wish they'd become a thing
Now, that would be fun!
Getting to meet

Them! I'm getting kind of
Hot just thinking of a
Reality where aliens are real!
I would so
Love that, I'd
Love it so much
If I could shake hands with ET himself! Ah,
No, not him, not that
Green buddy, he, he

He had that
Awful video game adaptation that was
Planted in landfills.
Planted in dumps that are ruining our
Ecosystems! I do
Not want that now, actually!
Something else, another alien!

Take a moment to think of some
Others, oh? Hmm, I know,

Maybe the ones from anime and manga!
Eh, no? No. No. Not

Any of them, either,
They're always like cute girls

And nothing what I am
Looking for. Ah, well, it's not
Like aliens are real. Oh, how

I wish I had a magical notebook in

Which, all my wildest
Imagined fantasies could become reality! Ah,
Stop it, stop it,
How could I even say that?

I shouldn't say something like
That, if it were real, it

Would fall into the wrong hands and become
One big Death Note!
Ugh, right, of course it would, it's
Like imagine if a book existed to write
Down my wildest fantasies and

It, for instance, fell in the hands of my roommates.

Now, I'm not saying
Every single one of them would use it to kill.
Even though I think a few would. I
Don't want to give them powers for

Such a thing. Well, alright,
Obviously, a book like this doesn't exist, even if i
Might, theoretically,
Even I know it'd be ceased by
The government before anyone
Has a chance use
It, because imagine if it did,
No one will
Get to use it. Not a single person will get a chance

To. I know that,
Obviously, I know that's

Just how it is and has
Ultimately been
Since the dawn of
Time. I know that's

How it is
And all that, and
Perhaps, wishing for a book to
Plop into my hands and grant me
Every fantastical desire I have is just
Not it. It's not it

At all. I'm just speaking
Literal nonsense, and I
Should just stop
Opening myself up to this

Incoherent garbage and trash.

Stop, stop, just, this is all just
Horrible nonsense from my bored ramblings.
Oh, god, this is
Ultimately why I'm keeping a diary!
Like, this is why I'm keeping a
Diary! To keep track of

My ridiculous and
Especially extravagant thoughts, I
Need them all
To stop, I really, really need it all to stop.
I'm going to look crazy
Or something like that, and I
Need to stop,

I need to stop,

Ah, whatever, whatever, it
Might as well

Not matter, I am
Obviously just extremely bored and
Talking out of my butt because I'm

Horribly bored of my
Utterly same life, well,
Maybe that's fine
And all that. I really do
Not need something exciting to happen,

But I guess, I
Ultimately can dream,
That's all pretty much

Anyone can do, right?

Can't help but imagine
How things would be different
If I lived in a fantasy world.
Magic isn't real,
Even though I, a chimera exist and there's no
Real explanation
As to why that is. That's


As far as it goes. I know magic does
Not exist. I know it
Doesn't. It never has.

It never will, and I

Don't want to pretend
Over here that it might. It does

Not. And, I know it
Obviously never will.
Take a moment to breathe, I

Know life is boring, magic is
Not real, aliens aren't real.
Of course, I have heard there
Were discoveries, but that

Was all bogus, and I
Hardly believe that stuff,
Yet, I still wish it was.

Oh, well, I have to get
Ready for class, so I need to put a

Hammer into the nail
Of all of my
Wild and delusional thoughts and get

Over it. I know I'm
Rambling at this point,

Who doesn't go on and on?
Hahaha, whatever? Whatever.
Okay, enough of this, time to
Mitigate all of

This nonsense, I may be bored
Or who, but I have to go

And study, I have to keep
Studying so I can get my masters degree, I
Know! Who devotes their life to studying?

Me, I do. That's right, me.
Yes, boring old, no, young,

Me. I know, that's so boring!
Okay, I get it, I get
That, alright? I
Have to party
Every once in awhile, but I
Refuse! I one

Hundred percent refuse!
And I'll keep refusing!
So, what, I'm straight laced? I do

Not care! So what I'm
One of the teachers pets, or whatever?
To be honest, I

Barely care! Why should I
Even care? I am trying to stay at the top of
Everything; I don't
Need stupid little distractions.

I don't! I really do
Not! And I might as well put a sign on

My back that says, 'I am studying.'
Yes, I get it, okay?

Look at me, Siorc
Ingne! That literal
Freak ball who never
Ever stops studying! God, I've heard all that

Stupid garbage, alright?
I've heard it all.
Not like something like this
Could matter to anyone,
Everyone I know

Isn't reliable in

What they truly,
Actually think about me,
So, I simply just don't care in

The slightest, and let's be
Honest, why should
I? I just don't
Really care, I know! I need
To stop saying I don't care,
Even so, that's how it
Especially is, I do
Not care, and

Why should I? I
Hardly interact with
Anyone, I don't
Talk to people,
Everyone leaves me be, and I
Very much do the
Exact same thing. It
Really should stay that way. It's

Better this way, I do not go
And disturb people, and I am
Completely in my own bubble, I
Know, pop it,

There's so much more to life than studying.
Oh, well, whatever,

Time for my lectures. I
Hardly have time to
Even think about this

Garbage, I
Really just want to earn my masters and
I want to leave it all behind.
No more thinking about
Dumb fantasy. Back to reality I go!"

A short, androgynous young adult with dark purple hair snored away on the top bunk within a six room college dorm suite. Room sounding like a complete buzz saw times ten, the mattress had begun shaking to and fro. Eyes opened, the student let out a groan at the sight before the individual. Pair of six eyes on the adult, a second groan had been added to the mix.

Shaking the mattress the hardest had been a tall adult male spiky, short yellow green hair. On the top of his head had been sheep horns. Cheese print pajamas looking ready to bust open, the man's boyfriend had been next to him. Tall dude with short shamrock green hair, a goatee, and goat horns, his stuck rice ball pajamas also looked ready to rip open. Tegne and Rede were not the people he first wanted to lay eyes upon.

Tugging the bed the softest had been a short young adult male with spiky white hair and a tiny blue side burn. Dead looking blue eyes and a church goer outfit, the man looked ready to barf at any given moment. Oh, great. Huxian had too much to drink again, didn't he. Wait, excuse him, what was he going by again? Zorro. By the gods, he picked out the wildest names while he was stoned and wasted.

"Bro, can you stop snoring so loud?" the sheep man, Tegne asked. "I'm trying to sleep off a hangover here! Man, the world, like, doesn't revolve around you. So, plug that nose, or I will!"

"I mean, it's kinda your fault you got one," Huxian, excuse him, Zorro, the spiky haired man said. But he soon held his temples. "Ow, never mind, got one, too. Anyway, stop snoring, Siorc, you're ruining my hangover sleep."

"You're so loud, I bet the dorm next to us can hear you!" Rede, the goat man cried. "Dude, like, can you cover your face when you sleep?"

"Can the three of ya'll shut up?!" Another voice on the other side of the room called. "Some of us have lectures to get ready for today!"

In the corner of the room had been a tall man with short light orange hair that went down to about their chest, and gazelle horns. The adorned a denim jacket, and minty green eyes that looked like they had seen the underworld. Siorc couldn't help but sigh hearing his dormmate complain about everything. They had been partying last night, too. All of them were.

"Captain obvious, you got drunk and high at that party too, ya know," a black haired bird man cried. "We all did, except our good old teacher's pet here, Siorc. He's so boring. He's never been to a party, I bet!"

Complaining in the corner about his party attendance had been a tall man with spiky black hair. Loose rat's tail on the side of his head, he proceeded to let out a groan. By the gods, he swore, all his roommates ever did was drink, party, do drugs, and get wasted. Couldn't they ever take their schooling here seriously? College was a place of seeking higher education and making a career out of themselves.

Dropping down his dorm bunk bed ladder, the student glared at everyone. They all reeked out alcohol and cannabis. How haven't the dorms thrown them out by now? Recreational drugs of any kind weren't allowed on campus grounds. But, he supposed the dorm supervisors didn't care. Reaching for his smartphone in his pocket, he typed out, do I look like I want to ruin my life partying, Lonan? He rolled his eyes. Stupid bird man reading his message, a clapback had come his way.

"Bro, whatever, don't you have classes to get to anyway?" Lonan asked, annoyed. "Mr. Squeaky Clean Teacher's Pet." He then pointed at the student's backside. "By the way, your ugly hyena tail is showin' again."

Looking at his watch, the numbers read eight colon zero zero. Seeing such, the hyena let out a yelp. Oh, god, was it already almost time for the lecture? Unreal. His stupid, useless, drunk, high and hungover dormmates. Why did he ever hope they'd change their ways?

Throwing on an orange shirt that read, I love pumpkin pie, with a slice of pie in the middle, the young adult slipped on a matching skirt as well. Roommates watching him like he was some kind of circus attraction, he folded up a fist. If only these five were a little more hungover, they wouldn't look at him. But, whatever, too late now, their eyes were already on him.

"You still wear two earrings and those stupid little hairclips?" Firat asked in disgust. "How much more of a <redacted> can you be? We have Tegne and Rede for that, thank you!"


"Shut up, bro," Tegne exclaimed. "Let him wear his little tchotchkes, who cares?"


"Also, could you not say that word right in front of us?" Rede asked. "Judgmental loser."


"But, like, ya'll the dudes gonna think we hooking up with a girl in here with how he looks!" Firat cried.

"God, could you three shut the heck up already?" Huxian demanded. "Some of us aren't skipping today." He let out a loud, irritated groan as he continued. "Also, Firat, shut up times ten, you wore a dress while wasted last night."

Roommates arguing like they always did, the hyena bolted for the door. Why did he have to have dormmates who were always drunk and high? But, such was his life at this university. His daily, boring life as a college student as a floriculture major, and environmental science minor. Everyone was always partying day in, and day out.

Reaching his lecture room, the blond professor with penguin crests soon addressed the class complaining about low scores. Hearing such, Siorc let out a groan. Why was no one putting in the effort at this university besides him? Sometimes, he wondered why he even applied for this learning establishment if no one is bothering to put in the effort.

"This isn't middle school, maybe I ought to kick everyone out of this class who scored less than sixty five percent, which is, like ninety percent of you guys, by the way!" the professor shouted.

"Not like, you're making this class any easier to understand, professor Marquis," a dragon girl next to him said.

"I reckon she's right, professor Marquis," the other dragon girl said.

Complaining to the professor had been an extremely tall dragon woman with short yellow-green hair and dragon wings behind her back. Her dark skin had been covered in a multitude of scales. Next to her had been her twin sister. Her long olive green hair looked rather messy today. Dark skin also covered in scales, Siorc shook his head. These two were always complaining right to the professor about the way he taught things. But, he always shouted back.

"It's not my fault none of you apply yourself in here!" Professor Marquis cried. "Everyone who doesn't score at least a sixty-two on the next test will be kicked out. Good luck explaining that to your parents!" He then gazed at the dragon girls. "Especially you two, Rashmi, Malati, you two scored zeroes on your tests!"

"Not my fault," Rashmi bit back. "It's your fault for teaching everything wrong."

"I ain't understand none of your questions," Malati responded.

"Excuses, excuses!" Professor Marquis cried. "Whatever, ya'll a bunch of children. I'm starting the lecture now!"

Lecture going on for awhile, the student wrote down everything intently. Class going on for two hours about plants and nature, the hyena let out one sigh after another. It was that intense feeling again, that overwhelming sense of drag. That wave of nothing hugging him tightly from behind. And today, it was at the strongest it had ever been. That feeling, that intense sense of drag.

He was bored.

He was bored of everything. Bored of his life, bored of his job. He wanted something interesting to happen. An alien invasion, something, anything supernatural happening would be amazing. His dormmates would always tell him, come to a party with them, and have a little wine, but he'd always refuse. No way would he ever stoop to their level and get drunk and high.


Getting ready to head off to the flower nursery, the hyena let out another sigh. If only something magical would happen right now. It didn't have to be an alien invasion. Fairies, flowers coming to life, anything. Anything to break him from this monotonous loop. But, he supposed it was his fault for being such a stickler for the rules and doing nothing but studying and going to work.

*Plop*.

Notebook dropping onto the sidewalk, the student scratched his head. Huh, where did this come from? Picking up the cover, a pitch black book with the words, Magical Word Notebook sat in the palm of his hands. Seeing such, he got the chills. Is this some kind of prank book where people write down names of people they want to kill? Now, his curiosity was piqued. Flipping open the front cover, a message in fancy writing awaited him.

"The imagined scenarios written in this notebook shall become a reality. With the exception of killing an individual, or bringing great harm to humans. Those who write down people's deaths in this notebook shall die of a heart attack within forty seconds of writing down the death of the victim.

The imagined scenario must be written within one-hundred-twenty seconds of thinking about it. The scenario will not take effect until after twelve hours of being written. Once written, the scenario cannot be cancelled unless a cancellation is written beneath it. It must be written within seven days of writing the imagined scenario."

Reading such, the hyena let out a laugh. What in the world was this stupid prank? Someone sure had a lot of time on their hands! A magical notebook where imagined scenarios came to life in twelve hours? As if! What a load of baloney. Did someone watch a tv show about a death notebook, and hated it so much they sanitized it for children? Probably. Whatever, time to go to work. Pocketing the notebook, he headed for the nursery.

But, the entire time he had been behind the counter at his job, he couldn't stop thinking about it. This magical notebook, maybe he should try something and find out. Maybe he should write down, all of my dormmates will quit drinking and smoking weed and take their studies seriously. But, he shook his head. That wouldn't work! Not even magic can fix them.

Boring day finished, the hyena returned to his dorm room. Stupid roommates out drinking again, he had the entire suite to himself. Flipping open the so called magical notebook once again, he read over the rules he skimped over before. But, he could hardly believe what he was reading as he kept moving along.

"Everything must be spelled perfectly in order for the imagined scenario to take effect. If the user of this notebook fails to spell their intended scenario correctly, five times, the user will die. Capitalization and punctuation are not necessary to take effect. But, it is highly recommended the user do so."

Reading such, the young adult gulped. Oh, no, he had to spell everything correctly? Great, that would end so awesome. When he was in middle school, he always failed all his spelling tests. He was so going to die if he used this book. Well, whatever, he supposed he could look up the spelling on his phone. Flipping to the next page, he could see multiple things had already been written. Eyeing them, his heart skipped a beat at the first page.

"With the power vested in me, chimeras will be born from this day forth forever and always, even after I perish from this world."

Reading such, the chimera couldn't believe his eyes. Was he reading that correctly? Had someone really imagined his race into existence? Who would do something like that? But, he shook his head. No, this had to be a coincidence. It had to have been. Why would anyone write something like this? It was probably just a joke! Surely, this notebook was just a prank.

Staring at the paper in front of him, the chimera wondered. What should he try out to see if this book was for real? Perhaps, he should try something simple? Something that would not cause too much damage. Thinking it over for a moment, a lightbulb went over his head. He's got it. The perfect stupid thing to write down! Scribbling away, the doctrine had been set in motion.

"Pizza shall become a vegetable, and the main food eaten by the entire world."

Closing the notebook, the young adult let out a laugh. Yeah, right, as if this would work. Why was he buying into this prank, anyway? Magic wasn't real. And, that sentence on the first page was just a coincidence. Of course it was. Ascending his bed ladder, the chimera dozed off. Nothing would be any different tomorrow, for sure.

Twelve Hours Later.

But, the hyena couldn't be more wrong in such regard. Waking up to the wafting scent of pizza, the chimera rubbed his eyes. Huh? Was he dreaming? He had to have been, right? Who eats pizza in the morning? Let alone, at eight in the morning? Had he been asleep for twelve hours again? How in the world could he sleep that long? Dormmates laughing, an offering had soon come his way.

"Dude, you're still sleeping?!" Tegne cried. "Come oooon, you should have your morning pizza! That'll wake you up good!"

Hearing such, the college student blinked of bewilderment. Hold on, what did Tenge just say? Morning pizza? He was still dreaming, wasn't he? He had to have been. Of course it was. Who eats that kind of stuff in the morning? That's heartburn waiting to happen. It always was. He didn't quite get it. Okay, cut it out with these pranks, boys! They read the notebook, didn't they?

"*Burp*, never mind, I ate the last piece," Rede said. "Should have woken up earlier, bro."

"Disgusting," Lonan said.

"At least say excuse me, turd," Huxian said.

"Turd," Firat parroted.

"Fine, fine, whatever, excuse me," Rede reluctantly responded. "Bro's missing out, though. This pizza's fire!"

"Dude, whatever, like, Siorc's a skinny mickey," Lonan added, rolling his eyes. "He'd never eat pizza with us!"

"More for us!" Huxian cried.

"Yeah! More for us!" Firat cried. "Wait, why am I agreeing with a turd like you?"

"Boys, let's go skip class and get some more pizza, what d'ya say?!" Tegne exclaimed.

Party of five dashing out the door, the chimera shook his head. Absolutely unbelievable, didn't these five care one bit about their lectures? All they ever did was get drunk, high and stoned. He needed to get out of this dorm room and room with people that actually gave a hoot about their education! But, whatever, that didn't matter right now. There had been another thing to attend to.

His dormmates, they had been eating morning pizza. They had never done that before, in their lives. They always complained about pie shaped foods being disgusting. Why the sudden change in thinking? He didn't understand. Opening up the magical notebook, he read the sentence he wrote down. Could this mystical tome have something to do with it?

But, the young adult shook his head. No, no, of course not. His dormmates were just so hungover they didn't even know what they were eating. That was it! That had to be it, surely. After all, they despise pizza, they always have. No way they suddenly changed their song and dance. Shrugging, the hyena had begun to get ready for the lecture of the day.

Opening his drawers, a surprising shirt soon awaited him within his clothing bin. Bright blue shirt that read, Pizza Is A Vegetable with the v being shaped like a pizza, the chimera nearly threw the article of clothing across the room. No way, how can this be real? Where did all his other clothes go? This had to have been some kind of bad dream!

Hairpins and earrings also replaced with pizza sets, the student's knees shook. Wait, had everything been replaced? How could this be? This notebook, what kind of sorcery had been contained within these pages? Unreal. Putting them on, the chimera dashed off to the lecture room. But, what awaited him there was even worse.

"Good morning, class!" Professor Marquis cried cheerfully. "It's time for our morning pizza!"

"Raa, raa, raaa, pizza!" the entire class chanted.

Entire college lecture hall gobbling the pies up in no time flat, the chimera's eyes twitched. Morning pizza? Who eats pizza at eight thirty in the morning? Why wasn't his professor yelling about poor grades and kicking people out? The fabric of the universe had it changed overnight? No. No way. This was all just an elaborate hoax! An elaborate prank. He had been studying way too hard for his master's degree and he was imaging all this, surely!

But, as the days rolled on, it had all been the same. Every single place, everywhere had been serving pizza. Pizza, pizza, pizza. Every single other food vanishing from people's vocabulary, regret flowed through the hyena. Why did he write down that joke in that stupid magical notebook? He should have cancelled it immediately before it took effect.

But, that's when he remembered that rule. That pesky one. If he had not cancelled it after a week, the effects would be permanent. He had to cancel it. He had to cancel it now. Before it was too late. Five days had passed since the incent. There wasn't much time left! It was almost day six. Heading to work, the chaos continued.

"Hey, you," a kid demanded. "Show me where you carry your pizza seeds!"

"We want pizza seeds for our garden!" another kid cried.

Multiple kids demanding pizza seeds, the nursery employee wanted to rip out his hair. Pizza seeds, really? Just how much had been changed by this one thing he wrote down in this magical notebook? God, he can't believe this. Showing the teenagers to where the plating seeds were, all that remained were vegetable seeds to make that accursed pie food.

Readying to return to his dorm for the evening, the chimera swore he could feel a presence follow behind him. But, he attempted to ignore it with all his might. It was probably just an older gentleman trying to hit on him. Nothing to see here. Intense feeling of someone following him not ceasing, he turned around. Alright, who's there? Who is following him? But, what awaited him was something out a horror film.

Floating behind him had been a grotesque creature with spiky black hair. Gazelle horns on the top of their head, the creatures face was blue and misshapen. Pitch black goth style shirt upon their small body, the chimera almost gagged. Alright, who was this emo? Emo was out of season! Not like he cared, or anything.

Flying next to the gross creature had been a nearly identical horrific looking monstrosity. The beast had short black hair pulled into a ponytail, and a long bang practically cutting their face in half. White misshapen face and even grosser gothic shirt on their floating body, he tried to look away. God, who dressed these, ghosts? He didn't now. But, he then had come to a realizations.

Hold on, ghosts?!

What in all of God's name are Ghosts doing following him back to his dorm?!

"Heh, heh, took you long enough to turn around!" ghost number one exclaimed. "You're slow!"

"We thought you were a smart one!" ghost number two exclaimed. "Top student at your college, and what, it took you like three days to notice us? Dummy!"

Ghost creatures calling him stupid, the student grabbed his phone, typing with a fury, he wrote out, I am not stupid! Who even are you two, anyway? Why are you following me? He huffed a breath as he turned his phone around. Ghosts laughing, he was ready to rip out his hair. Hey Zeus Christmas these ghosts were annoying as heck.

"Gee, kiddo, why do you think we're following ya?" ghost number one asked. "You have my notebook!"

"Our notebook!" ghost number two exclaimed.

Grotesque ghosts talking about a notebook, the chimera blinked. Oh, god, these two, were they the owners of that stupid magical notebook? Did they drop that thing? How annoying. They could have it back, thank you! Writing down on his phone screen, if you want it back, you can have it. Laughter had rung in his ears.

"You're a funny one, kid," ghost number one said. "You made pizza the main food in the world. We thought you'd be one of those dudes who tried to like, change the rules or some junk to make this a death note, har har." But, they then faked a cough. "Whatevs. Well, name's Kelebek. I'm a Wordigami. And, you have my notebook!"

"Our notebook!" ghost number two exclaimed. "By the way, I'm Izzet, I'm a wordigami, too! And bro, you sure picked the wildest thing to make real! Heh heh, the entire world is obsessed with pizza now! You'll be entertaining!"

Hearing the grotesque freaks call themselves wordigamis, the chimera clicked his tongue. The what now? This is so dumb. They were enjoying this? Were they hoping he would have done something more destructive? No way. Did they even read the rules? If anyone writes down someone's death in this notebook, they'll die. Did they want to take his soul? No thanks, he wants no part in these creature's sick fantasies!

Writing down, forget it, I'm not playing your games! The chimera huffed and puffed. God, he needed to go home now and cancel this imagined scenario right now and get rid of this book. Adding, I'm giving your book back! The stupid ghost things guffawed up a storm. Covering his ears, he attempted to tune them out.

"You're no fun!" Kelebek, the wordigami cried. "Whatevs, go get the book and relinquish ownership then."

"Booo, boo, you're so boring braids," Izzet cried. "We were totally thinking of eliminating the death rule. Too bad looks like another boring human picked up our book!"

Annoying ghoul creatures following him back to the dorm, the student rushed into his drawers. Magical Word Notebook in the palm of his hands, he wrote up with a fury. This stupid scenario, he had to cancel it. Cancel, cancel, cancel, cancel. By the gods, he should have never picked up this notebook. He should have just burned it right then and there!

"Cancel the previous scenario written."

"Aight, kiddo, now say you relinquish ownership of the notebook," Kelebek said.

{Take back your stupid notebook already!} the hyena's phone screen said.

"You know what? Good enough, we'll take it now," Izzet said, grabbing the notebook. "Bye bye, have fun with your boring life as a college student!"

Huffing, the grotesque ghosts had been no more. Everything going back to normal the next day, his accursed dormmates had gone back to their usual routines of getting absolutely plastered. As the days went by he couldn't help but wonder. Had the pizza is a vegetable incident even really happened? Maybe he had been studying too hard and hallucinated the whole thing.

Multiple people getting kicked out as promised by the professor, he kept on studying. Staving off his boredom by working harder, his master's degree was right around the corner. Nursery job going as it usually did, he couldn't help but feel slight regret. Maybe he shouldn't have relinquished ownership of that magical notebook. Perhaps, he should have just kept it. But, he shook his head. Nah, forget all that. Dormmates getting pizza together after work, the chimera gagged.

No, thank you.

He's glad he relinquished ownership, actually. Screw pizza.

---

Welcome to the end of Violet Midsummer Phantasm. Next up? A Wuwa fanfiction, yippe!