The Heart Shaped Pastry Shop

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

I look at him well hissing, keeping pressure on him to prevent him from getting up and tilted my head to the side thinking ‘@Badcop_Blackshine. Wanted by Zaul for being a rouge officer. Bounty will be known when he will be returned into the grip of the Empire, but I need to know his worth.’ I take my boot off him, grabbed him by his collar at the front, hissing as I breath and asked in a deep voice ‘what are you worth for your head’

[Dreadsong_Darkheart]

I rub my forehead in frustration as Lila and I watch a hyper Georgia bounce around the room on her springy shoes. She keeps bouncing to and fro all excited and saying things like, “woAHHHHH! That’s SO CoOl!!” Or, “InTeReStInG!!!!” Good grief, she’s like Missy when she has too much coffee. Finally she shouts, “TaDAAAAAAAA!!!” And throws her arm out dramatically gesturing to a large sketch pad full of scribblings, formulas, and arrows that I don’t understand the existence of pointing on crazy directions. “Oooh pretty! Lila exclaims, “What does it mean?” I raise one eyebrow confusedly. Georgia flops her arms down, “You don’t GET it??? It’s the plans for the missing tester Aether machine when the engines were shut down! Way back when Lucky took over the territories with the engine and closed them down. A scientist who was kind of crazy but super smart thought he could make a new one that would protect the remnants of the Great Engineer’s people who were hiding underground. The scientist was killed during the war but it’s rumored that the invention is somewhere unground, maybe in the mines?” Georgia shrugged her shoulders. I sat back and now both eyebrows were up in amazement, “How do you know all this stuff?” Georgia laughed, “Oh silly, of course from the underground Super Secret Scientist Scavengers. We talk about all kinds of stuff right under Lucky’s nose.”
“Well, let’s try to find it!” Lila jumps up. “I’m game!” Georgia bounces up and down some more and says, “I’ll come too!”

[Badcop_Blackshine]

I start panicking. "I... I...d-don't know." I say, my words coming in short bursts.
When was the last time I stuttered?
"I could go ask them for you though." My sarcasticness just couldn't resist.
Shut up do you wanna get pummeled?
Creepy Boy just hissed in my face.
Think strategically.
"To be honest, Buster, I have no idea. But it's probably quite a sum. I'd say you hit the jackpot... If you can get me."
The hissing stopped. Then started again in short bursts. I assumed he was laughing in his weird way.
"I already got you. Who's in control now?" He hissed menacingly.
"We'll see." I had to act fast.
I kicked him in the shin, hard. but instead of recoiling and dropping his grip he grabbed tighter and pushed me up against the wall. I used an old self-defence move on him. I locked my hands together and pushed them up between his outstretched arms. Then I brought my hands down on his shoulders right where the neck meets the shoulder blade. It did the trick. Mr. Snake stumbled back wheezing. I instinctively reached for my gun, but it was gone.
Blast it! He took my gun.
The bounty hunter recovered and glared at me as he took a step in my direction. I pulled a knife and threw it inches from his face. He ducked, which gave me enough time to bolt out the door... into an imperial officer.
"Hand's up!"
I reluctantly obeyed.
Snake Boy came behind me.
Not again. I groaned.

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

I see him putting his hands up at the door way, and a voice ordering his to put his hands up. I assume it is an imperial officer, and determined that I was going to bring the bounty in, not the empire. From behind him, I grab one of my flame canes but did not set it aflame. I kick Badcop in the back of the chest, causing him to collapse and I throw my cane at the officers head. With him temporarily distracted and little hurt, I run towards, jumped into the air, turned around and performed a back kick. Causing the imperial to fall backwards and releasing his gun. I walk towards him and watch as he tries to get up. When he does, He tries to punch me, but I block some of them and I grab onto his hand, and punched his elbow in the opposite way to cause his arm to be bend the wrong way, causing it to brake. He yells in pain and I hook his head to the side, punched his gut and he bends over and I elbow his back, hearing a crack and he falls to the ground, hearing him wizzing in an attempt to yell, and breath for air. When I see he has enough, I turn around for badcop. I see that he watched the fight, and I did not really care what he thought or what his reaction was. As I hiss, I make my way to him to pick him up and take him to Zaul Grimm who is currently in the Isle. If Badcop resist, i’ll Brake him to prevent him escaping this time.

[Badcop_Blackshine]

I get up from face planted in the dirt. The bounty hunter glares at me. He wants to see my reaction. This guy has reflexes like a cat. He’s like, superhuman. Not messing with him. But... “Who are you?” I ask in a low, measured voice.

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

Ignoring his question the second time, I grab for his collar to take him to the ‘Isle’, and he puts his hand up and blocks off my hand from gripping onto the target. I swiftly uppercut his chin with a metal fist, sending him backwards and landing on his back on the rocky road, in shock and a pain being slowly being recognised into his mind as the shock wears off. He looks at me and I see him bearing the pain and I answer in a metaphor with a deep and unpleasant tone. ‘Pain!’ I grab onto his foot and start to drag him towards the harbour, where the boat that brings the fog rocks from the Isle to ‘No Man’s Landing’. I plan to board the ship without permission, and to avoid unwanted attention. He resists me by moving around and demanding who I am. I stopped and turn around, just to see a plank of wood coming towards me and made impact to my face, with the spring of sudden awareness supported by pain, and the snap of the wood.

It makes me let go of his leg as I am stunned for a bit with a throbbing pain, choosing to let myself give in to the increasing rage to brake the target within me. I turn suddenly to Badcop and watch him scramming to his feet, and demanding to know who I am in a unpleasant attitude. I reach behind my belt under my coat behind me, watching him as he steps back in an attempt I assume to ran away. I quickly grab the items behind me and chuck it to his feet. It was his weapons and gear. He looks at me confused and asks me ‘why are you handing me my gear?’ I ask him to put it on. ‘Why?’ I refuse to tell him that I won’t fight someone not defending themselves with weapons, well I am holding mine. ‘Put, It, On!’ I bring the claws out of my gauntlets to prepare to fight him, and increase his thoughts about the urgency of him to survive against me.

[Badcop_Blackshine]

The bounty hunter dragged me along unmercifully by the foot.
Ugh! This. Is. Annoying. Why is he so STRONG?!?
I desperately grabbed a board and ripped it lose. “WHO ARE YOU?!?”
He turns around and I throw the plank at his face. Square hit. He reels back. I scramble to my feet.
“Who are you?” I ask again as I get ready to bolt for it. Instead of knocking my block off, he throws my weapons at me. I ask why, but he just demands I put it on.
Something about the way he says it tells me he isn’t about to let me go. He sounds angry... and hateful.
What’s his problem? This is the craziest guy I’ve ever met. Then it hits me. He wants a fair fight so he can have the pride of beating me fully armed. I stare at my weapons now debating if I should take them or not. Then I see something among them.
Yes. I’ll use that.
I reach down and pick up one item— my aethermeter.
Glaring at him, it proceed to drink the entire contents. A surge of energy flows through me.
“Come at me bro.”

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

I watched him take one of her items. The one known as the aethermeter, watched him take the rest of it and he demanded that I take him on. I decided to even out the playing for the sake of honour in a fight. I kneel down, my left gauntlet touching my left metal boot, and my right gauntlet roughing my right metal boot, the metal transforms in motion into itch other and I’m left with half’s of a metal spiky ball. I take the two half’s and put them together in a click of mechanical parts and chucked the spike ball the the side. I grab behind me a two oil grenade in my right hand, clicked the buckle on my belt around my waist holding my gear to become undone and I hold it in my free hand then tossed it to the side far off. She looks at me with her eyes glowing with purple, and I am about to set my in position. I click my grenades, threw them high into the air and he looks at them in curiosity. When they explode, she seemed to figure out what they were and ran away from the empathy zone. The oil lands on my and around me in a black and smelly circle. He looks at me in confusion and I reach into my jackets pocket and brought out a pin. I placed it into my left exhaust to turn off the electrical current running through my mask then brought out my lighter in my other pocket and kneeled. I set it alight and looked at it I look at him then set the oil on fire. The whole area where there was oil suddenly went inflame, burning everything that could turn to ash. I stand back up from the ground and I start walking through the flames towards Badcop, and when I see I put my hands in a boxing stance, waiting for him to make his move, well I am on fire, focusing that if he is able to heal as much as he is hurt, the flames will have to be able to burn at the same rate as he is healing. The fight has begun

[Gustav_Jollycabbage]

After the men finish looking high and low and totally missing the bunker in the bottom they took one more suspicious look around before exiting. I breathed a heavy sigh of relief just as a new customer steps into the quaint pastry shop with a curios look on his face.
@Rex_Blackdash

[Rex_Blackdash]

I run my hand through my brown hair, thinking of what I could say. "Uh, I was wondering, what business do you have with the imperials?"

@Gustav_Jollycabbage

[Gustav_Jollycabbage]

“No business, just a routine inspection to make sure everything is alright. We shouldn’t be seeing them around here anymore.” I glanced around the room then lowered my voice, “Why do you ask?”

[Rex_Blackdash]

"Well, it seemed very unusual. They don't go around checking people's houses for no reason, do they?"

[Badcop_Blackshine]

I plant one foot back and one forward. I haven't been in a good scrap in awhile. But this wasn't exactly what I had in mind.
Get the upper hand.
I'm kinda scared by the fire, and the fact that it doesn't hurt him.
I'm about to attack him and smash him to pieces, then I consider something. Is this right?
I look at him. Should I attack?
Resistance people are humble, gracious, and merciful.
But he isn't.
He was trying to hurt people to help himself.
Some people just need to be taught a lesson.

I start to circle around him. Then I advance quickly and throw two jabs. He blocks them and retaliates. I block a punch and dodge the next. then I back up a step. The fire takes my breath away. but the pain diminishes quickly. If I can take a break from attacking every once in a while I should be able to keep going. And he should tire faster than me...
I attack once more.

[Ranger_Direnight]

I sneak out and follow the autofficers. They pause outside the door and write some stuff down. I assumed it was for a report or sumpthin'. Then they continued down the street. talking amongst themselves. I cautiously followed them down a lot of streets. I turned a corner and almost bumped into them. I gasped and dodged into and alleyway, running down it.
"I've got to get outta here!" Then I realized I was lost. "Oh No!"
I looked despairingly in circles. I ran down the street, looking for a landmark I recognized.
I saw an alleyway that might have looked familiar and ran into it, but bumped into an older man I didn't recognize.
"Oh, sorry!" I panted, and burst into tears.
"That's quite all right lass, Whatever is the matter?" He asked seeing my tears.
Oh why do I have to be such a crybaby!
"No-nothing."
"Don't try to fool me missy, Those tears on your face have to mean something's wrong."
Something about his friendly voice cheered me up a bit.
"Well, I'm not sure where I am." I said with a sniffle.
"I'll do the best I can to help you find you're home miss-"
" It's Ranger. Or Allison, if you're formal. But all me pals call me Ranger."
"All right Ranger, Do you remember any businesses or landmarks near your home?" He asks.
There's this shop... Uh...the pastry shop near the docks. I know my way home from there."
"Well what are we waiting for? I think I know which one you are referring to. Although I'm new to this town myself. come along."
He started walking east. And I followed.

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

He throws punches at me, and I block them. I see openings at the rib cage, and punched into it with a hard knock of my left, then the other rib with my right. I go for a hook on the right side of his face. He blocks it, unaware that I came with a left knee on the same spot I knocked In the first place on the left. He grabs onto my leg on his side, then I come for a elbow for the middle of his spine. He grunts as he let’s go. I punch the back of his skull with my right as he slouches forward forcing him lower to the ground then uppercut his face with my left hand, sending him back standing upwards, jump kneed for his chest sending him back a bit. Land then straight kick the same spot, sending him back further a bit. I jump forward, spin to the side and made a extended kick in mid air landing in the same spot for the third time. He falls back onto boxes in the street, and I walk to him. The fire on me starts to burn out, but the fire within still burns from the present and the infinite force from the past. I breath with continuous hissing, and knew is he was to be taken in, he has to be broken. Tiredness within me slowly takes motion, but I ignore it as I focus on getting this fight done.

[Badcop_Blackshine]

"Fine you wanna play rough. I'll play rough." I jump to my feet without using my hands. The aether is starting to wear off. And I'm getting a little tired. I throw a jab to distract and an uppercut to keep him busy. I stomp on his foot and then execute a move to break his leg. He grabs my head in a head lock as he goes down and drags me down with him. I gasp for air and lock my arms together, then thrust my elbow into his stomach. He grunts and grabs my arms locking them behind me. I shift slightly then struggle to my feet and flip him over my head. He lands in front of me and tries to stand but can't because of his leg. I come at him at him breathing hard. "You had enough yet? Let me go or you won't live to see another day."

[Emman_Jumpsong1]

anger, pain, torture, suffering, threaten to give up, it all starts to come back to when he mentions me to give up, my master threatened me when I was at my mercy. ‘I don’t want you to be tired, I want you to be exhausted, broken, edge of death, the horns of the end blowing for your time to pass away from this world. As long as your body is breathing, as long as you are alive, you will make the uttermost desire to survive. Nobody you are going after is going to take it easy on you, so why should I?’ in a fit of rage, I stare at him, broke back in place. not completely, but enough for me to stand and use. I jump for him, yelling, well beating his body as I watch them make braking impact onto his rib cabe and face. he blocks, but as he grabs my hands, I use me head to beat him. as it continues, I just keep on beating, and beating, and beating. the thought of my memory is all that I am seeing front of me. I did not care ether he survives. I just care that I do.

[Badcop_Blackshine]

He jumps at me and pins me to the ground, pummeling me. That smash to my ribs really hurts. He must have broken something. All I can think of is how I have to get out of here. With the wind knocked out of me I make a desperate attempt to break him off me. I back up on my elbows and kick him off, then stagger to my feet forcing air into my lungs.
I run away, leaving him there. I get a couple blocks away and have to stop. The aether has worn completely off leaving me exhausted. I can barely breathe, it hurts too much. I sink down to the ground, hoping that by some miracle I'll make it home.

[Ranger_Direnight]

I continue to follow this strange newcomer.
"Sooo… Where you from? You said you're new here."
I asked.
"I'm from up north." He answered.
"By Evercity? Wow."
"Near there."
"Is that why you talk funny?"
He grins at me. "Yes I suppose it is."
"How far till we get to the shop?" I said impatiently.
"About 10 minutes walk."
We walk in silence for a while.
"Why are you in this town mister?"
He glances down at me. "I'm looking for someone."
"Who?"
He doesn't answer.
"Well whoever it is must be pretty important for you ta come all the way down here lookin' for them."
I see someone further ahead in the road, walking slowly. They look kinda familiar. "Is that? It is! He looks hurt."
I run down the road to see what's wrong.
"There you are." I say as I catch up to Badcop. He turns.
"Great scott! What happened?" He looks exhausted. His hair is singed, and his clothes have soot and dirt smudged all over them. He has his hand over his chest like he is hurt.
"Ranger? I... Just got in a little... tussle." He says between gasps.
"A tussle! Looks like you got hit by a train!" I say amazed.
"You could say that."
The man catches up and stares at Badcop, shock on his face.
"I really need to get home." Badcop is saying.
"Yes you do. I'll help." The man says.
Badcop looks at him confused. He opens his mouth and stares.
"Dad?..." I barely hear him whisper.
"What are you doing here?"
"Looking for you, we have to get you home."
"No you don't get it, you shouldn't be here."
Badcop looks like he might fall over.
The man moves to steady him.
I stare open-mouthed at them.
"Come on." The man puts Badcop's arm on his shoulder and starts down the street.
"Ranger, which way is his house?"
"Right this way." I dart ahead and look back to be sure he is following.
No wonder the way he talked sounded familiar. I grinned to myself.
This just got interesting.

[Badcop_Blackshine]

I wake up on my bed. Was it a dream?
I sit up, and a squelching pain in my chest.
Ohh… Nope.
I look over to see my dad sitting across the room, watching me.
I sigh.

"What are you doing here, Dad?"
"What do you think I'm doing here?" He leans forward.
"I don't know, Making bad decisions?"
"Ahh, no. I think this was a pretty good one considering the condition we found you in."
I groaned. I guess stubbornness runs in the family.
"What about Mum?"
"She's home. With Robert."
"Good." I sighed in relief.
"How long was I out?" I asked.
He leans back and thinks a second.
"About an hour."
That's good.
"I have to get moving. There's something I have to take care of."
He looks up in alarm.
"Oh no you don't, you are staying right here and resting."
"Dad, you can't lock me up in my own house."
"I can't?" He asks teasingly.
"No." I roll my eyes. "I'm an adult and have been for quite some time. I can take care of myself."
"Really?"
"Yes."
"All right, Suit yourself. But if you drop dead remember I'm the one who has to comfort your mother."
"Thank you. Now I'm going."
I get up slowly.
He gets up too and carefully watches me as I get a quick snack and head out the door.
He better not get in trouble while I'm gone.
I trace my steps to the area of the fight and look around for my stuff. Finding the pile I look around cautiously. I pick up my weapons and put them on and grab my aethermeter. Boy am I glad to see that. It's refilled itself. I use a little bit to heal my broken rib. Then I look around wondering where the bounty hunter got to.
Whatever. I don't want to see him again.
I take a shortcut down an alley. Suddenly I hear hissing.
Uh oh.
There he is. He glares at me from the shadows. He is sitting on a box holding his leg.
A pang of guilt runs through me.
I turn and shoot a spike out of my gauntlet with a metal cable attached to it. It penetrates the roof of the overhead building and I engaged the winch. It raised me to the top and I climbed up and unattached the spike, locking it back in the gauntlet. I glance down and then turn to go. Suddenly I remembered a conversation I had with my mother, years back. I had just gotten in a fight with my brother because he had made fun of me.
...But he's just so mean! My voice echoed inside my head. Ryan, you need to lean when to show grace. Sometimes it's love that works better than the law.

I sighed.

The bounty hunter looked up as I landed in front of him.
I gingerly held out my aethermeter to him. I hope this works.
Somehow, I knew inside this was the right thing to do.