Chapter Text
Kai: Wyldfyre slow down! We’re going to get there in a flash regardless!
The ninja were running after the Heat elemental as she rushed over to the gateways. She was more fired up than usual, as it was her dear Roby’s birthday today.
Wyldfyre: I don’t care! It’s a big day!
Nya: You didn’t make this much of a big deal with our birthdays.
Kai: Yeah, all I got for my birthday was an old card.
Wyldfyre: Be glad I even got you something. Plus Roby gets me nice gifts all the time, so I want to surprise him with something nice!
Cole: I still cannot believe he got you a whole Airship…
Lloyd: Well she did save his life.
Sora: Wanna bet that the city will be covered in festivities.
Kai: Yeah knowing Roby he probably makes a big deal of his birthday.
Arin: Yeah He’ll probably be having a big party!
Frak: That sounds fun!
Fuyuki: Wanna bet there’s at least one huge statue or cutout of himself somewhere.
They all step up to the door.
Wyldfyre: Take us to the City of Temples!
The door opens up and as they all enter they were instantly transported to the City of Temples, and it looked, normal?
Arin: Huh? It’s normal!
Wyldfyre: Huh…
Kai: No decorations, no huge spectacles, no fancy party favors. Nothing!
Nya: It actually seems quieter than usual.
Sora: You think something happened?
Lloyd: I don’t think so… look the guards aren’t in alert either
It was true, the bronze colored mechanical soldiers dotted around the city. They were all relaxed and just doing normal rounds. If something was truly off they’d be acting differently.
Cole: Then what’s going on?
Lloyd: Uhh, Wyldfyre, did Roby tell you it was his birthday today?
Wyldfyre: Ah- No, I saw it on this calendar when helping him go through some old stuff. He never told me directly… Plus Bleckt told me about it.
Arin: Wait- so he never brought it up?
Fuyuki: Like, at all?
Wyldfyre: I- Well- no actually…
Kai: And you never thought that might be because of something?!
Wyldfyre: Well- I ah- Aghh, nevermind that! I’m going to go and find Roby!
Kai: Wyldfyre wait-
The red head runs down towards Roby’s office, and the Ninja follow. The heat ninja darts through the streets, clutching wrapped box she had brought with her.
Wyldfyre: Roby! Roby?! Where are you?! Ro-
The girl stopped short suddenly causing the others behind her to skid to a stop, bumping into each other.
Sora: Whoa!
Frak: Oof-
Lloyd: Hah!
Arin: What’d you stop for Wyld?
Wyldfryre:…
The others follow her gaze and they all go from confusion to various states of shock, and stunned. There was Roby in-front of his office, being hugged by a brunette girl his age, if not a bit younger. She was positioned in a way that they couldn’t see her face and both her and Roby couldn’t see them.He looked drained, like he hadn’t slept in days, and not at all like the eccentric laid back guy they knew. At first he wasn’t hugging her back, but then he squeezed her back.
Cole: Ohh…
Fuyuki: Roby you idiot-
Kai: Oh hell no-
Nya: Hold on it might not be what you think Kai!
Arin: Wyldfyre-
Wyldfyre: …
Sora: Wait- don’t do anything crazy.
But her words fell on deaf ears as the redhead was already walking up to them in a flash, so fast that the ninja did even see her move. Kai was soon right behind her, with Nya Cole and Lloyd trying to hold him back, with Arin and Sora running to catch up with Wyldfyre. She was quicker however and walked up to the two surprisingly without a sound and grabbed Roby by the shoulder.
Roby: Huh? Wha- Wyldfyre! What are you doing here? I didn’t know you were coming-
Wyldfyre: Hmmp!
Roby: Whoa-
…: Oh!
Wyldfyre yanked Roby towards him out of the hug he was still in.
Roby: Whoa- what are you-
She glared at him with a straight face, startling Roby a bit and shutting him up. She turns to the other girl in her face, then immediately widens her eyes in surprise.
…: Uh, hello?
She looked exactly like Roby, as in they shared an almost identical face, minus the fact that she had freckles large circular glasses and messier hair.
Roby: Wyldfyre?
Wyldfyre: I- ahh…
…: Uhhh, Roby who’s this?
Buy now the others had caught up, with Cole and Nya still gripping Kai by his arms to stop him from pouncing at the young Games master.
Roby: Oh, well I guess you haven’t met-
…: Roby?
Roby: Vi meet Wyldfyre. I’ve told you about her!
…: Oh! Is this your girlfriend?! I’ve heard so much about you!
The girl smiles widely and hold out her hand for Wyldfyre to shake. The young ninja hesitantly took her hand.
Wyldfyre: Hello… and you are?
…: Has Roby never told you about me?
Rody: Oh… no I guess not-
…: You know I’m not surprised considering how you are…
Roby: Heh heh…
Fuyuki: Wait so who are you?
Roby: This is Violet.
Violet: I’m his cousin.
Roby: She my cousin.
The two said the truth out in unison.
Ninja: Cousin!?
Violet: Yeah! It’s nice to meet you all! I’m guessing you’re the ninja who took part in the Tournament! I had my own competition to compete in another part of the Merged realms or else I would’ve been there.
Frak: That makes sense. You guys look so similar after all.
Violet: sigh I know, such a curse isn’t it?
Roby: Wha- Hey!
Wyldfyre: You… never told me you have cousins. All I knew was that you had your dad and Bleckt.
Roby: Ah- yeah… I guess it never really came up.
Kai: Never came up? You guys send letters and chat almost every day! And your family never came up in the conversation?!
Cole: Kai cool it.
Violet: Hm…
Roby: … wait- why are you all even here? Wylde, you never messaged me?
Wyldfyre: I- wanted to surprise you- Happy Birthday…
She sheepishly took the wrapped box she had tucked in her gi and showed it to her boyfriend. Roby's eyes widen in shock, then twist into a face of confusion.
Roby: O-Oh... but how did you find out when my birthday is?
Wyldfyre: I-
...: I told her Roby.
They all turn to see Bleckt walking over. The man was now able to walk around freely, well- with high supervision by the bots, and was now helping Roby with his duties as games master.
Roby: Uncle...
Bleckt: Well, you weren't going to tell her, and she asked me. Would you rather have me lie to your dear girlfriend?
Roby: No- I- hmm...
Violet: Roby...
Cole: Okay I'm confused, so it is your birthday today?
Roby: Yeah... it is.
Arin: So why doesn't it look like it.
Sora: Yeah, knowing you Hotshot, I was expecting some big party to celebrate.
Lloyd: We all were honestly.
N, K, F, Fu: Yeah!
Roby: sigh Yeah, the thing is... I don't really celebrate my birthday anymore...
Ninja: WHAT?!
Fuyuki: You don't? You? Mr. "I need to make absolutely everything exciting" doesn't even celebrate his own birthday?
Frak: What doesn't make sense, why would you not wanna celebrate your own birthday?
Roby: Because... there's nothing to celebrate. I'm just getting older. W-Who even wants that? It just means imma end up looking like Uncle B one day.
Bleckt: Hmm...💢
Violet: Aye, cousin..
Roby: Viola. Don’t start.
Violet: Hmm…
Roby: … I’ve got stuff to do. I-I have to go. I’ll… talk with you later Wyldfyre.
Wyldfyre: But…
With that the young games master left abruptly, leaving everyone else still stunned, Wyldfyre the most. She looks down at the present still in her hand that Roby barely even acknowledged.
Kai: Okay what is as that?! he totally brushed Wyldfyre off!
Fuyuki: You’re acting like you’re the one he hurt.
Cole: Gotta say, I wasn’t expecting that.
Arin: Me either…
Frak: This is just freaky.
Wyldfyre: Hmm…
Violet: Sigh I’m sorry about him Wyldfyre. This has been a touchy subject for him to talk about. I hope you know it’s not because of you.
Wyldfyre: Then what is it then?
Sora: Yeah! Why does Roby hate his birthday that much? It can’t be just because he’s getting older.
Lloyd: Yeah, that honestly not something that Roby would seemingly worry about.
Violet: It’s not… but it’s a long story.
Bleckt: Indeed… and a hard one to talk about. For all of huh.
Ninja: Huh?
Wyldfyre: What do you mean?
Violet: ...I'll show you. You might become part of our family, so you deserve to know.
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Violet: Here we are.
Wyldfyre: Whoa... what is this place? I've never seen it.
Bleckt: Because Roby wouldn't come here.
Wyldfyre: Hmm...
Violet: This is our family's archives! If you want to know more about our family. This is the place.
Violet and Bleckt lead the ninja to a room in a building on the other side of the city. Inside, there were pictures and objects and mementoes. It was like a mini museum, and in a lot of the pictures...
Nya: Aww is that little Roby?! And that's little you too!
The water ninja pointed up to a picture framed up on the wall depicting three young kids, two boys and a girl. all were wearing what look ed like gear for a tournament.
Violet: Yeah, I think we were 6 and 8 in that picture... that was a fun day.
Wyldfyre: Aww! so cute!
Arin: Who's the one in the middle?
Violet: That's my big brother Rylean. he was 9 in that one. He's in another part of the merged realms right now.
Bleckt: Ah, I remember that day. That picture was taken right before the Annual youth archery tournament.
Wyldfyre: Archery?
Bleckt: Indeed and our family has always place at the top in their respective age groups.
Violet: HA! You say that but you 've barely ever picked up a bow in your life.
Bleckt: Ahh... I didn't have the gift like you and the boys did. I was not such a Prodigy, like your-
Kai: Hold up- are you saying that Roby was an archery prodigy?!
Violet: It's hard to believe for you I know, but you only have ever met Roby in his Games Master Persona.
The girl walks forward and gestures for the others to follow. She guides them to another picture as she lifts it off the wall and hands it to Wyldfyre. It was another picture, this time of just young Roby. He was struggling, holding a trophy that was over half his size, but he had the same huge, goofy grin he always had on. It was clear he was insanely proud of himself.
Violet: Roby was a young legend in the Archery world actually. He holds the record for being the youngest champion of the all ages league at only 7 years old.
Kai: Now way-
Violet smiles wider than side aside to reveal the actual trophy from the picture, sitting in a glass case next to where the photo was being hung.
Cole: Wow...
Frak: That's soooo cool!
Fuyuki: So Roby was actually competent at some point. Who woulda guessed.
Lloyd: Fuki!
Sora: So what made him stop? He looks like he's having so much fun here.
Arin: Yeah, from what I can see, Archery was one of the things he loved the most.
Wyldfyre: And what does it have to do with his birthday?
Fuyuki: Also is he knew how to use a weapon all this time, why doesn't he carry a bow around since it's very clear being the Game's Master makes him a target for attacks a lot.
Violet: Yeah... Roby loved Archery. He had a natural born talent, and his skill even surpassed some adults we trained with at the time...
Kai: And?
Violet: Well-
Bleckt: I think you'll find the answers here.
The older man walked over with two more pictures and handed Wyldfyre the first one. It showed Roby, looking slightly older than in the other two photos but int he same archer's outfit, standing side by side with a young woman who also looked similar to him. She wore this long red dress with a maroon off the shoulder sweater. Both were grinning widely as young Roby showed off the gold medal on around his neck. In the other it was Roby again with the same woman, she was giving him a huge hug and
Violet: Heh…
Wyldfyre: Who’s that?
Violet: That is my Auntie Penny… and Roby’s mom.
Ninja: What?!
Kai: His mother?
Bleckt: Ah, Penelope… she was an amazing Archer in her day too. Runs in the family. The Golden Quiver they called her.
Violet: She was a living legend in her own right too. She was our teacher and coach in tournaments.
Cole: So… what happened to her?
Violet: … this picture was taken on the last Archery competition that Roby competed in, it was an especially special occasion because it was also Roby’s 10th birthday, which was 7 years ago. The day after was…
Arin: The Merge…
Arin was the first to put it together.
Cole: The Merge...
Bleckt: Correct… As you all know the Merge was a catastrophic event for all the former 16 realms. Many building and even whole cities were ripped apart and destroyed… and many lives were lost.
Violet: Including my Aunt Penny…
Nya: Oh…
Wyldfyre: …
Kai: Oh no…
Frak: So she died because of the Merge?
Violet: Honestly we’re not sure what happened. Roby… he was the last one to be with her when the Merge happened.
Bleckt: When we were trying to get everyone to safety Penelope and Roby were cut off from everyone else. We couldn’t find them for hours, but when we finally did…
Violet: We found Roby by her body… He wouldn’t say anything for a long while after that. He never told us what happened. Everyone he thinks about it he just shuts down.
Fuyuki:… So since it was right after his birthday…
Violet: The day is now forever tainted with the memories of what happened to him. He’s never celebrated a birthday since, or picked up a bow since.
Sora: Okay… but why did he stop Archery then? I mean I- I get his birthday now but-
Cole: I think I know… it’s guilt.
Frak, Arin: Guilt?
Lloyd: What do you mean Cole?
Cole: Whatever happened that day, he blames himself for not being able to save his mom.
Frak: What? but he was a kid when it happened right? He could've done anything to stop such an accident.
Cole: That doesn't mean much Frak. Even if there was nothing he could do, guilt will grow despite the reality...
Fuyuki: So... since archery was something he held dear with his mother, the guilt he feels makes him think that he shouldn't do it anymore because he couldn't save her?
Cole: Right...
Wyldfyre: ...
Violet: I guess so. sigh and Uncle didn't make it any better...
Sora: What did Bleckt do?
Bleckt: I didn't-
Violet: Oh no, I don't mean him. I mean my other uncle... Roby's dad.
Wyldfyre: Roby did really like to talk much about his dad...
Violet: I don't blame him. After Auntie Penelope's passing he... changed.
Bleckt: He became distant, cold and just shut everyone out, including Roby. He even retired early and pushed his responsibilities onto his son who was also still grieving.
Sora: Huh, I guess disregarding your family's wishes and feelings runs in the family.
Nya: Sora...
Bleckt: I... deserved that I suppose.
Violet: Roby's been through a lot, and I think he honestly wants to forget this all, he puts on this new face and pretends that it never happened ... but at the same time he wishes things to go back to the way things were. I feel the same. But life goes on, things change and there's nothing we can do about it but adapt.
Arin: Yeah... just after the merge when I got separated from my parents all I wanted was for it to go back to how it was, but then I realized if that did happen I wouldn't have met Sora or Fuki or any of the others in the Crossroads. I'd never have become a ninja and help save the realms!
Sora: Yeah, and I would still be trapped in Imperium.
Frak: And I wouldn't have gotten my elemental powers!
Fuyuki: And who knows where I would be!
Lloyd: The Merge was both a blessing and a curse I guess.
Kai: For some it was a nightmare.
Cole: For some it was a needed new start.
Nya: We've lost people...
Sora: But we've also gained new found friends and family!
Wyldfyre: It can be hard to get used to new things... but I think it's always better to have someone, so you can help each other through it.
Violet: I think so too. Though, I also think my dear cousin needs to be reminded of that.
Violet sets her hand on Wyldfyre's should with a knowing smile. The redhead returns the smile and nods slightly, understanding what the other girl's meant.
Wyldfyre: Mm hmm.
Roby: Hmm... I'm the worst...
It was evening, the sun was setting on this day, and Roby was where he always was on this day. He sat sitting in a little nook on his roof as he watched the sun go down on another birthday spent in the darkness. He sat with his knees to his chest with his chin buried in between. All he could think about his how pissed he was at himself for blowing off Wyldfyre.
Roby: hmm... Kai is probably gonna kill me...
Wyldfyre: Nah, Well- he was before but he cooled off.
Roby: Huh-?!
The brunette whipped his head around to see his girlfriend behind him, had just climbed up on the roof. She casually walked over and goes to sit down.
Roby: Wyldfyre... I-I though you left.
Wyldfyre: Nope. Can't get rid of me that easily~
Roby: Ah.. right- look Wylde I'm sorry-
Wyldfyre: It's okay Roby... Violet told me a lot.
Roby: Uhh, how much is a lot?
Wyldfyre: Heh, you know I never took you for an archer.
Roby: Hmm...groans Vi...
Wyldfyre: Pfft- you should thank her though, it's what got Kai to stop contemplating your murder.
Roby: You know I'm not so sure I'm happy about that anymore...
That made Wyldfyre giggle as the brunette next to her finally unhugged his knees, tilting his gaze towards the darkening sky as it mixed with hues of orange and red. It reminded him of the firey redhead next to him. Warm, lively, beautiful...
Roby: So... what else did she tell you?
Wyldfyre: Ah...
Rody: She tell you about mom?
Wyldfyre: ... You look a lot like her.
Roby:... heh- Yeah, so I've been told.
Wyldfyre: Roby, I'm sorry-
Roby: Don't. I... don't need more pity.
Wyldfyre: I'm not pitying you! If anything, I'm jealous.
Roby: Jealous?
Roby turn to the heat elemental master, his face laced with a perfect mix of confusion and shock.
Wyldfyre: Yeah, I- mean. you had an amazing mom who taught you all sorts of cool stuff. I... don't even know what my real mom looks like. Heck, I don't even have a mother figure.
Roby: Oh.. right.
He had almost forgotten the origins of the girl next to him, since -unlike him- Wyldfyre talked a lot about her past. How she was found and raised by dragons and the robot the dragons found her with.
Roby: I-I'm sorry I never thought-
Wyldfyre: Nah it's okay. I mean- I have Heatwave, and Kai who are both kinda like my dads, though Kai also feels like a brother. The person who is even relatively closest to a mom to me is probably Nya but she's more of a big sister or maybe an aunt.
The girl just kept chatting, not about his birthday, or his mom or anything. She just chatted about anything and Roby listened, her raspy voice was for some reason was always soothing to him. He naturally left the weight of the day ease off him as she spoke and slowly started to get him to talk too. He was smiling again.
Roby: Ha! You know, Uncle Bleckt did try and force me to have at least a crossbow with me to at least defend myself during the tournament.
Wyldfyre: Wait- you know how to use a crossbow too?
Roby: Yeah, It's just a bow with less skill needed to use it.
Wyldfyre: Well, I do think you should've had weapon on hand. While I do enjoy heroically coming to your rescue, it gets stressful. You get into danger a lot.
Rody: Heh, fair...
Wyldfyre: Speaking of which...
Once again, she pulled out the wrapped box again and handed it to Roby. He took it and unwrapped it.
Roby: Whoa...
It was a dagger with a silver blade and red scales decorating the hilt with purple accents.
Roby: Are these... dragon scales?
Wyldfyre: You like it? Took me a while to do put all the scales on.
Rody: Wait- you made this yourself?
Wyldfyre: Yeah, well- not completely by myself. They're Heatwave's old scales and Kai made the blade. I just come up with the design. I thought you might need at least one weapon for self defense so why not a dagger? They're portable, lightweight, easy to hide in your clothes...
Roby:...
The boy was just staring down at the weapon without a word.
Wyldfyre: Do.. you not like it?
Roby: What- No, No! This is amazing! I just- can't believe you did so much just for a birthday gift for me.
Wyldfyre: Pfft- Why wouldn't I? It was the least I could do! You always give me such amazing gifts too! And I don't even know when my birthday is!
Roby: Heh, I guess so... thank you Wylde. You're the best.
Wyldfyre: Hmmp, I know! And Happy Birthday, even if you still don't wanna celebrate.
Roby: Thanks...
The girl leans her head into his neck, cuddling him. The sun had almost full set now and as the sun light slowly sunk down out of view, yet another birthday of the Games Master ended, but this time... it didn't feel so empty as the other times. No... a small, so small you could miss it, yet familiar warmth brushed past the boy's spark, and he felt it as he leaned into Wyldfyre's embrace. Maybe- next year- his birthday won't be so bad after all, as long as she's there.
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TBC