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Rushing down the grand halls of the castle, I rush past a few of the servants, all carrying trays of unknown delicacy. Not taking the time to look back for any reaction. The only reaction I’m wanting today is my fathers, the grand general of the pure heart army.. And I’m late
How could I be late, I got a good nights sleep and everything! I did exactly as I was supposed to do, how could I have been allowed such reckless behaviour, I’m a knight, i have to be better than- the words cut out of my mouth reaching the exit to the training grounds, and recognizing the golden shine off my fathers armour, he seemed to be watching. Oh thank the ruby pure heart I made it and not la-
“Wonderful job girls! Everyday you all impress me more and more!” I hear my father yell out, “Now that thats out of the way, lets all go get a sweet treat for your superior skills!” the jets of his suit begin to roar, usually the sound it makes before being taken off. I rush out waving desperately “W-Wait! Dad! I’m here! I still need to my-” “Oh Moo Moo I forgot you were also showing us your skills…. Well maybe next Mew Mew, your sisters have been at it since dawn and they deserve the treat. We can maybe watch you uhhh.. Next week if there’s nothing going on, Sounds good?” my father tells me, “Awesome! I knew you’d understand! See you in a bit!” He says before I could even finish one word, propelling into the air and flying into town, leaving me in the dust.
….
Maybe? Maybe he’ll watch? As if there’s something better to do than watch your own kid, you’re only son prove himself to be as skillful as his sisters? They practiced since dawn? I’ve been practicing all of last week! Maybe they didn’t need to do it as much as me.. but …
I gritted my teeth letting a low growl of frustration out, gripping the hilt of my sword as hard as I could. Looking in the direction of the way father flew off, tears making their way out despite my frustration, why couldn’t he have waited just a bit more, just a few minutes of his attention, maybe I should go with them, try to talk to him. Maybe I can convince him to give me another chance. I retraced my steps to exit the castle when the sounds of a small explosion erupted, shaking me both in thought and in body, just a rumble, nothing serious but nothing that should go unnoticed. I look towards the sound of the explosion, finding smoke not too far from my location. I should go investigate… but.. What about father? I need to… No if he can wait than I… can also.
I sprint closer to the section thats currently smoking, finding a couple badgers outside the building, I recognize the chief scientist of them, I didn’t catch their name but from the talks around the castle they’re experimenting with new technology. They notice me and let out a sigh of relief “Thank goodness, m-my son is in there! He was tinkering with one of his dumb ideas and of course it ended up with this! Please, you've got to get him!” I nod saving words for later, rushing to the door and covering my nose and mouth with my cape. “This is knight mao mao! I’m coming in!” I reeled back my foot and kick hard, opening the wooden door down, more smoke came out forcing me to back up to let it out before walking in.
I start looking through the smoking house, going through each room to check for the son, what kind of device would result in this mess, either this son is really smart or dumb to be testing it out inside. Coming to a door at the end of a hall i kick it down, looking inside and seeing the faint out line of a body much similar to the badgers outside, this must be him. Pulling his arms to sit him and hunching him over my back, I try desperately to walk out the door, not just from the weight but the smoke in my face. Finally reaching the entrance “I got him! He needs help!” I yell out falling down to my knees and letting him slip down from my arms letting me get a better look at him, furs darkened from the smoke and an eyepatch on his left eye, looking like my age actually. He definitely needs a doctor, and frankly.. So do I.. my thoughts slip collapsing beside him from the exhaustion and smoke I inhaled.
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Waking up in the infirmary, my eyes blink themselves awake seeing the familiar castle walls, eyes drifting down to see a mask on my face for oxygen. Good thing i didn’t die.. Wait did the son survive? I have to know. I look around and see the son next to my bed, not too far from mine looking at me.
“You’re.. Okay” I say relieved to see him fine, maybe not staring at me but at least not dead. He nods at me looking a bit flushed but maybe thats just from the smoke.
“Mao Mao? Right?” He asks, he knows who I am.. Well I mean who wouldn’t, am i right? I flash a smile at him “Yeah thats me. Mao Mao Mao, knight of the ruby pure heart and son of the great general Shin Mao” I cough out that last part likely due to the mask and smoke.
Couldn’t help but notice the badger laughing, “Do you usually introduce yourself like that?” he asked, I shrug a bit embarrassed but still trying to keep my confidence up “it’s fun like that, makes me feel important” I explain “try it” I recommend, he giggles before clearing his throat.
“Badgerclops, protege and son of great scientist Kelvin clops” He says before also coughing at the end of the sentence giggling trying to calm himself. “You’re right, it is fun” He coughed giggled whilst giving me a smile. I return it whilst thinking on his name “Badgerclops mhm? Seems a bit strange having your race a part of it” badgerclops gives rolled his eyes “blame my parents, I’m not the one that named me, and like your name is any better. Your name is just your last name.. Mao mao mao?”
I couldn’t help but roll my eyes at the comment whilst also agreeing with his comment. It is just… 1 word repeated 3 times.. “touché” I say. “So.. what happened? It couldn’t have just been intentional to smoke up your workshop” I say asking the context of the situation. Badgerclops peers his eye slightly to the ground before speaking.
“I was… experimenting with one of my ideas in my room. See I was trying to come up with a machine to better hammer in the screws instead of just hammering it down, for my dad obviously. And I thought it was all going well until it short-circuited and well.. you can guess what happened next” I nodded along already expecting something like that plus what his mom said to me. “I just.. I thought if I was able to make it like my dad, prove to the both of them, they’d see how serious I am about this. Not just thinking of stupid machines..” he grumbled that last part kicking his feet whilst sitting at the edge of the bed. I do the same, facing him. Come to think of it. We do have similar ambitions, trying to prove ourselves to our parental figures. “I umm… understand what you’re coming from. My dad just left with my sisters without letting me prove myself that I’m capable as a knight..” I share my own experiences him. Not really knowing why. Usually I’m pretty reserved with stuff like this. But… i don’t know I feel a slight comfortableness with Badgerclops. He gives me a look of affirmation. I shrug and give a chuckle before speaking once more
“Hey, for what it’s worth. That idea sounds pretty cool. Do you think.. you could show me more of your ideas?” I propose the idea to Badgerclops he looks at me as if no ones ever asked him that before, he wiped his eyes I can only assume were tears. “Yeah, I have so many” he agreed with a chuckle. I nod enthusiastically “I can’t wait to see”