Jessie smiled, the memories of the Warrior Realm coming back. Only a few months ago she and Ian would lie on top of the tavern's roof, gazing at the stars. It had almost been too long since then.
Ian sat alone at his usual high oak table, overlooking the patrons of the Nightmare Realm. He stared blankly at the bar, contemplating his next attack on the Warrior Realm.
The three travelers sauntered into the Warrior Realm's famious resort, the WR Patron Tavern. The arrangement was just the same as it had been when Jessie arrived, her trusty flag, Twiggy in hand.
"Let's get something from the bagel stand! Nuku Washu's still working there!" mused Panron, hopping joyously to the makeshift bagel shop, directly across Warrior Square from the tavern.
"I agree! I'm starving," Cham could hear her stomach growl ravenously.
They soon approached the counter, a vast assortment of bagels strewn before them neatly under a pane of glass. The figure behind the counter sat up, greeting them with her obnoxious booming voice, "Welcome to Nuku Washu's Bagel Stand! Can't find better bagels in all the realms!"
Nuku was a giddy and very unshy person of the Warrior Realm with a very original critique. She often performed her own experiments with her intriguing mine, supporting her lab by vigorously running a simple bagel stand. She had plans and blueprints for the Interrealm Railroad, which never really got off the paper into the reality.
Nuku's physical appearance, to many, was rather odd. She had a long main of magenta hair, swept back with a green headband. Her normal attire consisted of green overalls, a white collared shirt, some green and white striped tights, her shapely legs accepting the rather silly attire, her feet adorned with black shoes.
"What will it be, dears?" Nuku tilted her head, grinning brightly.
"I want a chewy blueberry choco burst!" giggled Panron, pointing to a chocolate bagel studded with blueberries.
Nuku removed the bagel from its sitting place, handing it to the young Saiya-jin girl. "And for you...?" she cocked her glare at Cham, her tail waving behind her.
"Which do you recommend?" Cham gazed down at the line, finding them all delectable.
"Well," Nuku beamed, "They're all great!" She waved her hand down a long row, filled with different types of bagels. "These are Nuku's Choice."
"I'll take the...." Cham studied the row carefully, "Berry Supreme and Grasshopper Pie specialty."
Nuku chuckled, scooping up the catgirl's two choices and handed them to her, carefully wrappped in a napkin. She glanced at Jessie, noticing she was lost in reveries of the Warrior Realm's past. "Miss...what will it be for you?" Nuku waved her hand in front of Jessies, grasping for her attention.
Jessie jumped, as if being poked in the back. "I'm sorry...I'll take the plain Blueberry Swirl," she smiled gently, sweeping down in a short respectful bow.
"You're gladly welcome," she retrieved the fruity swirled bagel, "but please, bowing isn't required!" she cracked a grin, placing the bagel in its napkin on the table.
"What do we owe you, Miss Washu?" Jessie asked, shyly taking the bagel.
"You don't owe me squat! I only take donations," the merchant glowed, her grin resembling that of a Cheshire cat's.
"Your recommended donation fee being...?" Jessie blinked.
"Eh...two thousand gold coins!" Nuku announced, the three customers dropping their merchandice. "It's hard keeping up a lab, y'know!"
"TWO THOUSAND!?" Jessie stumbled back, one hand reaching into her pocket. "I only have one thousand with me!"
"I was teasing," Nuku chuckled. "It's whatever you wish, dear," she shoved her small donation plate foward in front of her customers.
Jessie took a bag from her little backpack, dropping a gererous amount of gold coins into the plate. "That should be around five hundred gold pieces," Jessie smiled.
Nuku's mouth dropped, and for the first time, she fell speechless. "Y-Yer kiddin' me, right?" She nudged Cham gently. "Is she for real?"
Cham giggled, "Yep...it seems too good to be true, but it's not!"
Jessie nodded, adding a bright smile, "Of course you keep it! I feel that we need that Interrealm Railroad or some sort of transportation system. Walking is just too far, nowadays and we have to worry about muggers along the trails," she said.
"Wow...I haven't really given much more thought to the Interrealm Railroad. Mayhap I'd better get to work on some improved plans on it!" Nuku scratched her head, "I'll consider all of your plea if only the Realmmasters approve."
Jess blinked, "Who is the leader nowadays?"
Nuku released a weary sigh and shook her head, "John has come back to reign. His temper tantroms drive out a few people everyday! He really needs someone to keep him in line."
He idly tapped a dagger on the counter, searching for any familiar face not worthy of being in this realm. Lucretzia and Floyd went about, poking at each other; another one of the lords of the realm, Lord Zealth Solious sat, enjoying an afternoon drink.
Other faces went by, most worthy of their unfamiliarity, yet one face stuck out with much incompetance, irritating Ian with stupidity. With a swift flick of his hand, Ian disgustedly tossed the dagger at the annoyance. The dagger flipped gracefully, slicing through the air at such a fast speed that it caught afire. However, its target wasn't quite as fast as needed and the dagger lodged in his forehead. Ian stood, strolling casually through the crowd, having no notice of the attack, Ian drew his Chrono Saber, its green gem glowing readily. The victim's withering soul was grasped and taken hostage into the gem. Ian flanked, taking long and pride strides back to his table. Solious nodded to his with amusement, taking another sip of his drink. Ian sheathed his Chrono Saber, returning Solious's nod and grinned, having another soul embedded into his vast collection.
"Why haven't you changed?" echoed Jessie's voice his his head, her tone broken up with sobs. His lips turned down in a deeply furrowed frown.
"Because I was born that way," he whispered to himself. He didn't want to be cold-blooded, but it was a clear instict driving through his veins. His current thoughts dwell on Jessie. He didn't want any army with him to search for her, only because it was a personal matter. Personal matters were thought of as a weakness. I know she is on the same plane as I....I can feel her presence, he thought.
The Nightmare's Whispering Dream Tavern went about its business, the entrance of two of the Agor brothers disturbing it. Ian grinned, only keeping his mouth shut. He couldn't believe Duo had accepted the family as his own. At this time, he needed more allys than enemies. Ian stood again, walking to the two Agor brothers, bowing to them. He had a propsition to make.
Ian was slowly being encased in an angry Jedi female's ice spell, pleading for Jessie's assistance. She remembered that first glance he gave her; she treasured his pale ice-ridden eyes falling up on her, the gentle blush warming his cheeks. She wouldn't do anything to help him, but he still came around her.
The very table the sat at that night still stood there in all of its originality. The tavern was filled with grotesque warriors, others galliant brave loyals to the Realms. Occupying the tavern were about twenty patrons, bustling about at their own grace.
A brave loyal, Mistress Kiechira sat at the bar, conversing with Paladin Gabriel Prophet. They were perhaps the most protective of the Warrior Realm, dying in battles and attacks from the Nightmare Realm's many invasions, soon to be revived by their gracious nobles.
Panron poked at Jessie, looking rather annoyed by her random reveries. "Hey...are you okay? You keep drifting off..." the young girl tilted her head, inquiring Jessie's excuse for not paying any attention.
"I...uh, I'll be fine," Jessie stammered, casually brushing strands of burgandy tresses from her bluegreen eyes.
Cham's tail twitched, releasing a tender giggle, "She's in love..."
"Of course I am!" she laughed, "I'm married!"
One face in particular caught the joking familiarity of Jessie's face, greeting her from his bare table. The realmmaster Lord John, in all his glory, stood and walked to Jessie. "Amazing! You've grown!" he laughed, giving her a hug.
Jessie chuckled a bit before her reply, "You sound old! You're not much older than I!"
"How's your cat Cait? He and Ian still get along?" John rushed her with questions, eager to hear of any of her news.
Jessie's lips curved upward into a sweet smile. "Cait's doing fine...he and Ian get along well," she answered, "Why do you ask?"
"Just curious, I guess," he smiled to Panron and Cham Cham. "Hello Panron...who is this lovely catgirl?"
Cham stepped foward, shaking his hand, giving a smile of great glee. "I am Cham Cham Tig'erre Le'Purrde," she threw her words at him with a sophisticated tone and charm, he could hardly believe she was of her own specie.
John cracked an obnoxious grin, "I'm Lord John Link Alexander the Great Lieu-kun," he strung out his nickname infested adress, "but you may call me Lord John."
Cham grinned, her eyes narrowing playfully, unshyly boasting, "You egotistical power-eating bastard..."
John took a surprised step back, "What the hell!?"
Kiechira, Gabriel, Wangsu, Chalice, and Vegetto turned towards John, hearing his outburst. Chalice hid a simple smirk, having her disliking toward John.
Cham gave a tender giggle, "I was kidding, you silly!" she retorted.
John sighed and shook his head. "Just don't ever do that again," he sat at ease, "I was worried to have to slaughter you, Miss Cham."
"It's not Miss Cham," she gave a wry grin, clearing her throat, "It's Mrs. Cham Razor Le'Purrde," she corrected him.
"Er...right," he gave a puzzled look and shrugged.
Panron yawned, running circles around their table. She chanted a mischievious incantation as she scuttled about, John's drink slowly filling with mud. She tittered lightly, toddling outside to the fresh fountain in the square.
Jessie saw Panron's mischief, holding her breath to keep from laughing aloud.
"Sit, everyone...make yourself comfy," John insisted, picking up his glass.
Jessie shook her head and turned away to laugh, watching John tip his glass to his lips. Cham hadn't apparently caught on, or she would've done the same. John sputtered and threw down his glass, disgustedly glancing at everyone. "Okay! Who did this to my drink!?" he demanded.
Silence filled the room as Panron rushed into the tavern in an alarmed manner, Trunks at her side. She hid behind Jessie, an odd fear built under her kindness.
The tavern's door was broken open, two figures silhouetted in its doorway.
Jessie fell to her kness, watching, recognizing the figures. "NO!" she bellowed, her hands trembling and tingling with the fear... the fear of war and hatred.
