//------------------------------// // Story Time With Agito // Story: A Passing Through Kamen Rider // by thunderclap //------------------------------// A couple days had passed since Daring and Agito had been attacked by the mob of spirits. In that time, Agito had kept making talismans and the pair hadn’t seen another ghost since. That was just fine by Daring. Henchponies? Those she could handle; they had faces she could kick in without a special holy weapon. Somehow, she had not previously encountered spirits like these despite all her years of tomb raiding. “Haven’t seen any ghosts in a while,” Daring commented, kicking a rock out of her path. “That’s a good sign, right?” “The talismans are doing their job then,” Agito replied, handing Daring one of the pieces of paper. “Always remember to send a little prayer to the family, got it?” “Ok.” Taking the talisman, she started her prayer. It never mattered to her that she had never seen anyone in her adopted family besides her dad; family was family. She tried not to smile; her father’s words on the matter echoing through her head. Agito let silence reign between them, continuing his own prayers. He pushed the mantra to the back of his focus, examining the map and compass to ensure they were still on the right path. Daring let a few minutes pass before breaking the silence. “You know, you never did tell me how Uncle Kuuga died. We still have a while to go and I don’t really have any stories you don’t already know about.” “It's not a story I like to tell,” Agito replied, his mood souring. “It's why I hung up the belt.” “That a no?” she asked, frowning at him. “That's a, let me think about it,” Agito replied curtly, putting away the map and compass. “If I was going to tell anyone that story, it'd be you.” “That’s something, at least,” Daring grumbled, looking out across the desert. “I figure we got another day of walking ahead of us.” Agito sighed, taking a sip from his canteen. “Which means a full day of talisman making.” Placing it back on his belt, he gave her a hard look. “I know your books are a good bit of exaggeration, but tell me, have you had to kill anyone yet?” Daring rubbed her neck, her muzzle scrunched up in thought. “Honestly, couldn't tell ya. It's not like I've ever gone out with the intent to kill; but during daring escapes I've pulled some stunts that at the very least caused serious damage to some lackeys.” “That Wyatt kid and his friends probably think those creatures they kill don’t count but I assure you they do. Just because it’s not human or equine doesn’t mean it’s not alive.” “Pretty sure there's a difference between a rampaging beast and intelligent life,” Daring argued, her thoughtful look giving way to confusion. “You're not going vegetarian in your old age, are you?” “Nah, just don’t want my pride and joy turning into a killer, that’s all.” “You don't have to worry about that,” Daring assured, waving him off. “If I haven't even killed that jerk, Ahuizotl, then I doubt I'll ever set off with the intention to kill.” Agito nodded, stopping at the top of a hill. “You have no idea what I wouldn’t give for a nice iced tea right now. Deserts suck.” Daring came up next to him, examining the barren landscape for any signs of more ruins they could spend the night. Despite her best efforts, nothing presented itself to her. “Sorry Dad, closest thing to home brewed iced tea we got is the powdered drink mix. It wouldn’t even be cold.” “Can’t you whip up a snow cloud or something?” he asked halfheartedly. “I spent all that time and money making sure you got a proper pegasus upbringing and you can’t even cool your old man off.” “Slight problem with that, Dad,” Daring said, pointing to the sky. “There are no clouds in the sky. And the air's so dry that it would take me forever to make a cloud from scratch.” Extending a wing, she whacked him on the side of the head. “Flight camp and an internship at the weather factory does not make a proper ‘pegasus upbringing’.” Agito snorted, rubbing his nose to hold back a sneeze. “If you haven’t noticed, your dad doesn’t have wings.” Reaching over, he plucked one of her feathers. “I raised you out of diapers, I think I’m entitled to a few over dramatizations.” Daring rolled her eyes, batting his hand away. “You're not ever going to let me forget the diapers.” Stepping away, she made her way down the hill. “Come on, we’re burning daylight.” Agito nodded, carefully following his daughter. “Perhaps if you decided to continue the family line, I could turn my horrible paternal gaze to them instead.” “Yeah well, thanks to a certain someone, I've got some issues that manifest in… interesting ways during relationships. So no plans for kids in the foreseeable future.” “Don’t start with that psychobabble with me,” Agito grumbled, loosening his cloak. “I’ve seen first hand how bad Equestria’s mental health system used to be. Ponies have tried to drill holes in my head to get the bad thoughts out. Or tell me I just needed more sex.” “Uh huh, and when's the last time you talked to a Psychiatrist?” Daring asked with a quirked brow. “About a hundred and twenty years ago. She tried to get me to orgasm with an electrified prod. It was all painfully similar to how the field developed back on Earth; only with it more oriented to treating women for made up things.” “Okay, and you don't think things have developed in the last century?” “Probably,” Agito conceded, gazing out ahead of them. “Don’t care to find out.” “Sounds like something someone in need of help would say,” Daring teased, bracing herself as the wind picked up. “I mean, look. You were always there for me when I need an ear to listen. No reason I can’t be an ear for you.” “If I wanted someone in my head, I'd hand them a hammer,” he grumbled. “Hey, I said listen, not get in your head,” Daring corrected. “I know you don’t want to talk about it but I have a right to know what happened to my uncle.” Gritting his teeth, Agito pulled ahead of her. “I might tell you when we make camp tonight.” “Damint will you just stop!” Daring growled, flaring her wings out. “You always told me Ohana meant everything, that family was the most important thing someone could have. I want to know.” Agito huffed, stopping dead in his tracks. “Fine, you want to know so badly? I'll tell the damn story.” Dropping his pack, he spread out a blanket. “Sit and listen.” Daring mimicked his actions, sitting across from the man. She leaned on her bag, her ears perking up to listen close. “Whenever you’re ready, Dad.” Agito sighed, putting a hand to his beard. Closing his eyes, he found a place to start. Daguva towered over the brothers, easily twelve feet to their measly six. Agito brought up an arm, bracing himself as the giant's leg came down on top of him. He cried out, the force of the blow nearly breaking his arm and brought him to his knees. Kuuga picked himself off the ground, moving in close and jabbing Daguva in the side. “That arm okay?” he asked, ducking under Daguva’s backswing. Agito hopped to his feet, flexing his arm. “I can move it, that's something.” He darted to the opposite side of his brother, punching the Gurongi's other side. “You got a plan besides hitting him a lot?” Kuuga jumped back, narrowly avoiding a punch from Daguva. “If I had a plan, I'd have shared it by now!” Grabbing a large branch, he swung  it across Daguva’s face. “We’re just gonna have to hold out until the pillars get here.” Daguva bellowed as the branch struck him, the sound echoing across the snowy field. “The Gegeru is almost complete; the only thing remaining is to take your lives.” “He says that like we'll make it easy for him,” Agito commented, picking up a branch of his own and throwing it like a spear at the back of Daguva's head. He tsked as it burst into flames, reduced to ash before it reached its target. “Well, that's disconcerting.” “Keep him busy,” Kuuga instructed, disengaging from the fight. Pulling back, he made his way towards a hill. Agito chuckled weakly, rolling out of the way of Daguva's leg. “Sure thing, bro; that sounds easy! Take your time!” “Cobblestone!” Kuuga called, cresting the hill in seconds. “I need your help!” An earth pony rushed forward, a panicked look on his face. “What dost thou require?!” “Your sword, I need your sword.” Kuuga held his hand out, panting. “Any sign of the Pillars? Any at all?” “Stygian said that he was gathering them!” Cobblestone replied, tearing his sheathed sword from his side and tossing it to Kuuga. The stallion watched in wonder as the man caught it; both he and the sword transmogrifying. “Thanks, Cobblestone.,” Kuuga replied, adjusting his grip on the large sword. “I know Stygian will move as fast as he can.” Turning back to the fight, he sighed. “Cobblestone,  if Agito and I fall, get out of here.” “Which means I shall not need to move,” cobblestone replied, a small smile on his face. “Thou shall not let any foe best thee. This I know.” Kuuga gave a thumbs up before moving as fast as his new form allowed. “Okay, Gouram, gonna need you for this too.” A metallic cry echoed from the sky, a gold and black beetle racing down from the sky. Heeding its masters mental commands, it zipped through the sky, swooping down to rake its claws against Daguva’s body. Daguva hissed in pain, swatting at the beetle only to catch empty air as it pulled up into the air. Agito backpedaled, putting as much distance between himself and Daguva as he could. “I assume you put a plan together?” he asked, turning to Kuuga. “Because I’d rather not get turned into a blood sausage.” “At the very least, I have a loose concept!” Kuuga shouted back, directing Gouram while he charged at Daguva. Thrusting forward, his sword sank into Davuga’s side, drawing sizzling brackish fluid. Daguva shouted, raising his arms above his head to bring them down on Kuuga. Before he could, Gouram charged, clamping his pincers around the Gurongi's wrist. Closing the distance between them, Agito jumped at Daguva’s other arm. Wrapping his own around him, he braced himself against the man’s hulking mass. “Take your shot!” Kuuga jumped up, wrapping his hands around Daguva’s belt. Grunting in exertion, he attempted to tear it off the giant's waist. Gripping onto it like an iron vice, he pulled as hard as he could. Daguva struggled against Gouram and Agito, feeling the strap of his belt against his waist. “Cheap tricks won't save you!” he boomed. “I came to fight you man to man and you play tricks like a coward!” “Too bad for you, I’m a bit underdressed for that,” Kuuga replied, continuing to pull on the belt. With a final application of strength, the belt tore free, amber colored electricity arcing off it.  Kuuga let himself drop to the ground, scrambling away from the Gurongi. A scream of primal rage and pain escaped Daguva as he shuddered. His body pulsed and throbbed, reducing in size. He swore in his native tongue, a strange language neither brother understood. They got the general message though, Daguva wasn’t exactly pleased with them. Within moments, he had returned to human form. Letting his transformation cancel out, Kuuga fell to his knees. A laugh built in his chest, growing into a full on fit. “Ha! We did it! We saved the world! Wooo!!!” Agito cancelled his own transformation, stepping up towards his brother. “Yeah, don’t know how, but we did.” Another step and he joined Kuuga on the ground. “Fucker hits like a truck.” Multiple red spots stained his clothes, spots where Daguva had punctured his armor. He glanced at Kuuga’s hands, frowning at the belt. “So, what do we do with that thing?” “Hide it,” Kuuga responded, whipping some blood out of his eyes. “Probably blow up a continent if we broke it.” “Then let’s give it to Tia and Lulu,” Agito replied, looking back up towards the sky. “They know more about this world than we do.” “Hail, Agito, Kuuga!” Rockhoof’s deep baritones carried over the harsh winter breeze. “It seems you lads have already taken care of the big scary monster.” “Yup.” Kuuga gave a weak thumbs up. “We’d get up to say hello, but we’re a little tuckered out.” “You both look mighty cold,” Meadowbrook commented, sliding her mask up. “Ah’m sure Starswirl can conjure up some blankets for ya.” “Blankets sound good,” Agito conceded. “And maybe someone could carry our sorry asses inside somewhere?” “Why is that mongrel still alive?” Starswirl demanded, pushing his way to the front of the approaching group. “I made it very clear that Daguva was too big a threat to remain alive.” “Taking his belt was the best we could do,” Kuuga argued, his mood souring slightly with the old wizard’s arrival. “If you haven’t noticed, he’s no longer a threat. Without his belt, he’s just an ordinary man.” Starswirl snorted, looking down from his beard. “There can never be such a thing as ‘ordinary’ when dealing with monsters like him.” “You want him dead, nut up and do it yourself,” Agito challenged, tilting his head towards Starswirl. “We're not gonna do your dirty work for you.” Stygian moved into view, wearing an uneasy smile. “I think we should get them somewhere warm. We can decide what to do with Daguva while Meadowbrook tends to their wounds.” “Aye, the boy is talking sense,” Rockhoof agreed, running a hand through his beard. “All is well for today, it's time to celebrate and recover, not fight.” With a humorous glint, he hefted Agito over his shoulder. “I can carry them both back.” “Just be careful with them,” Meadowbrook warned, producing a handkerchief and dabbing it on the corner of Agito's cheek. “They might have broken bones.” “And what of Kuuga's servant?” Starswirl questioned, looking over the battlefield once more. “Did you send him off to kill more animals for you?” “I only told him to run if we died,” Kuuga replied, weakly trying to make himself comfortable on Rockhoof's shoulder. “Cobble?! You nearby?!” “I am here, Mi’lord!” Cobblestone shouted back, waving from the hill. “I shall be at thine side post haste!” Kuuga sighed in relief, his body relaxing. “There you go, Beardy, Cobblestone didn't wander off.” “My name is Starswirl,” the wizard reminded, his voice full of condescension. “Must I remind you every time we meet? Or is that beyond your megear abilities?” Kuuga shrugged, wincing in pain. “Eh, I'm trying to get a nickname to stick.” Starswirl ignored the man, leading the group back to civilization. Feeling generous, he conjured up blankets for the pair of men. “That should keep until we’re back in Sleipnirheim. Magnus, take custody of our prisoner.” Magnus nodded, pulling rope from out of his bag and binding the unconscious Daguva. With a grunt of effort, he hefted the man over his shoulder. “Prisoner is secured.” “Yes Magnus, we have eyes,” Starswirl chided, the bells on his outfit jingling softly. “Come along then, we’ve wasted enough time on this charade as it is.” The group shared a look, but followed after Starswirl without a word. After a moment of awkward silence, Somnambula spoke. “Your betrothed and her sisters joined us on our trip, Agito. She was highly concerned for your safety.” Agito chuckled weakly, taking stock of his injuries. “I doubt seeing me like this will ease her mind. Something tells me she's going to give me a long talking to.” “It just means she cares,” Mistmane assured, giving him an easy smile. “Now that your quest is over, you might consider taking a nice long rest.” Agito nodded, smiling back. “I think there's a beach with our name on it.” He turned his head to Cobblestone. “Hey Cobble, did you get that thing I sent you into town for?” “Ah er, yes, I was able to acquire it.” Cobblestone nodded, patting at his vest. “Ah! I almost forgot. A few humans arrived in town while I was obtaining it. I believe they were awaiting the outcome of your battle.” The brothers shared a look, before Agito told him, “Good job getting it, buddy. Keep it close until I leave with Dagi.” “Perhaps you should reconsider courting a sea beast,” Starswirl spoke, keeping his eyes forward. “No good will come from their kind.” “And maybe you should shut your mouth, before I feed you your beard,” Agito growled. “Perhaps you should reconsider being a racist asshole?” “Calm down, Agito,” Meadowbrook said, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Ignore Starswirl. The old coot forgets ignorance like that nearly killed ponies altogether.” This seemed to sooth Agito for the moment, the group returning to a tense silence. Sleipnirheim sat on Equestria’s Northeastern cost, right over the line into the ice and snow of the Frozen North. Hardy earth ponies and a few pegasi made it their home, their lives dedicated to the cold northern sea. The buildings were made entirely of wood, the roofs lacking the thatched tops that were common in most of Equestria. It was harsh looking, but it was civilization enough. “We have a few rooms at the inn,” Rockhoof said, moving through the snow with ease. “Better than sleeping in the common room. Reminds me of the time some of my Helm comrades slept in a common room. Woke up to find one of those digging dogs had stolen all their things!” “Diamond Dogs tend to like shiny objects,” Meadowbrook offered, smiling at a pair of foals in a snowball fight. “Don’t see a lot of them this far north.” Agito followed Meadow's line of sight, smiling at the foals himself. “Guess they're not a fan of the cold. Neither am I honestly. Rather be on some nice warm sand with a beer in my hand.” Grinning at Kuuga, he added in Hawaiian “Think I can get a woodcarver to make me a board? Inventing surfing sounds like a fun way to kill time.” Kuuga gave his brother the shaka hand gesture, replying in one of their native tongues. “Sounds good to me. Be sure to teach these ponies to drink from coconuts and pineapples too.” “I’m not turning them into tourists in their own country. I have standards.” Agito smirked, noting the stiff look on Starswirl’s face. “I told you he hates it when we don’t speak his language. Freaking bigot.” “And that's why we do it,” Kuuga reminded with a chuckle. There was a pain in his chest, but it was worth it. “Don’t worry too much about him, Tsukiya. He’s just an old man who doesn’t want to change.” Agito rolled his eyes, giving his brother a look. “Really Ke’alohi, wasn't using the rider titles your idea?” Kuuga frowned, looking down at the snow. “Yeah well, that’s something I wanted to talk to you abou-” “Alright you two, I think you can make it to your rooms.” Rockhoof came to a stop, placing both brothers on their feet. “Don’t worry none about payment, we took care of that.” Agito and Kuuga brushed themselves off, luckily able to stand under their own power. “Thanks Rockhoof,” Kuuga told him, looking towards the door. “I'm ready for a nap.” He stumbled, shoved to the side as Adagio stormed out of the inn. “How dare you!” the siren snapped, stopping in front of Agito. “I could have helped, I could have done something! And yet you just go running off with your idiot brother to go fight a monster!” “Called it,” Agito muttered, wilting under Adagio's harsh gaze. “Dagi, I know you're mad, but Equestrian magic doesn't work on Gurongi. Plus, I'm still here, right?” Adagio sneered, storming back into the inn without another word. “Remember my advice, Agito.” Starswirl stepped into the building, giving Agito a pointed look. Agito balled his fists, slowly stomping towards the building. “You better hope your beard is clean, asshole because it's your dinner tonight,” he seethed, reaching for the door. “Agito, remember what I said.” Kuuga put his hand on Agito’s shoulder. “He’s an old man, and eventually, ideas like his will die out.” Agito groaned, relaxing his fists into open hands. “Fine, no assaulting the elderly. If you need me, I'm going to try and smooth things over with Dagi.” Kuuga slapped his back. “Of course you are, I need nieces to spoil after all.” Wearing a jolly expression, he went in first, almost skipping. “Get to fixin!” Agito adjusted the blanket around him, his cheeks heating up. “Dumbass,” he muttered. “Don't even know if that's possible.” Steeling himself, he  moved inside. The place was warm enough, a few ponies milling about. Some humans were standing around Kuuga, firing rapid fire questions at him. He found a wall to lean on, happily letting his brother hog the attention. “You got Dagi sooo mad~” Sonata singsonged, twirling over to him. “Aria wants to beat you up too!” “Yeah well, story of our relationship,” he said, waving his hand airily. “I do something dumb and she happily tells me how stupid I am.” “Well, go say your sorry!” Sonata took his hand, dragging him towards a door. “Make sure to tell her you love her lots and give her a nice snack!” “Don't need to tell me twice,” Agito assured her. “Just needed a moment to brace myself for more yelling.” Patting his head, she pushed him through the door. “Go to it!” He was greeted by Adagio with her back turned to him. He rubbed the back of his head, sucking in a deep breath. “Dagi, I'm sorry. You wanted to help and I didn't even properly talk with you. I just… I don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you.” “So you don’t trust me to take care of myself?” Adagio questioned, her massive head of hair bobbing up and down. “That makes me feel so good about myself.” “That's not it,” Agito immediately replied, going up behind her and pulling her into a hug. “I was scared, Dagi. And that kind of fear can make someone dumb like me forget how capable you are.” “I don’t think you’re dumb, I just call you that so I don’t call you something worse.” Adagio turned, putting her arms around him. “Never do that again, do you understand?” Agito put a hand on her cheek, smiling softly. “Okay, from now on we talk things out.” Adagio put a finger to his lips. “I think you talk too much, Agito. I can think of better things to do with that mouth of yours.” “You better stifle your singing voice then,” he retorted with a wicked grin, taking a seat on the bed. “Bet the walls here are thin.” “Woah, okay, I think that’s enough…” Daring interrupted quickly, and shifted into a slightly more comfortable position. “Just because I’m impressed that you were with a siren doesn’t mean I want to hear every detail.” Agito cleared his throat, blushing. “Right, sorry. Got carried away trying to give a complete account of that day.” Agito ran his hand through Adagio’s hair, tracing the curls. “You have the best hair of anyone I’ve ever met. Women would kill for hair like this.” “Out of all my fantastic features, it's my hair you fawn over?” she teased, the pair cuddled up in bed. “And I thought males had very specific tastes.” “What can I say, I'm a weirdo,” Agito replied, letting his hand stop behind her ear and give it a scratch. “I think part of it’s the way your fin just appears in the middle when it’s wet.” Despite the calming effect of the scratch, a frown crossed Adagio's muzzle. “Don't remind me. We've been thrown out of towns because of sudden rainstorms.” “Attitudes will change, just give it time.” Kissing her nose, he pulled away. “I’m going to get something to eat, you want anything?” Adagio stretched out, sitting up in bed. “Just some juice and maybe a little pastry. You know what I like.” Slipping his pants on, Agito grabbed his shirt off the floor. “You got it.” Pulling it on as he walked through the door, he spotted Kuuga chatting with what looked like a Linto priestess. “Hey, who's your friend?” he asked as he moved to the counter. “Oh she's Landra, she's a priestess,” Kuuga explained, waving to his brother. “Says she's talking to believers of Faust to exchange ideas.” “Sounds like a fun time. Just make sure you tell em’ about Madame Pele. Otherwise they’ll end up homeless like Uncle Cameron.” Stopping at the bar, he conversed with the owner. Siding a few bits over, he placed his order. “Uh, Uncle Cameron lost his house to loan sharks, not a volcano,” Kuuga pointed out, taking a sip of his drink. “Which was then caught in that lava flow. Who are we to know her mood?” Agito turned, his back to the pair. He blinked, hearing a glass hit the floor. “You okay?” Looking back, he was greeted by a sight that froze his blood. Kuuga's eyes were rolled in the back of his head, the veins on his face a sickly black. A sickly black vine had wrapped around his hand, dark thorns digging into his skin. Landra met Agito’s eyes, a cold smile on her face. Agito's face morphed into a mask of rage, his belt appearing on his waist and he tackled the smiling woman off her stool. “What did you do to him!?” “Put an end to a heretic,” she simply said, her appearance shifting. Revealing herself as the rose Gurongi, she chuckled. “Never again will anyone challenge lord Daguva.” Agito slapped his hands down on the buttons of his belt, punching the fake.priestess in the face. “You're right about that. Because Daguva will never get that belt of his back. And you won’t see tomorrow.” Agito pressed another button, the light in his belt turning red and a sword hilt appearing from it. He grabbed the hilt, pulling his weapon free. Turning the blade downward, he attempted to stab her in the throat. The fake priestess grabbed the blade of the sword, crying out in pain as smoke rose up from her hand. Her effort proved futile, and there was a sudden jolt up his arm as the tip embedded in the floor beneath her. “Tsukiya...” Kuuga groaned, falling out of his chair. “Tsukiya... get over here...” Agito left his sword in the gurongi, scrambling to his brother's side. “Hey, hey, don't talk,” Agito urged, trying to keep the panic out of his voice. “You need to keep your strength up until Meadowbrook can take a look at you.” “No, you have to listen,” Kuuga inisted, gulping weakly. “I’m sorry, for all of this. It’s my fault we’re here... I wanted to be a hero so bad... guess I get a hero’s death too.” He shivered, reaching out for his hand. “Ke’alohi,” Agito croaked, his voice warbling slightly as his transformation faded. “You idiot, there's nothing to be sorry about. Now shut up, Meadowbrook will be here in a second.” Kuuga shook his head. “Always... putting me first. I dragged you into being a hero...” Grasping Agito’s hand, he locked eyes. “You gotta start living for yourself... promise me... promise me you’ll never use that belt again, not for me or anyone else. Promise you’ll only use it for you.” “Ke’alohi… what am I supposed to say to that?” “Say you will,” Ryusei pressed, his body tensing up. “Be the person you want to be, not the one others want you to be.” He smiled again, his hand going limp. “Promise me...” Agito's tears started to flow freely, nodding slowly. “Okay, you win...” “And that’s it. I made a promise to my dying brother.” Daring stared down at the sand, a frown on her face. “That… that’s awful.” “You know the rest from there: the pillars went missing, all the humans went back across the sea, and I went into a very long drug induced haze.” Agito stood back up, grabbing his pack. Daring stood up as well, picking up their blankets. “And what about your marefriend? What happened with her?” “I already told you, D.D, Bearded Idiot and friends banished her, at least that’s what Celestia told me.” “Right,” Daring replied, going silent for a few moments. “Still, it was kind of wrong for Uncle Kuuga to ask that of you. I mean… only use your belt for yourself.” Agito shook his head. “I didn’t think you’d understand, it’s a very... Japanese thing to ask. The gist is, he wanted me to want to use the belt; to want to be a hero for my own reasons, not let myself do it because people want me to.” “See, I might've understood if you told the story in Japanese,” Daring pointed out, starting back on their makeshift path. “Implications change when you say that in Equish.” “You’re probably right.” Agito punched her lightly in the arm. “But hey, you got to learn your old man’s real name, that oughtta keep you happy for a bit.” “Yes, a depressing story is just what I needed to be happy,” Daring said, rolling her eyes. “Still, I did ask.” Mulling an idea over, she glanced at him. “Does Tsukiya mean anything?” “My name,” Agito replied curtly, pulling ahead of her. “The one I gave up.” “Yeah, I got that but, does it mean anything,” Daring pressed, staring at his back. “It means moon, My brother and I were born at night. His name means ‘like a star’,” Agito explained. “Wanted us to be connected to both our ancestries.” “That sounds like a lovely gesture.” Daring smiled at him. “So, how badly do you want me to not tell anyone your real name?” Agito sighed, looking back at her. “What's it gonna cost me?” “I'll think of something,” Daring said with a devious chuckle. “How about you get a role in my next book?” “No thanks,” Agito dismissed. “I hate attention. That was more your uncle's thing.” “Hey, those are my terms,” she reminded, poking at his side. “Non-negotiable.” Agito groaned, pinching his brow. “I taught you too well. Fine, you can put me in, but I have to approve it first.” Daring grinned, chuckling. “You'll see how much those college classes paid off.” Putting her wing around him, she glanced at him. “You know uh... there was something I wanted to talk to you about.” “Well, we’ve got all the time in the world. So, what do you need to talk to your old man about?” “Nah, don’t worry about it. We can talk about it after we figure out what’s going on.” Daring pulled away, putting some distance between them. “It’s not important.” “Oh no,” Agito started, jogging up to her and putting a hand on her shoulder. “When you say that phrase in that way, it means it's important to you. Now, talk. Or else I'll backpedal to that part of the story between Adagio and I.” Sighing, Daring fluffed her wings. “You remember that one story, about the eternal flowers?” “Didn't that have something to do with Mistmane? She loved flowers.” Agito scratched at his beard, trying to recall. “That’s not important. The truth is... I kept one of them,” she admitted, rubbing her arm. “Debating with yourself whether you want to be immortal?” He guessed. “Take it from me, it's not all it's cracked up to be.” “Yeah well, I don’t think it’d be so bad if I had you around.” Daring glanced at him. “Admit it, you’d be nowhere fast without me.” “Oh, can't argue with you there,” Agito admitted. “I probably would've relapsed. So, did you eat or do something with the flower?” “No, I didn’t, I put it in a pot and made sure it was safe.” Agito nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face. “I can't tell you to do this. It has to be something you want.” Ahuizotl examined the ruins of the Arisen temple. The various symbols were intriguing to him. While he had no formal training, his artifact hunting had let him learn about other cultures. This place was a shrine to death, that much was clear. Granted, the title gave that much away. A spirit passed by him, causing him to shudder. These were nothing like the dearly departed and remembered that his mother spoke of. They were cold and without any thought of their own. “Padre, what is all of this?” “I am preparing for the ritual,” Camazotz replied, motioning with his hands and letting spirits prepare the altar at the center of the room. “I'm only missing one crucial thing.” “And what is that?” “The sacrifice.” Ahuizotl clicked his tongue. “And just what is this sacrifice?” Nothing about this was right to Ahui. Spirits should be receiving their eternal reward, not serving a thing that wasn’t quite dead nor alive. “Not a what, a who. Daring Do,” Camazotz said with a chuckle. “As I understand, you two have quite the history. I thought I would gift her to you, even let you end her life.” Ahuizotl’s ears folded to the back of his head and his tail thrashed behind him wildly. “That is not something I want! I’ve left her alone in traps because I don’t want her dead! If I did, I would have made it so already!” Camazotz cackled, a hollow sound that rattled his bones. “Oh, hijo, don’t tell me you’re infatuated with her? Oh, what a joke for the ages!” Ahuizotl bristled at his father’s mockery, his eyes narrowed at the skeletal figure. “It is one of our old ways. She defeated me many moons ago, now I must either return the favor or take her for a bri-” he gagged, his father’s ethereal hand wrapping around his throat. “She will die, Ahui, the purpose for which I marked her. I will rip her heart from her chest and with her lifeblood I will become the Arisen!” Dropping Ahui like a sack of bricks, Camazotz gestured to the spirits around them. “I don’t expect you to understand, hijo, you’re as ignorant as your madre.” Ahuizotl tried to speak, but all that came out was a series of coughs. He glared at his father, the wheels in his mind starting to turn. Camazotz stepped towards the altar, ascending its steps. “If you behave yourself, Ahui, I shall educate you in this land’s mythology.” Ahuizotl rose to his feet and nodded slowly. “Fine, padre. We’ll go with your plan.” “My plan is simply to correct a mistake,” Camazotz explained, placing his hands on the altar. “You see, Ahui, the gods of this land were just as savage and demanding as our own; the sacrifices in their service equally as bloody.” “And this Arisen, was that an instrument of their bloody appetites?” Ahuizotl questioned, examining the mural behind the altar. “Oh no, Ahui, not at all. You see, the people here lost their god of death, why isn’t important, but what is is that his position was vacant. Souls could not rest, not leave this world for the next. And so the living made a pact with the dead.” “A pact with the dead? What sort of pact leads to being able to control all spirits like you told me?” “Ah, one of great power. A single being would be chosen among the living, given a series of tasks to perform. With each accomplishment, the spirits infused more of their power into the chosen, until they were neither alive nor dead. To appease the spirits, the final sacrifice would be one who has known pain and suffering, one marked from an early age. With that one’s heart, the chosen would become the Arisen, the bridge between the living and dead.” “And you were chosen?” Ahuizotl questioned, unable to hide his disbelief. “Perhaps not by the spirits, but destiny itself!” Throwing his arms out, a ghostly wail built up among the spirits. “When I arrived here with Gordian and Hidden, I knew this was my path in life. No one else could make the sacrifices I have, Hijo, the world’s too soft now.” “But there’s no need for an Arisen,” Ahuizotl argued. “Spirits were passing to the other side. Why do you wish to be the bridge now?” “I heard the calling, Hijo, that is all.” Camazotz turned, his tail light bathing him in surreal light. “If you wish to see your madre again, you will behave, Ahui.” “Si, padre,” Ahuizotl relented, turning away from his father. “What would you have me do?” Camazotz let his tail hang behind him and a mirthful grin spread across his face. “That is a good question; listen closely, hijo.”