There she was, Mother was back to collect her children.
"And here I thought I would have to apologize to Mr. Hands for my negligence!" Mother muttered to herself.
Mother outstretched her arms, a familiar gesture. One of inescapable embrace. Mother seemed ecstatic, until her eyes narrowed.
Her gaze went towards one of the children, a unique method of travel compared to the other bipedal ones. This one walked on four limbs, and Mother realized too te.
The aquatic children, she didn't notice it at first but looking at it now. This current batch of Reformed had more aquatic-reted qualities than normal.
But... Would these children be smart enough to notice that? Children are children after all.
Mother's grin faltered for a little bit then returned back to its wide form...
Then, a spark...
In her mind, as if a vein had popped...
Or something had entered her mind...
I feel it...
It hurt, it hurt like hell...
Mother looked around to find the source of her unease. It was like something had hijacked her thoughts, as if someone...
As if something had invaded her mind.
Mother's eyes widened as she witnessed the small cube-like reformed peer her eye at Mother, she was the source of unease and discomfort.
Invader from Space! You insolent..!
In an instant, a giant figure appeared before Mother. Taller but less heavy than her, one of the siblings. Invader didn't even know she was there, her presence was hidden all this time. The titanic sibling stood before Mother, her thin but tall frame towering over the much more stout but heavier Mother. Mother raised her head to face her child, her face held an unimpressed expression.
The sibling had violet hair, one so long it reached until her feet, a white static face that only held a still smile that seemed artificial. Eyelids tilted and squinted forming a half-crescent, her sclera was of bck pigment and eyes of a golden color. Atop her forehead was a golden circle, the mark of an Art Birthright. Her thin body was a dampening grey, decorated with seemingly random artworks painted across her body. One on her upper left shoulder, and one across her chest. Her right arm had an artwork that seemed to replicate the appearance of a long glove, and her left arm was covered in an artwork from the hand until it reached the beginning of her upper arm. From her pelvis to her hip and leg, was an art work that was of a line and arrow. And on both of her lower legs were vague pieces of artwork that wrapped around them.
She had retively small dark grey wings attached to her arms, from her upper arms down to her forearms, and her feet were akin to that of an avian creature's.
Spoiler
[colpse]"Featherpen, I'm disappointed. Mama doesn't like hurting her children, but if it may be! Then it shall be! Mama's gonna need to be a little more strict!" Mother spoke, a small grin appearing on her face.
Mother started moving, jumping up and down to accelerate her movements. But, Featherpen simply stayed still. Her rge fluffy hair started to close around her form, the fluffy hair had enveloped her body leaving no other body part exposed. She looked like a closed rose bud.
Mother looked in curiosity and amusement, tilting her head with a smirk on her face. Featherpen slowly faded into nothingness.
"I know your tricks, daughter of mine. I birthed you!" Mother spoke, a widening grin upon her face.
With her now accelerated speed, she pushed forward to a seemingly empty space. She punched towards the air, and as if light itself was being bent, Featherpen was hit and knocked back. Featherpen's hair was blown away, and her invisibility wore off.
Featherpen hissed towards Mother, simir to the coos and tweets of songbirds. Mother put her hands on her hips and snickered, Featherpen once again cloaked herself in her hair turning her form invisible.
"The eyes are not the only senses, my dear daughter!" Mother shouted in amusement, she was looking towards her.
Then, all of a sudden. It happened again.
That bsted feeling of pain...
The invasion of the mind, Mother felt her head recoil as she felt a burst of migraines overfill her brain. She groaned, gring at the small box-shaped reformed.
"Invader! Shut that eye of yours! You annoying brat!" Mother spat out, a clearly irritated look upon her face.
Mother's eyes narrowed, as she heard...
Nothing...
Featherpen...
Where is she?
How did she hide her presence from her?
Did she already...
Mother in that instant ran towards the siblings, as she'd immediately recognized her mistake.
That brat wasn't gonna fight!
"Invader! You insolent child! Tell her to stop right now!" Mother shouted with a growl.
In that instant, Invader felt a hand touch the top of her body. A dash of paint seemed to be smeared upon the surface of her body.
Then, Featherpen revealed herself. Mother turned towards her and readied to swing but the siblings finally started moving, and they all dog piled on her.
Featherpen jumped up and from the mouth hole in her mask-like face, regurgitated a glob of paint. The paint fell to the ground and spshed unto the backs of her siblings, spttering in a random but mesmerizing pattern.
Akin to webs, art had been made, even when rushed it was sufficient enough for its purpose. Featherpen activated her Art Birthright, and the paint began to glow.
"FEATHERPEN! DO NOT TRASH AWAY YOUR LIFE! YOUR FAMILY AWAITS FOR YOU!" Mother shouted, peeling off the bodies of her own children that attempted to grapple her down.
Featherpen simply let out a short chirp, and brought her left hand up. The glowing paint that were smeared unto her siblings' backs reacted, being pulled into the painted lines across the grounds.
Mother gritted her teeth and charged after Featherpen, only to be stopped yet again by another wave of migraines.
"Invader! You useless disappointment!" Mother insulted, now forced to go after the little box reformed due to her interference.
The siblings were absorbed into the paint lines except for Invader and another one, Featherpen dashed towards where Invader was positioned at. Invader was atop the other sibling that stayed.
Mother looked mad, real mad. The sibling that Invader rode upon raised his mouth, and unhinged his jaw.
In a short time, he pointed his unhinged jaws towards Mother and a giant projectile made of water was shot at her. The pressure so high it could cut flesh quite easily, Mother was no exception.
Mother growled as she felt the projectile take off some parts of her upper left arm, then Featherpen grappled her. Though this only slowed Mother down, its real purpose was to line her up.
In an instant, Mother felt another rush of migraines take over her brain. Then, came the final nail. A glob of water, pressurized at an intense degree.
Fishy Business, was an aquatic-based reformed. With a fish-like body and head with humanoid arms and legs, tail akin to a lizard's and a prominent wide mouth.
Spoiler
[colpse]Mother knew, she was defeated at that point. Fishy Business' Weapon Birthright was a Crossbow.
A glob of water, shot by a gigantic biological crossbow. Mother chuckled, just how great was she at being a mother?
To think they'd outgrown her already!
"My children truly are the greates-"
Mother's head blew up into pieces, her overjoyed smile shattering as her flesh was ripped apart by the heavy-pressured water.
Featherpen didn't waste a second and immediately ran to Fishy Business, jumping on the top of his back. Invader stared at Fishy Business and nodded.
Fishy Business nodded in response and started running towards the turbulent waters, whilst Mother's separated flesh slowly moved independently of each other. Every chunk crawled towards each other, slowly reforming back into Mother's complete shape.
Fishy Business jumped to the waters, his rge back enough to carry Featherpen and the small Invader as he swam within the shallow depths.
***
"Lurking Lily, watch them." Mother spoke whilst her torn body reformed itself.
A giant looming figure floated up from the cliff, a giant lilypad. It was a gigantic creature, it made Mother look small. Its height being almost five times the height of Mother, around 90 feet (27.4 meters) in height.
Her small torso was the most human component of its structure, whilst her limbs were repced by long tentacle-like appendages. Six tentacled appendages, as the extra two were on the vaguely ear-shaped part on its head.
Her head was massive, with a long slightly enrging neck that connected from the torso to her head. Her face held a rge human toothed smile, a smile so big it forced her eyes to squint. Her eyelids were incredibly squinted with two giant green eyes that were quite prominent. What could be assumed her ears were stretched out, a giant lilypad was attached to her head.
The ears seemingly melded with the lilypad, her earlobes' tips were turned into the aforementioned two long appendages.
Lurking Lily slowly floated up, possible through one of the abilities of her birthrights.
Spoiler
[colpse]Lurking lily leaned forward to listen closely to Mother's words and slowly turned around.
It started humming through its toothed smile, her voice was subtle but powerful. Akin to a wind, only powerful when there is no other sound to silence it. It suddenly disappeared and appeared a far distance away from its original position.
It was moving through teleportation.
***
In a local restaurant, near the vast oceans. A man dressed in bck wearing a pgue mask arrives, his presence itself making the owner alert and cautious.
"Good morning, Ma'am. May this humble crow ask a question from you?" The man with a pgue mask asked, wearing a dark coat.
His entire outfit was mostly bck, the only signs of his skin being shown were his bare hands and visible neck. Everywhere else seemed to be clothed in different dark bcks, greys and whites. He had white hair that contrasted against his pgue mask.
His build was athletic and he was really tall, around six foot and seven inches tall (200 centimeters).
Spoiler
[colpse]The dy stared warily at the tall crow before her and with reluctance, nodded.
"Have you seen a young man by this appearance?" The crow asked, holding up a picture of the man.
"Umm... Krain? Yeah... He was just picking up some coconuts by the beach... Uhh, why...?" The dy asked.
The crow nodded and muttered a small thanks, he reached his hand into his pocket once more and dropped a few coins on a table as he left the small restaurant.
The Crow turned on his phone and started a call, the Sparrows.
"Search the beach-side, the worm's nearby." The crow said, turning off his phone promptly.
A few minutes after, the Sparrows arrived. They rode on small motorcycles and sedans, meant to be discrete and ordinary to blend into common life. The Crow nodded at them, then got on his bck and red hovering motorcycle.
Its wheels repced by hoverwings, a hovering part that allowed it to lift from the ground. These vehicles are called the 'Vantabeak'
The flock dispersed, covering a rge amount of ground.
The Crow wondered to himself, what the town would think after knowing that one of their own had murdered a fellow person.
A Murder, the Crows specialized in murder-reted cases but because of the unfamiliar rural area, this specific crow enlisted the local Sparrows' help since they knew more about the nd than he did.
This specific case was not too interesting, it was a murder done due to one's wrath. Tragic, but ultimately was the Worm's fault.
The Crow continued searching, until he'd gotten a call from one of the Sparrows. They caught him.
The Crow immediately got to the location, his Vantabeak allowing easy navigation throughout the terrain. Krain was already handcuffed, sitting on the ground with a hateful gre. His gre transferred towards the approaching Crow.
"Krain Baneson. You are detained for your crime, the murder of your blood-sibling: 'Klein Baneson'. Do not speak, or else your tongue will be burned.
Your memories will be searched for your crime, if you are to be found guilty you will be held accountable and will be transported to the Can, if not then you will be awarded with absolute healthcare for fifty years. Meaning all you and your family's medical needs will be covered by the Aviary for their mistake." The Crow spoke, with absolute conviction in his voice.
Krain looked at the Crow with unfettered malice, whilst the Crow didn't seem to react. He simply took out a stamp from his pocket and stamped Krain's forehead, a logo of an earthworm. It was right next to his right horn, which was his Form Birthright.
The Crow then gestured to the Sparrows, they nodded and brought the worm to one of their sedans and drove off to the nearest birdcage so they can put Krain inside of a temporary jail. The Crow just looked off into the sunrise, seeing now that his job should be finished he decided to stay there for awhile.
The sparrows slowly scattered about, done with their jobs as well leaving the Crow alone at the beachside. The Crow walked around, admiring the reflective waters. He then sat on a fallen log, realizing the tranquility of the rural town compared to the turbulent and always noisy cities.
"Huh. I didn't realize just how big the ocean is." The Crow muttered to himself.
His Form Birthright allowed him to see everything clearly, and see further at an incredible distance. His birthright's ability was akin to that of an enhanced telescope, named: Unrivaled Sight. Only solid objects can obstruct his sight, and his sight doesn't degrade over a distance.
"This pce is peaceful, but people still have the nerve to commit murder? Ruining the peace, for what? How stupid of them." The Crow muttered to himself.
The Crow looked around and found a small seashell, he picked it up and pocketed it. A small souvenir before he returns to the big cities, to the elites, to the miserable air there.
"Yeah, when I retire, I'm going to somewhere quiet." The Crow concluded with his thoughts.
The Crow took in the air for a few more minutes, then slowly got up. He stared at the sunrise once more, but then...
What is that...?
On the horizons, something rge. The normal person wouldn't spot it, dismissing it merely as a small blur or debris. But to the Crow which had a specific eye-reted Birthright, he could see it clearly.
A beast, no... Three? Two? Are they different? Or am I seeing just one thing...?
Are those...
"Reformed...?" The Crow muttered, he slowly pulled out his phone.
The Crow's eyes widened, he felt a rush of migraines overtake his mind. A purple eye peered at him from the distance, atop a moving surface in front of the other reformed. It was small, but its eye was haunting.
The Crow fell to the ground as he felt the migraines take over, as if each migraine was a worm crawling all over his brain. He couldn't think, it was painful. So painful...
The Crow couldn't think straight, until the sun has risen. For an hour, his mind was ravaged by migraines and head-aches until the Reformed had reached the shores.
Only then did the migraines stop, knowing now that the box-shaped reformed was the one responsible for this. The Crow backed away, seeing the three reformed before him. A gigantic fish-looking one, one with bird-like features and the small box-shaped reformed.
The bird-like reformed slowly covered itself with its own hair, then disappeared into nothingness. The fish reformed walked near the Crow, the crow stood still. His fear was obvious yet he remained stalwart.
The fish creature took in the Crow's scent, whilst the Box-shaped creature crawled closer. The Crow oddly felt calmer, if they hadn't killed them yet then they obviously have more 'civil' reasons.
The Box reformed made contact with the Crow's leg, moving his pant leg out of the way and touching his bare flesh. The Crow's mind was suddenly overtaken by a voice.
It was Invader from Space, she introduced herself to the the Crow. She also introduced her two siblings, Featherpen and Fishy Business. She then expined their predicament to him, the Crow took a deep breath.
"... A-Alright... I'm gonna call the Aviary to figure out what we should do with you three." The Crow replied.
The Crow pulled his phone out of his pocket and promptly called the Aviary.
"Reporting three reformed. They seem to be non-hostile currently, don't show hostility." The Crow spoke over the phone.
***
The Crow stood there silently, as Fishy Business circled him. Invader also stood still, atop Fishy Business' head. Whilst Featherpen was nowhere to be seen.
Then, sounds drowned out the peaceful waves and the rustling leaves. A giant air-craft, its cockpit looked simir to a giant bird's crest, its hulls colored blue and streaks of red. The colored components were covered with dull bcks along with the hover-wings that emitted a bluish-particle.
The Crow sighed.
"Invader, you and your siblings. Will be confiscated, as corpses. Legally, you are objects. Your rights do not exist, surrender now or the Cassowaries will have to utilize force." The Crow announced, he stared at Invader.
The Invader's eye widened, in that instant. Fishy Business threw Invader off of his head and ran to the seas attempting to escape. Featherpen remained unfound.
The Crow pulled out a pistol from his coat, Invader backed away and tried to crawl away but she was neither elusive nor tough as a bullet hit one of her finger-like legs.
The Cassowaries' vehicle, the Flightless, revealed their turrets and shot at Fishy Business. Unfortunately, even while Fishy Business was taking damage they couldn't stop him from diving into the sea. The Cassowaries debated on whether to pursue him or not but ultimately decided to focus on the one Reformed they could extract right now.
Invader, the Cassowaries slowly nded their ship. And multiple Cassowaries rushed out of the vehicle.
Spoiler
[colpse]They were gigantic, wearing some sort of power armor in the theme of the bird they were named after. Invader looked around and attempted to crawl away even with her injured limb, but she was far too weak. The Cassowaries surrounded her, they held some sort of net.
The Invader struggled as the net was casted unto her, but she was unlike Firewall who was strong. Unlike Featherpen who was hidden, unlike Fishy Business who was fast and unlike Mother, who was terrifying.
The Invader looked at the Crow with a worried expression, her eye showing fear and utter betrayal. She bet her own fate at the hands of the Crow, and the Crow made a decision.
For the citizens of this pnet, for this world. The Invader must be captured, a monster was to be restrained.
"We will look for the bodies' families, do not resist or you will be hurt, Invader." The Crow spoke, one out of pity.
Finally, the Cassowaries had enveloped the small Reformed with the net. By toppling her over, her limbs could not touch the ground to create resistance and was easily dragged back to the 'Flightless.'
The fishes swam away, as a giant fish-like creature swam to the depths. Hiding beneath coral reefs, and looking up as the 'Flightless' drove over the ocean, committing to one more search before leaving the space.
Then Featherpen stared at the 'Flightless' as it slowly drove back in-nd, further and further away from the shores.
We are sorry, Invader. But we have more siblings to protect.
***
"Good Morning, citizens of Mirur! The King blesses us today with yet another bountiful rain! King Luminos has released his ego, 'Serpentine Aquaria'! The farmers and eco-restoration organizations and charities give their thanks to him for watering the crops and enriching the natural environments!" The news anchor spoke, wearing a bright smile on her face.
The news anchor adjusted her ear-piece, her eyes widening. Then, her expression returned back to normal.
"This just in! Apparently, a Cassowaries Unit has been spotted flying inside the Mirur airspace. Very rarely are they even sent out, how intriguing! Is this a sign of something big? Luckily, we have reporter Yanna on the scene to interview witnesses." The news anchor spoke.
***
"I don't know about what's happening, cause' I just came out and heard this loud a** noise. Next thing you know, there's this big ol' floating thing just flying over our street. It looked freaky, man." The witness said.
"Did you see anything else, anything out of the ordinary, sir?" Yanna asked.
"Well... I saw a Crow nearby but he don't seem to be following that Casserole thing." The witness replied.
"Well, thank you sir. So, as everyone can see. It was a very... Disorderly ordeal, as we all know. Cassowaries are supposed to announce their presence before their aircraft gets even near a residential area yet in this case those protocols were ignored. Additionally, there was also an alleged sighting of a Crow.
Are these two cases reted? What could the Cassowaries be doing, and if they did not follow procedures I can only assume one thing. An emergency operation was enacted! However, we must remember that these are all specutions and theories so we can't make assumptions yet!
My name is Yanna Moppet, and I hope I've reported well. Back to Laira!" Yanna concluded her report.
***
"An untamed Reformed. Did Birthday make a mistake?" Spoken by a fairly old man, he had a tattoo on his neck.
A pigeon, he seemed fidgety whilst he sat on his chair. The other 'pigeons' or judges were also stationed near him sitting on identical chairs on a single giant circur indoor balcony.
Way above them, there was a ptform held by a number of vertical chains. The chains surround the ptform, making the entire structure resemble a bird cage.
At the middle of the ptform, there is a figure sitting on the ground cross-legged.
"Maybe. But do not be so concerned my birds, carry on your duties for now. The Cassowaries and Crows will handle this incident for now, seeing as they were the first to find it." The mysterious figure spoke calmly, each word emphasized as to not be misheard.
On their bare back, is a giant tattoo. A dove flying across, from their hip to their shoulder.
The Dove had spoken, to end the Pigeons' coos.
The Dove was at the top of the Aviary, the one who converses directly with the four Royal Families. The representative of the Aviary as a whole in the Alliance of Crowns.
The Dove is the highest position within the birds, but has the highest responsibility. To coordinate the birds, to manage the flock.
"Pigeon Kasmael, however, is an exception to my order. His assistance may be needed in order to let the investigation and operation run smoothly." The Dove ordered.
Kasmael nodded, he looked old but proper. He has greying hair and a stubble, his wrinkles made his age obvious. However, he looked neither unhealthy nor sick.
He is someone who has a lot of years behind him, but still seeks to serve the Aviary. He is one of the oldest Pigeons currently, and has three specialties. All of which are relevant to the current case with the captured Reformed.
Kasmael bowed, as the Dove permitted for his exit. Kasmael swiftly left as to avoid being bombarded by the other Pigeons' compints, everyone wanted to be responsible for the case. A chance for renown, a chance at boosting their own reputation. The Pigeons were indeed noisy, coos and squawks just for a crumb of fame.
Kasmael shook his head in disapproval as the doors closed behind him.
"Young Pigeons nowadays, shallow intentions and perversions of the cause. I fear for the Dove's mind, for even I could break hearing such incessant noise." Kasmael muttered to himself, fixing his colr and sleeves as he walked the hallways.
***
"Please awaken, I hope the Cassowaries have been careful with you." Spoke an unknown voice.
Invader slowly opened her eye, she was staring at a gss window. An old man at the other side, meanwhile she was bound in some sort of tight cage that tightly wrapped around her limbs. She was immobile, through and through. Not even space was left for her to re-adjust her limbs. Invader stared at the old man, and her pupil magnified.
The old man's eyes widened slightly, only for him to chuckle.
"So, this is that ability you have. Not as direct as the other Reformed, but if I had to guess by your structure and size, you aren't necessarily 'ordinary' for a Reformed either." The old man spoke to the box-shaped Reformed.
The old man then rotated his head, a metallic pte is attached to the area under his left ear.
"This is my Weapon Birthright, it prevents my body from experiencing symptoms of illnesses, diseases or deficiencies. That's also why this old man is still quite healthy for his age, not to mention still handsome too. Ah, what is this old fool talking about? Don't worry, I'm just jesting with you." The old man replied, his tone was light-hearted yet he still exuded a sense of authority and respect around him.
The old man left the area, only to appear within the Invader's room. Entering through a door to the side, he had his hands resting behind his back. He gave Invader a small smile as he looked around the room.
"My name is Kasmael, that's all you need to know." The old man introduced himself.
After circling the room, Kasmael finally faced Invader. His eyes looking directly at Invader's own singur eye. He had a serious look on his face, his previous smile no more.
"You will die, child. Your kind are living weapons, capable of utter destruction. We cannot let you go, the other birds will immediately kill you, and even if you somehow reach the outside, the nobles will also kill you or worse; ensve you for their own use." Kasmael spoke truthfully.
He took off the white glove on his left hand and rested his bare hand on the top of Invader's blocky body.
'I wanna live! I wanna live!'
Kasmael's eyes widened slightly, it seems what the crow said was true. He looked deeply into Invader's eye, she was slightly shaking. Her eye subtly trembling, her limbs rubbing against the cages that bound to them. She was looking for comfort, something to soothe her rising panic.
"Birthday, how cruel you are." Kasmael muttered to himself.
Kasmael turned his head to the door and nodded, the doors opened wide. There appeared two Cassowaries, they are holding some sort of metal contraption. They approached Invader, and fitted it into her form. It is some sort of metal band that wrapped around her entire body, from the top of her body to the bottom of her body, fitting between her limbs.
"Work for the Aviary, Invader from Space. And you will live." Kasmael proposed, his hand resting on top of Invader's body.
End of 4: I wanna live!
