Darker Beginnings

Chapter 3

Noroi awoke the next morning to shaking. He opened his eyes to find Autumn Leaf leaning over him, smiling warmly.
"You know the drill, Nor." she said. Noroi nodded silently, sitting up and rubbing his eyes before hearing Autumn Leaf gasp.
"Aria?" she said out of breath. Noroi snapped awake, looking into the doorway and seeing a moderately sleepy Aria. Noroi rubbed his eyes again, chuckling.
"Wow, Aria! You look...alive!" he said. Aria rolled her eyes a bit, smiling.
"Did you not trust me when I said I'd pull through? I'm fine!" she said, walking with much energy into the kitchen. Ultimate followed close behind, Noroi clearing his throat and catching the evergreen hedgehog's attention.
"Hey, Ultimate. You know how Aria was making a fuss over me finding my scepter?" he asked. Ultimate nodded solemnly, leaning in the door frame.
"Yeah. Why?" he asked. Noroi got onto his feet, stretching a bit.
"I think I have an idea as to where it is. But I need your help to get there. If he won't recognize you he won't recognize a sunrise." he said. Ultimate thought for a moment, then realized what he was saying and nodded.
"Of course I'll help! Ryoka can get us there in minutes! She's nearly as tall as her dad was." he said, walking off into Aria's direction. Autumn Leaf hugged Noroi from behind, smiling.
"Not that I don't trust you, but how do you remember where it was? I mean...It was years ago...Long before you met me." she said. Noroi smiled, turned around, and kissed her forehead.
"I have my ways, babe. Don't fret." he said with a reassuring smile. Autumn Leaf smiled and held his hand, following him into the kitchen where Natsu was challenging Ultimate to a game on the console, Aria was laying out things for breakfast, and the sun cascading through the floral curtains painted the ground and furniture various hues of the rainbow. Noroi sat on the couch and looked through his phone. Not a message in sight as per usual. Natsu and Ultimate sat beside him, they each holding a controller in hand and playing a racing game while making competitive remarks at one another. Noroi chuckled, looking to Aria and Autumn Leaf conversing in the kitchen whilst they made pancakes and bacon. Noroi glanced to the competing duo, he tapping Ultimate's shoulder and grabbing his attention. 
"Yeah?" he asked, taking his eyes off the screen.
"Hey, think you can ask Aria if she'll help too? She seems alot better and he'd recognize her in a heartbeat. She was a Queen." he said. Ultimate nodded quickly, wrapping a single arm around Noroi in a sort of comfort hug.
"Not a problem!" he said. Suddenly, his controller began to shake violently, then stopped, Ultimate looking at the screen to see that he had lost. He faked a rage quit, the falseness of it making Natsu laugh and Noroi smile. He looked back to Aria and Autumn Leaf, took a deep breath, and laid back on the couch, anticipating the journey ahead.

***

Majoni glanced around his castle from his throne, admiring the beauty he had created. He heard the doors slam open, seeing his most trusted advisor storm in. 
"My liege! I have terrible news!" he said angrily. Majoni stood up, petting his ear.
"Come now, Shade, no news is bad news. Please resume." he said. Shade grabbed Majoni's arm, they looking eye to eye.
"My father! He's found the scepter! Not physically, but he knows it's past locations!" he said. Majoni raised an eyebrow, chuckling.
"If he possesses it, what big a deal is that to us?" he said. Shade followed Majoni as the king walked the halls of the castle, something he did often. He couldn't stand being tied down to an obsidian chair for too long. Shade unveiled a list, reading off of it in fright.
"Majoni- I mean my king. Do you know what that scepter is? It's the same one that confined you to the Neatherland! One of the three scepters that caused your initial downfall!" he said. Majoni looked back to him, chuckling and stopping, turning to kneel down to him.
"Shade, relax. He does not physically possess it as of now, and even if he did, I know what would happen." he said. Shade widened his eyes.
"Think you could elaborate my liege?" he asked. Majoni nodded.
"See, when he grabs hold of that scepter, he gains the power he used to. Control and manipulation over the shadows and moon itself. I imagine that once he finds it, he'll take it back home for safe keeping until needed. The people of that Kingdom, so used to seeing that scepter associated with death and tragedy, will unveil a barrage of attack onto him and whoever chooses to walk beside him. It's operate conditioning, and the idea that history tends to repeat itself throughout the course of many generations. We could easily play with his mind and bring him to join our ranks, just as his ancestor did in our glorious victory. He is a bit mentally feeble with all the trouble he's caused in his quote unquote 'past life'." Majoni explained. Shade smiled, clapping a bit.
"Excellent plan, Sir Majoni!" he said. Majoni helped Shade to his feet, having a slight look of discomfort on his face.
"Please do not affiliate me with such titles. I am as much an importance to this Kingdom's prosperity as you. Now come, let's have some coffee." he said. Shade nodded and followed Majoni, entering the dining hall to see Kuma hungover on the table. Majoni flopped his ears, angrily stomping towards her.
"For the love of Yerla!" he growled. He grabbed Kuma's arm, yanking her off the table and slamming the drunken shadow on the ground. She chuckled a bit, looking up to him and Shade from he floor.
"You know if you wanted to 'turn up my heat' you could've just bitten me.~" she said, drunkily giggling. Majoni kicked her limp body away from the table, organizing the table and it's accessories.
"Look at this sheet! It's an absolute wreck!" he said while straightening it. Kuma laughed a bit.
"I just ruffled it up!" she said. Majoni glared to her, snarling.
"That's why it's a wreck! It's got your alcoholic smell all over it! My dry cleaner has the day off so the least I can go is straighten it!" he said, continuing to do so. Shade's ear twitched, he sighing a bit and helping the king.
"What are you going to do with her, your Maj- I mean Majoni?" he asked. Majoni sighed, shaking his head.
"I have no idea, Shade. Not the slightest clue."