Ash had slept in better dumpsters. Well, she'd slept in a different dumpster once, and it was at least okayish. There wasn't mould on the walls.
In all her months of fleeing the long arm of the law (or rather, the will of a massive conglomerate), Ashley had always managed to find somewhere decent to stay, somewhere people would keep quiet about mysterious people showing up and leaving the next day.
Not this time.
In what was, looking back, a surprisingly infrequent occurrence, Ash had been forced to take refuge inside an empty dumpster for the night. An empty dumpster with an adorable little spooky skeleton painted on the side, but still a dumpster.
She sighed, and decided to at least get herself comfortable. A faint memory of her early life drifted by: trick-or-treaters bothering the house, the doorbell ringing over and over. The warmth of it brought a weak little smile to her face. Life had been simpler back then.
...not anymore, though. It wasn't like people were going to trick-or-treat a dumpster.
In all her months of fleeing the long arm of the law (or rather, the will of a massive conglomerate), Ashley had always managed to find somewhere decent to stay, somewhere people would keep quiet about mysterious people showing up and leaving the next day.
Not this time.
In what was, looking back, a surprisingly infrequent occurrence, Ash had been forced to take refuge inside an empty dumpster for the night. An empty dumpster with an adorable little spooky skeleton painted on the side, but still a dumpster.
She sighed, and decided to at least get herself comfortable. A faint memory of her early life drifted by: trick-or-treaters bothering the house, the doorbell ringing over and over. The warmth of it brought a weak little smile to her face. Life had been simpler back then.
...not anymore, though. It wasn't like people were going to trick-or-treat a dumpster.
Tron Pentre was the arm of the law and a dutifully vigilant one at that.
He heard noises and came over to the dumpster, all dressed in his knightly attire. He was not entirely sure how chasing a sorcerer into a cave full of crystals ended up taking him where he was now, but such didn't matter, as far as he was concerned he upheld the law and would continue to do so even in this strange world.
He was holding to his horse's reins on one hand, and unsheathed the sword with the other ready to attack and defend as needed, approaching the dumpster cautiously of course.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!" Demanded Pentre loudly
He heard noises and came over to the dumpster, all dressed in his knightly attire. He was not entirely sure how chasing a sorcerer into a cave full of crystals ended up taking him where he was now, but such didn't matter, as far as he was concerned he upheld the law and would continue to do so even in this strange world.
He was holding to his horse's reins on one hand, and unsheathed the sword with the other ready to attack and defend as needed, approaching the dumpster cautiously of course.
"Who goes there? Show yourself!" Demanded Pentre loudly
Halloween was one hell of event sometimes, and this was the first time that this woman would be able to go ahead and host a Halloween party at the building that she and everyone else met up at and discussed assignments. She held a trash bag in one hand, and seemed eager to get back to what she was doing. That was... until she heard a voice that sounded kind of authoritative.
"Hey, yo, whoa my guy.... I'm just coming over here to throw the trash out before clean up gets unbearable back at my place. See?" the woman held up the bag before looking to the person making demands. She squinted for a moment and then rolled her eyes before tossing the bag into the dumpster, not knowing that there was anything or anyone within.
"Haha, very funny. Going around on Halloween, demanding answers like a cop, but you're just a guy dressed for the night. The horse is a nice touch, I'll give you that."
"Hey, yo, whoa my guy.... I'm just coming over here to throw the trash out before clean up gets unbearable back at my place. See?" the woman held up the bag before looking to the person making demands. She squinted for a moment and then rolled her eyes before tossing the bag into the dumpster, not knowing that there was anything or anyone within.
"Haha, very funny. Going around on Halloween, demanding answers like a cop, but you're just a guy dressed for the night. The horse is a nice touch, I'll give you that."
Meanwhile, inside the dumpster, Ash was absolutely dumbfounded. Of course. Of course she would end up somehow picking the world's most popular dumpster. A dumpster being investigated by the police, no less.
What a wonderful time to be alive.
As hopeless as the situation seemed, she already had a backup plan - pretend to be some little kid who wanted to play a joke on passersby, hope nobody noticed her identifying features, definitely hope whoever was outside wasn't with the Sumeragi Group, and when everyone was too busy lecturing her on how it's not good to jump out at strangers, get the heck out of there.
So, without making a sound (which is incredibly hard when you're melting and reshaping your own bones) she began to change, harnessing her 'pepsimal energy' or whatever it was called. Whatever it was worked, and it also made her a wanted fugitive, so the name wasn't really her concern.
Turning the clock back a few years was all she could really manage without making herself look like something straight from the uncanny valley, but it had worked before. Once. So she was going to hope it worked again.
Soon enough, a 12-year-old Ash Taylor is sitting in a dumpster, waiting to jump out at passersby - and also escape from the police.
What a wonderful time to be alive.
As hopeless as the situation seemed, she already had a backup plan - pretend to be some little kid who wanted to play a joke on passersby, hope nobody noticed her identifying features, definitely hope whoever was outside wasn't with the Sumeragi Group, and when everyone was too busy lecturing her on how it's not good to jump out at strangers, get the heck out of there.
So, without making a sound (which is incredibly hard when you're melting and reshaping your own bones) she began to change, harnessing her 'pepsimal energy' or whatever it was called. Whatever it was worked, and it also made her a wanted fugitive, so the name wasn't really her concern.
Turning the clock back a few years was all she could really manage without making herself look like something straight from the uncanny valley, but it had worked before. Once. So she was going to hope it worked again.
Soon enough, a 12-year-old Ash Taylor is sitting in a dumpster, waiting to jump out at passersby - and also escape from the police.
"Cop? Nay, I am lord knight Tron Pentre... I hold the weight of justice and I am the arm of the law, commoners and peasants ought to show due deference, fair damsel" informed Pentre unamused looking at the child-like looking girl and collecting her in arms
"Come on, youngling, thy presence here is highly undesired for the dangers are bountiful in this uncertain times" informed Pentre opening his arms carefully "I shall lift you onto my noble steed and escort thee to the nearest inn or tavern, perhaps the bartender might assist" explained Pentre as to what he intended to do with the child.
"Come on, youngling, thy presence here is highly undesired for the dangers are bountiful in this uncertain times" informed Pentre opening his arms carefully "I shall lift you onto my noble steed and escort thee to the nearest inn or tavern, perhaps the bartender might assist" explained Pentre as to what he intended to do with the child.
This was an unexpected development. Well, time to improvise. Hopefully her 'youngling' impression was convincing.
"M-Mom said I was too young to go to bars..."
She paused, before adding a "...m-mister." for good measure.
Another pause.
"...Are you a-a real knight?"
"M-Mom said I was too young to go to bars..."
She paused, before adding a "...m-mister." for good measure.
Another pause.
"...Are you a-a real knight?"
"Pfft, of course he's not a real knight. Dude's just over the top for Halloween," Artemis said, rolling her eyes yet again as she shook her head. However, her brow furrowed and she frowned.
"Who even are you? Taking a kid to ride on your horse... girl needs her parents, not some guy who takes Halloween a bit too seriously when it comes to theatre," Artemis said, not really taking too kindly to seeing this random guy just picking up a kid off the street. It seemed sketchy at best.
"Who even are you? Taking a kid to ride on your horse... girl needs her parents, not some guy who takes Halloween a bit too seriously when it comes to theatre," Artemis said, not really taking too kindly to seeing this random guy just picking up a kid off the street. It seemed sketchy at best.
"Why of course I am a real knight, you may address me as Sir Pentre" nodded Pentre affirmatively, turning his attention at the child and sitting her onto the horse saddle all the same so they could talk at the same height and level
"The damsel speaks with some wisdom, where are your parents, little maiden?" asked Pentre agreeing with the woman that this girl needed her parents
"The damsel speaks with some wisdom, where are your parents, little maiden?" asked Pentre agreeing with the woman that this girl needed her parents
She cringes inwardly at the mention of parents. How had she not thought of this?
"U-um..."
Think, think. What sort of parents would let their kid hide in a dumpster?
"Uuummm..."
And she couldn't say she'd lost them, because half the police were being paid off by Sumeragi. Getting taken to a police station was basically a death sentence if they recognised her even slightly.
"...M-Mom told me not t-to tell strangers where we l-live."
There. That should keep them off her back. Hopefully.
"...o-or get onto h-horses with th-them."
"U-um..."
Think, think. What sort of parents would let their kid hide in a dumpster?
"Uuummm..."
And she couldn't say she'd lost them, because half the police were being paid off by Sumeragi. Getting taken to a police station was basically a death sentence if they recognised her even slightly.
"...M-Mom told me not t-to tell strangers where we l-live."
There. That should keep them off her back. Hopefully.
"...o-or get onto h-horses with th-them."
"Kid..." Artemis started, bringing a hand and pinching the bridge of her nose as she felt something like a headache coming on. "Listen, you're, like, what... ten... eleven? Maybe thirteen, even? It's Halloween, if you're not with your parents, then did you get separated from, I dunno, like a trick-or-treating party of friends?"
So long as the kid was not getting swept off and away by some obvious stranger, that was the main thing that Artemis was concerned with. If the kid had friends that were off going door to door, then it would have been good to try to find them at the very least so that the kid could have been reunited with her parents later.
So long as the kid was not getting swept off and away by some obvious stranger, that was the main thing that Artemis was concerned with. If the kid had friends that were off going door to door, then it would have been good to try to find them at the very least so that the kid could have been reunited with her parents later.
"...yeah."
Finally, a chance to 'accidentally' lose them. Hopefully. They seemed to be awfully good at keeping her around.
She smiles a little, trying to look like a cute kid. In all fairness, it looks more like a child who's just committed a mass shooting, but it's something. Nerves really weren't doing much to help her cute-kid skills.
Finally, a chance to 'accidentally' lose them. Hopefully. They seemed to be awfully good at keeping her around.
She smiles a little, trying to look like a cute kid. In all fairness, it looks more like a child who's just committed a mass shooting, but it's something. Nerves really weren't doing much to help her cute-kid skills.
A police officer vehicle pulled over, having received reports of a horse on the loose and some concerned resident reported the incident to the welfare officers who in turn engaged the local police.
Officer Mike barged out of the car with his companion Jack and looked dumbfounded at the scene
"This is no way animal endargement nor child endangerment. It must have been yet another Halloween Prank!" hissed Mike most unhappy at the police force's wasted time but coming over to talk to the group all the same, write a couple of statements and close the case.
Jack pulled up a pad and paper and approached the neatly gathered group.
Mike on the other hand unsheathed the knight's sword as he talked to the two women.
"Sarge, take a look at this" muttered Mike "weapons like this cannot be carried openly, it's against the law." informed sharply and unhappily
"It was sheathed till you took it out, commoner" spat Pentre unamused at the weaponry being stolen and manhandled "Theft might cost you a hand... one has the right to protect property after all..." warned Pentre further watching Mike put the sword back cautiously
"Sarge, do we make an exception for Halloween?" quizzed Mike puzzled
"Yeah... I guess so, it's just one day a year" shrugged Jack willing to write a few words and go get his own fair share of candy too
"That sword, looks so real and so old, it may well be stolen from the local museum" muttered Mike
"Well, we have no reports of any such theft, if we do get one, we know where to find the knight, the horse and the sword. For now, it's his to keep as long as it is sheathed" clarified Sargeant Jack turning to the group "Alright, names, addresses and a brief, as in short, as in less words as possible, two lines or less the better. Who are you and what are you doing at a dumpster?" demanded Jack pen and paper to hand
"What if they are thieves?" questioned Mike
"Thieves don't give things away and they are clearly sharing candy and sweets, clearly, giving away rather than taking" rectified and corrected Jack writing off the idea and looking at the ladies and the knight meaningfully for an answer to write down into his report.
Officer Mike barged out of the car with his companion Jack and looked dumbfounded at the scene
"This is no way animal endargement nor child endangerment. It must have been yet another Halloween Prank!" hissed Mike most unhappy at the police force's wasted time but coming over to talk to the group all the same, write a couple of statements and close the case.
Jack pulled up a pad and paper and approached the neatly gathered group.
Mike on the other hand unsheathed the knight's sword as he talked to the two women.
"Sarge, take a look at this" muttered Mike "weapons like this cannot be carried openly, it's against the law." informed sharply and unhappily
"It was sheathed till you took it out, commoner" spat Pentre unamused at the weaponry being stolen and manhandled "Theft might cost you a hand... one has the right to protect property after all..." warned Pentre further watching Mike put the sword back cautiously
"Sarge, do we make an exception for Halloween?" quizzed Mike puzzled
"Yeah... I guess so, it's just one day a year" shrugged Jack willing to write a few words and go get his own fair share of candy too
"That sword, looks so real and so old, it may well be stolen from the local museum" muttered Mike
"Well, we have no reports of any such theft, if we do get one, we know where to find the knight, the horse and the sword. For now, it's his to keep as long as it is sheathed" clarified Sargeant Jack turning to the group "Alright, names, addresses and a brief, as in short, as in less words as possible, two lines or less the better. Who are you and what are you doing at a dumpster?" demanded Jack pen and paper to hand
"What if they are thieves?" questioned Mike
"Thieves don't give things away and they are clearly sharing candy and sweets, clearly, giving away rather than taking" rectified and corrected Jack writing off the idea and looking at the ladies and the knight meaningfully for an answer to write down into his report.
The Cabal ship landed near the town, just outside of the boundaries. From the entrance, the decorated Primus Nal stepped forth, a Fallen prisoner and around fifteen Legionaries, four Phalanxes, and one Centurion following behind him.
What is a Cabal? Think of a rhinoceros, but without horns, cannot breath the atmosphere of Earth, have advanced technology, and are brutally cruel to all but themselves.
The Primus of the Red Legion marched his soldiers to the town, citizens avoiding being trampled by the 800lbs. aliens. He led his people to the town square, where he shouted with his mighty voice, "Earthlings, in honor of Dominus Ghaul, our leader killed by your kind, I, Primus Nal of the Red Legion, claim this settlement in the name of Ghaul, the Consul, and the Red Legion! May any who oppose me tremble at the might of my squadron, and all who face me cower at the might of the Cabal empire!" He looked down again, only to see most of the townspeople completely ignoring him, possibly thinking that he was in costume. This action, of course, only made him angry enough to grab a nearby statue, crushing it beneath his mighty hands. "HAIL THE RED LEGION!!!" He shouted, people finally taking notice.
What is a Cabal? Think of a rhinoceros, but without horns, cannot breath the atmosphere of Earth, have advanced technology, and are brutally cruel to all but themselves.
The Primus of the Red Legion marched his soldiers to the town, citizens avoiding being trampled by the 800lbs. aliens. He led his people to the town square, where he shouted with his mighty voice, "Earthlings, in honor of Dominus Ghaul, our leader killed by your kind, I, Primus Nal of the Red Legion, claim this settlement in the name of Ghaul, the Consul, and the Red Legion! May any who oppose me tremble at the might of my squadron, and all who face me cower at the might of the Cabal empire!" He looked down again, only to see most of the townspeople completely ignoring him, possibly thinking that he was in costume. This action, of course, only made him angry enough to grab a nearby statue, crushing it beneath his mighty hands. "HAIL THE RED LEGION!!!" He shouted, people finally taking notice.
"...what?"
Dropping all pretense of being a child - aside from her body and her voice and basically everything besides her expression of tired resignment - Ash was officially past 'overwhelmed' and into 'irritated'.
"...are you... are you serious?"
She looks from the knight, to the cop, to the woman with the trash bag, to the Cabal leader, to her own slightly-trembling hands.
"...this... th-this isn't just some kind of hallucinogenic trip, right? Y-you guys can see all this too?"
Ash wouldn't put it past Sumeragi to drug her, but her body normally purged toxins and she didn't see how they'd gas an alleyway without attracting notice.
Dropping all pretense of being a child - aside from her body and her voice and basically everything besides her expression of tired resignment - Ash was officially past 'overwhelmed' and into 'irritated'.
"...are you... are you serious?"
She looks from the knight, to the cop, to the woman with the trash bag, to the Cabal leader, to her own slightly-trembling hands.
"...this... th-this isn't just some kind of hallucinogenic trip, right? Y-you guys can see all this too?"
Ash wouldn't put it past Sumeragi to drug her, but her body normally purged toxins and she didn't see how they'd gas an alleyway without attracting notice.
Jack was too occupied writing to pay attention until Ash spoke up asking if they were serious which somewhat ticked the officer. "Kid, we are police officers on duty, as serious as we can be" informed sergeant Jack with some annoyance who had spent the time filling in forms and reports
"So now you're admitting to taking Hallucinogens?...That's entirely illegal, Halloween or not, I might have to place you under arrest while we investigate further" informed Jack waving Mike to get on with it.
"Are either of these your parents, carers or guardians?" Quizzed Jack looking at the Artemis and the knight meaningfully
"So now you're admitting to taking Hallucinogens?...That's entirely illegal, Halloween or not, I might have to place you under arrest while we investigate further" informed Jack waving Mike to get on with it.
"Are either of these your parents, carers or guardians?" Quizzed Jack looking at the Artemis and the knight meaningfully
"Of course I am her guardian it is every knight's sworn duty to protect the helpless damsels" informed Pentre in a matter of fact tone and pose
"Well then you will have to come to the station for more questions" concluded Jack busy writing it all in the pad, when Mike disrupted the work flow
"Oi sarge... that one just trashed a statue, the one the council put up? That's criminal damage as well as public disorder and intimidation" reported Mike pointing at Primus Mal of the Red Legion
Jack paused putting the pad away and turned to look, the pair sporting the strangest of faces and puzzled looks as they tried to figure out the sort of animals that accompanied Primus Mal
"What on earth is that?" Quizzed Jack unsure
"Not sure sarge but they ain't no trick o' treaters..." shrugged Mike looking
"Better call for reinforcements and animal and pest control units" instructed Jack
"On it boss" agreed Mike picking the phone
After a long time waiting and a few short words Mike hanged the phone "they ain't coming, they think we're pulling a prank" reported Mike frustrated
Jack turned to the group to write down the statements, and leave the matter settled.
"Oi sarge... that one just trashed a statue, the one the council put up? That's criminal damage as well as public disorder and intimidation" reported Mike pointing at Primus Mal of the Red Legion
Jack paused putting the pad away and turned to look, the pair sporting the strangest of faces and puzzled looks as they tried to figure out the sort of animals that accompanied Primus Mal
"What on earth is that?" Quizzed Jack unsure
"Not sure sarge but they ain't no trick o' treaters..." shrugged Mike looking
"Better call for reinforcements and animal and pest control units" instructed Jack
"On it boss" agreed Mike picking the phone
After a long time waiting and a few short words Mike hanged the phone "they ain't coming, they think we're pulling a prank" reported Mike frustrated
Jack turned to the group to write down the statements, and leave the matter settled.
((What...))
Furrowing her brow for a brief moment before her expression turned to annoyed confusion, Artemis looked to Ash and seemed more concerned for the kid's sake. There was so much going on -- with one happening after another, it seemed as if this night was only going to get weirder still.
"Yeah... no, I don't think you're hallucinating. I think people might have just had one too much to drink. Kid, do you know the number to your parents' cells or something by chance? I'll take you back to my place, get you cleaned up, and hopefully get you out of whatever... all... this... is..." Artemis suggested to Ash as she jabbed a thumb back to where she was supposed to be hosting a party with her friends before deciding to take out the trash before it got too excessive.
Furrowing her brow for a brief moment before her expression turned to annoyed confusion, Artemis looked to Ash and seemed more concerned for the kid's sake. There was so much going on -- with one happening after another, it seemed as if this night was only going to get weirder still.
"Yeah... no, I don't think you're hallucinating. I think people might have just had one too much to drink. Kid, do you know the number to your parents' cells or something by chance? I'll take you back to my place, get you cleaned up, and hopefully get you out of whatever... all... this... is..." Artemis suggested to Ash as she jabbed a thumb back to where she was supposed to be hosting a party with her friends before deciding to take out the trash before it got too excessive.
"I have n-no idea, but please g-get me away from here."
It wasn't, of course, very childlike, but at this point Ash didn't care if the woman was going to try and kill her once they arrived at her home. It'd at least make a little sense.
As an afterthought, she throws in a "...m-miss."
It wasn't, of course, very childlike, but at this point Ash didn't care if the woman was going to try and kill her once they arrived at her home. It'd at least make a little sense.
As an afterthought, she throws in a "...m-miss."
"Hold on, hold on, hang in there... lady" halted Mike looking at Artemis "You're not her parent and you're not her guardian. You can't take the girl home that would be abduction, that's a serious crime, more serious than public disturbance" frowned Mike
"This is now potentially a crime scene, no one leaves until everyone has given details" agreed Jack pulling out the pad and paper again. "First things first what are your names and where do you come from?" questioned Jack gazing at the two women and Pentre and Primus Mal
"I am Sir Pentre from the land of Albion in Britania" informed Pentre watching Jack scribble that, clearly, geography not his forte, then looked at Ash and Artemis and Primus Mal
"Names and whereabouts, citizens..." insisted sergeant Jack
"This is now potentially a crime scene, no one leaves until everyone has given details" agreed Jack pulling out the pad and paper again. "First things first what are your names and where do you come from?" questioned Jack gazing at the two women and Pentre and Primus Mal
"I am Sir Pentre from the land of Albion in Britania" informed Pentre watching Jack scribble that, clearly, geography not his forte, then looked at Ash and Artemis and Primus Mal
"Names and whereabouts, citizens..." insisted sergeant Jack
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