Chapter 20 - Tongue Twister
“I bet you can’t say that ten time fast.”
===~+~===
When I wake up, I’m...tied to a fucking bed again. Ugh, my head is killing me. “Hey, Cora, what happened?” I ask her. Her face appears looking concerned.
She doesn’t speak, but instead pops up speech bubbles, “You were abducted...again. I saw Grimoire among them. This building is a lot bigger and has a lot more raiders in it, with only Cygnus looking for us...It doesn’t look good.”
“Lovely,” I mutter. “You able to hack into a spritebot and lead him here? If I can somehow find my way out of these ropes, maybe together we can fight our way out?” I ask her.
Cora nods, “There are a few bots nearby I can use. I’ll find him and get him close. I’ll be back when we’re in position. Be careful, Ratchet.” With that, she disappears from my vision.
“Ok,” I mutter. Now then, let’s just untie these ropes and…” I’m unable to use my magic. It seems...fuzzy. Did they drug me with something? Shit. Plan...B? I try and stretch my neck to the ropes around my forehooves, but I can’t quite reach them. Fuck. Now I need to come up with a Plan C…
While thinking, I tug at my bindings and survey the room. I’m on an oddly clean and comfortable bed, each of my limbs tied to one of the bedposts. Undoubtedly, this is a bedroom. Opposite the bed is a window with a dresser underneath it. A few lit candles are on top of it. Some tattered paintings are on the walls, and a door is to my right.
Speaking of which, I hear hoofsteps on the other side of it. “Oh ho, she’s finally awake, is she?” A mare’s voice asks.
“Sounds like it,” a buck responds. “I take it you will want to have your...fun now?” He asks.
“Indeed,” the mare says with a hint of excitement in her voice. “So, be a good buck and get lost. And make sure to remind anyone who would peek what happened to the last poor fellow, will you?” She says with a giggle.
“Y-yes ma’am. T-take your time,” the buck replies nervously. I hear his hoofsteps leaving the door as it slowly swings open.
A familiar mare enters the room with a beaming smile on her face. “Remember me?” She says as she closes the door silently. Shit, I do remember her. “The look on your face tells me you do! Oh, I’m so glad. You recall my brother too, right? Snarl? The one you and your friends killed?”
Oh yes, this was bad. The buck who wanted to torture me to death last time, Snarl. Which means, this must be his sister, “Shrill, right?” I ask, attempting to buy time like I did before with Grimoire.
“Oh you do remember me! And just between us girls, Snarl wasn’t really my brother. We just grew up together in the same orphanage. Everyone just thought we were siblings because of how close we were. You know how siblings are, giving each other a hard time and the like,” Shrill explains.
“But, while his teasing and tomfoolery was playful, mine was genuine hate. I never really liked him, so you did me a favor getting rid of him. And I wanted to play with you too, so it all works out!” She tells me, fidgeting on her hooves.
“How did Grimoire even find out I was still alive?” I ask her.
She rolls her eyes, “Well, Snarl not coming back was a good indication, not to mention that DJ Pon3 seems to be singing your praises. You’re asking the wrong question. You should ask, why are you still alive now, if anything.”
I give her a slight smile, “Ok then, why am I still alive?” She lets out a giggle, stepping up to the bedside.
“That was my doing. Grimoire wants you dead, he wants to study your physiology. Thinks you might have something special inside you that keeps you alive,” Shrills says with a shake of her head. “But I said I wanted revenge for Snarl. Truthfully, I just wanted a chance to play with you. So, I’ll play with you and then turn your body over to Grimoire!”
“What, you’re going to torture me to death like Snarl?” I ask her, my pulse starting to rise.
She scoffs. “Of course not, I’m nothing like that barbarian. I have a refined taste, miss Ratchet,” she says, drawing out my name as she climbs onto the bed. She gets on top of me, bringing her muzzle inches from mine. “You see, I like pleasure as opposed to pain. The two of us are going to have some fun together,” she tells me before licking my cheek.
Keeping her tongue on my body, she moves it down my neck and onto my chest. I swallow, “You don’t mean…” I trail off as her tongue continues down my abdomen.
“Oh yes, Ratchet,” she says, with a heavy breath as her head positions itself between my thighs. She brings her head close and licks me. In reflex I try to close my legs and keep her away, but I’m unable to move them any measurable distance. “Where Snarl liked torture, I like rape,” she mutters before continuing to lick me.
I fight it for a few minutes, but after a while a moan slips from my lips. “Oh ho, I knew you’d have a cute voice, Ratchet,” Shrill teases. She draws her head from between my thighs and turns around over me, putting her flank in my face.
“Now, I know you can’t use your magic, but I assume you can still use your tongue, right? You’ve been talking with me, after all. So, lick,” she says with a giggle. I stare at her rump as she begins licking again.
“You want me to…” I start, but she cuts me off.
“Ratchet, lick. I don’t like inflicting pain, but if you don’t do as you’re told, I’ll make this unpleasant for you,” she tells me. “So, lick.” She sways her hips above me. “Come on Ratchet, I’m waiting,” she sings.
I close my eyes as I contemplate this and mentally prepare myself for either pain or performing cunnilingus. I feel drops of liquid strike my muzzle. I open my eyes sheepishly, and stare up at her. She is excessively wet. “Last chance, Ratchet. Get licking,” She coos, sounding slightly irritated.
I swallow and stick out my tongue. I tentatively give her one, long, lick. She moans as I do so, and her hips shake. “Good girl, keep going!” Shrill tells me, lowering her herself closer to me. I continue, apprehensively.
After a few minutes, my body can’t take anymore and I shake uncontrollably and Shrill proclaims, “Ah ha! It looks like I win round one! Though, I’ve had plenty of practice.” She’s panting fairly heavily. “It was, a...a close one though,” she comments.
“You...your...too good…” I tell her, trying to catch my breath. Somewhere along the way, I got really into it. At first, I was just trying to buy some time...but damn, it has been a while.
Shrill giggles and says, “Damn right I am. You’re not too bad yourself, so, let’s jump right into round two!” And with that she begins licking again.
“N-No fair!” I call out as my legs continue to tremble. Despite this, I start licking her again.
“Oh ho, someone’s determined!” She says in a sultry voice, redoubling her own efforts.
After another hour of trading orgasms back and forth, she finally collapses on top of me, twitching. “Oh my…” she says, sounding dazed. “You’ve certainly improved. Who’s in the lead now?” She says.
“I...I don’t even know…” I reply. “But, I’m pretty sure it is me,” I tell her.
She lets out a giggle and gives me another lick. “You wish. But, I think you’ve gotten into this. I don’t think you need these anymore,” she says as she undoes my bindings. “There, now...oh! I almost forgot, you still can’t use your magic, can you?” She asks.
“No, it is like a fuzziness is blocking it,” I tell her. She rolls off of me and onto the floor. I retract my limbs and rub where the ropes were holding me, watching her curiously.
Shrill uses her magic and floats a syringe out from under the bed. “Here’s the antidote,” she tells me as she injects me with it. Immediately, I can feel my magic returning. “Now then…” she says, climbing back into the bed next to me.
“Let’s start the count over and continue, shall we?” She asks with a sly grin.
I’ve still not heard back from Cora, so… “Let’s,” I answer.
===~+~===
After a few more hours, Cora finally appears in my vision. But, she quickly disappears without saying anything. It might have been my imagination, but I think she was blushing too. A few minutes later, Shrill and I finish together and lay under the bed sheets, panting.
“Oh Celestia, Ratchet. I think...I think you’re the one I’ve been looking for,” Shrill says, glancing over at me.
“What do you mean?” I ask her.
“The whole reason I got into this business, the whole reason I rape. I’ve been looking for someone who could properly please me,” she replies.
“What? I find it hard to believe no one has ever gotten you off before,” I tell her.
“Oh Goddesses no. But they’ve all felt very...lackluster. Like something was missing. I’ve been at this for years. Started back when I was a filly. Bedding any colt or filly I could. Of course, when I matured, I began going after mares and bucks,” Shrill explains.
“Though,” she continues, “I soon learned that bucks would use you just for sex or use sex as a means to steal from you. Mares were more trustworthy, but suspicious of my advances. So I had to keep forming relationships before bedding anyone.”
“But that soon proved tedious and not worth it. Not to mention, I often forgot the faces and names of those I previously screwed. Once I realized this, I decided to join Snarl, who was already working with a gang. I decided that I’d just force ponies into sex and when I finished, I’d just off them,” Shrill says.
“Wait wait wait,” I say, confused. “So, you rape and kill ponies just so you can find someone who can properly please you?” I ask her.
“Well, yes. But before you jump to conclusions, they were bad ponies...mostly. Opposing gang members and the like. It was kind of hard getting innocent ponies into my bed, since most of them knew me already,” She explains.
“So, you never killed any innocent ponies?” I ask her, accusation evident in my voice.
“I never had the time to kill innocents. Once we merged into Grimoire’s organization, I became too busy. Honestly, this is the first time I’ve done this in a while. Grimoire keeps me busy with diplomatic work between gangs, mostly. Or assassination leaders of gangs that won’t join us,” She tells me.
“Not even the Rangers in Stable 36?” I ask.
“No!” She says, “I was out west talking with one of the gangs out that way. Heavy fighting isn’t my thing. Look Ratchet, I know this might be hard to believe, but I’m not a bad pony. Just...misguided, I suppose. But with you, I could…” She begins, but I cut her off.
“What do you mean? You’re going to kill me and give my corpse to Grimoire, remember?” I tell her, anger rising in my voice.
“Well...Ratchet...I uh...was thinking and...well...I kind of want to...join you?” Shrill asks.
I look at her in shocked confusion. “Join me? After working for Grimoire?” I shout.
“Ratchet, like I said, I’m not bad, I was just looking for someone...for you. I just kind of got sucked into this whole Grimoire thing once he absorbed Snarl’s gang...I didn’t really want to, but I didn’t know what else to do, how else to live…” she trails off. Her face is a mix of sadness, shame, and a bit of...hope?
I pause, thinking for a moment. “Let’s say I do let you join me, even if I say yes, how would we get out of here? I’m unarmed and this place is crawling with raiders, isn’t it?” I ask.
Shrill lets out a sigh. “Well, I could probably get your gear and load up my stuff. Together, we might be able to sneak out, or fight our way out, if things get messy. And...if necessary...I’ll hold them off when you escape,” She says.
Most of what she just said was hesitant and skeptical, but that last sentence...She said it confidently and without hesitation. She’d actually be willing to die for me? Just because I...pleasured her to her liking?
While thinking, gunfire suddenly starts erupting from below us. Does that mean Cygnus is here? Why didn’t Cora tell me?
“What is…” Shrill says, looking towards the door. “Hold on a second Ratchet, I’ll…” She starts to get up, but I hold out a hoof.
“Let’s just wait here. I’m pretty sure that’s Cygnus, and if it is, I doubt he’d charge in without a decent plan,” I tell her. We both sit up in the bed.
“Alright, if you say so…” Shrill says.
For the next few minutes, the two of us sit silently in the bed as the building echoes gunfire, screams, and shouts. Just when we think it is over, another round of shooting and yelling begins.
Suddenly, the door to the room is kicked in and Cygnus emerges into the room. “Ratch…” he stops mid shout, pointing the gun at us.
“Don’t shoot!” I yell at him. “She’s alright, she’s safe!”
He slowly lowers his gun and seems like he wants to say something. But his mouth just keeps opening and closing as he looks at us. After about a minute of him just standing there, his gun and armor disappear and that seems to snap him out of his daze.
He clears his throat. “Uh yes. The building’s clear, so uh, I’ll be...uh, downstairs...uh, looting?” I says and immediately turns around.
“Oh ho,” Shrill says after he leaves. “That was a neat trick with the gun and armor. But he seemed odd, does he always act that strange?” She asks.
I chuckle. Everyone is always intrigued by Cygnus’ magic. “I don’t know why he was acting that way…” I tell her. But as I look over us and the bed...the sheets basically soaked with sweat and fluids, our manes and coats a complete mess...yea, I get it now.
Clearing my throat I say, “We should uh, probably straighten ourselves up.”
“What for?” She says, looking at me. Then at herself. “Oh ho, I get it now. How cute of him...what a shy buck.” We both get to our hooves and get our manes and coats in order.
“Right then, let’s get you two introduced,” I tell her as I start walking over to the door.
“Of course!” Shrill declares. “I should get to know my new comrade.”
As we walk though the hall, I feel I have to say something. I feel like I’m misleading her. “So, uh...Shrill...I’m not exactly, you know...into mares,” I tell her.
She stops and looks at me with a shocked expression. “What!? After what you did in the bedroom...so, you prefer bucks then?” She asks.
“Well, no, not exactly. I’m not really into anyone,” I tell her. “It is kind of hard to explain…”
She stares at me for a few moments with an eyebrow raised. “Ah! I see, so you aren’t attracted to males or females?” She asks, with a tiny smirk.
“I suppose that’s a way to look at it. I’ve just never really had the urge to be together with anyone,” I explain.
Her eyes widen. “Oh ho...So that means that you were...Oh my...a virgin?” she shouts. “I took your first time? Oh ho...lucky me! Well, I suppose I didn’t exactly take it properly, did I? Your hymen is still intact, is it not?” She asks.
“Hu? What?” I stammer. “Yes, but...I don’t think you get me. I’m not looking for a relationship or anything,” I tell her.
“Oh yes, I know. You just haven’t properly fallen for me yet,” Shrill says with a beaming smile. “I understand. Well, well, I’ll win over your love and affection and take your virginity properly! Mark my words, Ratchet,” she says, giving me a wink before continuing on down the hallway ahead of me.
I look after her, confused. “What the fuck just happened…” I mutter as I follow her downstairs.
Once we rejoin Cygnus, I introduce him and Shrill. Cora also appears in my vision again, so I get the opportunity to introduce them too. I explain, more or less, that she’ll be joining up with us. I leave out the racy details. Turns out, Cora thought, rightly so, that I was being raped, and told Cygnus to attack.
Cygnus charged in the building in full military-grade riot gear armed with a combat shotgun loaded with explosive shells. Needless to say, the building now looks like a slaughterhouse, painted red and littered with body parts.
With the introductions and pleasantries out of the way, Cygnus finally drops the bomb. “You two smell like sex. It is disgusting, will you two go clean off or something? This place has a bathroom, right?” He asks.
I blush, but Shrill smiles and says, “Indeed it does. Let’s go Ratchet, I’ll show you the way. You can go first while I gather your things for you. It will give me time to get my things together before we leave. No telling when Grimoire will be back,” she says.
I get enter the bathroom and Shrill goes about her business. I fill the tub with more than likely irradiated water, and hop in it, thankful for the chance to bathe.
===~+~===
“By the way, what’s with your cutie mark?” I ask Shrill. It looks like a tongue dripping venom. “Also, what’s your fighting style?” It would be good to know before we get into a fight.
Shrill smiles and says, “The explanation is one and the same. My cutie mark signifies my deadly tongue.” She winks at me. “More precisely, my ability to talk my way into and out of situations. Those situations being, assassinations.”
Her magic grabs her knife and pistol from her holster. The knife is a sleek black piece that looks easy to conceal. The pistol is a custom, black, 10mm with a silencer on it. “I talk my way into my target’s bed, and kill them. Then, I talk my way out of the building. Raiders are stupid, so I usually pin the blame on one of them,” she explains.
“So, stealth,” Cygnus summarizes. Shrill rolls her eyes.
“Sure, yes, stealth. If you want to be simplistic about it,” she replies. Cygnus chuckles.
“Well, I doubt you’ll be doing much of the whole, talking your way into a target’s bed thing with us. We tend to get caught up in large, chaotic battles,” Cygnus explains. “Besides, I doubt Ratchet would like it if you go sleeping around,” He teases.
“Actually, I don’t ca…” I start, but Shrill cuts me off.
“Oh my, you’re absolutely right! Sorry Ratchet, I won’t sleep around. You’re the only one I’ll give myself to!” Shrill exclaims. Cygnus chuckles, which causes Shrill to shoot him a glare. “Does this one have to accompany us, Ratchet?” She asks.
I sigh. This is my life now. “Yes Shrill, he’s the only one out of the three of us who can actually fight. I miss all the time, and you’re the stealthy type, so…he stays,” I tell her.
“Looks like you’re stuck with me, Shrill,” Cygnus teases her. He then looks at me. “Ratchet, can I have a word?” He asks, glancing at Shrill. “In private?” Shrill rolls her eyes and starts walking on ahead of us. After she is out of earshot, we start walking slowly after her.
“You trust her? Just like that? Was she really that good, or is it something else?” He asks me.
Letting out a sigh, I begin, “Like I’ve been saying, I’m not really into all that relationship junk. I don’t think she’s that bad. I thought about it, and I don’t think she’s trying to trick us. Why would she? Even if she is working for Grimoire, why join with us? He wants me dead, he could have killed me outright. There is no reason for him to send Shrill to spy on or or something,” I explain.
“I guess you have a point,” Cygnus mutters. “We should keep an eye on her, for a whole, at least. She might not be working for Grimoire anymore, but she might have an ulterior motive.”
I nod in agreement. “Could be. She is a trickster. But I don’t think she means us any harm. Might be using us to get something she wants. But, let’s keep our suspicions between us. No need to ostracise her. We’ll need her watching our backs, and we’ll have to watch hers,” I tell him.
Cygnus sighs. “I know, I know. Trust between comrades is important. If you mistrust the ones watching your back, you’re bound to fail. Anyhow, we should catch up to her. Don’t want her wandering into a fight without us.”
“Yea, that would be bad. She has info on Discordia and Grimoire we won’t find anywhere else,” I say as we quicken our pace. We catch up to her in a few minutes.
“Finally, I thought I lost you two,” Shrill says as we catch up. “So, where are we going?” She asks.
I stop walking, causing both her and Cygnus to stop as well. “I thought you were leading us back to where I was taken from?” I ask her.
She looks at me in surprise. “I don’t know where Grimoire snagged you from. I was following you,” She replies, and then glares at Cygnus.
“I was just walking,” Cygnus says with a smirk. “You two just happened to be where I was walking.” Shrill rolls her eyes as I shake my head.
“Cora, where the hell are we?” I ask her, looking at my PipBuck. I pull up the map screen and look around.
“We are just south of Foal Mountain, a ways across the river,” Cora answers.
“Well, at least we aren’t too far. I guess we can go through the canterlot mountain train tunnel to get back to the lab. Wait...is that tunnel filled with those bat things as well?” I ask, looking at Shrill.
“Bat things?” She asks. “You mean, bloodwings? I don’t think so. I think that is only the north-south tunnel. East-west should be fine.”
“Right, let’s go that way then,” I say, looking at my map one last time. “And of course,” I sigh, “we’ve been walking in the wrong direction. Seriously Cygnus, this is why you don’t go around saying ‘this has been normal today’, temping fate and junk,” I say, giving him a look.
“Oh,” Shrill says with a smile. “Are you superstitious Ratchet?” She asks with a hint of laughter in her voice. I immediately regret saying anything. This is going to be a thing now, isn’t it?
“Yes she is,” Cygnus says with a smile. “Scared of black cats, ladders, and all that.”
“Oh come on, I am not!” I yell. Both of them snicker. “Seriously. I mean it. You just don’t go around saying certain phrases though. ‘Could this get any worse?’, ‘today has been pretty normal’, ‘that could never happen’, that sort of stuff.”
“Ok, Ratchet. I understand,” Shrill says as she stops laughing and goes back to normal. Then she looks behind me and her eyes go wide as she points a hoof and yells, “Look out Ratchet! Salt! Don’t spill it!” And burst out into laughter again, joined by Cygnus.
I roll my head and let out a groan. “Ughhhh, let’s goooo,” I say and I begin to walk away. I hear them walking after me, but they are laughing so hard their steps are uneven.
“Wait Ratchet!” Cygnus calls out, “Don’t step on a crack!” Oh Celestia, this is my life now. Just keep walking, ignore them...just keep walking.
===~+~===
After an excruciatingly long journey, mainly due to all the snickering and jokes at my expense, we reach my lab. It is odd how two ponies who started off suspicious of each other got so close, so quickly. You’d almost not know that Shrill was trying to win my affection and Cygnus thinks he owes me for letting him out.
But thankfully, as soon as the door opens to the lab, Shrill is left speechless. Well, for a while at least. “This is...where you life?” She says in amazement.
“Yep. It’s no stable, but it is home. Complete with living quarters, a medical area, and a bathroom,” I say with a smile.
“A bathroom you say? Such luxury. I’ve seen bathrooms though, nothing special there,” Shrill says, looking around.
“Hey Cygnus, want to show her around, let her pick out a bed and what not? I want to get to work on Cora’s armor,” I ask him. Cygnus nods, but Shrill raises an eyebrow.
“Cora’s armor? Does an AI need armor?” She asks.
“You’ll see,” I tell her with a smile. “Show her the workshop last, and take your time. I might be able to finish up before you get to me.”
“Sure thing, come along Shrill, we’ll start in medical,” Cygnus says and he starts to walk away with Shrill trotting excitedly after him. Given how excited she seems, I don’t think Grimoire lives in the most luxurious of locations. Not like that narrows down the search much.
I head to the workshop and begin tinkering on the spark battery according to Cora’s designs. As I build it, I hear Shrill shout, “IT’S SO CLEAN!” I can’t help but snicker.
It takes a bit, but I manage to produce the rechargeable battery. “Now then, let’s charge it up and hook it in,” I mutter as I use the magic charging port and focus my magic into it. After a few minutes, my strength is sapped, but the battery is full.
“You ready, Cora?” I ask as I plug the battery into the armor.
“Of course, Ratchet!” Cora replies. “But, let’s wait a moment. Cygnus and Shrill are heading our way.”
A few moments later, the door opens and the two enter. “The bathroom...it is so clean…” Shrill says as she enters. “How?” She asks.
Cygnus and I chuckle. “I’m kind of a stickler for cleanliness. When I first woke up and got back here, all of us cleaned it once we cleared out some rubble blocking the tunnels,” I tell her. “But now, you asked earlier about Cora’s armor? Well, I finished so it is time to feast your eyes on my genius!” I cough and make a correction, “Cora’s genius, she made the plans. I just did the work.”
I plug into the armor and transfer Cora in. “Alright Cora, go ahead with start up procedures!” I declare.
“Sounds good!” She replies. “Initial system diagnostics...complete. Systems online. Running power diagnostics...98.7% efficiency. Initiating AI override, assuming control.” The armor’s visor glows a icy blue and the armor trembles for a moment. “Full control has been transferred, executing movement diagnostics.”
Cora begins walking around the room, crouching, jumping, and balancing at various angles. “It’s moving...on its own?” Shrill says, staring on in amazement. “But, it is just ranger armor, right? Not a robot?”
I chuckle. “Correct, it is just armor that Cora and I have modified. Added some systems to allow her to move the armor, use the weapons, that kind of thing. I can still get in it if I want as well. It is hollow, after all,” I tell her.
“Movement diagnostics complete. All servos, gyros, and pistons functioning at acceptable thresholds. Beginning weapon diagnostics.” Cora says, and begins moving Raptor Blood around along with the other weapons. The sniper and assault rifle have a much smaller field of movement, but just enough for precision aiming.
“Retracting ammo belts. Testing firing sequences.” Her guns click a few times. “Firing sequence successful. Initiating final test, complex wide range movement.” She shakes and stretches before striking a variety of poses. Laying down, rotating her upper and lower body separately, and finally standing on her rear hooves. It looks really odd and her guns won’t be able to hit anything in front of her that way.
“Testing complete,” Cora says. “It is perfect, Ratchet! I love it!”
“That’s good,” I say with a smile. “You can stay in it as long as you want. You should be able to just hook into the lab’s system yourself and power off the armor when you want. You can also probably enter it similarly, assuming it is hooked in and still has enough power to start up.”
Cora nods. “Of course. I want to run some more tests. I’ll be walking around the lab, getting used to the feeling of having my own body,” She says happily. It is kind of bizarre having a suit of armor talk to you happily, knowing that nothing inside of it is physically smiling.
“We’ll charge the battery again before we go anywhere. But for now, it is getting late. Those of us who need it should probably get some sleep. Today was...an adventure. Not our usual kind, but an adventure never-the-less,” I mutter, stretching my limbs.
Cygnus frowns. “I was the one who did all the work this time, how are you tired?” He asks.
“Oh,” Shrill chimes in, “she is tired for an entirely different reason, right?” She says, giving me a wink. I feel my mane prickle a bit. Cygnus just lets out a sigh and leaves the room. Once he’s gone, Shrill adds, “Shall we go to bed too, darling?”
“Yeahhhh…I guess,” I mutter uncomfortably. “Hey Cora, don’t make too much noise, ok?”
“I’ll try not to!” She declares as she walks around in a circle. Shrill and I leave the workshop and head to the living quarters. Cygnus is already in his bed, and I begin walking over to mine, which curiously has another one push right up against it.
Shrill happily trots over the the bed adjoining mine and beams me a broad smile. “No,” I say simply as I walk over. She pouts, and pulls her bed back to where it was originally. We both climb under our covers, and I turn to face her.
“Hey Shrill,” I call to her.
“Change your mind?” She says with glee.
“No. Tomorrow, I want to ask you about Grimoire and Discordia. I need as much information I can get about them,” I tell her.
“Oh,” Shrill says disappointedly. “Fine, I don’t mind,” She says, pulling her blankets up. “Good night, Ratchet.”
“Good night, Shrill,” I tell her. “Night Cygnus,” I call over to him, halfway across the room.
“Night,” He calls back.
“Night Cygnus!” Shrill calls out playfully.
Cygnus sighs. “Night Shrill,” He replies. The three of us then remain quiet as I hit the light switch with my magic. A few minutes later, there is a loud bang from somewhere in the lab.
“I’m OK!” Cora yells, “Just fell!” She seems to realize she’s yelling, and remembers I told her to be quiet. “Oops! Sorry!” She calls again. “Sorry!” She calls again, in a quieter voice. “Sorry!” She calls again, even quieter. I think she’s done as it is quiet for about a minute. Then a blue glow lights up the room and I turn to see Cora’s head peaking in the room. “Sorry,” She says in a normal level of volume.
“We get it!” I call over to her. I hear Shrill giggling behind me.
Yep. This is my life now.
===~+~===
Quest Updated!
The Chaos Crusade - Ask Shrill about Grimoire and Discordia.