Renegade Rupture (11 page)

“You know, that’s all I ever wanted in this life,” Kennis said.

“What?” Gisbo asked.

“A happily ever after with someone I love. That’s all I want, all I need,” Kennis said. Gisbo smiled.

“That’s . . . that’s all I ever wanted too. Just, a normal life with someone, side by side, not one in front of the other, each supporting one another’s dreams until the day we die. Just like the fairy tales I grew up with. I think I’ve had enough action and war for a lifetime already. I, I haven’t thought about my dreams in a while, mostly, because I’ve gotten what I’ve wanted, but not everything, not my happy ending,” Gisbo said, smiling, and noticing Kennis’s smile, grew wider.

“What if I told you my mother was named after the girl in that story? And that, that is probably my favorite fairy tale.” Kennis asked, smiling.

“What? You mean you made me spout out that whole story for nothing?” Gisbo asked.

“Well, what did you tell it for?” Kennis asked.

“What if I said that I already knew that?” Gisbo said.

“What? You did? How did you know?” Kennis asked.

“From Kalloway. Go ahead, look up,” Gisbo said. Both Gisbo and Kennis did and were greeted by a descending trio of twinkling, giant birds.

“Oh, my gosh! Those are Zookoos! Gisbo! How did you . . .” Kennis asked, marveling as the giant birds landed in what Gisbo, Rolce, and Jackobi all called their front lawn.

“Hiya, kids,” Crass said with a wave.

“Right on time, pal, I owe ya one,” Gisbo said.

“You owe me two! One for getting them and two for delivering,” Crass said.

“Hey! I helped!” Knob said.

“Rolce ain’t gonna be too happy about this. You know how he is with that Drippie crap, endangered and all, blah, blah,” Crass said. “Well, I got to go pick up my date! Later, kiddos, have fun!”

And with a single flap of the Zookoos’ powerful wings, Crass and Knob were airborne and off flying over the forest.

“So? What do you think?” Gisbo asked.

Kennis didn’t say anything, only leaned in and kissed him lightly on the cheek. She walked over to the Zookoo scraping its foot across the dirt like a horse and cocking its head back and forth, chirping a melody that sounded much like a male canary. Kennis reached out a hand, and the Zookoo lowered its head to be pet. It cooed as Kennis scratched the large bird behind its head. It ruffled its feathers and grew puffy as it began to nuzzle Kennis’ face.

“Oh my gosh, I love him!” Kennis said.

“I figured I couldn’t land you a flying horse, so this was the closest thing,” Gisbo said.

“How’d you get this? We’re not going to be in trouble, are we?” Kennis asked. Gisbo shook his head.

“Trouble? Me?” Gisbo asked.

Kennis folded her arms and gave him a cross look.

“Nah, I merely got Knob and Crass to the Drippie capital and they did the rest,” Gisbo said. “So, I’m not responsible!”

“Whatever, I don’t even care, let’s get on!” Kennis said. Kennis went up beside it, and automatically, the bird bent down, allowing Kennis to climb on. As soon as she did, the bird glowed a fierce, moon-like white that glistened and spread over the great bird’s feathers like the surface of a rippling pond. The bird’s feathers seemed to flow and glow with live, beautiful, twinkling energy.

“What, what’s happening to it?” Kennis asked.

“Crass told me the Zookoo responds to the heart of its rider to better understand them and work together in mid-flight,” Gisbo said.

“But, but it’s all white! I, I’m not that pure and innocent, am I? I, I don’t like this . . .” Kennis said with genuine concern to her voice. Gisbo laughed.

“No, no, it means you are a genuine person, wholly yourself, and kindness just comes naturally to you! That’s all! And also one major badass with that whip of yours!” Gisbo said.

“Oh, well, that’s true, I suppose. I guess I’m ok with that,” Kennis said. “These are such beautiful birds! How on Thera did such things become endangered?”

“Who knows? There are always awful people out in this world ready to muck up everything. Let’s say we go for a ride!” Gisbo said.

“I can’t wait! Come on, get your butt up here!” Kennis said, bracing herself. Gisbo smiled and hopped up in front of Kennis on the bird.

“Hey! Who said you were driving?” Kennis asked.

“Because I’m the prince, that’s why,” Gisbo said, winking. Kennis blushed a little, then laughed hysterically.

“You? HAH!” Kennis said.

“Hey! It was meant to be a joke, you know!” Gisbo said.

“Oh, believe me, I know. It’s just so much funnier if you were being serious,” Kennis said.

“Yeah, yeah, ok, let’s . . .” Gisbo started when the bird coughed and choked. “Whoa, easy, boy, you ok?”

“Murk,” the Zookoo chirped.

“All right, then, off we go!” Gisbo yelled. With one jump, the bird jumped skyward with Gisbo and Kennis onboard and flew high above the treetops.

“Let’s take a few spins around Heaven’s Shelter before we land!” Gisbo said.

“Everything is so beautiful up here! I saw Heaven’s Shelter from this view the first day I came in, but never at night!” Kennis said as she wrapped her arms around Gisbo’s mid-section. Gisbo smiled as Kennis placed her chin over his shoulder.

“Thank you, Gisbo,” Kennis said.

“For what?” Gisbo asked.

“This is, this is so awesome,” Kennis said.

“Eh, I try,” Gisbo said as they swooped along the top of Heaven’s Shelter, looking down at all the lit torches and beautiful lights cascading around Vadid the Valiant’s golden statue.

“Let me know when you’re having fun, ok?” Gisbo asked, turning his head. He sensed Kennis smile as she only hugged him tighter.

“Look at the stars from this height! It’s, like, wow, I could reach out and grab one!” Kennis said, pretending to try. “I’ve loved stars, ever since I was little. I used to go out to the ocean at night when I lived on Aquaria with Kinny. We would just sit out there for hours after dark, listening to the waves crash, and staring up and talking. It just, it’s so comforting, makes all my problems seem insignificant looking at things so grand!”

Gisbo just smiled, feeling goose bumps as Kennis squeezed him tighter and sighed contently.

“Ready to land?” Gisbo asked.

“Not yet,” Kennis said.

“Same,” Gisbo said.

A few moments passed and then, Gisbo felt Kennis let go of him.

“Kennis!?” Gisbo shouted, alarmed that she fell off. He spun around nervously, half expecting to not see her there. “Kennis!? Oh, what, hey! What are you doing?”

Kennis suddenly grabbed Gisbo’s shoulder and pushed herself along his outside until she sat in his lap, looking him right in the eyes.

“Kennis?” Gisbo asked.

Kennis only smiled, causing Gisbo to do the same, and suddenly she moved forward and kissed him tenderly, biting his lower lip a little, then moved in, wrapping her arms around him. She ran her fingers through his long hair and gripped tightly. Gisbo didn’t know if it was the adrenaline rush of almost losing control of the Zookoo, or the kiss itself, or being so high up, or an odd mix of things, but many years later, Gisbo would always look back on this night and this kiss and shiver.

They meant to stay in the air for only a few minutes, but Gisbo and Kennis landed an hour late, each of their freshly done hair in tangles and traces of lipstick on Gisbo’s lips, neck, and earlobes.

“Oh my gosh! We are so late! Come on, come on!” Kennis said as she stepped off the Zookoo and tied it next to the tree where Crass and Knob had stashed theirs.

“Coming! Is it all off of me?” Gisbo asked. Kennis did a once over and gave him the ok after rubbing off the last few traces of noticeable lipstick.

“You’re good. I . . .” Kennis said, smiling. Gisbo felt Kennis’s deep blue eyes lock onto his own as it felt like she saw through him, not just what he portrayed himself to be, and all the while, Kennis just smiled, dimples in full, not at all afraid of what she saw in him.

“Hey, now, come on! Snap out of it, jeesh, do I really need to be the responsible one?” Gisbo asked. Kennis laughed and took his hand.

“Well, off with the heels, come on! Let’s run!” Kennis said.

Gisbo and Kennis arrived to common grounds covered with hundreds of tables, all filled with chattering people dressed to the hilt in suits and dresses. Aquarian ice sculptures were atop every table, and countless, harmless fire streams in a variety of colors spiraled like beautiful ribbons throughout the entire area, providing mood lighting. First and foremost, Gisbo and Kennis went to the head table to check in and get their table number, only to find a familiar face running the desk.

“Ohoho! Look what we got here! If it isn’t the long lost Gisbo Falcon! How the hell are ya, my boy?” Dave asked. Gisbo laughed and pumped Dave’s hand hard; Dave’s giant hand practically swallowed Gisbo’s. Since the last time he saw him, Dave’s hair seemed even whiter and his big, thick beard was even fuller.

“Dave! It’s been so long! I . . .” Gisbo started, but Dave put both hands in the air.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa, before you go rattling off about who knows what, tell me, who is this pretty girl, and what in the blazes is she doing with you?” Dave asked. Kennis smiled.

“You know me!” Kennis said.

“I do?” Dave asked. “I don’t think so. I know a pretty young lady that looks like you and usually serves me a delicious breakfast! If you’re really her, then where’s my steak, little lady?”

“I promise I’ll get you some tomorrow!” Kennis said, giggling.

“Oh, I’m just joshin’, at least about that part. But seriously, what are you doing here with this turkey?” Dave asked, motioning over to Gisbo.

“Hey!” Gisbo argued.

“I dunno, actually,” Kennis said.

“Yeah? Best keep it that way,” Dave said. “Just be thankful that Ernie’s in the bathroom. If he were here, no way would he let you two sign up, being late and all, but luckily, I’m not . . .”

“DAVE! Dave, what are you doing? Tournament’s closed! Don’t you, well, if it isn’t my old worker!” Ernie said.

“Our old worker,” Dave said.

“And who is this young lady? And what . . .” Ernie started.

“Yes, yes, we’ve already been through all this. Now, get out your pen and put ‘em both in, would ya?” Dave said.

“First things first, I need to have a little chit chat with our old employee. Just the other day, I was looking for a piece of my old scaffolding and for the life of me, I couldn’t find it,” Ernie started.

“Just give me the damned pen! They don’t wanna stand around listening to you jab all night. Give it here,” Dave said.

“Hang on! They got their whole lives ahead of ‘em, we could drop dead tomorrow; they can listen for just one more,” Ernie started, when Dave suddenly grabbed the pen and began jotting their names down.

“Cripe’s sake . . .” Dave said as he scribbled away. Right as he finished scribbling, he paused, and Gisbo noticed an odd look wash across Dave’s features.

Anger.

Dave stared out across the crowd, watching a large Strife push another old, hunched Strife in a wheelchair.

“Dave . . .” Ernie said, immediately recognizing the man in the wheelchair.

“I, I need to go, before I, before I . . .” Dave said, dropping the pen and making his way through and out of the crowd. Gisbo and Kennis watched him leave, then turned to Ernie.

“Ernie? What was that about?” Gisbo asked.

“Never you mind, Gisbo. With this tournament, everyone is going to come across some skeletons in their closets,” Ernie said with a grave face.

“That guy in the wheelchair, who was he?” Gisbo asked.

“Nice talking to you both. See you both later!” Ernie said as he quickly finished signing their names, grabbed a stack of papers, and followed Dave.

“I don’t… That was weird . . .” Gisbo said.

“Yeah, I never . . . He looked so mad, maybe even a little scared. It was . . . Well, let’s try and forget about it for now,” Kennis said.

“Yeah, maybe Shaved will know more about it. Let’s see . . . table seven,” Gisbo said. “I think we’re gonna need a map to find it.”

“No, you won’t!” Shaved said, popping up behind them both.

“Shaved, buddy! How are ya?” Gisbo asked as he pumped his friend’s hand hard.

“Couldn’t be better! I was just up to get some punch for Niffin,” Shaved said. Kennis beamed.

“Oh, Niffin asked you to go? Aw, you guys must make such a sweet couple,” Kennis said.

“Well, I sort of broke the rules, and, um, asked her, we’re just going as friends is all,” Shaved said.

“Shaved, um, something, something just happened with your Dad. Someone was . . .” Gisbo started until Grandfield ran into him. “Whoa! Hey! Slow down, man, where are you going?”

“I, ugh,” Grandfield started, face red as a tomato.

“You all right, man? You don’t look so good. Are you sitting with us?” Gisbo asked.

“I, no, I, I got to go man, like, now! I got to get out of here!” Grandfield said.