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…
“Is it around here?” asked Flora, specifically talking to Rose.
The area was an alleyway, which Rose confirmed to have been the source of the Torque which she had been sensing. Flora then readied her bow, as she began to slowly enter further the wet, smelly dumps of the alleys. Barbie and Fotia were watching her all the way from the entrance, waiting for further order if necessary. Flora had been busy checking the area itself, and not just looking at the corners and behind trashcans, but apparently the walls and ground too. Fotia couldn’t put his finger on why she was doing it, and chalked it up to her personal style. Barbie was just standing wistfully, her eyes wondering around, while occasionally checking Flora. She was definitely thinking of her, but what exactly he couldn’t tell.
<What is the question you wanted to ask?> he asked Pierre in his head, turning away from everyone for a moment.
Well, first of all, about what you said earlier. Miss Elefantus herself, and how you said she was different. I seem to be having trouble…
<Does it not strike apparent?>
No! Of course it’s not! Pierre sighed in his head. Maybe an explanation about Torques or- I don’t know!
<You wish to learn of Torques now?>
Maybe a rundown. My father says, there’s nothing wrong with learning more if it gives you an answer. So tell me more!
<Very well then,> Fotia cleared his throat internally. <Now, to be forward with you, their origins are unknown to us. They feast on negative emotions, and will consume our whole world if not stopped, as we learned.>
Okay…Is that it?
<All I can say. I know no more, actually.>
So then…uhm… So how do you cure them?
<Hmm?>
You cure them after every fight, right? With weapons? How does that work?
<That was thanks to Lahpa-Pessa! Our weapons create an anti-thesis of that accursed magic. This blessed power is then made clear whenever we tap into our innate magics and is thus mixed within our attacks. Once in contact, it severs the user from the dark hold of the Torque.>
So they just hurt Torques, right?
<Exactly. Only the part that grans Torque power.>
And they don’t hurt humans at all?
<They can, of course, as any weapon can. But once infused, these will not react to anything but the dark magic of the Torques. It is handy in many situations.>
I think I understand it now. So, what about-
“People are difficult,” blurted out Barbie.
Fotia jolted from his stupor into reality, realizing again the young girl next to him. He quickly coughed his throat clear. Pierre, as always, said that doing that was suspicious and that he should stop.
“Oh, is that so?” he retorted.
“And talking is difficult too. Like, people sometime like or don’t like what you say. Why is that?” Barbie asked into the sky.
Fotia had no idea what she meant, but he did not need to know more. Things like this did not need a full explanation, but simple wisdoms. For if you dilute wisdoms with context, you lose the beating heart of them, which cause many to forget what makes their gem-like brilliance.
“Perhaps talking is difficult so, because you seek to please them. But you cannot please those with words alone. It is a craft to speak like butter, but an even grander one to speak what is true!” Fotia said, proudly folding up his arms.
“Hmmm, I guess,” Barbie admitted, very much taken by his words. Then after a second, added, “But I just want to know how to make people do what I want by talking. I don’t see myself that strong enough on my own.”
Fotia rubbed the lower part of his beak and slowly nodded. Despite looking exactly the same age as her, he was taking on an air of a wiseman.
“Even if so is your goal, perhaps you should learn to achieve it by different means. Don’t seek to control people by talking, but by making them listen to you.”
From this, the young girl’s eyes grew wide. It was as if she just witnessed a master of sophistry himself illuminate her whole world, which was exactly what Fotia aimed to do. Her expressions filled him with pride, which made Pierre gag even more in his head.
“Barbie!” Flora called. The two peered into the alley and found the warrior staring in their direction. She then said, “Barbie, you and Fotia go out, Zamarad is in that direction.” She pointed with her finger to the side. “Then get back here. I think I know what this place is.”
Barbie nodded and darted right out to the streets to look for her spirit.
“You too Fotia!” Flora added. Before he could ask, she said, “She might need you help with finding her way back!”
Fotia nodded, then dashed right after the young lizard girl. He, of course, felt no reason to question why would Barbie need help returning back. If someone gives an order, they might have an important reason that he hasn’t thought of yet. Pierre, on the other hand, just thought she wanted to get rid of him.
Meanwhile, as Barbie ran at speed that left Fotia behind, a thought occurred to her out of nowhere.
“I wish that Matthew was here to see this,” she lamented, realizing what perfect opportunity of them in action he didn’t get to see. “Oh well. I wonder where is he now?”
…
Today was the most distressing day for Matthew. For you see, he was being subjected to the torture most cruel, of being very lonely. Truly, extremely lonely, like no one had ever felt before or since, for this loneliness did not come from simply not having to do. Instead, it was because he felt that everyone decided to abandon him.
For you see, his first friend has chosen to leave with his family to the Bahamas. They came to a decision of passing over their next few days under a bright, warm sun, rather than dreary, gray skies. His second friend told him that she became far too busy to hang around with him or listen to his speeches. Her mother has been requiring her help, more and more, and she just did not have time for anything. And his last friend, or at least whom he thought would be his “friend’ at all, chose to blatantly break his heart in most offensive way possible.
Matthew looked over the gray skies, as the small trickle of rain began falling on him. Oh, poor was his heart, so uniquely broken like no kid had ever felt in this world. And what if he was not so fortunate to know how machines work? He did all the work necessary, pouring everything of himself to help his friend’s creation. Of course, he made some mistakes, and also delegated problem solving to others, but only when he knew they were better suited for it! And in the end, he chose that stupid attention seeker instead of him. All so that they could play in their stupid fan larping over bunch of weirdos that appeared out of nowhere in their town. What sort of cruel, undeserved punishment was this done to him?
Matthew sighed through his nose, and then closed his eyes, letting the cold raindrops fall on his beak. Then the goose chose to look down, not only because of how sensitive his beak actually was to the cold, but to add another effect to his lamentation.
To be fair, this was not the first time for him. Why, his earlier memory was of those kids, who told him he could come over and play with their swings at the backyard, only to turn around and shoo him away from their yard. Or those girls, who complimented him in secret, only to make a fool of him in front of everyone at school. Oh, and those teachers, even after his excellent and immaculate behavior, chose the lazy, and slopy she-fox because they thought he was too annoying? It was always the same, saying that they could never befriend him, because he was too “smart.”
Matthew once again tried to look up. This was it, he believed. No more true friendships for him to enjoy. Only the misery of solitude to accompany him for the rest of his life.
“Hi Mister,” said Mimmy.
Oh, what torment, what anguish it is for such poor, brittle heart.
“Hello, excuse us!” said Lily, taking the young mouse back with her.
No one could ever help him-
“Whatcha doing on our porch? You gonna rob us?” asked Brian to his face.
Matthew spun his head and looked his disdainful eyes at the wolf. “Do you not see, that I am trying to WALLOW IN PITY here?” he stated, before honking through his nose for emphasis. He then raised his beak away from the kid.
“Oh, ok,” said Brian. Then he asked, “But are you sure you are not gonna rob us?”
Matthew slowly navigated his beak back to the boy, and articulating the sentence, replied with, “No, I Will Not. No Leave Me Be.”
Brian shrugged, and went away.
And so, Matthew was once again alone. Alone, to wallow in pity of his loneliness, to see the depths of his curs-
“Are you robbing us!?” exclaimed Bobby.
“I AM NOT ROBBING ANYONE!” Matthew jumped from his seat. “Can’t a young boy wallow in solitude about having to wallow in solitude!?”
Bobby stared at him with wide eyes. Finally, Lily appeared to grab the young penguin’s hand.
“There you are!” she said. She looked at Matthew, “Sorry sir, we didn’t mean to disturb. Hope you didn’t mind.”
“Why, of course, why would I ever mind what some children might think!” said Matthew proudly. “And don’t worry, it is not as if I was doing anything important, but be distraught over that fact that my friends chose to forsake me, and leave me by myself!”
“Wow, that’s sad,” said Bobby. Matthew honked back. He quickly realized just how bad it sounded to hear something like this. “
“You wanna join us?” Lily asked.
Matthew stared at her, and then scoffed at this suggestion.
“Oh please! You cannot be serious! I am not some poor silly old goose who needs CHILDREN to make him feel better! Off with you.” He then turned around in his spot folded his arms. He then added a quick motion of his wing to shoo them.
“Ok. Lets go Bobby,” Lily said.
The kids made their way to their orphanage. Matthew watched as they moved further away, merrily running over mud and puddles. And with every step, the loneliness began to overtake him again. Then it grew more, and more, and more…
“WAIT!” Matthew got up from his spot and ran in. The kids barely opened the front door, before he arrived at their front step.
Painting a bit, he lowered his head, and then asked, with difficulty, “So, um, what are you doing?”
…
Flora readied her bow as she was nearing the end of the wall. Soon she came to know, thanks to Rose’s power, that the Torque was in fact standing on the other side of that alley turn, awaiting her to arrive. Meanwhile, another figure became apparent too to her, which made Flora bit her lip. It was small, around the same age as her, hanging above the monstrous Torque. This one, as Flora deduced, was in fact Mandy, and the Toque, was none other than her father.
<Why would that young lady be here?> Rose wondered. <I thought she would never come to such places…not even for her own father…>
Usually, yes, Flora explained. But she was with her dad last time we saw her. I think she was trying to keep people away from seeing him. I already seen some people made rumors about his collecting trash, so I guess she became like paranoid.
Flora then looked down to her bow. To think she was going to save her “ex-friend’s” father, and she wasn’t even going to tell her about it. Mandy could never know the truth about her. It was just not going to happen.
Rose began to contemplate to herself.
<A principal of a school…a well-beloved and respected figure…a man secretly working with the Mayor LionHeart…a rich person who spoils his daughter to sweetness… and, as you titled him, a ‘hoarder’…This man has more facets than Kage.>
Flora cringed her nose. Oh please, this guy is just a sleazeball.
She finally peeked over the wall. Mandy was standing on top of one of the garbage bins, trying her hardest to reach the bottom of the steel ladder adjacent to her. It was only slightly too far for her fingers to reach, even while she was rubbing her white fur all over the wall. And below her, was a white and yellow ball, moving around with a single wheel. It was periodically eating garbage, which has been poured out from a single ripped bag lying on the opposite wall of the fox girl. Each piece, such as cans, bags, rotten fruit, lamps and more, were eaten with discrimination by this creature.
“Agh!” Mandy shrieked, as she nearly lost her footing. She threw herself backwards, landing right on top of that plastic bin. “Ow!” she complained. “My tail! Why can’t you just get closer you stupid ladder!”
The fox then turned to the little ball on the ground, which was in the middle of eating a box of Christmas ornaments.
“Daddy? Daddy, can you hear me? It’s Mandy, your daughter…” she whispered.
The monster did not react to her words, but simply kept on eating.
Flora sighed sadly from the sight. Then, she jumped from behind the wall and landed with her bow readily pointing to the monster. She knew that Barbie was coming back soon. Time to get to work.
“Young strange girl, are you okay?” she asked. Mandy’s jaw fell open as she stared at Flora.
“O-M-G, it’s YOU!” she exclaimed. “You are one of those stupid vigilantes, aren’t you? Where have you been!? Go and help my dad already! He’s been turned into this…thing! Ugh! Do you know how long I’ve been here!?”
Flora held the urge to roll her eyes, so she closed them promptly and took deep breath. No one ever said it was going to be easy. As the fox girl kept on complaining, she turned attention to the Torque, which had long stopped eating its food.
“As you wish.” Flora conjured an arrow made of light. The Torque stood there, “staring” with its eyeless face directly in her direction, before opening its maw. The chasm within it was an endless void, pulling you in as soon as you laid eyes on it.
Flora quickly multiplied her arrow to several, imbuing them all with magic. She knew the clown was not too far, so she had to quickly get rid of it before going after him. At least that part should be easy.
“Hey, uh, what are you gonna do to him? Try not to, like, hurt him, ok?” Mandy said to Flora.
A gust of wind began circulating around Flora’s body. The weather had been calm up until then, so this change could be likely part of Torque’s magic. It was slowly growing, to the point that she felt like that void-full maw was trying to suck her in. Flora released all of her arrows, commanding them previously to make sure to hit around the mouth of the creature.
But then as they all spread into every direction, the arrows were sucked right into the creature’s black hole of a mouth. The ball shut its mouth, pursing the “lips” together, only to tremble and then turn red.
“What just happened?” Flora asked out-loud. The ball then began to grow in size. “Rose, I think I did something wrong.”
Her eyes bugged out, as it increased in width and height, until it managed to completely fill out the alleyway they were in.
“Hey, what’s the big idea!? I thought you were supposed to, I dunno, turn him back to normal? Why did it grew!?” Mandy kept on complaining.
“Not now Mandy!” Flora snapped back. She did not need to hear her talking right now.
“Wait, how did you know my name!?”
Flora’s eyes grew wide, and she pulled her lips in fully. Good going, Flora! She reprimanded herself, Why not just say who you are while you’re at it!?
Meanwhile the Torque began to move it’s body slowly. It was not a lot, but it had not directed itself to Mandy. The white fox, slowly shrank on top of the garbage bin, as the monster “glared” at her.
It the opened its huge mouth, now filled with rows and rows of teeth that lead straight into the void in its throat. It had now could easily swallow Mandy whole with the bin she was on.
Both Flora and Mandy were shocked by the monster.
This was not going to be easy.
…
-----------------------------------------
…
“Is it around here?” asked Flora, specifically talking to Rose.
The area was an alleyway, which Rose confirmed to have been the source of the Torque which she had been sensing. Flora then readied her bow, as she began to slowly enter further the wet, smelly dumps of the alleys. Barbie and Fotia were watching her all the way from the entrance, waiting for further order if necessary. Flora had been busy checking the area itself, and not just looking at the corners and behind trashcans, but apparently the walls and ground too. Fotia couldn’t put his finger on why she was doing it, and chalked it up to her personal style. Barbie was just standing wistfully, her eyes wondering around, while occasionally checking Flora. She was definitely thinking of her, but what exactly he couldn’t tell.
<What is the question you wanted to ask?> he asked Pierre in his head, turning away from everyone for a moment.
Well, first of all, about what you said earlier. Miss Elefantus herself, and how you said she was different. I seem to be having trouble…
<Does it not strike apparent?>
No! Of course it’s not! Pierre sighed in his head. Maybe an explanation about Torques or- I don’t know!
<You wish to learn of Torques now?>
Maybe a rundown. My father says, there’s nothing wrong with learning more if it gives you an answer. So tell me more!
<Very well then,> Fotia cleared his throat internally. <Now, to be forward with you, their origins are unknown to us. They feast on negative emotions, and will consume our whole world if not stopped, as we learned.>
Okay…Is that it?
<All I can say. I know no more, actually.>
So then…uhm… So how do you cure them?
<Hmm?>
You cure them after every fight, right? With weapons? How does that work?
<That was thanks to Lahpa-Pessa! Our weapons create an anti-thesis of that accursed magic. This blessed power is then made clear whenever we tap into our innate magics and is thus mixed within our attacks. Once in contact, it severs the user from the dark hold of the Torque.>
So they just hurt Torques, right?
<Exactly. Only the part that grans Torque power.>
And they don’t hurt humans at all?
<They can, of course, as any weapon can. But once infused, these will not react to anything but the dark magic of the Torques. It is handy in many situations.>
I think I understand it now. So, what about-
“People are difficult,” blurted out Barbie.
Fotia jolted from his stupor into reality, realizing again the young girl next to him. He quickly coughed his throat clear. Pierre, as always, said that doing that was suspicious and that he should stop.
“Oh, is that so?” he retorted.
“And talking is difficult too. Like, people sometime like or don’t like what you say. Why is that?” Barbie asked into the sky.
Fotia had no idea what she meant, but he did not need to know more. Things like this did not need a full explanation, but simple wisdoms. For if you dilute wisdoms with context, you lose the beating heart of them, which cause many to forget what makes their gem-like brilliance.
“Perhaps talking is difficult so, because you seek to please them. But you cannot please those with words alone. It is a craft to speak like butter, but an even grander one to speak what is true!” Fotia said, proudly folding up his arms.
“Hmmm, I guess,” Barbie admitted, very much taken by his words. Then after a second, added, “But I just want to know how to make people do what I want by talking. I don’t see myself that strong enough on my own.”
Fotia rubbed the lower part of his beak and slowly nodded. Despite looking exactly the same age as her, he was taking on an air of a wiseman.
“Even if so is your goal, perhaps you should learn to achieve it by different means. Don’t seek to control people by talking, but by making them listen to you.”
From this, the young girl’s eyes grew wide. It was as if she just witnessed a master of sophistry himself illuminate her whole world, which was exactly what Fotia aimed to do. Her expressions filled him with pride, which made Pierre gag even more in his head.
“Barbie!” Flora called. The two peered into the alley and found the warrior staring in their direction. She then said, “Barbie, you and Fotia go out, Zamarad is in that direction.” She pointed with her finger to the side. “Then get back here. I think I know what this place is.”
Barbie nodded and darted right out to the streets to look for her spirit.
“You too Fotia!” Flora added. Before he could ask, she said, “She might need you help with finding her way back!”
Fotia nodded, then dashed right after the young lizard girl. He, of course, felt no reason to question why would Barbie need help returning back. If someone gives an order, they might have an important reason that he hasn’t thought of yet. Pierre, on the other hand, just thought she wanted to get rid of him.
Meanwhile, as Barbie ran at speed that left Fotia behind, a thought occurred to her out of nowhere.
“I wish that Matthew was here to see this,” she lamented, realizing what perfect opportunity of them in action he didn’t get to see. “Oh well. I wonder where is he now?”
…
Today was the most distressing day for Matthew. For you see, he was being subjected to the torture most cruel, of being very lonely. Truly, extremely lonely, like no one had ever felt before or since, for this loneliness did not come from simply not having to do. Instead, it was because he felt that everyone decided to abandon him.
For you see, his first friend has chosen to leave with his family to the Bahamas. They came to a decision of passing over their next few days under a bright, warm sun, rather than dreary, gray skies. His second friend told him that she became far too busy to hang around with him or listen to his speeches. Her mother has been requiring her help, more and more, and she just did not have time for anything. And his last friend, or at least whom he thought would be his “friend’ at all, chose to blatantly break his heart in most offensive way possible.
Matthew looked over the gray skies, as the small trickle of rain began falling on him. Oh, poor was his heart, so uniquely broken like no kid had ever felt in this world. And what if he was not so fortunate to know how machines work? He did all the work necessary, pouring everything of himself to help his friend’s creation. Of course, he made some mistakes, and also delegated problem solving to others, but only when he knew they were better suited for it! And in the end, he chose that stupid attention seeker instead of him. All so that they could play in their stupid fan larping over bunch of weirdos that appeared out of nowhere in their town. What sort of cruel, undeserved punishment was this done to him?
Matthew sighed through his nose, and then closed his eyes, letting the cold raindrops fall on his beak. Then the goose chose to look down, not only because of how sensitive his beak actually was to the cold, but to add another effect to his lamentation.
To be fair, this was not the first time for him. Why, his earlier memory was of those kids, who told him he could come over and play with their swings at the backyard, only to turn around and shoo him away from their yard. Or those girls, who complimented him in secret, only to make a fool of him in front of everyone at school. Oh, and those teachers, even after his excellent and immaculate behavior, chose the lazy, and slopy she-fox because they thought he was too annoying? It was always the same, saying that they could never befriend him, because he was too “smart.”
Matthew once again tried to look up. This was it, he believed. No more true friendships for him to enjoy. Only the misery of solitude to accompany him for the rest of his life.
“Hi Mister,” said Mimmy.
Oh, what torment, what anguish it is for such poor, brittle heart.
“Hello, excuse us!” said Lily, taking the young mouse back with her.
No one could ever help him-
“Whatcha doing on our porch? You gonna rob us?” asked Brian to his face.
Matthew spun his head and looked his disdainful eyes at the wolf. “Do you not see, that I am trying to WALLOW IN PITY here?” he stated, before honking through his nose for emphasis. He then raised his beak away from the kid.
“Oh, ok,” said Brian. Then he asked, “But are you sure you are not gonna rob us?”
Matthew slowly navigated his beak back to the boy, and articulating the sentence, replied with, “No, I Will Not. No Leave Me Be.”
Brian shrugged, and went away.
And so, Matthew was once again alone. Alone, to wallow in pity of his loneliness, to see the depths of his curs-
“Are you robbing us!?” exclaimed Bobby.
“I AM NOT ROBBING ANYONE!” Matthew jumped from his seat. “Can’t a young boy wallow in solitude about having to wallow in solitude!?”
Bobby stared at him with wide eyes. Finally, Lily appeared to grab the young penguin’s hand.
“There you are!” she said. She looked at Matthew, “Sorry sir, we didn’t mean to disturb. Hope you didn’t mind.”
“Why, of course, why would I ever mind what some children might think!” said Matthew proudly. “And don’t worry, it is not as if I was doing anything important, but be distraught over that fact that my friends chose to forsake me, and leave me by myself!”
“Wow, that’s sad,” said Bobby. Matthew honked back. He quickly realized just how bad it sounded to hear something like this. “
“You wanna join us?” Lily asked.
Matthew stared at her, and then scoffed at this suggestion.
“Oh please! You cannot be serious! I am not some poor silly old goose who needs CHILDREN to make him feel better! Off with you.” He then turned around in his spot folded his arms. He then added a quick motion of his wing to shoo them.
“Ok. Lets go Bobby,” Lily said.
The kids made their way to their orphanage. Matthew watched as they moved further away, merrily running over mud and puddles. And with every step, the loneliness began to overtake him again. Then it grew more, and more, and more…
“WAIT!” Matthew got up from his spot and ran in. The kids barely opened the front door, before he arrived at their front step.
Painting a bit, he lowered his head, and then asked, with difficulty, “So, um, what are you doing?”
…
Flora readied her bow as she was nearing the end of the wall. Soon she came to know, thanks to Rose’s power, that the Torque was in fact standing on the other side of that alley turn, awaiting her to arrive. Meanwhile, another figure became apparent too to her, which made Flora bit her lip. It was small, around the same age as her, hanging above the monstrous Torque. This one, as Flora deduced, was in fact Mandy, and the Toque, was none other than her father.
<Why would that young lady be here?> Rose wondered. <I thought she would never come to such places…not even for her own father…>
Usually, yes, Flora explained. But she was with her dad last time we saw her. I think she was trying to keep people away from seeing him. I already seen some people made rumors about his collecting trash, so I guess she became like paranoid.
Flora then looked down to her bow. To think she was going to save her “ex-friend’s” father, and she wasn’t even going to tell her about it. Mandy could never know the truth about her. It was just not going to happen.
Rose began to contemplate to herself.
<A principal of a school…a well-beloved and respected figure…a man secretly working with the Mayor LionHeart…a rich person who spoils his daughter to sweetness… and, as you titled him, a ‘hoarder’…This man has more facets than Kage.>
Flora cringed her nose. Oh please, this guy is just a sleazeball.
She finally peeked over the wall. Mandy was standing on top of one of the garbage bins, trying her hardest to reach the bottom of the steel ladder adjacent to her. It was only slightly too far for her fingers to reach, even while she was rubbing her white fur all over the wall. And below her, was a white and yellow ball, moving around with a single wheel. It was periodically eating garbage, which has been poured out from a single ripped bag lying on the opposite wall of the fox girl. Each piece, such as cans, bags, rotten fruit, lamps and more, were eaten with discrimination by this creature.
“Agh!” Mandy shrieked, as she nearly lost her footing. She threw herself backwards, landing right on top of that plastic bin. “Ow!” she complained. “My tail! Why can’t you just get closer you stupid ladder!”
The fox then turned to the little ball on the ground, which was in the middle of eating a box of Christmas ornaments.
“Daddy? Daddy, can you hear me? It’s Mandy, your daughter…” she whispered.
The monster did not react to her words, but simply kept on eating.
Flora sighed sadly from the sight. Then, she jumped from behind the wall and landed with her bow readily pointing to the monster. She knew that Barbie was coming back soon. Time to get to work.
“Young strange girl, are you okay?” she asked. Mandy’s jaw fell open as she stared at Flora.
“O-M-G, it’s YOU!” she exclaimed. “You are one of those stupid vigilantes, aren’t you? Where have you been!? Go and help my dad already! He’s been turned into this…thing! Ugh! Do you know how long I’ve been here!?”
Flora held the urge to roll her eyes, so she closed them promptly and took deep breath. No one ever said it was going to be easy. As the fox girl kept on complaining, she turned attention to the Torque, which had long stopped eating its food.
“As you wish.” Flora conjured an arrow made of light. The Torque stood there, “staring” with its eyeless face directly in her direction, before opening its maw. The chasm within it was an endless void, pulling you in as soon as you laid eyes on it.
Flora quickly multiplied her arrow to several, imbuing them all with magic. She knew the clown was not too far, so she had to quickly get rid of it before going after him. At least that part should be easy.
“Hey, uh, what are you gonna do to him? Try not to, like, hurt him, ok?” Mandy said to Flora.
A gust of wind began circulating around Flora’s body. The weather had been calm up until then, so this change could be likely part of Torque’s magic. It was slowly growing, to the point that she felt like that void-full maw was trying to suck her in. Flora released all of her arrows, commanding them previously to make sure to hit around the mouth of the creature.
But then as they all spread into every direction, the arrows were sucked right into the creature’s black hole of a mouth. The ball shut its mouth, pursing the “lips” together, only to tremble and then turn red.
“What just happened?” Flora asked out-loud. The ball then began to grow in size. “Rose, I think I did something wrong.”
Her eyes bugged out, as it increased in width and height, until it managed to completely fill out the alleyway they were in.
“Hey, what’s the big idea!? I thought you were supposed to, I dunno, turn him back to normal? Why did it grew!?” Mandy kept on complaining.
“Not now Mandy!” Flora snapped back. She did not need to hear her talking right now.
“Wait, how did you know my name!?”
Flora’s eyes grew wide, and she pulled her lips in fully. Good going, Flora! She reprimanded herself, Why not just say who you are while you’re at it!?
Meanwhile the Torque began to move it’s body slowly. It was not a lot, but it had not directed itself to Mandy. The white fox, slowly shrank on top of the garbage bin, as the monster “glared” at her.
It the opened its huge mouth, now filled with rows and rows of teeth that lead straight into the void in its throat. It had now could easily swallow Mandy whole with the bin she was on.
Both Flora and Mandy were shocked by the monster.
This was not going to be easy.
…
Really can't wait to go to the beach soon.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
“Is it around here?” asked Flora, specifically talking to Rose.
The area was an alleyway, which Rose confirmed to have been the source of the Torque which she had been sensing. Flora then readied her bow, as she began to slowly enter further the wet, smelly dumps of the alleys. Barbie and Fotia were watching her all the way from the entrance, waiting for further order if necessary. Flora had been busy checking the area itself, and not just looking at the corners and behind trashcans, but apparently the walls and ground too. Fotia couldn’t put his finger on why she was doing it, and chalked it up to her personal style. Barbie was just standing wistfully, her eyes wondering around, while occasionally checking Flora. She was definitely thinking of her, but what exactly he couldn’t tell.
<What is the question you wanted to ask?> he asked Pierre in his head, turning away from everyone for a moment.
Well, first of all, about what you said earlier. Miss Elefantus herself, and how you said she was different. I seem to be having trouble…
<Does it not strike apparent?>
No! Of course it’s not! Pierre sighed in his head. Maybe an explanation about Torques or- I don’t know!
<You wish to learn of Torques now?>
Maybe a rundown. My father says, there’s nothing wrong with learning more if it gives you an answer. So tell me more!
<Very well then,> Fotia cleared his throat internally. <Now, to be forward with you, their origins are unknown to us. They feast on negative emotions, and will consume our whole world if not stopped, as we learned.>
Okay…Is that it?
<All I can say. I know no more, actually.>
So then…uhm… So how do you cure them?
<Hmm?>
You cure them after every fight, right? With weapons? How does that work?
<That was thanks to Lahpa-Pessa! Our weapons create an anti-thesis of that accursed magic. This blessed power is then made clear whenever we tap into our innate magics and is thus mixed within our attacks. Once in contact, it severs the user from the dark hold of the Torque.>
So they just hurt Torques, right?
<Exactly. Only the part that grans Torque power.>
And they don’t hurt humans at all?
<They can, of course, as any weapon can. But once infused, these will not react to anything but the dark magic of the Torques. It is handy in many situations.>
I think I understand it now. So, what about-
“People are difficult,” blurted out Barbie.
Fotia jolted from his stupor into reality, realizing again the young girl next to him. He quickly coughed his throat clear. Pierre, as always, said that doing that was suspicious and that he should stop.
“Oh, is that so?” he retorted.
“And talking is difficult too. Like, people sometime like or don’t like what you say. Why is that?” Barbie asked into the sky.
Fotia had no idea what she meant, but he did not need to know more. Things like this did not need a full explanation, but simple wisdoms. For if you dilute wisdoms with context, you lose the beating heart of them, which cause many to forget what makes their gem-like brilliance.
“Perhaps talking is difficult so, because you seek to please them. But you cannot please those with words alone. It is a craft to speak like butter, but an even grander one to speak what is true!” Fotia said, proudly folding up his arms.
“Hmmm, I guess,” Barbie admitted, very much taken by his words. Then after a second, added, “But I just want to know how to make people do what I want by talking. I don’t see myself that strong enough on my own.”
Fotia rubbed the lower part of his beak and slowly nodded. Despite looking exactly the same age as her, he was taking on an air of a wiseman.
“Even if so is your goal, perhaps you should learn to achieve it by different means. Don’t seek to control people by talking, but by making them listen to you.”
From this, the young girl’s eyes grew wide. It was as if she just witnessed a master of sophistry himself illuminate her whole world, which was exactly what Fotia aimed to do. Her expressions filled him with pride, which made Pierre gag even more in his head.
“Barbie!” Flora called. The two peered into the alley and found the warrior staring in their direction. She then said, “Barbie, you and Fotia go out, Zamarad is in that direction.” She pointed with her finger to the side. “Then get back here. I think I know what this place is.”
Barbie nodded and darted right out to the streets to look for her spirit.
“You too Fotia!” Flora added. Before he could ask, she said, “She might need you help with finding her way back!”
Fotia nodded, then dashed right after the young lizard girl. He, of course, felt no reason to question why would Barbie need help returning back. If someone gives an order, they might have an important reason that he hasn’t thought of yet. Pierre, on the other hand, just thought she wanted to get rid of him.
Meanwhile, as Barbie ran at speed that left Fotia behind, a thought occurred to her out of nowhere.
“I wish that Matthew was here to see this,” she lamented, realizing what perfect opportunity of them in action he didn’t get to see. “Oh well. I wonder where is he now?”
…
Today was the most distressing day for Matthew. For you see, he was being subjected to the torture most cruel, of being very lonely. Truly, extremely lonely, like no one had ever felt before or since, for this loneliness did not come from simply not having to do. Instead, it was because he felt that everyone decided to abandon him.
For you see, his first friend has chosen to leave with his family to the Bahamas. They came to a decision of passing over their next few days under a bright, warm sun, rather than dreary, gray skies. His second friend told him that she became far too busy to hang around with him or listen to his speeches. Her mother has been requiring her help, more and more, and she just did not have time for anything. And his last friend, or at least whom he thought would be his “friend’ at all, chose to blatantly break his heart in most offensive way possible.
Matthew looked over the gray skies, as the small trickle of rain began falling on him. Oh, poor was his heart, so uniquely broken like no kid had ever felt in this world. And what if he was not so fortunate to know how machines work? He did all the work necessary, pouring everything of himself to help his friend’s creation. Of course, he made some mistakes, and also delegated problem solving to others, but only when he knew they were better suited for it! And in the end, he chose that stupid attention seeker instead of him. All so that they could play in their stupid fan larping over bunch of weirdos that appeared out of nowhere in their town. What sort of cruel, undeserved punishment was this done to him?
Matthew sighed through his nose, and then closed his eyes, letting the cold raindrops fall on his beak. Then the goose chose to look down, not only because of how sensitive his beak actually was to the cold, but to add another effect to his lamentation.
To be fair, this was not the first time for him. Why, his earlier memory was of those kids, who told him he could come over and play with their swings at the backyard, only to turn around and shoo him away from their yard. Or those girls, who complimented him in secret, only to make a fool of him in front of everyone at school. Oh, and those teachers, even after his excellent and immaculate behavior, chose the lazy, and slopy she-fox because they thought he was too annoying? It was always the same, saying that they could never befriend him, because he was too “smart.”
Matthew once again tried to look up. This was it, he believed. No more true friendships for him to enjoy. Only the misery of solitude to accompany him for the rest of his life.
“Hi Mister,” said Mimmy.
Oh, what torment, what anguish it is for such poor, brittle heart.
“Hello, excuse us!” said Lily, taking the young mouse back with her.
No one could ever help him-
“Whatcha doing on our porch? You gonna rob us?” asked Brian to his face.
Matthew spun his head and looked his disdainful eyes at the wolf. “Do you not see, that I am trying to WALLOW IN PITY here?” he stated, before honking through his nose for emphasis. He then raised his beak away from the kid.
“Oh, ok,” said Brian. Then he asked, “But are you sure you are not gonna rob us?”
Matthew slowly navigated his beak back to the boy, and articulating the sentence, replied with, “No, I Will Not. No Leave Me Be.”
Brian shrugged, and went away.
And so, Matthew was once again alone. Alone, to wallow in pity of his loneliness, to see the depths of his curs-
“Are you robbing us!?” exclaimed Bobby.
“I AM NOT ROBBING ANYONE!” Matthew jumped from his seat. “Can’t a young boy wallow in solitude about having to wallow in solitude!?”
Bobby stared at him with wide eyes. Finally, Lily appeared to grab the young penguin’s hand.
“There you are!” she said. She looked at Matthew, “Sorry sir, we didn’t mean to disturb. Hope you didn’t mind.”
“Why, of course, why would I ever mind what some children might think!” said Matthew proudly. “And don’t worry, it is not as if I was doing anything important, but be distraught over that fact that my friends chose to forsake me, and leave me by myself!”
“Wow, that’s sad,” said Bobby. Matthew honked back. He quickly realized just how bad it sounded to hear something like this. “
“You wanna join us?” Lily asked.
Matthew stared at her, and then scoffed at this suggestion.
“Oh please! You cannot be serious! I am not some poor silly old goose who needs CHILDREN to make him feel better! Off with you.” He then turned around in his spot folded his arms. He then added a quick motion of his wing to shoo them.
“Ok. Lets go Bobby,” Lily said.
The kids made their way to their orphanage. Matthew watched as they moved further away, merrily running over mud and puddles. And with every step, the loneliness began to overtake him again. Then it grew more, and more, and more…
“WAIT!” Matthew got up from his spot and ran in. The kids barely opened the front door, before he arrived at their front step.
Painting a bit, he lowered his head, and then asked, with difficulty, “So, um, what are you doing?”
…
Flora readied her bow as she was nearing the end of the wall. Soon she came to know, thanks to Rose’s power, that the Torque was in fact standing on the other side of that alley turn, awaiting her to arrive. Meanwhile, another figure became apparent too to her, which made Flora bit her lip. It was small, around the same age as her, hanging above the monstrous Torque. This one, as Flora deduced, was in fact Mandy, and the Toque, was none other than her father.
<Why would that young lady be here?> Rose wondered. <I thought she would never come to such places…not even for her own father…>
Usually, yes, Flora explained. But she was with her dad last time we saw her. I think she was trying to keep people away from seeing him. I already seen some people made rumors about his collecting trash, so I guess she became like paranoid.
Flora then looked down to her bow. To think she was going to save her “ex-friend’s” father, and she wasn’t even going to tell her about it. Mandy could never know the truth about her. It was just not going to happen.
Rose began to contemplate to herself.
<A principal of a school…a well-beloved and respected figure…a man secretly working with the Mayor LionHeart…a rich person who spoils his daughter to sweetness… and, as you titled him, a ‘hoarder’…This man has more facets than Kage.>
Flora cringed her nose. Oh please, this guy is just a sleazeball.
She finally peeked over the wall. Mandy was standing on top of one of the garbage bins, trying her hardest to reach the bottom of the steel ladder adjacent to her. It was only slightly too far for her fingers to reach, even while she was rubbing her white fur all over the wall. And below her, was a white and yellow ball, moving around with a single wheel. It was periodically eating garbage, which has been poured out from a single ripped bag lying on the opposite wall of the fox girl. Each piece, such as cans, bags, rotten fruit, lamps and more, were eaten with discrimination by this creature.
“Agh!” Mandy shrieked, as she nearly lost her footing. She threw herself backwards, landing right on top of that plastic bin. “Ow!” she complained. “My tail! Why can’t you just get closer you stupid ladder!”
The fox then turned to the little ball on the ground, which was in the middle of eating a box of Christmas ornaments.
“Daddy? Daddy, can you hear me? It’s Mandy, your daughter…” she whispered.
The monster did not react to her words, but simply kept on eating.
Flora sighed sadly from the sight. Then, she jumped from behind the wall and landed with her bow readily pointing to the monster. She knew that Barbie was coming back soon. Time to get to work.
“Young strange girl, are you okay?” she asked. Mandy’s jaw fell open as she stared at Flora.
“O-M-G, it’s YOU!” she exclaimed. “You are one of those stupid vigilantes, aren’t you? Where have you been!? Go and help my dad already! He’s been turned into this…thing! Ugh! Do you know how long I’ve been here!?”
Flora held the urge to roll her eyes, so she closed them promptly and took deep breath. No one ever said it was going to be easy. As the fox girl kept on complaining, she turned attention to the Torque, which had long stopped eating its food.
“As you wish.” Flora conjured an arrow made of light. The Torque stood there, “staring” with its eyeless face directly in her direction, before opening its maw. The chasm within it was an endless void, pulling you in as soon as you laid eyes on it.
Flora quickly multiplied her arrow to several, imbuing them all with magic. She knew the clown was not too far, so she had to quickly get rid of it before going after him. At least that part should be easy.
“Hey, uh, what are you gonna do to him? Try not to, like, hurt him, ok?” Mandy said to Flora.
A gust of wind began circulating around Flora’s body. The weather had been calm up until then, so this change could be likely part of Torque’s magic. It was slowly growing, to the point that she felt like that void-full maw was trying to suck her in. Flora released all of her arrows, commanding them previously to make sure to hit around the mouth of the creature.
But then as they all spread into every direction, the arrows were sucked right into the creature’s black hole of a mouth. The ball shut its mouth, pursing the “lips” together, only to tremble and then turn red.
“What just happened?” Flora asked out-loud. The ball then began to grow in size. “Rose, I think I did something wrong.”
Her eyes bugged out, as it increased in width and height, until it managed to completely fill out the alleyway they were in.
“Hey, what’s the big idea!? I thought you were supposed to, I dunno, turn him back to normal? Why did it grew!?” Mandy kept on complaining.
“Not now Mandy!” Flora snapped back. She did not need to hear her talking right now.
“Wait, how did you know my name!?”
Flora’s eyes grew wide, and she pulled her lips in fully. Good going, Flora! She reprimanded herself, Why not just say who you are while you’re at it!?
Meanwhile the Torque began to move it’s body slowly. It was not a lot, but it had not directed itself to Mandy. The white fox, slowly shrank on top of the garbage bin, as the monster “glared” at her.
It the opened its huge mouth, now filled with rows and rows of teeth that lead straight into the void in its throat. It had now could easily swallow Mandy whole with the bin she was on.
Both Flora and Mandy were shocked by the monster.
This was not going to be easy.
…
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
…
“Is it around here?” asked Flora, specifically talking to Rose.
The area was an alleyway, which Rose confirmed to have been the source of the Torque which she had been sensing. Flora then readied her bow, as she began to slowly enter further the wet, smelly dumps of the alleys. Barbie and Fotia were watching her all the way from the entrance, waiting for further order if necessary. Flora had been busy checking the area itself, and not just looking at the corners and behind trashcans, but apparently the walls and ground too. Fotia couldn’t put his finger on why she was doing it, and chalked it up to her personal style. Barbie was just standing wistfully, her eyes wondering around, while occasionally checking Flora. She was definitely thinking of her, but what exactly he couldn’t tell.
<What is the question you wanted to ask?> he asked Pierre in his head, turning away from everyone for a moment.
Well, first of all, about what you said earlier. Miss Elefantus herself, and how you said she was different. I seem to be having trouble…
<Does it not strike apparent?>
No! Of course it’s not! Pierre sighed in his head. Maybe an explanation about Torques or- I don’t know!
<You wish to learn of Torques now?>
Maybe a rundown. My father says, there’s nothing wrong with learning more if it gives you an answer. So tell me more!
<Very well then,> Fotia cleared his throat internally. <Now, to be forward with you, their origins are unknown to us. They feast on negative emotions, and will consume our whole world if not stopped, as we learned.>
Okay…Is that it?
<All I can say. I know no more, actually.>
So then…uhm… So how do you cure them?
<Hmm?>
You cure them after every fight, right? With weapons? How does that work?
<That was thanks to Lahpa-Pessa! Our weapons create an anti-thesis of that accursed magic. This blessed power is then made clear whenever we tap into our innate magics and is thus mixed within our attacks. Once in contact, it severs the user from the dark hold of the Torque.>
So they just hurt Torques, right?
<Exactly. Only the part that grans Torque power.>
And they don’t hurt humans at all?
<They can, of course, as any weapon can. But once infused, these will not react to anything but the dark magic of the Torques. It is handy in many situations.>
I think I understand it now. So, what about-
“People are difficult,” blurted out Barbie.
Fotia jolted from his stupor into reality, realizing again the young girl next to him. He quickly coughed his throat clear. Pierre, as always, said that doing that was suspicious and that he should stop.
“Oh, is that so?” he retorted.
“And talking is difficult too. Like, people sometime like or don’t like what you say. Why is that?” Barbie asked into the sky.
Fotia had no idea what she meant, but he did not need to know more. Things like this did not need a full explanation, but simple wisdoms. For if you dilute wisdoms with context, you lose the beating heart of them, which cause many to forget what makes their gem-like brilliance.
“Perhaps talking is difficult so, because you seek to please them. But you cannot please those with words alone. It is a craft to speak like butter, but an even grander one to speak what is true!” Fotia said, proudly folding up his arms.
“Hmmm, I guess,” Barbie admitted, very much taken by his words. Then after a second, added, “But I just want to know how to make people do what I want by talking. I don’t see myself that strong enough on my own.”
Fotia rubbed the lower part of his beak and slowly nodded. Despite looking exactly the same age as her, he was taking on an air of a wiseman.
“Even if so is your goal, perhaps you should learn to achieve it by different means. Don’t seek to control people by talking, but by making them listen to you.”
From this, the young girl’s eyes grew wide. It was as if she just witnessed a master of sophistry himself illuminate her whole world, which was exactly what Fotia aimed to do. Her expressions filled him with pride, which made Pierre gag even more in his head.
“Barbie!” Flora called. The two peered into the alley and found the warrior staring in their direction. She then said, “Barbie, you and Fotia go out, Zamarad is in that direction.” She pointed with her finger to the side. “Then get back here. I think I know what this place is.”
Barbie nodded and darted right out to the streets to look for her spirit.
“You too Fotia!” Flora added. Before he could ask, she said, “She might need you help with finding her way back!”
Fotia nodded, then dashed right after the young lizard girl. He, of course, felt no reason to question why would Barbie need help returning back. If someone gives an order, they might have an important reason that he hasn’t thought of yet. Pierre, on the other hand, just thought she wanted to get rid of him.
Meanwhile, as Barbie ran at speed that left Fotia behind, a thought occurred to her out of nowhere.
“I wish that Matthew was here to see this,” she lamented, realizing what perfect opportunity of them in action he didn’t get to see. “Oh well. I wonder where is he now?”
…
Today was the most distressing day for Matthew. For you see, he was being subjected to the torture most cruel, of being very lonely. Truly, extremely lonely, like no one had ever felt before or since, for this loneliness did not come from simply not having to do. Instead, it was because he felt that everyone decided to abandon him.
For you see, his first friend has chosen to leave with his family to the Bahamas. They came to a decision of passing over their next few days under a bright, warm sun, rather than dreary, gray skies. His second friend told him that she became far too busy to hang around with him or listen to his speeches. Her mother has been requiring her help, more and more, and she just did not have time for anything. And his last friend, or at least whom he thought would be his “friend’ at all, chose to blatantly break his heart in most offensive way possible.
Matthew looked over the gray skies, as the small trickle of rain began falling on him. Oh, poor was his heart, so uniquely broken like no kid had ever felt in this world. And what if he was not so fortunate to know how machines work? He did all the work necessary, pouring everything of himself to help his friend’s creation. Of course, he made some mistakes, and also delegated problem solving to others, but only when he knew they were better suited for it! And in the end, he chose that stupid attention seeker instead of him. All so that they could play in their stupid fan larping over bunch of weirdos that appeared out of nowhere in their town. What sort of cruel, undeserved punishment was this done to him?
Matthew sighed through his nose, and then closed his eyes, letting the cold raindrops fall on his beak. Then the goose chose to look down, not only because of how sensitive his beak actually was to the cold, but to add another effect to his lamentation.
To be fair, this was not the first time for him. Why, his earlier memory was of those kids, who told him he could come over and play with their swings at the backyard, only to turn around and shoo him away from their yard. Or those girls, who complimented him in secret, only to make a fool of him in front of everyone at school. Oh, and those teachers, even after his excellent and immaculate behavior, chose the lazy, and slopy she-fox because they thought he was too annoying? It was always the same, saying that they could never befriend him, because he was too “smart.”
Matthew once again tried to look up. This was it, he believed. No more true friendships for him to enjoy. Only the misery of solitude to accompany him for the rest of his life.
“Hi Mister,” said Mimmy.
Oh, what torment, what anguish it is for such poor, brittle heart.
“Hello, excuse us!” said Lily, taking the young mouse back with her.
No one could ever help him-
“Whatcha doing on our porch? You gonna rob us?” asked Brian to his face.
Matthew spun his head and looked his disdainful eyes at the wolf. “Do you not see, that I am trying to WALLOW IN PITY here?” he stated, before honking through his nose for emphasis. He then raised his beak away from the kid.
“Oh, ok,” said Brian. Then he asked, “But are you sure you are not gonna rob us?”
Matthew slowly navigated his beak back to the boy, and articulating the sentence, replied with, “No, I Will Not. No Leave Me Be.”
Brian shrugged, and went away.
And so, Matthew was once again alone. Alone, to wallow in pity of his loneliness, to see the depths of his curs-
“Are you robbing us!?” exclaimed Bobby.
“I AM NOT ROBBING ANYONE!” Matthew jumped from his seat. “Can’t a young boy wallow in solitude about having to wallow in solitude!?”
Bobby stared at him with wide eyes. Finally, Lily appeared to grab the young penguin’s hand.
“There you are!” she said. She looked at Matthew, “Sorry sir, we didn’t mean to disturb. Hope you didn’t mind.”
“Why, of course, why would I ever mind what some children might think!” said Matthew proudly. “And don’t worry, it is not as if I was doing anything important, but be distraught over that fact that my friends chose to forsake me, and leave me by myself!”
“Wow, that’s sad,” said Bobby. Matthew honked back. He quickly realized just how bad it sounded to hear something like this. “
“You wanna join us?” Lily asked.
Matthew stared at her, and then scoffed at this suggestion.
“Oh please! You cannot be serious! I am not some poor silly old goose who needs CHILDREN to make him feel better! Off with you.” He then turned around in his spot folded his arms. He then added a quick motion of his wing to shoo them.
“Ok. Lets go Bobby,” Lily said.
The kids made their way to their orphanage. Matthew watched as they moved further away, merrily running over mud and puddles. And with every step, the loneliness began to overtake him again. Then it grew more, and more, and more…
“WAIT!” Matthew got up from his spot and ran in. The kids barely opened the front door, before he arrived at their front step.
Painting a bit, he lowered his head, and then asked, with difficulty, “So, um, what are you doing?”
…
Flora readied her bow as she was nearing the end of the wall. Soon she came to know, thanks to Rose’s power, that the Torque was in fact standing on the other side of that alley turn, awaiting her to arrive. Meanwhile, another figure became apparent too to her, which made Flora bit her lip. It was small, around the same age as her, hanging above the monstrous Torque. This one, as Flora deduced, was in fact Mandy, and the Toque, was none other than her father.
<Why would that young lady be here?> Rose wondered. <I thought she would never come to such places…not even for her own father…>
Usually, yes, Flora explained. But she was with her dad last time we saw her. I think she was trying to keep people away from seeing him. I already seen some people made rumors about his collecting trash, so I guess she became like paranoid.
Flora then looked down to her bow. To think she was going to save her “ex-friend’s” father, and she wasn’t even going to tell her about it. Mandy could never know the truth about her. It was just not going to happen.
Rose began to contemplate to herself.
<A principal of a school…a well-beloved and respected figure…a man secretly working with the Mayor LionHeart…a rich person who spoils his daughter to sweetness… and, as you titled him, a ‘hoarder’…This man has more facets than Kage.>
Flora cringed her nose. Oh please, this guy is just a sleazeball.
She finally peeked over the wall. Mandy was standing on top of one of the garbage bins, trying her hardest to reach the bottom of the steel ladder adjacent to her. It was only slightly too far for her fingers to reach, even while she was rubbing her white fur all over the wall. And below her, was a white and yellow ball, moving around with a single wheel. It was periodically eating garbage, which has been poured out from a single ripped bag lying on the opposite wall of the fox girl. Each piece, such as cans, bags, rotten fruit, lamps and more, were eaten with discrimination by this creature.
“Agh!” Mandy shrieked, as she nearly lost her footing. She threw herself backwards, landing right on top of that plastic bin. “Ow!” she complained. “My tail! Why can’t you just get closer you stupid ladder!”
The fox then turned to the little ball on the ground, which was in the middle of eating a box of Christmas ornaments.
“Daddy? Daddy, can you hear me? It’s Mandy, your daughter…” she whispered.
The monster did not react to her words, but simply kept on eating.
Flora sighed sadly from the sight. Then, she jumped from behind the wall and landed with her bow readily pointing to the monster. She knew that Barbie was coming back soon. Time to get to work.
“Young strange girl, are you okay?” she asked. Mandy’s jaw fell open as she stared at Flora.
“O-M-G, it’s YOU!” she exclaimed. “You are one of those stupid vigilantes, aren’t you? Where have you been!? Go and help my dad already! He’s been turned into this…thing! Ugh! Do you know how long I’ve been here!?”
Flora held the urge to roll her eyes, so she closed them promptly and took deep breath. No one ever said it was going to be easy. As the fox girl kept on complaining, she turned attention to the Torque, which had long stopped eating its food.
“As you wish.” Flora conjured an arrow made of light. The Torque stood there, “staring” with its eyeless face directly in her direction, before opening its maw. The chasm within it was an endless void, pulling you in as soon as you laid eyes on it.
Flora quickly multiplied her arrow to several, imbuing them all with magic. She knew the clown was not too far, so she had to quickly get rid of it before going after him. At least that part should be easy.
“Hey, uh, what are you gonna do to him? Try not to, like, hurt him, ok?” Mandy said to Flora.
A gust of wind began circulating around Flora’s body. The weather had been calm up until then, so this change could be likely part of Torque’s magic. It was slowly growing, to the point that she felt like that void-full maw was trying to suck her in. Flora released all of her arrows, commanding them previously to make sure to hit around the mouth of the creature.
But then as they all spread into every direction, the arrows were sucked right into the creature’s black hole of a mouth. The ball shut its mouth, pursing the “lips” together, only to tremble and then turn red.
“What just happened?” Flora asked out-loud. The ball then began to grow in size. “Rose, I think I did something wrong.”
Her eyes bugged out, as it increased in width and height, until it managed to completely fill out the alleyway they were in.
“Hey, what’s the big idea!? I thought you were supposed to, I dunno, turn him back to normal? Why did it grew!?” Mandy kept on complaining.
“Not now Mandy!” Flora snapped back. She did not need to hear her talking right now.
“Wait, how did you know my name!?”
Flora’s eyes grew wide, and she pulled her lips in fully. Good going, Flora! She reprimanded herself, Why not just say who you are while you’re at it!?
Meanwhile the Torque began to move it’s body slowly. It was not a lot, but it had not directed itself to Mandy. The white fox, slowly shrank on top of the garbage bin, as the monster “glared” at her.
It the opened its huge mouth, now filled with rows and rows of teeth that lead straight into the void in its throat. It had now could easily swallow Mandy whole with the bin she was on.
Both Flora and Mandy were shocked by the monster.
This was not going to be easy.
…
Category Story / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Gender Any
Size 120 x 120px
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