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The Raptor Den Incident
By Whitestripe
Kyrio, one of the most powerful predators in the whole of Lunar City, owner of the famed Raptor Den club, and overall, one of the top ten in 'people you never want to anger if you value your continued existence', sat behind his desk, idly toying with his walking cane. One of his paws lightly stroking over the sapphire raptor skull on the top of it as he looked across his desk at the three little ones standing before him, his face a neutral mask.
"So. Elliot, let me make sure I understand this correctly." Kyrio said, his voice cool, sounding almost bored. " You want to use my club. Of which, I might add, you and your friends are the reason we're only just now finally reopening to stage a little 'prank war?' With some other powerful magic users? Not telling them what they are walking into, making them believe you and your friends are true danger.....and that me and my raptors are some crazy Saturday morning big bad evil organization bent on capturing and transforming them? Am I understanding that right?" The raptor deadpanned.
"Yep." Canis, a little black lab boy said happily.
"Sounds about right." Malis, his identical twin said cheerily.
"That's exactly what we want to do sir." Elliot, the little badger boy beaming happily at his boss.
Kyrio's face grew thunderous, as he stood up, slamming his cane against the grown. "YOU THINK I WOULD LET YOU BRATS DO THIS ON YOUR OWN IN MY CLUB?" He roared, before suddenly, his face brightened and he beamed excitedly, nearly thrumming with joy. "Cause we're tooooootally joining in. This sounds liiiiiiike sooooo much fun." The raptor said, lifting his cane, giving it a little spin before pointing it at Elliot. "Elliot, my boy, go get your friends, everyone you want to involve in this little prank war of yours. Pups, you two send out the little SOS, and we'll give them a show they won't soon forget." The raptor said.
A devious smile formed over Kyrio's muzzle. "Now, if you'll excuse me, boys. I need to go prepare my troops for war." The raptor said, whistling cheerfully as he strolled out of his office to go let his employees know what was about to transpire.
"He's toooootallly going to betray us and try and transform us when we've claimed all the others, isn't he?" Canis asked.
"Yeeeeeap," Malis answered.
"Sounds like the boss. So we'll just have to give him even greater betrayal, right back....oh, and then counter that betrayal that you two will do on me." Elliot said cheerfully as he headed for the door.
"Whaaaaat?" Canis asked, starting to follow along after his big brother.
"Us? Betray you?" Malis said, sounding so very sweet.
"You live and breathe betrayal for a game like this. Yes. You're uncle Leogun's kids." Elliot deadpanned as he headed out.
Canis beamed at his twin. "Little brother's always says the nicest things, doesn't he?" He cackled.
Thing was........he was totally right as well.
"My glorious overlord. We have a problem. A very, very large problem." Paradox, a multihued feline spoke quickly as he stepped into the temple. His fur constantly shifting into different shades of color as he walked towards the throne of his overlord and bowed deeply. Razor blinking and sitting up in his throne from where he'd been napping.
He was a cat, so sue him.
"What is it Paradox? What's going on?" Razor asked with a yawn.
"Hara and the rest of his friends are in danger. It seems Kyrio has betrayed and transformed them all. If we don't get Hara back quickly, the curse that blasted tanuki stuck inside of you will trigger and turn you into a plush." Paradox said quickly. "Right now, all of those so-called heroes have been captured, so I was able to learn, I intercepted a message from those two pups before they were turned into raptor hatchlings."
Razor let out a low growl and nod, flicking his wrist out. "Roy, Aurum, I need you, our friends need our help." He yelled out as a swirling emerald rift opened up.
As he waited, Razor narrowed his eyes towards Paradox. "I noticed, Paradox, that you said nothing about helping the others." He growled.
Paradox gave a shrug. "They are unimportant. They are thorns in your path my lord. Better to clip them now. Hara is the only one that matters here. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have even bothered to inform you over something so trivial."
A glimmering golden blade was suddenly resting against Paradox's neck. A white and gold feline, looking to be in his late thirties or forties casually leaning, back to back with him, his blade resting over one shoulder, point resting dangerously close to Paradox's neck.
"You know Paradox. Call me crazy, but I think you just spoke out against Razor. Was I hearing you wrong in my old age?" Aurum taunted.
Razor and Paradox both froze. Neither of them had heard him coming at all. One moment, he hadn't been there, the next, he was ready to take Paradox's head right off his shoulders with that glimmering blade.
"Me, betray my overlord? I would never do that." Paradox sputtered.
"Right. You just are doing this for his own good." Aurum snorted before stepping away and sheathing his blade.
A moment later, from the portal, a badger came walking out, grinning. "Hey Razor, what did you need me for? Need some fresh cookies or brownies?" Roy asked happily.
Razor told him.
Roy wasn't happy about it.
A few minutes later, and they were on their way to the club. Paradox opening a rift to transport them into the club and the group went in together, ready for whatever they were about to encounter.
They were very much UNPREPARED.
For none of them realized that, unlike many predators that called Lunar City home, Kyrio was what one might call "Genre Savvy." When all different types of magic existed, and just about anyone seemed to be able to pull out abilities at the drop of a hat. The raptor had realized, when he had been building his club, that people teleporting, warping, or otherwise suddenly appearing in his club could be very bad for his, his patrons, and his employees' continued sentient existence.
And so, he had developed a......countermeasure. To such things.
When one attempted to teleport into the club. It would trigger a failsafe spell in the club, and shunt the teleporter not where they planned to go.
But rather.....into a mural that had been cursed to absorb anyone who touched it into itself as a relief carving in the wall.
One moment, they had been soaring through a tunnel of emerald light, heading towards their target, before in the next, they each felt like a hand had grabbed the napes of their neck, jerking them to the side.
Paradox, Razor, and Roy were all caught by surprise, none of them realizing just what was going on.
However, Aurum had been fighting the very worst abominations in this world for over the last fifteen years of his life all on his own. For him....
This was just another Saturday.
The moment he had felt the pressure on the nape of his neck, he was drawing his blade, lifting it up and swiping it in a circle in front of him, the jerk pulling him through the circle of light that formed and as he broke through it, a suit of beautiful wolfish golden armor formed over his body. His sword growing more ornate, burning green sigils flaring up the blade as he lifted it up and hurled it into the wall of the tunnel, shattering the warp spell. And at the same moment, he reached out and grabbed Roy and Razor's paws, and pulled himself away, his armor blazing with golden light as it disrupted whatever spell was trying to drag them away, as they fell out, into the club proper.
Aurum landed gracefully, letting go of Roy and Razor as he lifted his paw and caught his blade, swiping it to the side as the flame winked out. But just in front of them, was a large stone mural taking up the entire wall, covered with both anthro and feral beasts, etched in beautiful, perfect detail.
And before their very eyes, a new figure began to form in the center of the mural. A large, feral tiger taking shape. A fierce snarl etched on its stone muzzle, one paw raised as though about to attack at the onlooker, a few faint movements could be seen, as though the tiger was trying to look from side to side before a soft crackling echoed through the room and the tiger froze, nothing more than a solid stone relief carving, just like the rest of the figures. If they hadn't seen it themselves, they wouldn't have even realized it wasn't anything 'but' part of the art piece in the wall.
"Ha, told you, told you they wouldn't get caught that easily." A young childish voice said cheerfully from behind them. Aurum whirring around, dropping into a ready stance with his blade as he saw a little black raptor boy sitting at a bar, a cup of apple juice in his claws. Right beside him sat another raptor boy, a white scaled raptor, with a blue mane. Behind the bar, and seated around them, were other, older looking Raptors. Kyrio and his staff.
"Ya, ya, you were right Cani, no need to rub it in." Eli, the little white raptor boy grumbled softly. "I owe ya ten bucks, I'll pay ya once this is done."
"Cani....Canis, Canis is that you?" Razor asked quickly, taking a step towards the raptors, before Aurum lifted a paw, cutting him off, the feline shaking his head subtly, not taking his eyes off them.
"Canis? Who's Canis? I'm Cani, I work for the Raptor Den." The little black raptor said proudly. "Me and my brother are sort of the runners of the den, we pick up the odd jobs with Eli till we can learn something of our own to help the club."
Brother.
Aurum let out a curse. Every raptor was there except one.
Where the hell was Malis.
"PAUSE."
The whole room lost its color, freezing in place as time seemed to stop. From around the corner, another raptor, clad in black and green armor stepped out.
"Don't think we didn't prep for this," Mali said cheerfully as he strolled towards the three frozen furs. He flicked a paw up as Razor's belt appeared before him and flew into the armored raptor's paw, before he walked over to Aurum, taking the sword out of his paw. He set the two items on the ground before tapping the two buttons on the front of his belt. A red A, and a Blue B. Green lightning beginning to crackle around his foot as a glowing clock formed under his feet. Both hands of the clock pointing at the armored feline. Mali spun his place, lifting his foot in a kick, as the big hand of the clock followed his foot as he whirled around and drove his foot into Aurum's chest, all of that power lashing out and striking the cat, hurling him backward for a moment, before he froze once again.
With a nod, the raptor reached down and collected his goods, sticking them into a small bag he conjured out of thin air before starting to walk back towards the frozen raptors. Tapping the buttons on his belt once more.
"RESTART."
Time restarted as Aurum let out a sharp cry as he hit the ground, grabbing his chest, before his armor shattered off of his body, the cat panting as he looked up to see the armored raptor look over his shoulder and give him a mocking little salute before his own armor vanished, a mirror image of Cani walking over to stand beside his brother.
"You guys got things that make this little contest unfair. I was just evening the playing field for us." Mali said cheerfully. "After all, you're the prey, we're the predators. It's our job to hunt you all down."
Kyrio reached over the bar and stroked the black feathers that made up Mali's 'hair'. "Now now Mali, behave. We have guests." He said, before spreading his arms as he addressed the three. "Welcome you three to the Raptor Den, I and my employees welcome you." He said cheerfully. "I see one of you are already enjoying our permanent hospitality, and let me tell you, he'll be treasured for years to come once he finishes setting in the next few hours and it becomes permanent. But as for you three. It's time to see how long you last before we catch you and make you ours like we did your friends. So.....run. Run prey, run, and entertain us before our grand reopening."
The three wasted no time in booking it.
In different directions.
Canis and Malis fought back the urge to snicker.
This was going greeeeeeeaaaattttt.
Kyrio watched them all leave, waiting for them to vanish before breaking into laughter. "Oooooh, oh man, I forgot how much fun it can be to be so over the top sometimes." He snickered, before looking over at the others. "Shouldn't one of you go after your friends?" Kyrio asked. "I know what you guys want me to do, but shouldn't you be....you know, bringing them back for me to work over?"
Eli grinned, rubbing his paws together. "I brought a few friends here to play...... They're about to run into them."
"You what?" Kyrio deadpanned.
"Brought some friends. Buuuuuuut, if you really want me too. I'll go." Eli said as he hopped off. "Be back with one of them soon, make sure you save me a drink." The raptor boy said before scampering off.
Roy panted softly as he ran as fast as he could, out into what seemed like an ancient, primeval forest. He had tried and failed to bring his magic to bear here back in the Den proper. He knew that against Canis and Malis, let alone the rest of the raptors, he was outmatched. He needed time, he needed a plan. They were still people, even with magic. He didn't need to be stronger than them. He just needed to be smarter.
Footsteps drew his attention, and the badger whirled around and saw.....Elliot? Walking towards him. But.....he was a badger.....What was going on?
"Hey there Roy," Elliot said cheerfully. The badger boy, the alternate form of Eli said, giving him a playful wave. "How do you like the Garden?"
"Elliot, what are you doing? Do you know what's going on?" Roy asked quickly.
"Sure. You're being pranked." Elliot said with a wide smile on his muzzle. "Canis and Malis found out that Aurum's birthday was today, and soooooo they prepared a little present. What they call 'the prank war to end all prank wars.' That little SOS, all the issues, fake, to get you guys to come here." Elliot said brightly.
Roy paused, staring at him. "So.....we aren't in any danger?" He asked slowly.
"It's Canis and Malis. Danger is relative." Elliot said with a smile, before adding. "But it's me that you're going to have to deal with."
Roy took a deep breath. He'd been training for this, with Fenrir off and on. He lifted his paws into his stance and let the breath out. "You can't use magic here either. You're a mammal."
"You're right. I am a mammal. Right now. But see...... I sort of have another dad, than just Badgerdad. I kinda sorta got adopted. And, well.....he gave me and the others a gift. I haven't been able to test it out too often, what with dad probably blowing a gasket if he saw it. Buuuuuuuut, for you, Roy." Elliot's grin turned positively predatory.
"I'll make an exception."
Elliot extended his arms out, lifting his head up as an ornate runic circle formed under his feet. The sigils and runes blazing with light and power, before it flowed upwards over the badger boy. And as it did, Elliot's body began to change.
His fur vanished, his feet turning into a deep, verdant shade of green, but under that color, one could see sparkling lights, like stars as his feet turned into clawed reptilian legs. As the circle flowed upwards, more and more changes formed over Elliot,
A long, reptilian tail, unadorned but for the stars that glimmered not on his hide, but almost like they were within it. That deep green almost like the leaves of a tree. His chest taking on a beautiful shade of blue like water, studded with glimmering stars and what almost looked to be floating planets. Elliot's arms grew a bit longer, as he dropped to all fours. Razor-sharp talons bursting forth from his fingers and ripping into the ground as he panted, grinning as his head changed. His neck growing longer, more draconic as his muzzle shifted, fangs growing out of his jaws. A pair of deer-like spiraling horns pushing out of the top of his head, between them, was a spiraling planet, slowly rotating. A verdant paradise of green and blue, the exact same shade as the draconic beasts glimmering, stary hide.
And from his back, a pair of wings burst out of his back, flaring out. In the underside, in the darkness, one could see hundreds of beautiful sparkling lights that were almost hypnotic to just stop and gaze at as they seemed to swirl and sparkle across the membranes of his wings. Green mist wafted out of Elliot's muzzle as his tail lashed from side to side as he looked at Roy.
"What do you think Roy? Like my new look?" The starry draconic, feral beast rumbled, leaning back and lifting up his front limbs up and extending them, as though to give Roy a better look at him.
Roy just stared at him in total brain lock. "What....what are you Elliot?"
Elliot let out a chuckle.
"Well, it's a bit of a long story. See, we've been doing our own thing for a while now Roy." Elliot dropped down to all fours and began to circle around the badger, watching him, breathing out that green mist. "Timmy decided to go and piss off a creature known as a Voidwyrm, basically, a freaking space dragon, named Gravitas. He started gunning for us. But Timmy was always able to escape him. Except, one day, Timmy didn't come back, and when we went to find him, we found out Gravitas had taken his pendant and turned him into a constellation on his body. Permanently. "
Roy kept his eyes on Elliot, carefully taking a few steps back for every step forward Elliot made. The creature, he could see, was trying to distract him, keep him focused on his story, so he could get close enough to attack.
Well, Roy wasn't going to fall for that trick.
"We were able to get Tim's pendant back. But we didn't have a way to get it back to him, and we knew, with all of Timmy's power added to his own, we weren't sure we would be able to beat Gravitas on our own. So, we tricked him. We threw our fight, we let him capture, transform, and absorb us all, permanently transforming us. We let him think he won so that we could get the medallion back to Timmy. And he was able to use it to reform, but, see, here's the trick."
Roy suddenly blurred, running and bounding up towards a tree, leaping up and grabbing onto a branch and hauling himself off the ground just as a pair of roots lanced up, trying to wrap around and bind him where he'd been before.
Elliot let out a soft whine before continuing with his little story. "See, Timmy told us he learned a secret, Gravitas wasn't just one person. He was three. Three different personalities in one body. Only, the worst one was in control, and the other two were sealed in a magical sleep. He let Grav reabsorb him, but what the dragon didn't know as Timmy had warded himself, and when he was a part of Grav, he used.....really powerful dangerous magic to wake up the other two and not just free us, but allowed all three parts of the dragon to integrate with each other. And let Grav be who he was supposed to be."
Roy bounded from branch to branch, the badger moving shockingly fast and gracefully despite his round size.
Thank you, Fenrir.
"Ya, well, what does that have to do with anything?" Roy called out, dropping down and hitting the ground, just as a branch from one of the trees tried to take his head off.
"I'm getting there, sheesh, don't you know how to tell a story?" Elliot rumbled, casually padding after him. "Anyway, once the space dragon was back together. He was so thankful to Timmy and us for healing his mind. He offered to reward us."
"With making you a....what are you?"
"He calls himself a Voidwyrm, but no, his original reward was to turn us into constellations in the night sky. Was pretty fun for the week we were, really interesting before we reformed. But after that, ya, he offered to make us his children and gave us each our own form. Who knows, if you survive me, you might meet one of the others." Elliot chirped playfully.
"But, then again, that means you survive me," Elliot growled as he lifted his head back before a burst of green mist washed out towards the badger.
Roy let out a curse as he leaped upwards, reaching out his paw.....when the branch pulled upwards just out of his reach.
"Crap baskets," Roy growled before he fell back into the green mist.
Roy grinned as he felt it swirl around him. His skin hardening. His fur quickly giving way to solid, hard, brown bark. His paws reaching upwards as around his paws, bright green leaves began to bloom forth there and around his muzzle. The badger letting out a groan, before he was silenced as his muzzle was sealed shut, turning into another 'branch' of the rapidly forming badger tree.
His legs flowed together, his toes burrowing into the earth as they began to seek out water and nutrients, turning into a vast root system digging through the Garden.
The badger's mind began to slow.....but then...why did....tree.....need....think....
With a few final, soft cracks. All movement ceased, as a new, large tree stood in the Garden. Not a trace of the badger left as Elliot thumped his tail proudly on the ground. "Welcome to the Garden Roy. Hope you like where I planted ya." He rumbled before turning and padding off.
Razor panted softly as he raced through the Den as fast as his feet could carry him. He didn't hear anyone, but that meant crap here in the meat grinder that was the Raptor Den.
The cat shoved open a nearby door and raced inside, shutting it......
Before freezing as he saw two draconic beasts leering at him, with grins on their muzzle.
The shared the same basic body shape. Though the one on the left was bigger than the one on the right. A large pair of wings sprouting forth from their bodies, straight horns going out from their head, the tips of which curved backward. Between those horns, orbiting each other were a pair of stars. In the center, was a massive red giant, and slowly floating around it, was a softly glowing, smaller white dwarf. The two stars seemed to move in perfect synchronicity with each other. Every eruption from the red star was absorbed by the white one, and every flare from the white flowed into the red, the two feeding off of one another, helping each other to burn longer.
The larger wyrm was a brilliant red, with glimmering dark sunspots shining over his hide, as well as the natural stars. A mane of fur fell from his head, flowing around him like the flare-ups of a solar flare, his tail lashing from side to side, no solid tail tip to it, but rather, it almost looked like an actual flame was burning, shaped to look like a spade.
The other is a brilliant white, glimmering with an almost blue-white radiance from his wings and the stars within his internal galaxy. On the tips of his limbs, there is a vague red hue, as if he was burning off material and casting it off, just like the star rotating around his head was. His own tail lashed lazily from side to side, a glimmering glowing arrow of light, rather than anything solid.
"Well well well, if it isn't little Razor, come to play with the big bad dragons?" The two spoke as one, their young voices echoing through the room as they began to slowly move, circling around Razor, moving in perfect unison with each other, constantly opposite the other.
Razor stared at the creatures, taking a slow step back before he turned and tried to run, and slammed muzzle first into some invisible force and fell backward.
The two let out a laugh. "Awwwww, that's so adorable. The little kitty wants to run. But sorry to say, you can't get away from us once we got our eye on you." It was Timmy who spoke, breaking off of his orbit around Razor and focusing on him. "Rotation lock." The dragon snarled.
Razor shuddered, as he felt like an invisible band had wrapped around his wrist. The red dragon smiled as he sat down, waving a paw to the white one. "Go have your fun Timmy, then we'll bring him in," Scott said casually.
The white dragon flashed his fangs, watching as Razor turned and began to sprint across the room, yet, as fast as he ran, Timmy seemed to be right behind him, the exact same distance, no matter how fast he ran. Every time he looked, Timmy was in perfect lockstep with him, a wide smile on his muzzle, as he opened his jaws and let out a blazing beam of blueish white light towards the cat.
Razor dropped low, skidding under the beam, taking his eyes off of the dragon for a moment, and when he looked back, Timothy was gone. But when he turned around, there the dragon was, right in front of him, grinning. Razor tried to skid to a stop....before he slammed into an invisible force about five feet away that stopped him cold and knocked him to the ground with a groan.
"We're linked. You and I. Bound to an eternal dance around each other. Just like my blazing stars. You with me, and I, with you. Until I choose to break it. But then, why would I want to break it my little star?" Timothy rumbled. "You and I, we're one. Swirling together, revolving over and over again through the heavens. Thinking the same thoughts. Like we're the same person. Aren't we?"
Razor shuddered, his hands flying to his head as he felt....something in his mind....coiling there....trying to grasp his thoughts. "Get....get out of my head." He snarled out.
"Your head? Hah, that's rich. It's our head. We are one. You and I, I and you. We think the same thoughts. Make the same movements. Mirroring each other eternally. You can feel it, can't you? It's coming more and more naturally. You know what I'm going to do before I do it. And you want to follow along. Say the words I say. Do what I do. Because that is what we do. That's what we always do." The dragon cooed softly to the feline.
Razor let out a soft whimper, falling onto all fours, just as Timmy was, his tail starting to sway in time with the other dragon's.....no.....with that dragon....he wasn't....wasn't.....
"You can feel it, can't you? Doesn't it feel good to just mirror me?" It wasn't just Timmy speaking, but Razor speaking as well, a haughty, smug look forming on the cat's muzzle as he preened, looking towards Timmy, the dragon holding the exact same look, the exact same expression. "Now we're getting it. We're remembering what we are. What we have to do. Such a good us. Yes. we. Are." Razor and Timmy spoke together as they began to pad towards the door.
Scott chuckled, shaking his head. He always hated breaking his link with his dear Timmy. The two were connected, bound together not just by love, but the very gravity of their stars linking them together, feeding each other, keeping each other stable, sane, and strong. Plus.....feeding on each other's abilities. If Razor had any magic of his own, right now, Timmy would be devouring it, absorbing it into himself. But the cat wasn't much of a meal for them, so, they would do as they were asked.
It was time to deliver him to the raptor....
And then, maybe they could play with a few of these terrestrial creatures....
After all, they always made such good playthings for them.
"FUCK THIS PLACE. FUCK THIS PLACE SO HARD. FUCK THIS PLACE WITH A RUSTY FUCKING SPOON. WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE, I AM SOOOOOO DROPPING AN ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT ON THIS FUCKING PLACE."
Aurum sprinted as fast as he could down a corridor. The very hallway coming to life, the stone floors rippling as it rose up in a wave to try and engulf him. He could feel the magic flowing through the liquid marble, and he had no doubt of just 'what' would happen if he touched that stuff. He was positive that a moment later, there would be a brand new marble kitty ready for display.
And, as he had so eloquently put it.
Fuck. That.
He focused for a moment and smirked. This place was keyed to negate all magic. Everything this world took for granted.
It was not, however, keyed to disable a Throwback's natural Talent.
He spun around, lifting his paw as a swirling golden barrier of solid light sprang into being.
The wave of stone crashed against the barrier and was stopped cold, swirling and splashing against it before slowly flowing backward as Aurum shoved his hand forward, the golden wall shooting forward and shoving it back down the hallway.
Without wasting a beat, he turned and started running again down the hallway, so quickly, he almost missed the shadow that was bounding off the ceiling down towards him.
Key Word: Almost.
"PARKOUR." The feline yelled, flinging himself to the side, pushing off of the wall, and leaping up, just as the beast landed on the ground. Aurum grabbing hold of the strange, draconic beast's horns and gave them a tug upwards, the beast letting out a roar of rage as he strained against the cat on his back.
The beasts horns rose up for a bit, before curving backward, it's golden-orange body glimmering, speckled with planets and stars just under what almost seemed to be it's translucent, glowing hide. The throwback sitting between the beast's two wings as they flared and flapped as it tried desperately to toss him off. Aurum spying a second pair of smaller horns coming just behind the pair that he was holding onto for dear life. A "Mane" of swirling grey gas, blazing with stars flowed down from around its head and horns. And floating between its horns was a thing of wonder. A blazing star, surrounded by gas and rock. A little Protostar, still being born, still forming its own little star system.
"Ow, ow, ow, hey, hey that hurts. That hurts, let me go. Come on, this is unfair." Ace's voice came from the beast's muzzle.
"You just TRIED to eat me. I think a little pain is fair payback, my noble steed." Aurum growled softly. Holding tightly to the beast's one horn, as he reached into his other pocket and drew out what looked like a very ornate brush. The tiger lifting it up and focusing, a blazing green fire igniting at the tip as he began to swipe it in the air, leaving burning sigils hanging around him for a moment, before he swiped the brush through them once more.
The sigils blazed brightly for a second before shooting down under the cat and over the beast's muzzle. Ace letting out a yelp as a bit and bridle formed in his jaws. The dragon couldn't help but gnaw on the glimmering metal in his muzzle for a few moments, his muzzle being pulled shut by the tight bridle, as a pair of glimmering, glowing reins began to flow out of the bridle and into Aurum's paw, attaching to either end of the brush.
Beneath the cat's rear, a leather saddle began to form, quickly strapping itself and tightening down onto his back and belly. Ace quivered as a fuzzy.....warm....fog began to wash through his mind. The massive voidwyrm rumbling softly at the pleasant sensations washing through his mind and body as he began to relax, panting heavily. It felt.....it felt.....
"Shhhh, shhh, relax, relax. You're okay. You just follow your reins, follow the tug of your rider's will." Aurum whispered soothingly to the great beast as he could feel it begin to go slack, to submit.
Ya.....listen.....obey....didn't....no think....good beast...obey....mount.....be....ridden....
The voidwyrm's eyes glazed over, all sentience vanishing from his eyes as he let out a rumbling growl, before Aurum gave a tug of the reins and the beast turned. The cat snapping the reins as the large winged reptile took off running forward down the corridor. "Let's go, big guy, let's go, we got some friends to save." The cat said firmly.
Hopefully, he'd be able to save everyone before it was too late.
"Looks like Aurum's still running about," Kyrio said casually, sitting on a barstool, one paw idly stroking Razor's head as the cat draped himself over his lap, purring happily as he nuzzled up against the dinosaur, firmly enthralled under his will as a cute little feral cat, in mind, if not body.
"You gotta admit, that waaaaaaasss pretty cool the way he brought Ace down and tamed him," Eli spoke up as he sipped at his apple juice.
Cani and Mali both chuckled at that, sharing a look between each other. "Well. What do you say we go deal with him dear brother?" Mali asked with a cheerful little smile.
"Hey. You two already got to play with them. I want a chance to mess with Aurum, and I know exactly what I'm going to do with the cat." Cani rumbled as he hopped up, the little black raptor bowing to Kyrio and the rest of the staff of the raptor den. "If you two will excuse me, I have an Aurum to catch and bring back for the boss to transform." He said before racing off.
Kyrio chuckled as he watched the excitable little dinosaur race off, before looking at Mali. "Soooooo, Mali. What do you say I offer you and your brother permanent jobs on staff here....I think you two could be amazing Raptor Den staff....." He said, stroking his little Razor lap cat.
Aurum rode the void wyrm through the halls of the club. It felt almost like some sort of maze or labyrinth. With the halls twisting and twining back on each other, no doubt done specifically just to mess with him. But he ignored it, letting the wyrm guide him through the maze. His new steed knew the way out of this, he just needed to let him do the work.....
So....why did this feel.....so easy.
"ALL. ZERO."
Aurum let out a sharp curse and leaped up out of the saddle, as a swarming stream of red and black sigils washed out and engulfed Ace, and nearly grabbing hold of the cat as he tumbled to safety. A moment later, a bright flash of light struck the wyrm as it lifted its head and let out a loud roar before it's body just seemed to start melting. Turning into a dark, shiny liquid. Melting down and then flowing back towards a figure standing obscured in shadow.
The figure that stepped out was something out of nightmares. Its armor was jet black, but it looked.....half-finished.....wires and piping moving over the right shoulder. The helmet looked broken. The right eye having no real covering over the glimmering red eye as it glowed, almost with a cruel, evil malice. That dark liquid flowing up over the suit and over his right shoulder, forming into a snarling, roaring dragon, etched into the metal of the suit.
"What do you think of the upgrades I made?" Cani's distorted, dark voice spoke out of the raptor-like figure as it eyed Aurum, almost like a child trying to decide how it wanted to rip off the wings of a butterfly.
"Come on Canis. You don't need to do this. You're in there somewhere. Fight. Don't let Kyrio control you. Don't let him erase you." Aurum yelled out quickly, lifting his paws up, falling into his stance.
Cani snorted as he began to stalk forward, slow, calm steps as he approached his target. "He isn't. I loooove being liked this Aurum. Being able to cut loose for once. To just.....be the predator I'm never allowed to me. You have nooooo idea how stifling it is to be such a good boy for our dad. Having to let our prey go. Having to be good little puppies. Ooooooh, it feels good just to....just to be me for once. Even if we 'might' let you go after this." His helmet cocked to the side. "I suppose it depends on how much you entertain me."
Aurum growled before charging forward towards him. Green flames erupting around his paws as he thrust out at Cani.
The glimmering red-eye suddenly blazed brightly for a few seconds before, without missing a beat, Cani leaned to the side, dodging the strike, his paws flying up and driving themselves into Aurum's chest, sending him tumbling backward, just a second too late in the block.
The cat snarling as he charged forward, moving towards the wall and bounding off of it as he drove his foot at the armored raptor's head.
That eye glowed again before he leaned backward. Aurum's foot missing him by less than an inch, before his foot was grabbed in midair, Cani hauling him up before slamming him repeatedly into the ground, over and over again, leaving a small crater there.
Cani shuddered as he leaned down to whisper into Aurum's ear. "I know this is just a little game. But honestly....I never get to really play anymore...not the way we 'want' to play. You'll entertain me, won't you Aurum?" He asked, hauling the cat up and hurling him into the side of the wall, before turning in the same smooth motion and bringing his foot up and driving it into Aurum's chest. The cat letting out a cry as he began to drop before another kick sent him tumbling across the hall.
Cani chuckled, watching Aurum tumble away, walking towards him again as the cat struggled to try and pull himself to his feet. "I can't help but think Aurum. That you, the gang, dad, even the predators see us as a joke. As stupid little boys who just love to prank and transform and toy with people. They forget just WHAT we are."
He stopped, a stream of those symbols washing out and engulfing Aurum, lifting him to his feet as they tightened around his body, holding his arms pinned to his side as he was lifted up.
"We're predators. The perfect predators." His paw dropped and pressed the button on the top of his belt, the glimmering red orb flaring with light in the center of the belt as dark red and black energy began to crackle along his right foot.
"ALL. EXTINCTION."
Came the dark distorted voice as Cani leaped up into the air and shot down towards Aurum. Striking the feline in the chest with his crackling foot, letting all of the power wash into the tiger, before backflipping off of him, landing gracefully as Aurum's body shuddered before began to come apart, melting into that dark reflective liquid, and flowing up into the armor. Across the other shoulder, a snarling feral tiger began to appear, etched into the metal. Another design in the suit.
With a chuckle, Cani tugged the belt off, the suit just melting off of him and flowing into the belt as he lifted it up. Etched on either 'wing' of the belt, where the images of the tiger and the voidwyrm he had caught. Nothing but simple etched designs in the belt's ornate filigree.
"Heh. Caught ya kitty."
Aurum groaned as he slowly stirred, laying on the ground. He was laying in the bar of the Den.
......Surrounded by dinosaurs.
Oh. Crap baskets.
Aurum started to sit up before a claw reached out and stroked over his head. A sudden calmness washing through the cat.
"Shhh. Calm down. Calm down, little fella. You're okay. It's okay. Just relax. Just listen to my voice." Kyrio said soothingly, starting to stroke his paws up and down Aurum's head and face. The raptor's body beginning to shift and change, like clay being shaped under the paw of a master sculpture.
Aurum shivered, a look of blissful pleasure starting to wash over his face. Even as it grew more bulky and stocky. The fur giving way to leather and scales. Still holding that bright shade of white, with vibrant gold markings going up and down it.
"Theeeere we go. Such a good little Raptor. Just let your mind just drift right out of you." Kyrio said soothingly. Watching Aurum's eyes glaze over. Bestial instinct replacing sentient thought. "Nothing but a beast. A dumb animal for my stable. But that's okay. I take care of you. I've trained you. You're a good animal. Serving your owner. Let them ride you, carry them where they need to do." A trail of feathers began to form, going down Aurum's back, holding the same shade as his scales.
Kyrio gently tugged the raptor forward a bit, just as his tail began to bulk up, growing stronger, more muscular. The raptor's stance and gait shifting to accommodate these changes. His feet and legs shifting, long, razor-sharp talons forming and lightly clicking against the paneling of the floor. Hisses of pleasure and bliss slipping out of the raptor's muzzle as his body was changed and reconstructed.
And where once a handsome tiger was, now stood a full-grown raptor. It's glimmering white and gold scales shining in the light. Its eyes held no intelligence, no memory, nothing of its former life. As far as it's faint, dull mind could remember. It had hatched here, in these stables. Been reared under the gentle, but firm claws of Master Kyrio. Trained and taught to obey, to serve the two-leggers. It was a mount. A beast of burden.
Kyrio smiled as he stroked Aurum's head, the beast gently nuzzling into his touch.
"Well. That wasn't too hard." Kyrio said with a chuckle as he reached down and pet Razor's head, the cat letting out a dull, dumb mewl as it nuzzled into its owner touch. The raptor looking at Cani, Mali, and Elliot.
"So. I'll just keep them all for about the next month, then let them go. They could use the vacation. And no, I promise I won't sell Aurum as a mount....just....you know....rent him." Kyrio said cheerfully. "Unless he wants to stay this way. Then I'd be happy to sell him.....Oh, maybe I can change Razor too, sell them as a set....." The raptor considered.
Cani and Mali shared a high five. Their prank war had one off without a hitch. And now, they just needed to get the wyrms. And then.....
RING RING. RING RING.
The boys paused, pulled out of their thoughts, as Canis pulled out his phone.
"Hello?" The raptor boy asked.
"Canis. You get you and your brothers back here. Right. This. Minute. You three are grounded." Came Barton's absolute arctic voice.
Canis felt like someone had just turned him to stone, as he glanced over to see Timothy smirking at him, a very, very knowing smirk.
He had known that the pups were going to betray them......
So he had come up with even MORE inventive treachery.
"Um. Dad....it's...-"
"DO. NOT. DAD. ME. HERE. NOW. This is not up for debate. Not after what I saw you do to poor Aurum and what you said." Barton's voice said firmly before he hung up.
"Oh.....oh god....." Canis muttered, hanging his head.
"Heh....it's dad..." Malis said, having heard the call. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Within the timeline.....a presence stirred.....
WhATS thE WORst THaT coULd HAPPeN yoU AsK?
-----------------------------------------
The Raptor Den Incident
By Whitestripe
Kyrio, one of the most powerful predators in the whole of Lunar City, owner of the famed Raptor Den club, and overall, one of the top ten in 'people you never want to anger if you value your continued existence', sat behind his desk, idly toying with his walking cane. One of his paws lightly stroking over the sapphire raptor skull on the top of it as he looked across his desk at the three little ones standing before him, his face a neutral mask.
"So. Elliot, let me make sure I understand this correctly." Kyrio said, his voice cool, sounding almost bored. " You want to use my club. Of which, I might add, you and your friends are the reason we're only just now finally reopening to stage a little 'prank war?' With some other powerful magic users? Not telling them what they are walking into, making them believe you and your friends are true danger.....and that me and my raptors are some crazy Saturday morning big bad evil organization bent on capturing and transforming them? Am I understanding that right?" The raptor deadpanned.
"Yep." Canis, a little black lab boy said happily.
"Sounds about right." Malis, his identical twin said cheerily.
"That's exactly what we want to do sir." Elliot, the little badger boy beaming happily at his boss.
Kyrio's face grew thunderous, as he stood up, slamming his cane against the grown. "YOU THINK I WOULD LET YOU BRATS DO THIS ON YOUR OWN IN MY CLUB?" He roared, before suddenly, his face brightened and he beamed excitedly, nearly thrumming with joy. "Cause we're tooooootally joining in. This sounds liiiiiiike sooooo much fun." The raptor said, lifting his cane, giving it a little spin before pointing it at Elliot. "Elliot, my boy, go get your friends, everyone you want to involve in this little prank war of yours. Pups, you two send out the little SOS, and we'll give them a show they won't soon forget." The raptor said.
A devious smile formed over Kyrio's muzzle. "Now, if you'll excuse me, boys. I need to go prepare my troops for war." The raptor said, whistling cheerfully as he strolled out of his office to go let his employees know what was about to transpire.
"He's toooootallly going to betray us and try and transform us when we've claimed all the others, isn't he?" Canis asked.
"Yeeeeeap," Malis answered.
"Sounds like the boss. So we'll just have to give him even greater betrayal, right back....oh, and then counter that betrayal that you two will do on me." Elliot said cheerfully as he headed for the door.
"Whaaaaat?" Canis asked, starting to follow along after his big brother.
"Us? Betray you?" Malis said, sounding so very sweet.
"You live and breathe betrayal for a game like this. Yes. You're uncle Leogun's kids." Elliot deadpanned as he headed out.
Canis beamed at his twin. "Little brother's always says the nicest things, doesn't he?" He cackled.
Thing was........he was totally right as well.
"My glorious overlord. We have a problem. A very, very large problem." Paradox, a multihued feline spoke quickly as he stepped into the temple. His fur constantly shifting into different shades of color as he walked towards the throne of his overlord and bowed deeply. Razor blinking and sitting up in his throne from where he'd been napping.
He was a cat, so sue him.
"What is it Paradox? What's going on?" Razor asked with a yawn.
"Hara and the rest of his friends are in danger. It seems Kyrio has betrayed and transformed them all. If we don't get Hara back quickly, the curse that blasted tanuki stuck inside of you will trigger and turn you into a plush." Paradox said quickly. "Right now, all of those so-called heroes have been captured, so I was able to learn, I intercepted a message from those two pups before they were turned into raptor hatchlings."
Razor let out a low growl and nod, flicking his wrist out. "Roy, Aurum, I need you, our friends need our help." He yelled out as a swirling emerald rift opened up.
As he waited, Razor narrowed his eyes towards Paradox. "I noticed, Paradox, that you said nothing about helping the others." He growled.
Paradox gave a shrug. "They are unimportant. They are thorns in your path my lord. Better to clip them now. Hara is the only one that matters here. If it hadn't been for him, I wouldn't have even bothered to inform you over something so trivial."
A glimmering golden blade was suddenly resting against Paradox's neck. A white and gold feline, looking to be in his late thirties or forties casually leaning, back to back with him, his blade resting over one shoulder, point resting dangerously close to Paradox's neck.
"You know Paradox. Call me crazy, but I think you just spoke out against Razor. Was I hearing you wrong in my old age?" Aurum taunted.
Razor and Paradox both froze. Neither of them had heard him coming at all. One moment, he hadn't been there, the next, he was ready to take Paradox's head right off his shoulders with that glimmering blade.
"Me, betray my overlord? I would never do that." Paradox sputtered.
"Right. You just are doing this for his own good." Aurum snorted before stepping away and sheathing his blade.
A moment later, from the portal, a badger came walking out, grinning. "Hey Razor, what did you need me for? Need some fresh cookies or brownies?" Roy asked happily.
Razor told him.
Roy wasn't happy about it.
A few minutes later, and they were on their way to the club. Paradox opening a rift to transport them into the club and the group went in together, ready for whatever they were about to encounter.
They were very much UNPREPARED.
For none of them realized that, unlike many predators that called Lunar City home, Kyrio was what one might call "Genre Savvy." When all different types of magic existed, and just about anyone seemed to be able to pull out abilities at the drop of a hat. The raptor had realized, when he had been building his club, that people teleporting, warping, or otherwise suddenly appearing in his club could be very bad for his, his patrons, and his employees' continued sentient existence.
And so, he had developed a......countermeasure. To such things.
When one attempted to teleport into the club. It would trigger a failsafe spell in the club, and shunt the teleporter not where they planned to go.
But rather.....into a mural that had been cursed to absorb anyone who touched it into itself as a relief carving in the wall.
One moment, they had been soaring through a tunnel of emerald light, heading towards their target, before in the next, they each felt like a hand had grabbed the napes of their neck, jerking them to the side.
Paradox, Razor, and Roy were all caught by surprise, none of them realizing just what was going on.
However, Aurum had been fighting the very worst abominations in this world for over the last fifteen years of his life all on his own. For him....
This was just another Saturday.
The moment he had felt the pressure on the nape of his neck, he was drawing his blade, lifting it up and swiping it in a circle in front of him, the jerk pulling him through the circle of light that formed and as he broke through it, a suit of beautiful wolfish golden armor formed over his body. His sword growing more ornate, burning green sigils flaring up the blade as he lifted it up and hurled it into the wall of the tunnel, shattering the warp spell. And at the same moment, he reached out and grabbed Roy and Razor's paws, and pulled himself away, his armor blazing with golden light as it disrupted whatever spell was trying to drag them away, as they fell out, into the club proper.
Aurum landed gracefully, letting go of Roy and Razor as he lifted his paw and caught his blade, swiping it to the side as the flame winked out. But just in front of them, was a large stone mural taking up the entire wall, covered with both anthro and feral beasts, etched in beautiful, perfect detail.
And before their very eyes, a new figure began to form in the center of the mural. A large, feral tiger taking shape. A fierce snarl etched on its stone muzzle, one paw raised as though about to attack at the onlooker, a few faint movements could be seen, as though the tiger was trying to look from side to side before a soft crackling echoed through the room and the tiger froze, nothing more than a solid stone relief carving, just like the rest of the figures. If they hadn't seen it themselves, they wouldn't have even realized it wasn't anything 'but' part of the art piece in the wall.
"Ha, told you, told you they wouldn't get caught that easily." A young childish voice said cheerfully from behind them. Aurum whirring around, dropping into a ready stance with his blade as he saw a little black raptor boy sitting at a bar, a cup of apple juice in his claws. Right beside him sat another raptor boy, a white scaled raptor, with a blue mane. Behind the bar, and seated around them, were other, older looking Raptors. Kyrio and his staff.
"Ya, ya, you were right Cani, no need to rub it in." Eli, the little white raptor boy grumbled softly. "I owe ya ten bucks, I'll pay ya once this is done."
"Cani....Canis, Canis is that you?" Razor asked quickly, taking a step towards the raptors, before Aurum lifted a paw, cutting him off, the feline shaking his head subtly, not taking his eyes off them.
"Canis? Who's Canis? I'm Cani, I work for the Raptor Den." The little black raptor said proudly. "Me and my brother are sort of the runners of the den, we pick up the odd jobs with Eli till we can learn something of our own to help the club."
Brother.
Aurum let out a curse. Every raptor was there except one.
Where the hell was Malis.
"PAUSE."
The whole room lost its color, freezing in place as time seemed to stop. From around the corner, another raptor, clad in black and green armor stepped out.
"Don't think we didn't prep for this," Mali said cheerfully as he strolled towards the three frozen furs. He flicked a paw up as Razor's belt appeared before him and flew into the armored raptor's paw, before he walked over to Aurum, taking the sword out of his paw. He set the two items on the ground before tapping the two buttons on the front of his belt. A red A, and a Blue B. Green lightning beginning to crackle around his foot as a glowing clock formed under his feet. Both hands of the clock pointing at the armored feline. Mali spun his place, lifting his foot in a kick, as the big hand of the clock followed his foot as he whirled around and drove his foot into Aurum's chest, all of that power lashing out and striking the cat, hurling him backward for a moment, before he froze once again.
With a nod, the raptor reached down and collected his goods, sticking them into a small bag he conjured out of thin air before starting to walk back towards the frozen raptors. Tapping the buttons on his belt once more.
"RESTART."
Time restarted as Aurum let out a sharp cry as he hit the ground, grabbing his chest, before his armor shattered off of his body, the cat panting as he looked up to see the armored raptor look over his shoulder and give him a mocking little salute before his own armor vanished, a mirror image of Cani walking over to stand beside his brother.
"You guys got things that make this little contest unfair. I was just evening the playing field for us." Mali said cheerfully. "After all, you're the prey, we're the predators. It's our job to hunt you all down."
Kyrio reached over the bar and stroked the black feathers that made up Mali's 'hair'. "Now now Mali, behave. We have guests." He said, before spreading his arms as he addressed the three. "Welcome you three to the Raptor Den, I and my employees welcome you." He said cheerfully. "I see one of you are already enjoying our permanent hospitality, and let me tell you, he'll be treasured for years to come once he finishes setting in the next few hours and it becomes permanent. But as for you three. It's time to see how long you last before we catch you and make you ours like we did your friends. So.....run. Run prey, run, and entertain us before our grand reopening."
The three wasted no time in booking it.
In different directions.
Canis and Malis fought back the urge to snicker.
This was going greeeeeeeaaaattttt.
Kyrio watched them all leave, waiting for them to vanish before breaking into laughter. "Oooooh, oh man, I forgot how much fun it can be to be so over the top sometimes." He snickered, before looking over at the others. "Shouldn't one of you go after your friends?" Kyrio asked. "I know what you guys want me to do, but shouldn't you be....you know, bringing them back for me to work over?"
Eli grinned, rubbing his paws together. "I brought a few friends here to play...... They're about to run into them."
"You what?" Kyrio deadpanned.
"Brought some friends. Buuuuuuut, if you really want me too. I'll go." Eli said as he hopped off. "Be back with one of them soon, make sure you save me a drink." The raptor boy said before scampering off.
Roy panted softly as he ran as fast as he could, out into what seemed like an ancient, primeval forest. He had tried and failed to bring his magic to bear here back in the Den proper. He knew that against Canis and Malis, let alone the rest of the raptors, he was outmatched. He needed time, he needed a plan. They were still people, even with magic. He didn't need to be stronger than them. He just needed to be smarter.
Footsteps drew his attention, and the badger whirled around and saw.....Elliot? Walking towards him. But.....he was a badger.....What was going on?
"Hey there Roy," Elliot said cheerfully. The badger boy, the alternate form of Eli said, giving him a playful wave. "How do you like the Garden?"
"Elliot, what are you doing? Do you know what's going on?" Roy asked quickly.
"Sure. You're being pranked." Elliot said with a wide smile on his muzzle. "Canis and Malis found out that Aurum's birthday was today, and soooooo they prepared a little present. What they call 'the prank war to end all prank wars.' That little SOS, all the issues, fake, to get you guys to come here." Elliot said brightly.
Roy paused, staring at him. "So.....we aren't in any danger?" He asked slowly.
"It's Canis and Malis. Danger is relative." Elliot said with a smile, before adding. "But it's me that you're going to have to deal with."
Roy took a deep breath. He'd been training for this, with Fenrir off and on. He lifted his paws into his stance and let the breath out. "You can't use magic here either. You're a mammal."
"You're right. I am a mammal. Right now. But see...... I sort of have another dad, than just Badgerdad. I kinda sorta got adopted. And, well.....he gave me and the others a gift. I haven't been able to test it out too often, what with dad probably blowing a gasket if he saw it. Buuuuuuuut, for you, Roy." Elliot's grin turned positively predatory.
"I'll make an exception."
Elliot extended his arms out, lifting his head up as an ornate runic circle formed under his feet. The sigils and runes blazing with light and power, before it flowed upwards over the badger boy. And as it did, Elliot's body began to change.
His fur vanished, his feet turning into a deep, verdant shade of green, but under that color, one could see sparkling lights, like stars as his feet turned into clawed reptilian legs. As the circle flowed upwards, more and more changes formed over Elliot,
A long, reptilian tail, unadorned but for the stars that glimmered not on his hide, but almost like they were within it. That deep green almost like the leaves of a tree. His chest taking on a beautiful shade of blue like water, studded with glimmering stars and what almost looked to be floating planets. Elliot's arms grew a bit longer, as he dropped to all fours. Razor-sharp talons bursting forth from his fingers and ripping into the ground as he panted, grinning as his head changed. His neck growing longer, more draconic as his muzzle shifted, fangs growing out of his jaws. A pair of deer-like spiraling horns pushing out of the top of his head, between them, was a spiraling planet, slowly rotating. A verdant paradise of green and blue, the exact same shade as the draconic beasts glimmering, stary hide.
And from his back, a pair of wings burst out of his back, flaring out. In the underside, in the darkness, one could see hundreds of beautiful sparkling lights that were almost hypnotic to just stop and gaze at as they seemed to swirl and sparkle across the membranes of his wings. Green mist wafted out of Elliot's muzzle as his tail lashed from side to side as he looked at Roy.
"What do you think Roy? Like my new look?" The starry draconic, feral beast rumbled, leaning back and lifting up his front limbs up and extending them, as though to give Roy a better look at him.
Roy just stared at him in total brain lock. "What....what are you Elliot?"
Elliot let out a chuckle.
"Well, it's a bit of a long story. See, we've been doing our own thing for a while now Roy." Elliot dropped down to all fours and began to circle around the badger, watching him, breathing out that green mist. "Timmy decided to go and piss off a creature known as a Voidwyrm, basically, a freaking space dragon, named Gravitas. He started gunning for us. But Timmy was always able to escape him. Except, one day, Timmy didn't come back, and when we went to find him, we found out Gravitas had taken his pendant and turned him into a constellation on his body. Permanently. "
Roy kept his eyes on Elliot, carefully taking a few steps back for every step forward Elliot made. The creature, he could see, was trying to distract him, keep him focused on his story, so he could get close enough to attack.
Well, Roy wasn't going to fall for that trick.
"We were able to get Tim's pendant back. But we didn't have a way to get it back to him, and we knew, with all of Timmy's power added to his own, we weren't sure we would be able to beat Gravitas on our own. So, we tricked him. We threw our fight, we let him capture, transform, and absorb us all, permanently transforming us. We let him think he won so that we could get the medallion back to Timmy. And he was able to use it to reform, but, see, here's the trick."
Roy suddenly blurred, running and bounding up towards a tree, leaping up and grabbing onto a branch and hauling himself off the ground just as a pair of roots lanced up, trying to wrap around and bind him where he'd been before.
Elliot let out a soft whine before continuing with his little story. "See, Timmy told us he learned a secret, Gravitas wasn't just one person. He was three. Three different personalities in one body. Only, the worst one was in control, and the other two were sealed in a magical sleep. He let Grav reabsorb him, but what the dragon didn't know as Timmy had warded himself, and when he was a part of Grav, he used.....really powerful dangerous magic to wake up the other two and not just free us, but allowed all three parts of the dragon to integrate with each other. And let Grav be who he was supposed to be."
Roy bounded from branch to branch, the badger moving shockingly fast and gracefully despite his round size.
Thank you, Fenrir.
"Ya, well, what does that have to do with anything?" Roy called out, dropping down and hitting the ground, just as a branch from one of the trees tried to take his head off.
"I'm getting there, sheesh, don't you know how to tell a story?" Elliot rumbled, casually padding after him. "Anyway, once the space dragon was back together. He was so thankful to Timmy and us for healing his mind. He offered to reward us."
"With making you a....what are you?"
"He calls himself a Voidwyrm, but no, his original reward was to turn us into constellations in the night sky. Was pretty fun for the week we were, really interesting before we reformed. But after that, ya, he offered to make us his children and gave us each our own form. Who knows, if you survive me, you might meet one of the others." Elliot chirped playfully.
"But, then again, that means you survive me," Elliot growled as he lifted his head back before a burst of green mist washed out towards the badger.
Roy let out a curse as he leaped upwards, reaching out his paw.....when the branch pulled upwards just out of his reach.
"Crap baskets," Roy growled before he fell back into the green mist.
Roy grinned as he felt it swirl around him. His skin hardening. His fur quickly giving way to solid, hard, brown bark. His paws reaching upwards as around his paws, bright green leaves began to bloom forth there and around his muzzle. The badger letting out a groan, before he was silenced as his muzzle was sealed shut, turning into another 'branch' of the rapidly forming badger tree.
His legs flowed together, his toes burrowing into the earth as they began to seek out water and nutrients, turning into a vast root system digging through the Garden.
The badger's mind began to slow.....but then...why did....tree.....need....think....
With a few final, soft cracks. All movement ceased, as a new, large tree stood in the Garden. Not a trace of the badger left as Elliot thumped his tail proudly on the ground. "Welcome to the Garden Roy. Hope you like where I planted ya." He rumbled before turning and padding off.
Razor panted softly as he raced through the Den as fast as his feet could carry him. He didn't hear anyone, but that meant crap here in the meat grinder that was the Raptor Den.
The cat shoved open a nearby door and raced inside, shutting it......
Before freezing as he saw two draconic beasts leering at him, with grins on their muzzle.
The shared the same basic body shape. Though the one on the left was bigger than the one on the right. A large pair of wings sprouting forth from their bodies, straight horns going out from their head, the tips of which curved backward. Between those horns, orbiting each other were a pair of stars. In the center, was a massive red giant, and slowly floating around it, was a softly glowing, smaller white dwarf. The two stars seemed to move in perfect synchronicity with each other. Every eruption from the red star was absorbed by the white one, and every flare from the white flowed into the red, the two feeding off of one another, helping each other to burn longer.
The larger wyrm was a brilliant red, with glimmering dark sunspots shining over his hide, as well as the natural stars. A mane of fur fell from his head, flowing around him like the flare-ups of a solar flare, his tail lashing from side to side, no solid tail tip to it, but rather, it almost looked like an actual flame was burning, shaped to look like a spade.
The other is a brilliant white, glimmering with an almost blue-white radiance from his wings and the stars within his internal galaxy. On the tips of his limbs, there is a vague red hue, as if he was burning off material and casting it off, just like the star rotating around his head was. His own tail lashed lazily from side to side, a glimmering glowing arrow of light, rather than anything solid.
"Well well well, if it isn't little Razor, come to play with the big bad dragons?" The two spoke as one, their young voices echoing through the room as they began to slowly move, circling around Razor, moving in perfect unison with each other, constantly opposite the other.
Razor stared at the creatures, taking a slow step back before he turned and tried to run, and slammed muzzle first into some invisible force and fell backward.
The two let out a laugh. "Awwwww, that's so adorable. The little kitty wants to run. But sorry to say, you can't get away from us once we got our eye on you." It was Timmy who spoke, breaking off of his orbit around Razor and focusing on him. "Rotation lock." The dragon snarled.
Razor shuddered, as he felt like an invisible band had wrapped around his wrist. The red dragon smiled as he sat down, waving a paw to the white one. "Go have your fun Timmy, then we'll bring him in," Scott said casually.
The white dragon flashed his fangs, watching as Razor turned and began to sprint across the room, yet, as fast as he ran, Timmy seemed to be right behind him, the exact same distance, no matter how fast he ran. Every time he looked, Timmy was in perfect lockstep with him, a wide smile on his muzzle, as he opened his jaws and let out a blazing beam of blueish white light towards the cat.
Razor dropped low, skidding under the beam, taking his eyes off of the dragon for a moment, and when he looked back, Timothy was gone. But when he turned around, there the dragon was, right in front of him, grinning. Razor tried to skid to a stop....before he slammed into an invisible force about five feet away that stopped him cold and knocked him to the ground with a groan.
"We're linked. You and I. Bound to an eternal dance around each other. Just like my blazing stars. You with me, and I, with you. Until I choose to break it. But then, why would I want to break it my little star?" Timothy rumbled. "You and I, we're one. Swirling together, revolving over and over again through the heavens. Thinking the same thoughts. Like we're the same person. Aren't we?"
Razor shuddered, his hands flying to his head as he felt....something in his mind....coiling there....trying to grasp his thoughts. "Get....get out of my head." He snarled out.
"Your head? Hah, that's rich. It's our head. We are one. You and I, I and you. We think the same thoughts. Make the same movements. Mirroring each other eternally. You can feel it, can't you? It's coming more and more naturally. You know what I'm going to do before I do it. And you want to follow along. Say the words I say. Do what I do. Because that is what we do. That's what we always do." The dragon cooed softly to the feline.
Razor let out a soft whimper, falling onto all fours, just as Timmy was, his tail starting to sway in time with the other dragon's.....no.....with that dragon....he wasn't....wasn't.....
"You can feel it, can't you? Doesn't it feel good to just mirror me?" It wasn't just Timmy speaking, but Razor speaking as well, a haughty, smug look forming on the cat's muzzle as he preened, looking towards Timmy, the dragon holding the exact same look, the exact same expression. "Now we're getting it. We're remembering what we are. What we have to do. Such a good us. Yes. we. Are." Razor and Timmy spoke together as they began to pad towards the door.
Scott chuckled, shaking his head. He always hated breaking his link with his dear Timmy. The two were connected, bound together not just by love, but the very gravity of their stars linking them together, feeding each other, keeping each other stable, sane, and strong. Plus.....feeding on each other's abilities. If Razor had any magic of his own, right now, Timmy would be devouring it, absorbing it into himself. But the cat wasn't much of a meal for them, so, they would do as they were asked.
It was time to deliver him to the raptor....
And then, maybe they could play with a few of these terrestrial creatures....
After all, they always made such good playthings for them.
"FUCK THIS PLACE. FUCK THIS PLACE SO HARD. FUCK THIS PLACE WITH A RUSTY FUCKING SPOON. WHEN I GET OUT OF HERE, I AM SOOOOOO DROPPING AN ORBITAL BOMBARDMENT ON THIS FUCKING PLACE."
Aurum sprinted as fast as he could down a corridor. The very hallway coming to life, the stone floors rippling as it rose up in a wave to try and engulf him. He could feel the magic flowing through the liquid marble, and he had no doubt of just 'what' would happen if he touched that stuff. He was positive that a moment later, there would be a brand new marble kitty ready for display.
And, as he had so eloquently put it.
Fuck. That.
He focused for a moment and smirked. This place was keyed to negate all magic. Everything this world took for granted.
It was not, however, keyed to disable a Throwback's natural Talent.
He spun around, lifting his paw as a swirling golden barrier of solid light sprang into being.
The wave of stone crashed against the barrier and was stopped cold, swirling and splashing against it before slowly flowing backward as Aurum shoved his hand forward, the golden wall shooting forward and shoving it back down the hallway.
Without wasting a beat, he turned and started running again down the hallway, so quickly, he almost missed the shadow that was bounding off the ceiling down towards him.
Key Word: Almost.
"PARKOUR." The feline yelled, flinging himself to the side, pushing off of the wall, and leaping up, just as the beast landed on the ground. Aurum grabbing hold of the strange, draconic beast's horns and gave them a tug upwards, the beast letting out a roar of rage as he strained against the cat on his back.
The beasts horns rose up for a bit, before curving backward, it's golden-orange body glimmering, speckled with planets and stars just under what almost seemed to be it's translucent, glowing hide. The throwback sitting between the beast's two wings as they flared and flapped as it tried desperately to toss him off. Aurum spying a second pair of smaller horns coming just behind the pair that he was holding onto for dear life. A "Mane" of swirling grey gas, blazing with stars flowed down from around its head and horns. And floating between its horns was a thing of wonder. A blazing star, surrounded by gas and rock. A little Protostar, still being born, still forming its own little star system.
"Ow, ow, ow, hey, hey that hurts. That hurts, let me go. Come on, this is unfair." Ace's voice came from the beast's muzzle.
"You just TRIED to eat me. I think a little pain is fair payback, my noble steed." Aurum growled softly. Holding tightly to the beast's one horn, as he reached into his other pocket and drew out what looked like a very ornate brush. The tiger lifting it up and focusing, a blazing green fire igniting at the tip as he began to swipe it in the air, leaving burning sigils hanging around him for a moment, before he swiped the brush through them once more.
The sigils blazed brightly for a second before shooting down under the cat and over the beast's muzzle. Ace letting out a yelp as a bit and bridle formed in his jaws. The dragon couldn't help but gnaw on the glimmering metal in his muzzle for a few moments, his muzzle being pulled shut by the tight bridle, as a pair of glimmering, glowing reins began to flow out of the bridle and into Aurum's paw, attaching to either end of the brush.
Beneath the cat's rear, a leather saddle began to form, quickly strapping itself and tightening down onto his back and belly. Ace quivered as a fuzzy.....warm....fog began to wash through his mind. The massive voidwyrm rumbling softly at the pleasant sensations washing through his mind and body as he began to relax, panting heavily. It felt.....it felt.....
"Shhhh, shhh, relax, relax. You're okay. You just follow your reins, follow the tug of your rider's will." Aurum whispered soothingly to the great beast as he could feel it begin to go slack, to submit.
Ya.....listen.....obey....didn't....no think....good beast...obey....mount.....be....ridden....
The voidwyrm's eyes glazed over, all sentience vanishing from his eyes as he let out a rumbling growl, before Aurum gave a tug of the reins and the beast turned. The cat snapping the reins as the large winged reptile took off running forward down the corridor. "Let's go, big guy, let's go, we got some friends to save." The cat said firmly.
Hopefully, he'd be able to save everyone before it was too late.
"Looks like Aurum's still running about," Kyrio said casually, sitting on a barstool, one paw idly stroking Razor's head as the cat draped himself over his lap, purring happily as he nuzzled up against the dinosaur, firmly enthralled under his will as a cute little feral cat, in mind, if not body.
"You gotta admit, that waaaaaaasss pretty cool the way he brought Ace down and tamed him," Eli spoke up as he sipped at his apple juice.
Cani and Mali both chuckled at that, sharing a look between each other. "Well. What do you say we go deal with him dear brother?" Mali asked with a cheerful little smile.
"Hey. You two already got to play with them. I want a chance to mess with Aurum, and I know exactly what I'm going to do with the cat." Cani rumbled as he hopped up, the little black raptor bowing to Kyrio and the rest of the staff of the raptor den. "If you two will excuse me, I have an Aurum to catch and bring back for the boss to transform." He said before racing off.
Kyrio chuckled as he watched the excitable little dinosaur race off, before looking at Mali. "Soooooo, Mali. What do you say I offer you and your brother permanent jobs on staff here....I think you two could be amazing Raptor Den staff....." He said, stroking his little Razor lap cat.
Aurum rode the void wyrm through the halls of the club. It felt almost like some sort of maze or labyrinth. With the halls twisting and twining back on each other, no doubt done specifically just to mess with him. But he ignored it, letting the wyrm guide him through the maze. His new steed knew the way out of this, he just needed to let him do the work.....
So....why did this feel.....so easy.
"ALL. ZERO."
Aurum let out a sharp curse and leaped up out of the saddle, as a swarming stream of red and black sigils washed out and engulfed Ace, and nearly grabbing hold of the cat as he tumbled to safety. A moment later, a bright flash of light struck the wyrm as it lifted its head and let out a loud roar before it's body just seemed to start melting. Turning into a dark, shiny liquid. Melting down and then flowing back towards a figure standing obscured in shadow.
The figure that stepped out was something out of nightmares. Its armor was jet black, but it looked.....half-finished.....wires and piping moving over the right shoulder. The helmet looked broken. The right eye having no real covering over the glimmering red eye as it glowed, almost with a cruel, evil malice. That dark liquid flowing up over the suit and over his right shoulder, forming into a snarling, roaring dragon, etched into the metal of the suit.
"What do you think of the upgrades I made?" Cani's distorted, dark voice spoke out of the raptor-like figure as it eyed Aurum, almost like a child trying to decide how it wanted to rip off the wings of a butterfly.
"Come on Canis. You don't need to do this. You're in there somewhere. Fight. Don't let Kyrio control you. Don't let him erase you." Aurum yelled out quickly, lifting his paws up, falling into his stance.
Cani snorted as he began to stalk forward, slow, calm steps as he approached his target. "He isn't. I loooove being liked this Aurum. Being able to cut loose for once. To just.....be the predator I'm never allowed to me. You have nooooo idea how stifling it is to be such a good boy for our dad. Having to let our prey go. Having to be good little puppies. Ooooooh, it feels good just to....just to be me for once. Even if we 'might' let you go after this." His helmet cocked to the side. "I suppose it depends on how much you entertain me."
Aurum growled before charging forward towards him. Green flames erupting around his paws as he thrust out at Cani.
The glimmering red-eye suddenly blazed brightly for a few seconds before, without missing a beat, Cani leaned to the side, dodging the strike, his paws flying up and driving themselves into Aurum's chest, sending him tumbling backward, just a second too late in the block.
The cat snarling as he charged forward, moving towards the wall and bounding off of it as he drove his foot at the armored raptor's head.
That eye glowed again before he leaned backward. Aurum's foot missing him by less than an inch, before his foot was grabbed in midair, Cani hauling him up before slamming him repeatedly into the ground, over and over again, leaving a small crater there.
Cani shuddered as he leaned down to whisper into Aurum's ear. "I know this is just a little game. But honestly....I never get to really play anymore...not the way we 'want' to play. You'll entertain me, won't you Aurum?" He asked, hauling the cat up and hurling him into the side of the wall, before turning in the same smooth motion and bringing his foot up and driving it into Aurum's chest. The cat letting out a cry as he began to drop before another kick sent him tumbling across the hall.
Cani chuckled, watching Aurum tumble away, walking towards him again as the cat struggled to try and pull himself to his feet. "I can't help but think Aurum. That you, the gang, dad, even the predators see us as a joke. As stupid little boys who just love to prank and transform and toy with people. They forget just WHAT we are."
He stopped, a stream of those symbols washing out and engulfing Aurum, lifting him to his feet as they tightened around his body, holding his arms pinned to his side as he was lifted up.
"We're predators. The perfect predators." His paw dropped and pressed the button on the top of his belt, the glimmering red orb flaring with light in the center of the belt as dark red and black energy began to crackle along his right foot.
"ALL. EXTINCTION."
Came the dark distorted voice as Cani leaped up into the air and shot down towards Aurum. Striking the feline in the chest with his crackling foot, letting all of the power wash into the tiger, before backflipping off of him, landing gracefully as Aurum's body shuddered before began to come apart, melting into that dark reflective liquid, and flowing up into the armor. Across the other shoulder, a snarling feral tiger began to appear, etched into the metal. Another design in the suit.
With a chuckle, Cani tugged the belt off, the suit just melting off of him and flowing into the belt as he lifted it up. Etched on either 'wing' of the belt, where the images of the tiger and the voidwyrm he had caught. Nothing but simple etched designs in the belt's ornate filigree.
"Heh. Caught ya kitty."
Aurum groaned as he slowly stirred, laying on the ground. He was laying in the bar of the Den.
......Surrounded by dinosaurs.
Oh. Crap baskets.
Aurum started to sit up before a claw reached out and stroked over his head. A sudden calmness washing through the cat.
"Shhh. Calm down. Calm down, little fella. You're okay. It's okay. Just relax. Just listen to my voice." Kyrio said soothingly, starting to stroke his paws up and down Aurum's head and face. The raptor's body beginning to shift and change, like clay being shaped under the paw of a master sculpture.
Aurum shivered, a look of blissful pleasure starting to wash over his face. Even as it grew more bulky and stocky. The fur giving way to leather and scales. Still holding that bright shade of white, with vibrant gold markings going up and down it.
"Theeeere we go. Such a good little Raptor. Just let your mind just drift right out of you." Kyrio said soothingly. Watching Aurum's eyes glaze over. Bestial instinct replacing sentient thought. "Nothing but a beast. A dumb animal for my stable. But that's okay. I take care of you. I've trained you. You're a good animal. Serving your owner. Let them ride you, carry them where they need to do." A trail of feathers began to form, going down Aurum's back, holding the same shade as his scales.
Kyrio gently tugged the raptor forward a bit, just as his tail began to bulk up, growing stronger, more muscular. The raptor's stance and gait shifting to accommodate these changes. His feet and legs shifting, long, razor-sharp talons forming and lightly clicking against the paneling of the floor. Hisses of pleasure and bliss slipping out of the raptor's muzzle as his body was changed and reconstructed.
And where once a handsome tiger was, now stood a full-grown raptor. It's glimmering white and gold scales shining in the light. Its eyes held no intelligence, no memory, nothing of its former life. As far as it's faint, dull mind could remember. It had hatched here, in these stables. Been reared under the gentle, but firm claws of Master Kyrio. Trained and taught to obey, to serve the two-leggers. It was a mount. A beast of burden.
Kyrio smiled as he stroked Aurum's head, the beast gently nuzzling into his touch.
"Well. That wasn't too hard." Kyrio said with a chuckle as he reached down and pet Razor's head, the cat letting out a dull, dumb mewl as it nuzzled into its owner touch. The raptor looking at Cani, Mali, and Elliot.
"So. I'll just keep them all for about the next month, then let them go. They could use the vacation. And no, I promise I won't sell Aurum as a mount....just....you know....rent him." Kyrio said cheerfully. "Unless he wants to stay this way. Then I'd be happy to sell him.....Oh, maybe I can change Razor too, sell them as a set....." The raptor considered.
Cani and Mali shared a high five. Their prank war had one off without a hitch. And now, they just needed to get the wyrms. And then.....
RING RING. RING RING.
The boys paused, pulled out of their thoughts, as Canis pulled out his phone.
"Hello?" The raptor boy asked.
"Canis. You get you and your brothers back here. Right. This. Minute. You three are grounded." Came Barton's absolute arctic voice.
Canis felt like someone had just turned him to stone, as he glanced over to see Timothy smirking at him, a very, very knowing smirk.
He had known that the pups were going to betray them......
So he had come up with even MORE inventive treachery.
"Um. Dad....it's...-"
"DO. NOT. DAD. ME. HERE. NOW. This is not up for debate. Not after what I saw you do to poor Aurum and what you said." Barton's voice said firmly before he hung up.
"Oh.....oh god....." Canis muttered, hanging his head.
"Heh....it's dad..." Malis said, having heard the call. "What's the worst that could happen?"
Within the timeline.....a presence stirred.....
WhATS thE WORst THaT coULd HAPPeN yoU AsK?
Canis and Malis are up to their old tricks again. And this time, they have prepared a glorious prank the likes of which few have ever seen. With the help of some of their friends, both old and new, their 'friends' better watch out.
Because they won't know what hits them.
And here we have a new tale for everyone. This was a patreon tale that I wrote for Nakito Thanks for the support my friend. Special call out as well to Kyrio for featuring in the story, it's always a delight to write a tale with your wonderful character. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this story. It was a total blast to write. As always, if you enjoy the story, please favorite and leave a comment. I love hearing from everyone.
Because they won't know what hits them.
And here we have a new tale for everyone. This was a patreon tale that I wrote for Nakito Thanks for the support my friend. Special call out as well to Kyrio for featuring in the story, it's always a delight to write a tale with your wonderful character. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this story. It was a total blast to write. As always, if you enjoy the story, please favorite and leave a comment. I love hearing from everyone.
Category Story / Transformation
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 120 x 120px
Listed in Folders
I was not prepared to read this and see fucking KAMEN RIDER CHRONICLE
Soooooooooo, fun fact, myself, and many many of my followers and watchers are huge fans of Kamen Rider, which is one of the reason it tends to show up so much as tributes to my favorite series's.
That's pretty damn cool.
I'm guessing the other Rider referenced is Ark-Zero then? I haven't gotten to finish Zero-One yet.
I'm guessing the other Rider referenced is Ark-Zero then? I haven't gotten to finish Zero-One yet.
Yep, Ark-Zero is the one they used. It's so rare I get to use the evil riders, I thought it fit Canis and Malis here to use them.
The evil riders are usually the most fun lol. Chronicle is pretty cool but I always loved the design of Dangerous Zombie.
IM a half boiled Kamen rider fan! W is best! And has best suit! and he'd beat up Dangerous zombie easy! maybe... probably not. But hte Philip half would,
Ugh.. Dragons all over the shop. Why did I agree to this, again?
What? We're both reptiles. In a very, VERY indirect way, we are just the fire breathing winged versions of you raptors.
Besides, you've mellowed out so hard ever since you met Elliot.
Besides, you've mellowed out so hard ever since you met Elliot.
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