Chapter Text
Previously. Solon, who now decided to go by "Leonhard". Met up with the king of the Ripple Kingdom. After trying out a mysterious capsule machine. Leonhard was given his own fortune, and a new weapon. His very own sword. Leonhard then set off with Cucumber and Nautilus, in order to save Almond and put an end to the evil Disaster Master. Splashmaster. Will they be able to save the kingdom from Splashmaster's malicious tentacles?
-
Leonhard kept on swimming with the two other bunnies. Hand to hand with Nautilus, who was holding onto Cucumber from the other side. He was still immersed with the beautiful aquatic atmosphere of the deep underwater world. He never went swimming once in his life, let alone diving deep within. It was really a good thing that he had people holding onto him. He wasn't sure if he'd ever think of doing something like this all by himself. But, even so. He was slowly starting to get used to this swimming thing, just slowly move his legs and arms all together in one motion. It wasn't so bad.
There was a lot of fishes in here, of course. Fishes live in water, but Leonhard haven't seen them this close before. He only recalls seeing such creatures in the TV, whenever he would pass by the couch with his mop, cleaning the floors. Catching only quick glimpses of the boxy thing and then going back to stare dreadfully at the dirty floor. But to experience the real thing, it sure was...magical to say the least.
His new sword, clutched onto his right hand. As the human boy couldn't help but turn his head there to here, wanting to see all the pretty sights and sea creatures. But of course. His main focus still remains on saving Almond.
He was really hoping to see her again...
The trio swam into an entrance of some cave. Some small fishes swam inside too, the place would be pretty dark if it wasn't for Cucumber's wand lighting up the place. Amidst the darkness. Leonhard was quickly able to spot something on the ground.
"Oh, what's that?" Nautilus, was the first person to speak of it, though. Pointing down at what seemed to be...a sword?
They all swam downwards towards the sword on the ground. Resting idly on there, with the pointy tip, faced towards them. Leonhard gasped softly and went over to grab onto the sword. Picking it up to examine it closer.
"This is..." Cucumber pointed his wand at the sword, looking quite concerned over the familiar sword.
"Almond's sword..." Leonhard finished for him. His fingers tracing over the small blade with thoughts of worry.
"So, she really is nearby...then, let's hurry and return it to her!" Nautilus said, sounding determined with the idea. Leonhard shared the same determination too.
"Yeah, let's go" Leonhard quickly said and held onto both swords. His own and Almond's, the latter, he held onto tightly.
"How...are you going to swim like that?" Cucumber asked, looking at the boy and how his hands weren't free to hold onto theirs.
"It's...it's okay. I can swim by myself now, k-kinda..." Leonhard hesitantly said, as he slowly moved his legs to keep afloat in the water. It was a bit scary at first, but...if he wanted to get to Almond. He needed to have the courage to get this through.
Cucumber and Nautilus gave him uncertain looks at one, but then they began to swim ahead together. Leonhard turned around to them and then tried to swim after them. A bit awkwardly though. It wasn't easy to swim with two swords in your hands...but with enough courage and determination. Leonhard would be able to swim after the two, albeit slowly. Yet, he's moving forward.
-
Later on the surface, where Nautilus's familiar. Liquus, was seen waiting for her to arrive. To which they done so. Nautilus and Cucumber emerged from the waters. Nautilus looking quite the cheerful.
"Yaaay!" she cheerfully said with her arms in the air. Cucumber crawls out of the water and kneels over to offer her a hand.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" he asked with a smile.
"Not at all, thank you, Cucumber!" she gracefully said and took his hand. As she finally stood back on solid surface with Cucumber. Before looking down at her familiar. "And thank you. Liquus, are we almost there?"
Slowly after. Leonhard would emerge from the water too. With a small gasp as his bubble seemed to have disappeared. He'd put both swords on the surface and slowly crawl out of the waters too. His clothing all wet and dripping now.
"Leonhard!" Cucumber looked towards the human boy then. Noticing him on his knees.
"I'm...okay" Leonhard lifted his hand, letting the swords down, just so he could wipe his face and dry his wet black hair. He was already starting to feel cold here...
Liquus then gasped loudly, before quickly jumping into the water and diving deep down. Much to the confusion of Nautilus. To which the princess quickly understood, as soon as she saw...Splashmaster, just resting on a wrecked ship. The same ship which had their friends in.
Leonhard looks up and notices the monster too. Feeling his heart race up out of nervousness. He already had the fright of his life when he first faced that hideous thing, but to see it again...
Was he just asking for a death wish at this point...?
"Looks like this is a it..." Cucumber quietly said, looking up at the monster with caution.
"Let's go..." Nautilus sternly said though, giving the narrowed eyes to the monster.
Leonhard kept looking at the monster, feeling many second thoughts about this idea. He couldn't possibly take on this huge monster, who would ever win against something like this?!
His hand clutched onto his sword, and the other one onto his fast beating heart. He just can't stop feeling so scared...
But...what wa the point of him even coming all this way, for?
His eyes quickly moved away from Splashmaster, and towards the cage behind him instead. Where he spotted his friends all trapped there. Sir Carrot, another bunny person that he didn't know. And...
A glimpse of Almond, she was there too. She was alive...
That alone, made Leonhard feel his shoulders stop shaking. Just for a bit, seeing that the person who he failed to save. Was still alive, waiting...
...
He never wanted to fail them again.
Leonhard took a deep breath and then grabbed onto both swords yet again. Slowly standing up from his knees to face the huge monster. A small frown seem on his face. As he tried to contain the overwhelming fear in his heart.
I can't back down now. I promised to save Almond...I promised to protect her and Cucumber too. I just can't break my promise now...I'll do it, and I won't be afraid...I'll save Almond!
With that newfound courage in his heart. Leonhard stepped forward behind the boulder that he and the other two were hiding behind. And walked directly to face Splashmaster.
Carrot immediately noticed them afterwards. "Oh!" was all that he could say at the moment.
"You guys!" Cucumber called out to them.
"Mother!" Nautilus worriedly looked at her mom.
"Cucumber!" Carrot called back.
"Nautilus, darling!" and so did the queen, to her daughter.
Leonhard was about to call Almond's name, until a loud voice shook the cave.
"GUH!" Splashmaster smiled down at the heroes. "HERO IS HERE! PRINCESS TOO! NOW ME SMASH BOTH AT ONCE!"
"NOOOOOOOOooooo!"
A loud voice screamed out, which caught Splashmaster's attention. Turning his head to the frantic Almond. "HUH?"
"Nooo!" Almond held her hands together, tears forming in her eyes as she desperately pleaded to the giant squid. "Whatever you do. PLEEEASE don't throw a huge barrel at my brother!"
Splashmaster blankly stared at first, until his thin lips turned to a malicious smile. His tentacles grabbed onto the huge barrel that was locking the top of the cage that Almond and her friends were in. Allowing them a quick chance to get out of the cage.
"HERE WE GOOOO!" Splashmaster then brought his tentacle back and then tossed the barrel right towards the heroes.
"Uh oh!" Cucumber gasped, before he quickly jumped out of the way with Nautilus. Leonhard barely was able to dodge the barrel from crushing him, too. As he jumped straight towards the ground and groaned upon impact.
Almond...WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?!
He asked himself, as he rubbed his chin and grumbled at the reckless idea coming from Almond....did she not stop to think if that huge thing would've actually crushed her own brother and friends...?!
"AW...THAT NO WORK" Splashmaster frowned sadly, like a child who couldn't get his way. Until he spotted the fleeing prisoners in the water. "HEY!"
"Crud!" Almond cursed, before she and her friends were grabbed by the huge one tentacles again. "UGHHH!"
"NO RUN! ME GET HERO LATER, SMASH YOU FIRST!" Splashmaster angrily decided as he held each prisoners in each tentacle.
"GOOD HEAVENS!" Both Carrot and the queen said, out of fear.
Almond groaned, as she was able to free one of her hands. She called out to her brother. "'Cuco, my sword! Toss it to me!"
Cucumber immediately spotted the sword next to Leonhard. Before quickly walking over to pick it up. "O-okay..."
He held onto the sword tightly, and narrowed his eyes with determination. "Ready...CATCH!"
Cucumber tossed the sword as HARD as he could!
......
It didn't even reach Almond, but fell a few feet ahead of them.
"Oh COME ON!" Almond said out of frustration.
Splashmaster laughs loudly at Cucumber's weak efforts then. "TINY BUNNYMAN THROW LIKE BABY!"
"Ugh, stop!" Cucumber grumbled. "You sound like my dad!"
"Oooh, what shall we do!" Queen Conch desperately asked, the moment being bleak.
Leonhard rubbed his arm, and then looked down at his own sword. Before looking back at Almond and the others. Noticing how desperate and helpless they seemed. It made him frown deeply. And feel quite annoyed now.
He didn't think twice, as he grabbed his sword and removed the sheath. Revealing the shiny silvery blade. He then walks up to the giant squid monster and calls out to him. "HEY!"
"HUH?" Splashmaster stops laughing at Cucumber's pathetic state and looks down at the human, who was seen glaring up at him. "OH, OTHER HERO AGAIN? ME NO SMASH YOU BEFORE?"
"Y-...you'd better let go of them all!" Leonhard demanded from the monster, his voice showing obvious nervousness. Yet, he still stood tall against the giant squid. Giving them quite the glare.
"Solon?" Almond looked down at the human boy, a bit surprised to see them going up against this monster. "The heck are you doing...?"
"I'll...I'll save you. Almond!" Leonhard declared, as he held tightly onto his sword handle...until he noticed an odd sudden glow to the blade. Bluish lighting at that.
"HMM..ME NO WANT" Splashmaster shook his head, before raising his tentacle at the boy. "ME JUST SMASH TINY EAR BOY!"
Leonhard looked away from his glowing sword and gasped upon seeing a huge tentacle headed straight towards him. He would quickly jump away as the tentacle slammed onto the ground and shook the ground.
"Leonhard!" Nautilus gasped, as she hid behind Cucumber. Who was just as frightened by the scene.
Leonhard got up quickly and grumbled, until he quickly ducked down from another attack from the tentacle. He kept holding onto his sword and giving off a scared look during the whole fight. Constantly backing away and dodging from several attacks coming from the squid. Unable to properly fight back.
"Hey you stupid squidface!" Almond slapped the tentacle that was holding her, glaring angrily at Splashmaster. "Give him a break! He can't even fight, just like my brother! Can't you pick a fight with someone who isn't a scared coward?!"
"Thanks Almond..." Cucumber sheepishly said with a tired expression.
"ME CAN'T SMASH TINY HERO LIKE THIS!" Splashmaster whined, until he then slapped the ground as hard as he could. Forcing the human boy to fall down from the small earthquake.
"Woah!" Leonhard yelped and fell onto his back, his sword also falling off from his hand.
"Wow..at least you actually TRIED to do something useful. Unlike someone" Almond rolled her eyes with a deep sigh, resting her face under her palm as she watched Leonhard rub his back.
"Leonhard WATCH OUT!" Cucumber called out to the boy, as he watched Splashmaster send another tentacle towards him.
Leonhard looked up at the incoming tentacle, waiting still for it to come towards him. Until the human boy decided to roll away from the tentacle, letting it slam onto the ground instead. He then quickly got up and got into the tentacle itself.
"Oh my goodness!" Carrot gasped upon the odd decision from the human boy. "Solon, what in the world are you doing?!"
Leonhard then started running on the tentacle, right towards Splashmaster's face. Giving him a very annoyed glare the entire time. He brought his own fist back and gritted his teeth. "I told you...TO LEAVE THEM ALONE!"
"GUH?" Splashmaster was left confused by the boy, until out of nowhere. Leonhard PUNCHED the giant squid right in the one giant eye. Causing Splashmaster to howl in pain and release Almond and the others from his mouth tentacles. They all end up falling right into the waters below. Leonhard as well, of course.
One by one, they all emerge from the water.
"Oh my!" Queen Conch gasped for air, all soaking wet from being drenched in the water.
"My lady, are you all right!" Carrot quickly asked the queen.
"Yeah, serves you right!" Almond smirks at Splashmaster, who was seen rubbing his eye with his tentacle. Until she spotted Leonhard nearby, flapping his arms around and desperately trying to stay afloat in the water. "Hey, hold on!"
Leonhard kept frantically flapping his arms, until he felt a pair of arms hold onto him. Opening his eyes to see Almond, which made him calm down. "Almond...!"
"Heya" she casually greeted and helped swim away from the monster, as she grouped back with Carrot and the queen. "That was frigging cool, what you did back there!"
"I say! That was quite courageous and tactical!" Carrot complimented the boy.
"Oh...haha..." Leonhard sheepishly smiled from the praise. "It was nothing..."
Wasting no time, they all swam towards the surface and towards Cucumber and Nautilus.
"Almond!" Cucumber exclaimed and ran over to his sister, whom she shared a very heartfelt hug with. "You're okay!"
Leonhard got out of the water, on his knees and hands. As he stared directly at the two siblings. How happily and tight they held each other in that hug.
And he couldn't help but feel...left out.
Left out...
Why must he feel such a thing, whenever he sees anything like this? Two other people, showing each other love. Sibling love.
It all started to remind him of...family.
And all he could feel was...neglect.
-
Leonhard, was seen sweeping the living room. The room seemed void of color, it was rather dim and quiet. He was cleaning for a bit now, that could be shown by the tiredness in his eyes.
The boy would stop, covering his mouth due to a soft yawn escaping from his mouth. He quickly tried to get rid of this drowsiness. He still had work to do, he didn't want his family's house to be dirty after all.
He then heard voices coming from upstairs. It slightly disturbed him, making the boy look down at the ground and quickly sweep faster.
Three kids came downstairs. Two boys, and one girl. They were Leonhard's siblings.
Leonhard kept sweeping the floor, until he felt a bump from behind.
"Ugh!" one of his brothers grumbled angrily after bumping into the other boy. "Watch where you're walking. Idiot!"
"Don't make us beat you up again!" his other brother threatened.
"Or we'll tell daddy!" his little sister added, all of them spoke with malice and unfriendly like.
"S-sorry.." Leonhard quietly muttered to them all and hung his head down in shame.
"Yeah whatever!" his brother dismissed him off. "We're gonna play now, so you just shut up and clean up!"
"And no, you cannot play with us" his sister sternly told him.
"Yeah like we'll ever play with him...haha!" his other brother laughed mockingly, much to Leonhard's frown.
But that's okay. He had work to do, they can play all they want to. It's not their fault. He's responsible for keeping their house clean, and he really wants them to have fun...even if they're allowed to play around and do fun stuff. But not him, not that they'd allow him to. They never did anything with him.
And then, the door opened up. Which revealed a man walking inside with a bunch of things in his hand.
"Daddy!" the little girl excitedly said and ran over to her father, and so did the boys. All excited and calling out to their father.
"Hey there sweetheart" the adult smiled and immediately picked up his daughter with a smile. To which the girl immediately pulled him into a hug. "And to my boys too!"
"Dad, did you get us anything!?" one of Leonhard's brother asked, all excited.
"Yeah dad, did you get us that new game?" the other boy asked, holding onto his father's coat.
Leonhard stopped sweeping the floor, as he stared at his siblings surrounding their dad. His dad, technically so. How he held his sister up, giving her a hug that seemed so warm. Patting his boys on the head and holding their shoulders. Smiling proudly and being happy to see them.
He kept looking and looking at them, how happy they all seemed. How dad was happy to hold them. How he never does anything like that to Leonhard.
How he wondered...how hugging dad felt like. He never asked for one, nor did he ever received one. Dad would always give out hugs whenever he comes back home. Leonhard watched it happen multiple times now. Yet...he never got one.
Maybe today. Dad would notice, and give him one. He brought gifts too, from what it seems like...did he get one for Leonhard too?
The boy stood still, holding onto the broom and waiting patiently for dad to notice him, and when he did so.
All dad did, was narrow his eyes at the black haired boy. And coldly ask. "What are you doing here...?"
Leonhard froze in place, his eyes immediately going down to the ground. As he struggled to find the words to speak to his father.
"You finished cleaning?" his dad sternly asked.
"Y-yes...sir" Leonhard quickly nodded in response.
"Then go out, back to your room...go on" his dad practically shooed him off, waving his hand at the boy like he was swatting a fly. Leaving the boy to feel completely crestfallen.
"Oh...okay..." Leonhard weakly said with a small frown, as he stared at the ground. Until he slowly tried to look back at the man. "B-but...I...um..."
"What is it, speak up boy!" the man said, raising his voice a little. Becoming impatient.
Leonhard felt himself shiver in fear, as he quickly shook his head and turned away. "N-nothing...sorry...I'll go now"
He didn't wait, and just quickly left. Not wanting to anger his father again. Leonhard left through the back door, closing it behind him. As he sighed deeply and began to walk towards a shack in the backyard.
But then, he stopped, turning around at the window. Where he could see a glimpse of his siblings and father. All sitting on the couch, unwrapping gifts that he brought for them. The light in their eyes as they were joyful for each gift. His sister was happy, hugging her father tightly again. To which he'd hug her back.
A joy so warm...they all shared together.
And never with him.
Why does...dad never hug me...why does he never give me gifts...?
.....
No...no. I shouldn't ask for too much, he works hard. And I must work hard too, maybe one day...he'll give me a gift, or hug me...I want to make him proud...that's all I want.
Leonhard stepped away from the window, trying not to let this get to his head. He knew better than to feel upset with his dad and siblings. They all loved him, and he loved them.
...
He just couldn't stop feeling neglected all the time...and he never understood why.
-
Leonhard kept staring at Cucumber and Almond, as they hugged each other and were so happy to be together. It all reminded him of family yet again. The way they'd hug each other and love each other.
How he never received such affection from his siblings or parents before.
Hugs like this, they must come from a place of deep love.
He supposes now...that the reason he never got such hugs, was because his family. Really just...did not love him?
...
Why did they never love me...?
Leonhard lowered his head down, feeling a small shutdown in his own body, just from that question alone. A question that he never understood...and will he ever do so?
"Mother!" Nautilus then ran up to her mom. Smiling happily. "Oh. I was so worried!"
"As was I, darling" her mother quickly hugged Nautilus then. "But, it's all right now"
"N-not quite yet. Your majesty, stay on your ground!" Carrot warned, as he saw the giant squid emerge from the water again. Their eye a little red from that punch.
Leonhard backs away from the monster, noticing how it angrily stared at him. He really messed up this time...that look of anger.
It all brings back bad memories.
"Well, Squidface?" Almond was then given her sword back by Cucumber. As she faced the monster with a determined smile. "Ready to fight us for REAL?"
"Wait a minute..." Nautilus took a closer look at the squid, noticing what was in his head. "That's...MY LIMBO CROWN!"
"What...?" Leonhard said, wondering what she was talking about.
"Unbelievable!" Nautilus said with a offended look. "Masquerading as limbo royalty this entire time...how DARE you!"
"HUH?" Splashmaster was left confused by what she meant, until he looked up at his crown. "THIS CROWN FOR LIMBO?"
"It says 'Limbo King' on it. Dude..." Almond flatly pointed out to him.
"OHH" Splashmaster realized, until he cheerfully spoke. "ME NO CAN READ. JUST WEAR FOR CUTE LOOK!"
"THE GALL!" Nautilus loudly gasped, even more offended than before.
"Uh, Nautilus?" Cucumber tried to call out to her. "I kind of think we have more important things to-"
"NO. CUCUMBER" Nautilus turned to him with a very disturbing face.
"Oh Gosh!" Cucumber backed away in fright.
"Is it really that serious...?" Leonhard timidly asked.
"This is a matter of pride!" she sternly said. "And I will NOT allow this pretender to make a mockery of my title!"
She then turned over at Splashmaster. "Splashmaster! I, Princess Nautilus, am the TRUE heir to the limbo throne. Return that crown to me at once!"
"YOU CRAZY" Splashmaster shook his head at that. "ME FIND CROWN. NOW ME KEEP"
"Then prove your right to wear it!" she then pointed right up at him. "I challenge you to a LIMBO DUEL!"
"Huh?!" everyone said at once, surprised by this turn of events.
"Did someone saaaaaaaayyyyyyy.....LIMBO?"
Out of nowhere, a lifeboat crushed right into the cave. With those familiar party people in it. And that one limbo announcer.
"HUH?!" everyone was even more confused now. Even Splashmaster himself.
"Hey everybody, it's that time again!" the announcer happily said. "Time for the 44th annual Limbo-Thon, that is. You guys ready to drop til' you drop?"
"B-but how did-"
"Then let's get rolling!" the announcer and his crowd of limbo enthusiasts, cut Cucumber off. He then pulls out a remote with one switch on it. Titled 'Limbo'. "Limbo zone, activate!"
"Wh-" Cucumber looked and was shocked by how the entire cave changed from a dark cave..TO A SUNNY BEACH. Even his clothes changed to some beach clothes, along with everyone else too! "WHAT IS...?!"
Leonhard yelped, as he noticed himself without a shirt, and only some black shorts. Exposing his...upper body. He quickly covered himself as much as he could and felt quite nervous.
"That's right! With this one-of-a-kind Limbo Dimension Generator" the announcer held up that weird remote thingy. "We're all just one button push away from a party. But keep in mind that it's a prototype, okay? Real delicate. So don't go making a ruckus if you lose!"
"I don't intend to lose!" Nautilus confidently boasted, flicking her hair with a confident hand on her hip.
"All right all right, let's get this party started!" the limbo announcer hyped up. "It's the ultimate battle for limbo supremacy! Who will claim the crown?!"
A bunch of people then cheered loudly then. Mostly for the princess than the huge squid.
"Best of luck!" "Y-you can do it!" Both Cucumber and Carrot would cheer for Nautilus in the back.
"Knock him' dead what's-your-face!" Almond cheered too, as she then looked at her side. "Solo, you'd better cheer for-...huh?"
Almond noticed that the human was nowhere near them, for some odd reason. She was pretty sure that he was with them as soon as they were warped by the...limbo dimension thingy. She looked around out of confusion until eventually.
She found him sitting behind one of the trees. To which she raised her eyebrow at...now why was he hiding from them?
Almond stopped paying attention to the whole limbo competition, before she quickly went over to the human boy and see what the heck was up with him.
Leonhard was seen sitting behind a big palm tree, his skin exposed to the hot sun, still covering himself with both arms. Eyes full of vulnerability.
"Solooooo!"
Leonhard gasped, startled by the sudden voice of Almond. He'd quickly hold himself more and look to the side. Seeing Almond herself, in her swimsuit. She had a watermelon floaty around her waist. Looking at her like this...sure made Leonhard feel something.
"A-...Almond...?" Leonhard quietly said, feeling quite flustered with her new look.
"The heck are you doing all the way here?" she asked, tilting her head at the boy. Until she finally noticed something. Not that she'd be able to miss it, when it was literally all over the boy. "Huh...Solon...what's...up?"
Leonhard froze, feeling her eyes scanning his entire body now. And what she was looking at, were the multiple scars on his arms. Scars of all kind, mostly lines of them. Small lines, big lines. Faded scars and some recent looking ones. Each arm was practically covered in scars.
"I...I..." Leonhard timidly spoke, as he felt his eyes lowering themselves to the sand. A look of shame appearing on his face.
Almond, a bit taken back with the amount of scars on his arms. Then slowly sat down next to the boy, much to his surprise. "Wooow...what happened to you!?"
"Huh..." Leonhard quietly said, as he covered himself more and tried to look away from her. Feeling really uncomfortable with her seeing him like this.
"You've got scars all over your arms...did that squid do this?" she asked.
"I...n-no...no" the boy shook his head at that.
"Oh, then...how'd you get these?" she quickly asked and moved closer to see the scars. "Did you get into fights? Did you like fight monsters before or something. These look so painful!"
"I...I..." Leonhard stuttered, slowly beginning to crawl up into a ball.
Almond immediately noticed his behavior, making her lean back and give him a confused look. "Hey...what's wrong, are you all right?"
"Y-yes!" he then immediately answered with. "I'm...I'm fine...really!"
"Uh-huh..." Almond narrows her eyebrows at the response. "Then why...do you look like you're about to cry or something?"
"W-what...?" Leonhard snaps his eyes to her, wondering what makes her say such a thing...was he really about to cry just now?
"I mean..." Almond stopped, shrugging with one shoulder, as she continued. "You look really embarrassed or something, and you kinda ran away from us all...so...like why?"
"I'm...sorry...I didn't mean to..." he quietly answered, looking quite ashamed with himself. "I...I just..."
Almond noticed him going quiet, his eyes barely left open. Arms holding onto each other as tightly as they could, trying to hide the scars. But failing to do so, as there were too much to hide.
"...Hey" she softly said, before crawling closer to the boy. "You really oka-"
"I...don't like them" Leonhard finally said, his voice coming out as heavy in the tone.
"Huh...?" Almond blinked once at the response. "Don't like, what?"
Leonhard kept holding himself tightly, until he slowly opened his eyes, revealing those soft gray orbs of his. A frown stuck onto his lips. As he lowered his arms down, showing his arms to Almond, along with the scars on his arms...and chest?
Almond was surprised to see that the scars extended to his chest, and she could even spot some on his back...a lot harsher looking ones than the ones in his arms. It all...confused her.
"I don't like...my scars..." Leonhard admitted, his voice so small and full of shame. "I...feel...ugly..."
"Ugly...?" Almond repeated, lifting her eyebrow with a even more confused look.
"They're hideous, huh?" he asked with a deep sigh. "I know...they make me look worse than I am, but...that's okay...I don't mind them. But...but I can't...I don't feel okay when...people see me like this...I don't know...I don't feel...good whenever I see them, and then people see them...I...I really just don't like showing any of my skin like this. I'm just really ugly with them, right?"
He turned to face her, noticing that concerned look on her face. Which made him feel bad now. As he quickly looked away to apologize. "I'm...I'm sorry, it's not important. I really...I really don't mind them! I guess I'm just gonna have to deal with these scars...they make me look ugly and hideous...that's fine. I know that's what I am, anyways...so...don't worry about them. They don't...mean anything"
"Ugly...you kidding?" Almond asked, amidst a small laugh.
"I...I know..." Leonhard mumbled and lowered his head at her laughter. "I'm so...ug-"
"They look so frigging cool!"
...
"H-huh...?" Leonhard lifted his head after hearing her response. His eyes slowly turning to her. "What...do you mean...?"
"I mean your scars, they look so cool!" Almond admitted with a smile, as she took a closer look at them. "They're even more badass than the ones I've got like...a while ago. And those were from bike riding and skating, but yours look soooo much more painful than mine were. It's so cool!"
"B-but...you think they're...cool?" he asked, his voice coming out as confused.
"Duuuh!" Almond rolls her eyes with a scoff. "Who doesn't think of scars as cool?"
"...I...don't...?" Leonhard slowly said, as he began to look away from her.
"And why the heck so?" she asked, tilting her head at him.
"I...feel...ugly...?" Leonhard said, his eyes seemingly unsure of his own answer. "I...I feel bad whenever I see them...I start to get reminded of...of..."
"...Of what?" Almond asked, watching him freeze up all of a sudden.
Leonhard kept looking at nothing ahead, until he felt his body shiver up, forcing him to cover himself into his arms. Shaking his head as he timidly said. "Nothing...nothing...it's really not important..."
Almond frowned, as she then moved closer to the boy. "Hey...come on...it's not that bad...ya know?"
She slowly reached out to his arm, touching it. Which made the boy jolt slightly and shiver. Almond almost took her hand back, until she slowly continued and brought his left arm to look over. Noticing how the boy trembled.
Please...don't hurt me...
Leonhard had his eyes closed, trembling slightly as he feared for what was going to happen. But all he felt, was Almond tracing her fingers over the many scars in his arm.
Almond felt her fingers on his soft skin, going over the faded scars one by one. She really thought that they were cool. And seeing him feel bad about them...well, it sure didn't feel right to her.
"These are sooooo cool!" Almond smiled, as she then looks at the boy. "They're not ugly at all, they're REALLY cool...wish I had scars like yours"
"A-Almond..." Leonhard muttered, feeling himself becoming less shaky. "I...don't feel like that...I feel so ugly..."
"You're not ugly, come on" she rolls her eyes. "You're like...not that bad, you're just a little cowardly at times. That's all"
"I'm not ugly...?" he slowly asked her. Wondering what she just said.
"I don't think so...I mean, you're definitely better looking than that stupid squid" she said, laughing a little at the end.
"But...I-"
"And dude! The way you punched him in his stupid big face was sooooo cool!" Almond continued, as she smiled widely and began to reincarnate the scene. "You really ran up on his sticky stinky tentacle and was like BAM!"
Leonhard backed away, as Almond almost punched him in the face by accident. Blinking twice with a slightly timid look.
"That was really...cool, ya know?" she smiled softly at him. "I guess this is the second time that you save me...which sucks. Cuz now I gotta save you in return, so you'd better get into trouble next time. So I can save your butt. Okay?"
"O-...okay..." Leonhard said, looking down with a confused looking.
"I guess you're not that bad at fighting, huh, Solo?" Almond smirks, giving him a slight punch at the shoulder.
"...Um..." Leonhard slowly began to smile and rub his neck, before looking at her. "Actually...it's Leonhard now"
"Huh...you're what now?" she gave him a confused face.
"I...I go by Leonhard now" he timidly told her. "I already told Cucumber and Nautilus about it...I...I didn't like my old name...s-so...I decided to change it to Leonhard...could you...please call me that now. If...if you want to... of course"
Almond kept staring at him for a bit, as she then looked down to think. "Lay-On-Hart...ew...."
Leonhard felt himself frown at her response then. "I...I understand that it's a stupid name...you can...call me Solon if you want...even though I don't really like it...I don't mind if you just-"
"I'll just call you Leo for short, how about that?" she cut him off with a smile. "Leonhard sounds a bit...meh, ya know?"
"Leo...?" Leonhard gave her a surprised look.
"Yeah" she shrugged. "Solo. Leo...same thing, right?"
"Oh...okay" he slowly nods then. "If you want to...that's okay. I don't mind"
"Cool!" Almond smiled, before standing up and offering him a hand. "Come on then, let's see that stupid limbo contest!"
"Okay..." Leonhard softly smiled and took her hand, a little taken back as she forcibly drags him up to stand up. Before she began to push him ahead.
"Come on. Leo, move your butt!" Almond impatiently demanded as she kept pushing the boy.
Almond...you really think that I look cool...you didn't even call me disgusting...you're so nice to me...I missed you a lot..
-
Back with the others. Leonhard and Almond came back to the whole limbo contest. Nautilus against Splashmaster, and judging by the cheers that Nautilus was getting. It looks like she's already winning.
Cucumber noticed Almond coming by, and with Leonhard too. "Almond, where did you go to?"
"I just had to drag this sorry guy out of hiding, we all good now" Almond casually said. As Leonhard was seen looking down and rubbing on his arm, a bit exposed and already feeling judged by the way some people looked at his scar covered body.
"Oh..." Carrot noticed the boy's state, and was about to ask. "Solon, what happen-"
"It's Leonhard now, actually" Cucumber corrected the knight.
"I'll just call him Leo" Almond shrugged.
"Leonhard...?" Carrot was confused by the sudden change.
"I...I didn't like Solon, so...so if it's okay...could you call me Leonhard from now on?" Leonhard politely asked, still looking down, away from their eyes.
"W-well...of course!" Carrot then smiled and gave him a slight bow. "Leonhard, it is then!"
"Thank you..." Leonhard softly smiled, before going back to frowning.
I feel so...wrong...
"So who won?" Almond asked the others.
"Uh...Splashmaster is just about to go in" Cucumber pointed at the huge squid.
They were seen holding a pole for him, and the giant squid couldn't help but look scared.
"BUT...THIS NO FAIR!" Splashmaster whined, as he stared at the small limbo pole.
"What?!" Nautilus gasped at him. "Surely, you aren't expecting us to raise the limbo pole for you?"
"BUT IT TOO SMALL!" Splashmaster pointed out.
"No cheating. Splashmaster, are you a limbo king or a limbo commoner?" Nautilus harshly asked.
Splashmaster sweated as he heard everyone chant LIMBO and demand for him to just do it. The monster gulped and looked down at the pole ahead of him. Until he raised one of his tentacles and...
He accidentally hit it.
"That's it! We've got our winner, guys!" the announcer announced, much to the delight of everyone else.
Leonhard watched as they brought that huge limbo crown over to Nautilus and tried to put it on her head.
"The limbo queen remains supreme!" the announcer cheered as he put the crown on her head. "Let's have a big round of applause!"
Everyone began to clap for Nautilus then. Leonhard was really confused by the events, but decided to go along with it. Clapping his hands for the princess as well.
"Thanks you, thank you all!" Nautilus happily said, as she accepted the oversized crown on her head.
"I...don't think you're supposed to wear it" Cucumber sheepishly pointed out to her.
"It's a little too big..." Leonhard noticed, yeah it definitely was too big for her to wear.
"GUUH!" Splashmaster angrily grumbled. "THIS NO FAIR!"
He slammed his tentacles down, which ended up accidentally breaking the limbo dimension generator.
"NO!" the announcer gasped in horror. "YOU FOOL!"
Splashmaster opened his eye, and then just like that. Everyone was back inside the cave, where they all fell into the water. Where the limbo enthusiasts began to freak out.
"Stay calm, everyone!" the announcer tried to settle them down. "Stay-OOF!"
He then got slammed by the queen herself, everyone then swam away in horror.
"Why's everybody leaving?" Almond asked as she watched them all swim away. "They're about to miss the good part!"
Leonhard emerged from the water with a loud gasp and quickly held onto the nearest person next to him. Which ended up being Almond.
"Well...gee" Almond gave him a sly smirk. "Someone's all clingy after that talk, huh?"
"I'm....I'm sorry!" Leonhard quickly apologized and wanted to let go of her. "I...I just can't swim..."
"Well. I didn't say that I didn't like you touchi-"
"Noooo!" Nautilus was then heard yelling, which got everyone's attention. "HEEELP!"
Splashmaster was seen wrapping his tentacles around Carrot and Nautilus!
"You guys!" Cucumber worriedly called out. Almond just however glared at the squid and quickly went underwater, taking Leonhard with her. Who let out a yelp in the process. Cucumber quickly followed after the two then and made sure to give them a bubble to breathe through. They quickly swam after the squid and tried to save their friends. Who left trails of air bubbles from their mouths.
Cucumber quickly tried to shoot them some bubbles with his wand, to which Splashmaster quickly deflected with his own tentacle.
"Oh no!" Cucumber said in dismay.
"I'll handle this!" Almond sternly decided, as she let go of Leonhard and swam after the squid. "HEY! Let them go you overgrown-"
Splashmaster only smacked her towards a wall with his hands on tentacle, before she could even finish.
"OOF!" Almond grumbled upon being slammed against the wall.
"Almond!" Leonhard gasped upon seeing her hurt, he then growled and turned to face Splashmaster with a very big glare. "You...!"
"WHY YOU GIVE THAT LOOK?" Splashmaster asked, still angry at the boy for hurting his eye.
Leonhard just kept glaring at the monster, a pure silent look of anger.
Splashmaster was slowly starting to sweat (somehow underwater) at the boy's unwavering glare. He then grumbled loudly. "ME NO LIKE THAT LOOK...STOP!"
Leonhard was about to move, until he was hit by one of the tentacles and pushed backwards towards the same wall as Almond.
"H-hey!" Almond looked at the boy, before she angrily got off the wall and glared at Splashmaster. "You're really gonna be sorry now. Stupid freaking oaf!"
"Are you okay?" Cucumber quickly went over and asked her.
"Ugh NO!" Almond angrily told him.
"L-Leonhard...?" Cucumber looked over to the boy then.
"My back..." Leonhard groaned, rubbing on his back with a frown.
"If he didn't hide underwater like a coward...I could get him!" Almond explained, feeling quite frustrated with the unfairness. All while Splashmaster laughed in the back.
"But...how are we supposed to get him out of-...." Cucumber then instantly went flat in the face, as he remembered something from way before. Slowly he raised his wand to look at it.
"What?" Almond gave him a confused look.
Cucumber just used his wand and zapped a comically large bathtub plug onto the ground.
"For real?..." Almond gave him a surprised look. "Where'd you learn how to-"
"Please just help me pull..." Cucumber said with a disturbed look.
Leonhard then watched as the two swam over to the plug and began to pull on it. Using his best of abilities, he'd swim over to the duo and help them with the pulling as well. Eventually they succeeded and were able to pull the plug, which started draining all the water out.
"HUH?" Splashmaster was surprised to see what'd just happened.
"Sorry, pool's closed!" Almond sarcastically said to the squid. "Or are you too chicken to fight us on dry land?"
Splashmaster remained silent at first, until he angrily grumbled. "ME NO NEED WATER!"
He tried slamming his tentacle towards the heroes, but Almond took Cucumber by the hand, while Leonhard just dodged away from it.
"Too slow!" Almond remarked as she landed somewhere nearby.
Leonhard rubbed his head, until he spotted his own sword nearby. To which he quickly ran over to pick up from the ground and hold. He turns over to Splashmaster again and sees him trying to squash Almond, who kept running around and avoiding him. Cucumber just ran around screaming and trying not to get squashed too.
This thing hurt Almond...I can't believe him...how...how dare he...HOW DARE HE DO THAT TO HER!
Leonhard slowly began to feel a familiar anger within him, an anger that led him to a lot of problems back where he came from. But now...he just couldn't help himself, nor could he control his anger. Especially with the way he saw that freak hurt Almond in front of him. Leonhard felt his hands tightening around the sword. So hard that he felt himself shaking out of anger. The blade of his sword then began to glow a tint of red.
"You...monster...DON'T HURT MY FRIENDS EVER AGAIN!" Leonhard angrily yelled, as he proceeded to swing the sword right towards the big monster, and while he was too far away from actually hitting him. His sword however, sent a lazer like slice towards the back of Splashmaster.
"UGH STOP MOVE SO MU-" Splashmaster couldn't finish, as he felt a really bad burn hit him on the back of his head. Causing the monster to stop attacking the siblings and start crying out in pain. "GUHHHHH! ME...ME FEEL HOT...AGHH!"
Leonhard was shocked by what he'd had done just now, dropping his sword on the ground as he heard the loud cries of Splashmaster echoing. The boy couldn't help but fall down to the ground. His hands trembling as he felt a slight warmth to them.
What...what did I do...WHAT was that?!
He questioned himself, as he stared at his sword next. He noticed a red tint to it, which was slowly fading away...somehow.
"Liquus, hurry!" Nautilus then sent out her familiar. "Now's your chance!"
Liquus ends up flying towards the big monster while it's still distracted, once upon contact. Liquus ends up electrifying the big monster with a nasty shock.
"Now we're talking!" Almond quickly jumps in for the chance to attack. "Let's get serious!"
Without giving the dizzy squid a chance. Almond began slicing his tentacles with her sharp sword.
"THIS is for sinking our boat!" she said, slicing the first tentacle up. And then she sliced the other. "And THIS is for kidnapping me!" And the she went over the next. "And THIS is just or being a JERK!"
And just for one good measure, she slices off an already sliced part of his tentacles. "And THIS one is for hurting Leo, who can't even fight yet until I train him to the bone!"
"Huh-" Leonhard said with a derpy look.
"And...this one is for being....bad at limbo?" Almond said thorough an uncertain look.
"Just finish him off already!" Cucumber impatiently demanded from the back.
"You got it!" Almond smiled at her brother, before looking back at the squid with a eager smile. She then took a huge leap towards the squid. "I'VEBEENWAITINGFOREVERTOFINALLYGETACHANCETOUSEMYYYYYYYY....EVIL VANQUISHING ALMOND SLICER!"
Everyone watched as Almond unleashed a huge glowing slice from her sword. Which ended up slicing Splashmaster into half. Leonhard watched with shock as the squid began glowing bright upon being split into two. Until he bursted into a huge light, eventually being sucked onto some sort of shining orb that floated in the air.
Moments of silence would follow through afterwards. As everyone would gather around the orb, which had a spotlight shining on it...somehow. Leonhard would stand still and watch Almond high-fiving her brother. Looking quite proud of herself, and while it was nice that she got rid of this monster.
He still couldn't help but feel bad for hurting it...especially him, when he sent that odd attack towards the squid. Those screams of agony...Leonhard shook his head upon a distant memory. Rubbing his eyes as he tried to forget all about it...it's over now. And he now feels just a tad bit scared of Almond and her abilities to effortlessly slice someone into half.
Out of nowhere, a bright shining light came out of nowhere. Until then the Dream Oracle came down from whoever knows where!
"Greetings legendary hero!" she cheerfully said, until noticing the others. "And...other people!"
She then began to explain. "I've come to congratulate you for defeating the first of the Nightmare Knight's minions...so"
She stopped for a moment, until she smiled and cheerfully continued. "CONGRATULATIONS! Only six more to go!"
"Six, huh?" Almond questioned the Oracle. "So, where's the second one?"
"You'll find the next of the Disaster Masters in the Melody Kingdom!" she happily informed, before holding up the orb. "Now, I present-"
"W-wait!" Cucumber quickly stopped her. "Is this really the Nightmare Knight's 100th resurrection?"
"His huh?!" Almond said with surprise.
"It's a long story..." Leonhard whispered to her.
"Well fill me in!" she quickly demanded with impatience. "You guys been keeping secrets or something?"
The Oracle sighed deeply and grimaced. "...So, Chardonnay couldn't keep that little detail to herself, could she? I don't know what I'm gonna do with that little girl"
"Why even keep it a secret...?" Leonhard asked her.
"Y-yeah!" Cucumber quickly nodded. "I was gonna ask the same thing!"
"Oh, use your heads, dear..." the Oracle sighed with a hand to her forehead. "If I tell a hero the foe he's up against can't be defeated. How do you think he'll react? He'll lose his nerve, like YOU have"
"Didn't really have any to start with..." Cucumber sheepishly muttered under his breath.
"So, we're the 100th guys to do this?" Almond asked Carrot.
"And after us, will be others..." Carrot thought with a concerned look.
"Doesn't that seem pointless...?" Leonhard asked the two then. "I mean...what's the point of doing this, if it'll just happen again?"
"I dunno?" Almond shrugged, before giving him a quick wink. "But hey, at least it'll be our first time doing this...seems fun, huh?"
"I really don't think so..." Leonhard admitted with a sigh.
Nautilus then steps up, with Liquus in her hand. As she respectfully spoke to the Oracle. "O wise Oracle! Isn't there any way to end the cycle?"
"If I knew how to get rid of him for good. Sweetheart, I would have done it the first time" the Oracle shrugged at that. "The sword may only be a temporary fix, but it's all we have"
"But, well...you're the Dream Oracle. Can't you see the future?" Cucumber pointed out to her.
The Oracle leaned forward with a stern face "Your point?"
"That's a good question though..." Leonhard admitted, before shutting up as soon as the Oracle glared at him.
"I-I mean...couldn't you just tell us if we ever find a way to beat him or not?" Cucumber sheepishly asked her.
"Oh, HERE we are!" the Oracle seemed to lose her patience then. "I was wondering when the legendary hero would start telling me how to do my JOB"
"Um..." Cucumber backed away with concern at her tone.
"Do you even understand what you're asking?" she asked sternly. "What if I gazed into the future...only to find Dreamside conquered by the Nightmare Knight and his minions? How would THAT make you feel?!"
"Well...it'll be nice to know ahead of ti-"
"UNTHINKABLE!" the Oracle sternly cut him off at that. "We must accept that there are things in this world that we are simply NOT meant to know!"
She turn went silent and stared at the heroes all grouped together.
....
"She can't see the future, huh" Almond then flatly told her friends, who quickly hushed her.
"I CAN!" the Oracle quickly said upon hearing so. As she then tried to cheerfully speak to them with high hopes and inspiration. "I foresee that you children will create your own future. Go forth with courage, for only you will discover the correct path!"
...
"Yeah, she totally can't" Almond quickly spoke to her group, to which they eventually started agreeing with.
"Almond...enough" Leonhard hushed her with worry. As he stared at the upset face the Oracle was making. "You're gonna get us in trouble..."
"Am I wrong though?" she asked him.
Leonhard just looked away with a small smile.
"See!" Almond scoffed and playfully shoved him. "You know that I'm right about her!"
"O-oh...maybe just a little-"
"OH ENOUGH ALREADY!" the Oracle angrily interrupted, before offering the shiny orb. "Here. I present you with this, the Splash Stone! Take it as proof of your victory today!"
Leonhard watched as the Splash Stone was lowered down to Cucumber and Almond, held it up in victory.
"Now...I shall leave" the Oracle sighed, before turning around to leave. Until she stopped, and turned over to the human in the group. "Oh, as for you..."
Leonhard froze and felt his heart race upon being called out by her.
Please don't...don't do it yet-
"Uh...we'll speak later..." the Oracle awkwardly told him, before cleaning her throat. "You just um...assist the legendary hero in his quest...yeah! Now that's something new...I suppose?...Farewell now!"
The Dream Oracle then disappears into a bright light, leaving our heroes alone.
"Aw heck YEAH!" Almond pumped her fist with victory. "Our first very victory against the bad guys!...Well, more like my victory, but you guys helped a little"
"Um...yeah" Cucumber muttered, as he looked at the Splash Stone in his head.
Leonhard, meanwhile, was seen picking up his sword from the ground. Staring at his own reflection into the silvery blade and thinking back to that moment when he attacked Splashmaster.
What was that about...I...felt so angry...I never felt like that...except for...that one time...I...never thought I'd ever feel this way again...
Leonhard kept looking at his sword for a few moments, wondering what even happened to him during that moment...seeing Almond hurt like that. Really set him off, huh?
"Leooooo!" Almond suddenly came up to the boy and smacked him on the back of the neck, as she stepped in front of him with eagerness. "So, what the heck was that move back there!?"
"H-huh?" Leonhard was confused, as he rubbed his neck.
"You know which one!" Almond insisted on. "The one where you sent that like...cool red slice thingy from your sword!"
"You...saw that...?" Leonhard slowly asked...how did she even see him?
"Yeah!" she quickly nodded with a big smile. "It was soooo cool! But...not as cool as my Almond Slicer, huh?"
"...I can't believe you killed that thing" Leonhard slowly said, as he picked up the sheath from the ground.
"Yeeeah. It was nothing" Almond bragged, bringing her arms behind her neck with a smirk. "I didn't have that much trouble with it...but it was a teamwork, ya know?"
"I don't know. Almond...I....I don't think I liked doing any of that" Leonhard admitted, as he covered the blade in the sheath.
"What does that mean?" she gave him a bored look at the comment.
"I...don't know" Leonhard held his arm then, slowly turning back to the girl to finally say. "I guess...I felt really awful...hurting him?"
"...What!?" Almond dropped her arms in shock, as she lifted her eyebrow at him. "Are you crazy or something? Did you forget that he literally tried to kill us or what?"
"I know I know" Leonhard nodded multiple times to that, before sighing deeply as he looked down. "But when I hit him with...whatever that was. And heard him cry like that...I...I didn't feel good...I felt so bad..."
"Well don't" Almond bluntly told him, before crossing her arms with a small scoff. "He was really annoying, anyways...I ain't feeling bad for him"
"...And...and about that barrel thing!" Leonhard then looked up at her with a conflicted expression. "You could've really hurt us...you know?"
"What...what the heck does that mean!?" Almond gave him a slightly offended look then.
"I...I mean...did you stop to wonder if asking Splashmaster to throw that huge barrel at Cucumber, would've actually hit him and...and maybe hurt him and us...?" he asked, as he tried his best to look at her, but the angry look in her eyes was starting to make him...feel nervous.
Almond gasped quietly in shock, before looking back and noticing that everyone else was looking at them. Cucumber especially, who seemed to rubbing his neck with a timid look. Almond then turns back to the human and points at his face. "Well it's not like I was actually planning to have him HURT you guys!"
"I-I know...but it was still a reckless idea an-"
"OH so you're just calling me reckless...are you blaming me or something?" Almond asked, as she put her hands on her hips and stepped closer to the boy. Forcing him to back away with a very nervous expression.
"N-no...no!" Leonhard shook his head frantically and looked down from her. "I'm...sorry...j-just forget it...I wasn't blaming you...please...don't get mad at me..."
"Yeah well...I am!" Almond angrily said and made her stomp her foot.
Leonhard closed his eyes and hunched his shoulders, expecting the worst to come...only to open his eyes slowly and see that Almond just walked away from him. Standing away from him with her arms crossed, looking quite pouty and annoyed with him.
"U-um..." Carrot awkwardly coughed then. "Perhaps...we shall discuss our next...move...?"
Leonhard stared at Almond for a moment, as he began to feel very disappointed in himself then.
Oh...no. I guess I've made her mad at me now. I wasn't trying to do that, but...
I really just feel like that her doing that barrel idea...it could have turned out really bad...she could've hurt her own brother and us too...I...I...I hope she won't stay mad at me forever...oh...I....I'm already starting to disappoint people in here too. Why do I always mess everything up...why?
Leonhard looks down, feeling ashamed of himself for making Almond mad now. He just wanted to...discuss things nicely. But of course, he just makes things worse for everyone...
Whatever is next to follow after this, he wondered?
And will he ever make up with Almond and earn her forgiveness. That he really hoped to do, he was really happy to see her again.
He wishes that she felt the same way...
TO BE CONTINUED!