Ennead Chapter 23 Unused Opening

“I don’t understand why I’m always getting attacked.” Yugi complained as she leant on Honda and hobbled home to the shop after her friends had rescued her from an attempted mugging on the way home from school. “I mean I’m glad it’s me and not you lot, but I always seem to attract the thieves and bullies and then you guys have to come and get me.”

“Face it Yuge,” Jou grinned at her. In hindsight he had quite enjoyed the fight. Once he had been sure Yugi was okay it had been quite therapeutic to punch the guy in the face. “Every so often life demands that you fill your ‘damsel in distress’ quota.”

“What...?” Yugi was confused, still trying to work out how her friends had managed to react before Oneesan could considering that they had not been with her when the mugger had jumped her.

“Your life is basically a shonen anime.” Jou pointed out, “Or it’s playing out like one. And you’re a girl. You might be the lead character, but you’re still a girl. This means every so often, you have to fill your damsel in distress quota.”

“My life isn’t a...”

“Yuge, think about every game based anime we watch.” Jou sniggered, “Your life’s basically on par with some of them. Except for one thing.”

“Oh?” Curiosity piqued her.

“None of them have a female lead. If your life was an anime, you’d be a dude.”

“Jou!” Anzu protested.

“No, no, he has a point.” Yugi allowed, thinking, “I don’t think any of the shows we watch have a female protagonist so they’d probably make me a guy.” She paused, considering it for a moment longer, “Unless they made it as a magical girl anime.”

“Okay, I know you like ‘Starlight Breaker’ Yuge, but if your life was like it, Oneesan would be a morality pet.” Jou pointed out, “And you’d be like, eleven. And a human gundam.”

“Love the order of importance there.” Honda grinned at him.

“It could be worse.” Anzu pointed out, “It could be a love anime where every guy we know is a romance option. And I mean everyguy.”

“Eww.” Yugi grimaced, sticking her tongue out, “Eww. Eww. Eww. I am NOT dating any of our teachers.”

“Well the mecha genre’s right out, unless you’re hiding a giant robot somewhere that we don’t know about.” Jou pointed out, “And you suck at sports, so there’s no way they’d pick that.”

“If they were making an anime of my life it would have to be a game based one. I don’t do anything else interesting.” Yugi pointed out, “So either I’d end up being a guy, or the fact people used to think I was a guy would remain a huge plot point.”

“And you’d get to spend the entire first season hiding your gender.” Jou sniggered.

“Yes but who would be the love interest?” Anzu asked with a smirk as Yugi blushed bright red.

“Oh so you do notice guys.” Jou grinned at the embarrassed girl, “Go on. Share. We can’t plan out your future anime without knowing what you go for.”

“You just want to tease her rotten.” Honda shoved him hard enough to make him stagger.

“You do realise this could be considered girl talk, right?” Anzu asked the pair.

“Nah, we just need to know who we’ll be beating up in the future if they hurt Yuge, that’s all.” Jou tried to put a manly spin on it.

“I’d like to point out Oneesan would get there first. There wouldn’t be enough of him left for us to beat up.” Honda pointed out.

“It’s doesn’t matter anyway ‘cause I’m not going to be dating any time soon.” Yugi shrugged, “Now can we please get back to a saner subject?”

“Why not?” Jou couldn’t help but ask curiously, something in him twisting at her words but he didn’t understand what.

“Because dating would be weird if I have Oneesan sharing headspace with me.” Yugi replied, “I mean whoever I date would have to get used to two Yugis. And it’s not fair to drag her on dates with some guy she’s not interested in.”

“And it’s not like Oneesan could wander around if you left the Puzzle at home either.” Jou frowned, understanding.

“Exactly.” Yugi nodded, not mentioning the fact that she didn’t think any guy would be interested in her, considering they had much taller and more developed girls to chase. That and Hirutani had put her off of guys for a long while, “I couldn’t leave her stuck in the Puzzle. It’d be cruel. So again, saner subjects? Please?”

“Okay okay.” Jou backed off, finally noticing that Yugi was rather uncomfortable with the topic at hand. “They wouldn’t introduce your love interest till next season anyway.”

“Wha...?”

“Well we have to be done with season one by now,” Jou grinned at her, “Kaiba and his crazy amusement park would have been the end of season boss. So we have to wait for season two to find out who the love interest is.”

“Would they really end the season before we met the real big bad?” Honda couldn’t help but ask, “I mean we haven’t seen hide or hair of the Thief King and he’s supposed to be Oneesan’s true enemy.”

“And I hope I don’t run into him until seasons four or five.” Yugi frowned, “Or at least he has the decency to wait until Oneesan and I can have a conversation.” She could sense Oneesan’s agreement at that and smiled slightly.

“Next season, Yuge, next season.” Jou ruffled her hair.

“I’m sorry guys, but I have had enough of the anime talk.” Anzu butted in, “Can we please go back to something sane? Like the homework we’re supposed to be doing?”

Lunar Dance - Part 2

Part 1 

The walk from the lake to Sandgem Town wasn’t particularly difficult. The only problem that emerged was when a small, brown feathered bird attacked them, only to get slapped in the face repeatedly by Piplup. The tiny blue penguin seemed quite level headed, though it had lost its cool for a little bit when the other bird had gone for Yugi’s new backpack.

Talking to the non-player characters on the way proved had fruitful. One of them apparently worked for the local shop and gave him a free Potion. Jamie had explained what a Potion was ages ago, but he was not sure what the in game mechanics were for it. He guessed he would find out when he used it since he still did not have a Pokedex.

Nor did he own a map, so he had honestly expected to get lost when he reached town. However Hikari had been waiting for him at the town’s entrance and she had been about to lead him into the Professor’s lab when Jun had emerged at high speed, once again knocking Yugi on his rear.

“What the... hi Yugi!” Jun grinned at him, offering Yugi a hand up. “That old guy, he’s not scary. He’s just totally out there.” He continued as Yugi took it and pulled himself up right, “Aww it doesn’t matter, I’m out of here.” With that Jun was gone.

‘He’s nuts. Completely. You realise that?’ Yami asked Yugi, who just grinned after the NPC who was supposed to be his best friend.

“He reminds me a bit of Joey.” Yugi replied, before following Hikari inside, mentally grinning as Yami chuckled, easily able to see an overly excited Joey acting the same way.

‘Okay, you might have a point there.’ Yami allowed as they stood before the Professor once again.

“Ah there you are,” The old man nodded sagely as he looked him over, “Yugi? Was it?” Yami nodded, “Let’s have a look at your Pokémon.” Piplup wandered over happily and let the Professor look it over, “This Pokémon seems happy. I’m glad I entrusted you with it. So, are you going to give it a nickname?”

“A nick...” Yugi paused, then nodded, looking down at the penguin, “Issui?” He asked it. The penguin nodded happily and latched onto his leg.

“It’s a good name.” The professor nodded. “When I first saw you two about to step into the tall grass without any Pokémon I was shocked. Even the most foolhardy children know better. Now, however, you’ve proved that I was right to give you a Pokémon.”

“I’m so glad you’re kind towards Pokémon.” Hikari smiled at him, “If you weren’t, I’d have to... oh, I just can’t say it.” She didn’t have to, Yugi could feel the Shadows swirling, waiting to take a bite from them.

“Er-hem.” The professor interrupted, “Let’s move on to the main topic. There’s something I want you to do for me. I am Professor Rowan, I study Pokémon. First off I want to know every kind of Pokémon that lives in the Sinnoh region. To do so I need to collect data using the Pokedex. This is what I wish to ask of you. Please take it and record every type Pokémon in the region.”

“Sure.” Yugi nodded, knowing he would need a Pokedex if he was going to survive this Shadow Game and not wanting to tick off the man willing to give him one.

Rowan didn’t need any other impetus. He handed the small red machine over without question. “The Pokedex automatically records data on every kind of Pokémon you encounter. Any you catch adds extra data to the system.”

“I have one too.” Hikari informed Yugi, “We should race to see who can fill it first.”

“Sure.” Yugi agreed, thinking he was adding to the in-game chatter when he felt the Shadows shift and settle on something. Suddenly the Pokedex in his hand felt a lot heavier.

“What did you feel when you walked up route 201 with your Pokémon?” Rowan asked, “I’ve lived for 60 years with Pokémon and I still get a thrill when I’m with a Pokémon.” The professor smiled properly for the first time, “Now go! Yugi, your grand adventure begins right now!” He handed over a small computer disc. “Use this at a Pokémon Centre. It can teach your Pokémon a new move.”

“Me and Chimchar will help you out where we can.” Hikari promised before leaving the premises.  

“Good luck.” Rowan nodded to Yugi before ushering him out the door. “You’re going to need it.”

Guardians Short Part 4: Prompty prompty prompt

Jack let out a low hiss as he examined the former site of the portal. Tiny fragments of glass and the familiar look to the portal told him what had caused it. Jamie had informed him earlier that he and his friends had found one of Santa’s snow globes after the big battle in the streets and skies of Burgess a few months ago. Jack had been planning on taking it back to North after he had finished playing with his friends.

Unfortunately that wasn’t going to be an option any more since the snow globes North created exploded when they were activated, the magic disintegrating the glass as it spread out to create a portal to wherever the person who had shaken the snow globe had told it too. Jack just wished he knew where this particular one had sent the kids.

He hadn’t been able to catch much of what had been being said over the noise of the children all shouting at once, the only possible hint he had was that Jamie had mentioned that the globe was Santa’s. Jack both hoped and feared that the portal had led to Santoff Claussen, the home of Santa Claus, or as Jack knew him, Nicholas St. North, the Guardian of Wonder.

Hoped because if the children had been dropped off inside, they would be warm, safe and easy-ish to find. Feared because if they had been dropped off outside, they could be children-sicles before he got there.

That train of thoughts made up his mind for him. He shot outside, calling on the wind to carry him to Santoff Claussen as he took his first steps back onto the porch. Picking up on his urgency the wind blew him towards the North Pole as fast as possible.

It took longer than Jack would have liked to get up to the workshop where North was busy working away, making him cuss himself out for not picking up the tiny emergency snow globe that North had been trying to give him since Easter when he had first signed up for the Guardian gig. However when he flitted in through the window that had no glass and was the Man in the Moon’s access to the Globe Room of Santoff Claussen, he was greeted by a sight that lifted his spirits.

North’s globe, which was brightly lit by the glows symbolising all the children who believed in the Guardians, had gained a small group of little lights right here at the North Pole.

“Okay, so you know they’re here.” Jack told himself as he let out a relieved sigh and balanced on the railing near North’s control panel, ignoring the looks he was getting from the yetis who still weren’t used to not trying to kick him out of the workshop after a couple of centuries of him trying to break in. “The question is where.” He got down and started looking around as he tried to remember which way North had led him during the brief tour, “I mean they have to be inside and if they’re inside you’re only in trouble if they got caught and...” Jack paused his monologue as the nearby double doors burst open and North entered the room, followed by an ecstatic looking Jamie and an ever bouncy Sophie. “I’m in trouble.”

“Jack Frost.” North looked like he wasn’t sure whether to be pleased or not, probably because it was Jack’s band of believers who had invaded his workshop a month before Christmas, “Is good that you are here.” North patted him on the shoulder. Whether he knew his own strength or not, Jack staggered at the impact, “You can help find other children, no? And then we can be having words.”

Definitely in trouble, Jack decided.

 -------------------------------------------------------------

And that's all I have written so far.

Author Note: Ennead Update

Here you go

Guardians Short Part 3: Promptimus

Pippa had taken cover behind Mrs Bennet’s currently empty greenhouse and poked her head out from behind it as Cupcake and Jack were pelted by the ‘ammo’ of Jamie’s squad, who were all loaded up with freshly packed snowballs.

“Get them!” Jamie laughed as he pelted the pair with snowballs, the other non-zombies following his direction. Jack managed to avoid the worst of it by taking off into the air, but poor Cupcake got hit by at least four. The girl let out a growl and darted forward even as the other of the two boys complained that “flying zombies were cheating.”

“Run!” Monty screeched, turning and doing just that as the huge girl barreled forwards. Sophie, who had been hiding behind her big brother, grabbed Jamie’s arm and pulled him away just before Cupcake careened into the group, tagging Monty as the others legged it, laughing as they did so. The bespectacled blonde joined Jack’s steadily growing zombie army as the leader of said army swept back down to the ground and grinned at his forces.

“Brains.” Jack pointed in the direction the other kids had gone.

“BRAAAAAINS!” Pippa, Cupcake and Monty replied loudly and chased the others around to the front of the house only to find that Jamie and his diminishing forces had prepared for them. Jack paused momentarily to wonder where Sophie had gone before he was under fire again, Jamie’s troops not bunching up this time as the ‘zombies’ went after them, having learnt their lesson from Cupcake’s charge.

“Jack. Jack. Jack.” Jack didn’t have time to react before he was tackled by a small, giggling blonde who latched onto his side and refused to let go, slowing him down enough for Jamie to escape being beeped on the nose. “Hi.” Sophie giggled at him.

“Brains.” Jack tapped her on the nose instead of her older brother.

“Cold!” Sophie complained, before letting go, giggling again and chasing her brother around the garden, “Brains, brains, brains, brains, brains...”

Jack grinned as Jamie dodged his sister then yelped and narrowly dodged around Cupcake who was in fact chasing the boy who seemed to live in basketball tops no matter how cold out it was. At this point of the proceedings he could probably bow out and watch the insanity unfold, sometimes it was fun to see how his small pack of believers could draw the other children in the area into his games, however today he had no intention of bowing out. Not until he had tagged Jamie at least.

He took off, aiming to swoop round behind his friend only to get pelted by snowballs from most of Jamie’s remaining squad who were determined to keep their friend out of the clutches of the zombies. Jack tumbled in midair, knocked off balance by the impact as the three remaining ‘human’ members of the group escaped back into the house.

“Brains, brains, brains, brains, brains...” Sophie happily warbled as she followed her brother inside.

It took a moment for Jack to right himself but Pippa was holding the door open for him when he managed it. He nodded to her as he drifted through, listening for the sounds of the ‘battle’ continuing. He could hear the sounds of the kids running around upstairs and he drifted that way, moving to one side so Pippa could shoot up to join the others after she shut the front door.

Alighting on the landing, he followed the sounds, his concern piqued when he heard Jamie yelp, “No, that’s Santa’s!” and saw a bright flash. He darted towards the door, only to arrive in time to see Sophie giggling as she ran through a portal to Jack had no clue where.

“Sophie! Wait!” Jamie darted after her, his friends in hot pursuit.

“Wait for...” Jack shot forward only for the portal to close before he could get there, “Me.”