"…WAKE…THE…FUCK…UP!"
I was jolted awake by a blistering pain radiating across my face and chest. I gasped for air as I jerked up to a sitting position. I then winced and grabbed my chest and face.
"WHO THE FUCK TAP DANCED ON MY CHEST!" I croaked out. I turned to look at those around me and was nearly tackled into the afterlife by Jane. She pulled me into the tightest hug she ever gave me. "GAAAAHK! My neck! LPP!"
"Shut up! Stupid dumbass!" Jane cried into my neck. My brow furrowed as I craned my neck to look down at Jane. She was sniffling and snotting into in my collar which didn't befit the usual regal look the princess had.
I took a look around my bedroom of my private car and saw Iris, Grandpa Seamus, Jade and Alberto standing around my bed. All of them had concern and relief stretched across their faces. I then saw the clock on the wall and nearly shit myself.
"How is it almost nine!" I screamed and tried to peel Jane off me, only to fail. She had a vice grip on me that could strangle a whale.
"You've been unconscious for an hour, that's how." Iris replied. I frowned and looked to my Grandpa who subtly nodded in confirmation.
"Ya had very high temperature, higher tha' humanly possible. Ya were also unresponsive and yer heart rate was…worrisome…" Grandpa Seamus said softly. I could hear something else in his tone, unspoken worries. There was more to my little episode than what he said.
"That probably explains my dream…" I said then frowned as I tried remember my dream and realized I couldn't remember anything. "…or maybe not. I can't remember…"
"That doesn't matter, what matters is you're awake, alive, and totally not having a seizure like one of those possessed monsters from that comic book series you lent to Bo." Jade said
"I WAS HAVING SEIZURES!" I exclaimed.
"Lets not worry about that right now." Alberto said.
"I feel like seizures is definitely something we should worry about! Especially me!" I exclaimed.
"That is a tomorrow problem." Alberto said. I frowned at the Spaniard and tried to pull Jane off me, failing once again.
"Again, I feel like I should…ooooh…you're mimicking me aren't you?" I said, narrowing my eyes at Alberto.
"Got it in one." Alberto said with a smirk. "Though if I'm being honest your seizing problem will have to wait till tomorrow."
"Oh shit! The duel with your piece of shit dad!" I exclaimed then tried to pry Jane off me again. Jane only held on tighter which under any other circumstances would make me want to crack a joke but right now she was strangling me. "Jane! Please let…go!"
"Lassie, Starlight is turning blue." Grandpa Seamus reached out and tapped Jane on the shoulder. She whined but let go of me, subtly wiping her eyes then punching me in the shoulder.
"Ow!" I griped and rubbed where she punched me.
"No more extra today. I swear if you nearly die again today I will smother you myself!" Jane snapped.
"I got it…" I groaned then stretched. "…How long till the duel?"
"I don't think you should be moving right now Chase. You were burning up only a few minutes ago." Jade said. I reached up and felt my forehead then shrugged.
"I feel fine now." I said casually. Grandpa Seamus reached up and felt my forehead himself then sighed.
"Must've been a touch of the Jinkies." Grandpa Seamus said.
"Touch of the Jinkies?" Jane muttered.
"Me gran had that happen from time to time when she overused her mana. It's like a bad flu." Grandpa explained.
"I haven't overused my mana though…" I replied.
"You used the Crystal Genesis spell, healed Nate, as well as that body modification magic on the ancient Liger shark that you got from Justice Technologies. I'd say the you overused your mana." Alberto said. I started to deny that but realized he was right.
"Shit…I'm guess you're right about that…using crystal genesis with Fours must have put more stress on my body than with the others since he doesn't have a mana crystal core." I mused for a few seconds then sighed and shook my head. "Thought for another day. Got a duel to win and a Paragon to embarrass."
"Glad you have your priorities straight." Iris said sarcastically. I ignored her snide remarks and swung my legs over the side of the bed before standing up.
"Where are we, exactly?" I asked.
"King's Glaive set down in a clearing at the foot of the mountains east of the docks." Jane replied. She sighed and leaned against a nearby wall. "Because of Loki challenging you to a duel publicly everyone that came for the aerial combat demonstration automatically assumed that wherever the King's Glaive was is where the duel was going to take place."
"So there is a giant mob waiting for us outside?" I asked.
"There is a giant mob waiting for you outside." Jane confirmed.
"What's the plan Chase?" Alberto asked.
"United front. Jade, I know you're not going to like it but I'll need Bo with me." I said. Jade sighed and shook her head.
"I figured you would. This duel is sort of a big thing." Jade said. I shrugged
"Not really. Bahamut is going to win. No contest." I said confidently.
"Lovin' the confidence laddy." Grandpa Seamus said.
"When you see Bahamut you'll understand." Alberto said. Grandpa Seamus arched a brow at that comment then smirked.
"Keep Bo safe." Jade said.
"I will. He'll stay beside me the whole time. Even if I have to cast a magical leash on him." I said.
"Please do not cast a magical leash on my son." Jade said.
"Parent's choice." I said with a shrug.
"Anyway, we'll need to get going if you're going to face Loki before he starts throwing a royal bitch-fit about you being late." Iris said.
"That bastard would throw a bitch-fit too…" Alberto groaned.
"Probably is throwing one right now." Jane said.
"Yeah…" Alberto, Jane, and I all said in unison.
***
"Chase! Come on!" Bo exclaimed. He stood in front of one of King's Glaive control car doors leading outside.
I had just walked into the control car with Alberto, Jane and Grandpa Seamus flanking me. Thanks to my little fever I sweated bullets and ended up soaking my dashiki. So I had to change, instead of changing into another dashiki I chose a pair of jeans and a tee-shirt. There was a reason for choosing the more casual option, in the eyes of everyone and more importantly Loki, it was a massive fuck you.
"Hold on you militant midget!" I griped at the boy. He frowned and crossed his arms.
"I'm ten and a half, I'm not a midget!" Bo snapped back. I rolled my eyes at him.
"Whatever you say." I said dismissively then made my way over to the door, intending to press the button to open it. Grandpa Seamus grabbed my shoulder before I could press the button.
"You sure you only want Bo and Alberto out there with you?" Grandpa asked.
"Yes, I'm sure…don't worry Grandpa. I'm fine now." I said, smiling in an attempt to reassure him. It did not work in the slightest, the worried glint in his eyes told me as much.
"Starlight…" Grandpa started but I quickly cut him off.
"Grandpa…fussing over me like a mother hen isn't going to change what I have to do. I am fine now and I won't be doing anything. It'll all be Bahamut's job." I said, using a much more stern tone.
Grandpa Seamus fixed me with a look that I had rarely ever seen on the usually jolly man. It was a look that told me I had crossed a line with my disrespect. I shot him a apologetic look and lowered my head slightly.
"Yer me only grandson. I'm allowed ta worry bout ya." Grandpa Seamus said.
"I know. I'll be sure to take a long rest after this." I replied. Bo puffed reached up and patted Grandpa Seamus on the back then smiled up at him when he met his gaze.
"Don't worry Gramps! We'll keep Chase from overworking himself again!" Bo exclaimed. Gadget climbed onto Bo's shoulder and chittered as if to agree with his master's statement.
"Thank you laddie. I'm counting on ye." Grandpa replied then ruffled Bo's hair.
I pressed the button for the door and was hit with the smell of damp cedar leaves and Japanese maples. A slight hint of ozone creeping in behind the other scents, the only warning I got before the cacophonous rumble of thunder rolled over my ears.
Outside the King's Glaive a thunderstorm had been brewing. The intensity and magnitude of the storm made would have led me to believe that it was created magically if it wasn't for the fact I couldn't sense any mana in the air.
Like Jane has informed me earlier the King's Glaive was set down in a clearing at the base of the mountain. Thousands of splicers, soldiers and scientist had gathered around the clearing, despite the storm and were eagerly awaiting the duel between Loki and I. Taking a look around it was obvious who a splicer and who were Americans.
The splicers were protected from the rain, nice and dry inside transparent magical bubbles which were likely the result of a spell. The outlines of each bubble could be seen only faintly thanks the to downpour of rain. The Americans had makeshift tents set up to try and shield themselves from the rain and wind however it was obvious by the number of soaked Americans that their measures weren't up to snuff.
"Who ordered a thunderstorm?!" Bo yelled over the deafening howls of the wind.
"Chaaaaasse!" Alberto exclaimed, shooting me a glare.
"Oh for fucks sake! I didn't do it!" I snapped then jumped down from the King's Glaive and drew Dia Caos. Channeling void attribute mana into the mana revolver I raised it high and pulled both triggers. Firing three void bullets into the air.
Nothing happened at first, dark clouds above continued to dump buckets of rain and shat out fistfuls of lightning and then suddenly everything went quiet. The rain stopped, lightning silenced, even the wind stopped blowing. Three small black holes formed a mile above the mountain top, drawing the storm clouds, rain and even the lightning that had rained down before into its epicenters before vanishing in a vibrant blighted rainbow flash. The winds calmed, the storm clouds vanished, leaving only a clear star filled sky above.
"There! The storm's gone, HAPPY?!" I exclaimed looking back at Alberto and Bo.
"Ooooh! Can you do that again but this time yell, 'I have the power! 'At the top of your lungs?" Bo asked sarcastically. This earned a bonk on the head from Alberto, who jumped down from the King's Glaive and came to my side.
"Grand and over the top as always…" Alberto said, a slight smirk tugging at his lips.
That smirk quickly disappeared once he looked down the center of the clearing and saw who was standing in the center of the clearing. If looks could kill Loki would have been drawn, quartered, tarred, feathered and castrated.
"Lets go kick my 'Father's' ass…"