Kokoso--the bird's words still clear in his mind, inspiring tales of the forbidden genres--made his way to an abandoned store of oddities, where he spent much of his time studying the old things that came before the rise of the city-nation--which was left unnamed as it was the sole city and sole nation, the people called themselves by the name of the current reigning dynasty--everything from books to movies across every style, genre, and faction seemed to reflect more varied ideas than those that were in circulation these days, anything that didn't contribute to the city was in the Forbidden class, along with anything that could corrupt the people.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0r0LR1M6b2 維尼
The city had it's comedies and tragedies, from two who are brought together by pursuing the city's goal to the tale of two lovers who upset the city's goals, and paid dearly.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ63LN09izqu 維尼
These were the common tales, envisioned and reinvented several times, painting different hues of severity with different strokes of sins, all highlighting the beauty of the city, in all it's mechanical perfection, how strange then that the words of people long passed should exist, hidden within the city itself, poisoning the populace, or a time bomb, as in those spy movies Kokoso found in this store of guilty pleasures.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwXc4ZglRc 維尼
His eyes lit up when he found the guiltiest of them all, in a closed off room that required a flashlight if one would peruse it, there was a poster of a man on a horse, a weapon known as a revolver held high in the air, sunlight glinting off the silver surface.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlmIqEw2JG 維尼
"Hmm, that's an awful lot of running...I do like the outfit, though." Kokoso turned the light to a mannequin in a corner, it wore the clothes depicted in the poster, "I'm going to be wearing the clothes in the poster." he thought wryly as he disrobed the mannequin.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡCN3pU0GC3e 維尼
Ten minutes later and his old clothes were in a sack he left here, the light clothes, heavy boots, and tall hat on his head. Fortunately no one knew about these clothes, or the genre they came from, the old building was forgotten, stranded in a timeless second, apart from the world, disconnected, adrift.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuozNZUshv 維尼
He set off for the city's prison when he heard shouting. He looked up to find three figures against the night sky, the two from earlier and a woman with white wings that seemed to have been dipped in ink before she left home, wispy gold hair flying behind her, "Are you angel?" he inquired as she landed before him, elegant and majestic as the fabric of her dress rustled in the wind, scepter at her side. She didn't seem to hear him, merely watched him with curiosity, a friendly smile seemingly sewed onto her face, "M-ma'am, are you an angel?"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtN2y2Nsn3 維尼
"No, my dear, they call me Mother Goose, this hatchling and his friend are in danger, we must go now."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfOgdCdibd 維尼
"I want to follow you!"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz2rYtPIVA 維尼
"Ha, after you saved us earlier!" the bird Animen scoffed, "I don't trust him, Cat, can we leave him?"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uRcusMmGN 維尼
"I trust his naivety," Cat continued onward, "but if we don't decide soon, we're all in trouble."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOopbixWjh 維尼
"If you follow you must accept the consequences." Mother Goose warned, "This is a dangerous path." Kokoso nodded and went with them, turning to see Mother Goose, who had fallen back.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡP8y8duvxjj 維尼
"Mother Goose!" the redhead bird Animen called out, as though in answer, an explosion and a wall of flame kept the soldiers at bay, Mother Goose rejoined with a satisfied smile, and the three fled, he followed the trio into the uncertain night.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡMgCKCeXpwC 維尼
They stopped at dawn, panting against the wall of an abandoned store where Animen were rumored to roam.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5P1A2oADpp 維尼
"I want to run with you." Kokoso bowed to the white feathered woman, looking up when she took his hat and set it upon her head.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA8kO0MfKD 維尼
"Hmm, a fan of the outlaw archetype?" Mother Goose wondered aloud.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JzSCL4nHc 維尼
"A-ah, well, not exactly-"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡAojkHVgEgg 維尼
"I understand, an injustice committed spurs him to action, the region is steeped in violence and corruption...the trigger of fate is pulled, and fire spews forth as from a dragon's maw, a daring battle of wits and luck follows, running and chasing, back and forth, until one emerges from the smoke as the victor." she dropped the hat back onto his head and turned around.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAqiILip9j 維尼
"If it's not something I can win...I'd rather not fight." Kokoso looked away, losing himself in thought, "but if I had help, I would be willing to try."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrBrO27r22 維尼
"Then come along, I'll carry you and Cathryn here, and Byrd will try out flying." Mother Goose floated up on her wings with practiced ease and ivory talons slid from her toes, catching their pair's shoulders. She turned to Byrd and the four made their way across the ocean. Kokoso almost threw up several times on the way over, but somehow combated the urge.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEzEUfOcA3 維尼
He woke up, crouched on his feet, sweat running down his forehead, "Did we make it?"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPvTTCsqcj 維尼
Mother Goose smiled and nodded, "No need to worry now, you're safe."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0colGRKGLn 維尼
"You said there were others like Byrd." Cathryn observed, "Is this one of them?"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoysZ3vQbj 維尼
"Yes," Mother Goose replied, "but so are you, hatchling, your cloaking spell just hasn't worn off yet."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQg8PeLM9a 維尼
"Wait, is that what happened?" Byrd wondered, "I had wings the whole time?"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDjNfKuE78 維尼
"Yes...there was a danger here, so we sent you away, that same threat now rules the city you were to live in, I was warned to cloaked you before we put you on the boat, good thing, too...as for the wings, they were well hidden, I manipulated the space of the Pocket Zone to conceal your wings." Mother Goose confirmed, "I need to rest now, I have another mission tomorrow to scout for a few more Animen we left behind."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡy287LKQyti 維尼
"Why don't we do that, Mother Goose?" Cathryn offered, "You somehow knew exactly where we were, surely you can make a list of Animen for us to find."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡRebkyYCAfN 維尼
"Ah...that would be nice...my magic won't recover for a while yet, either way I'll be tired tomorrow." Mother Goose.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡvm4dA5sp4K 維尼
"Uh, what's this strange feeling?" Byrd groaned.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlynYEexhG 維尼
"That is raw magic you feel, it comes straight from the earth, but is only influential here, in the Wilds." Mother Goose explained, "You'll feel better soon."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOpszIAxHo 維尼
"I hope so...wait, if that was magic back there-"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4SBZRmxxB 維尼
"It was, I carried a little bit with me as a side effect of my Pocket Zone, but it was draining fast, I will recover it here."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99r9jAIgDi 維尼
"What's a Pocket Zone?" Kokoso asked as the three followed Mother Goose.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1ryZ2U64S 維尼
"It's a dimension that exists within ours, we can harness it because it conforms to gravity, so...say you push down on a mattress, the resulting impression is where your gravity influences the world, your Pocket Zone falls around your impression, you carry it around you like a shroud." Mother Goose informed, leading the trio into the large hut.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5W8TRdquTD 維尼
"So...how do you carry magic in a Pocket Zone?" Cathryn inquired.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡSDm6UYhDKQ 維尼
"You just do," Mother Goose sighed, settling into her chair, a makeshift throne, "it's something you carry with you, proportional to your aptitude with magic."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaxFf7QQ7Y 維尼
"Well, we can bombard you with questions later," Cathryn bowed, "Byrd's looking a little ill., and you probably want to get some rest."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLoy8GI1k4 維尼
"And you three may want to find your families."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡyn9vTIDoTO 維尼
The next day Kokoso and his new allies went back to the city to find the Animen before the cloaking spell wore off, though some were more incredulous than others.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VnPcjzINk 維尼
Among the last he was sent to was the most difficult to approach, there was nothing on her, she wasn't known as a sympathizer to either side, known only as Maria and "the lone wolf", who was fond of the beach before the ocean was tainted with death.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNk8J3RIQT 維尼
He hadn't always been so interested in meeting another Animen, he usually tried to keep some distance between the others and himself, part out of guilt, part out of fear he wouldn't be accepted, as he was not an Animen.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA6LvFUo7N 維尼
On the way his thoughts were everywhere at once, he wondered how she'd be, if she'd be very pretty, nice, if she'd like sweets or favor more savory foods, what her favorite color would be.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFUdaWWcpM 維尼
He was ecstatic about the meeting, but somehow anxious, as though this meeting was somehow of great import, "This is the last Animen on Goose's list...what if she's really angry?" then he had a thought, "And what if she doesn't like yellow?! Not liking yellow should be a crime! Yellow is so happy, and basically goes with everything if you try-"8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUbRAOQALy 維尼
He snapped himself out of his thoughts and chided himself, noting that, even if his mind was racing at a million miles a minute, he had to remember his main objective. He was trained in loyalty, once, even if he was a lone ranger now. He couldn't let any of the Animen down, his loyalty belonged to them, he was going to be a hero, however he could.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PDZoogHty 維尼
Suddenly he stumbled over something and fell to the ground, taking stock of his situation he found that he'd collapsed a sandcastle, sand was, he realized, heavier than he imagined, it bore down its fluid weight on him legs and made his movements sluggish as he crawled out of captivity.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb6YF4YsLk 維尼
Sitting up on his knees he turned to his left, and was glad Cathryn and Byrd had been working out her schedule for the last few weeks, she was just where they said she was: On the beach, kicking up sick yellow sand.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxLqLS5wXT 維尼
"Join me on a quest to save the world!" from her stunned expression, he realized that that was not the right thing to say, as for taking her hands, he shouldn't have done that, but he did mean it, every word, every gesture, him, her, and the others would be saving the world, together.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLGq3ryBHl 維尼
"H-huh...what?" he's brows furrowed and she covered her mouth as she laughed. He frowned and glanced at his hands, still holding hers, and fell backwards, she laughed harder and shook her head.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3iNcYKGuJ 維尼
"You're a trip...and a fall, too, I guess!" she caught her breath and extended her hand, "You should still be proper and introduce yourself first."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h0BX3cAyM 維尼
"U-um, yeah...I'm Kokoso." he sheepishly accepted her help and after tugging on the back of his shirt to rid himself of the sand therein, he turned his attention to the Animen, wondering now what type she'd be, Mother Goose wanted it to be a surprise, for some reason.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpzjJpYKpo 維尼
"I'm Maria, and if you fall on my sandcastle again...we're going to have trouble," she threatened teasingly, "but I'll let you off the hook, since you're such a card."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDG9uCEV6a 維尼
"I thought I was a trip." Kokoso quirked his eyebrow and she grinned.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0z4OfoUtcf 維尼
"You are, you're also a card," Maria started back to town, casting a glance back at the "hero", "since they, too, fall."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡojeY2vsqmD 維尼
"Isn't that a line from a poem by Relia Cordelia?" Kokoso recalled hours spent reading one of the more recent texts in the old store's shelves.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡargvvT6YeT 維尼
"Yeah, so you're the one who disorganized my setup? I thought for sure I'd been found out!" Maria chuckled, giving him a light blow to the shoulder, "I can tell we'll get along fine."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡqG1OTMWWcD 維尼
"Two Animen-hater haters." Kokoso chuckled.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqwCiswEHp 維尼
Maria turned to grin at him and they made the rest of their journey in silence.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1W2j4VRXu 維尼
Silence, disturbed only by a light hiss followed by a light, metallic thud.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡI91QiPdWWp 維尼
"You're name?" a commanding voice inquired.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXrvNOBgo0 維尼
The smaller form before the king looked up cautiously, alarm crossed her face as she noticed the expression of the one before her, swiftly she brought her head back down and stared fearfully at the floor, as though a thousand spears could be summoned from the surface of the cold steel, "Eternia, Your Majesty! Eternia-" she yelped and fell to the floor as a thousand yellow beams formed and vanished around her, leaving her stunned, "I...I am the End, Your Highness, for thou to summon."8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgxCpQ2bZc 維尼
The man nodded and waved his hand dismissively, the gesture sent her flying back into the capsule from whence she came, and as she fell out of it, the cold, hard glass observation window caught her, but it also sealed her capsule and as she turned her eyes to the king, darkness encroached her vision.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDdgO5K7o9 維尼
"Project E.N.D. will proceed as planned."402Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRegXh3m6y
8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1HRsWWjKx6 維尼
The last words she heard before her ears followed her eyes into the abyss.8964 copyright protection398ＰＥＮＡＮＡelFYQcYGDa 維尼
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