Mt. Aleph: Rocky Roads

[mrfancypants]

If there were any traces of annoyance at Dedede's comment, they were gone as Ion thought. There was no way anyone would know who Lorelei was if he was going with the fact that he might not be in Auldrant anymore. "...Lorelei is the god of my world. Long ago he wrote down the future onto something called the Score. I am not going to go into much detail, but that's how it was in Auldrant...If you feel need to know more just ask."


[dice=6]

It was at that moment that a boulder fell right next to him. He jumped away, frightened. However it wasn't the time to worry about himself. He heard other boulders falling down and watched in horror as they hit the other two. He looked at Isaac, he seemed to be okay. At least he was conscious. He'll live. Dedede on the other hand appeared to be knocked out cold. "Oh no!" Ion exclaimed and ran to the penguin. "This should help."

He started to cast a spell. "First Aid!" The king's body glowed as Ion focused his fonons on him. When he was done, he said "I hope that worked." He started to wobble. "I feel kind of-" He fainted, falling over and on top of Dedede.[rand=81774215575772442374181766053434860350673299576869758623863947359]

[Mage]

As Isaac heard the stranger's bodies hit the ground, he grew worried. 'Silence...thats not a good sign.' With his remaining strength the Earth Adept started climbing the vine back to the platform, ignoring the pain in his arms. When he emerged to the top, he found Dedede laying on the ground out cold, and Ion in the same boat; only on the royal penguin. Isaac made the vine disappear back into his palm and went to the two of them looking at the Waddle Dees.

"Well at least you all are OK." He looked at the two, Isaac wasn't heartless regardless of whether these two were trespassers or not. Ion seemed good hearted to a fault, and Dedede isn't exactly evil; just misunderstood. So with his heroic duty kicking in, the boy started to pick up Ion putting him over his shoulder. The Fon Master was very light, which was expected for a boy his size. Dedede on the other hand was a different story all together, Isaac started dragging the over weight penguin by his feet. He began to struggle at first but kept going up the mountain, though a secret pathway. "Once I get to my home, then everything will be fine..."

[ButlerForLifeNumber2]

The Waddle Dees simply watched as Isaac dragged their king away. They looked at each other...and shrugged. What else were they suppose to do? They toddled behind Isaac, technically still following their king.



Ion's spell successfully healed the king's severe head injury. Dedede woke up slowly and quietly rubbing his eyes and mumbling. It took awhile to notice he was moving, he tilted his head and noticed his army following. His mode of locomotion? That blond punk, Isaac!

He violently pulled his foot out of Isaac's grasp and bounced to his feet. "Oh no, you don't!" he cried, "This is one royal who doesn't get kidnapped!" (CoughPeachCough) His army quickly changed alignment and stood in fighter's stances close to the king. "You-you! You were probably gonna take us away...and...and sacrifice us to your Mountain god!"

His attention turned to Ion, whom Isaac had tossed over his shoulder. He started again, "And that is not the proper way to carry a lady, you twit!" The king took Ion away from Isaac and carried the green-haired boy in his arms (as a groom would carry his bride). "Ladies must be carried with respect and handled with care," he told him snobbishly, then stuck out his tongue rudely.

King Dedede looked up and noticed there was still much mountain to be climbed. He looked at Ion, his hands were very full. He thought to himself, how he was suppose to reach the top now? Looking at his army, as if asking them this question, they all shrugged.

[mrfancypants]

Ion felt his body being moved around and slowly opened his eyes. He looked up at Dedede, his eyes glazed over. His eyes were focused on him but it didn't look like he was "seeing" him. "Are you....Are you my Princess in shining armor? You're very pretty. So pretty." He slowly raised his hand and his fingertips brushed against the penguin's cheek. "So soft, like feathers. Are you going to fly away with me and take me to your magical kingdom? That'd be niiiiice. " His hand dropped, as if the boy didn't have enough energy to keep it up.

Mind still not fully awake, Ion snuggled against the bird and closed his eyes. A warm smile appeared on his face."Shining Princess in Armor....How nice..."

[Mage]

Isaac looked at Ion surprised, was he hallucinating? He looks really tired for some reason, did that rock take more out of him then the warrior thought? Isaac didn't have time to figure it out, the sun was going down quick; he turned to Dedede. "Listen, this mountain is about to become dangerous. At night its hard to see the mountain path, and if more landslides come down you'll be done for." He went to him looking at Ion. "Plus having a casualty on your back does you little good either..."

He pointed his thumb at himself. "My name is Isaac, an Earth Adept and guardian of the mountains secret. I live here so I know all the secret paths better then you do, ill help you to my house and even to the top of the summit if you agree to my terms." The king looked stubborn as a mule, but even he could see he had little choice...at least thats what Isaac thought.

[ButlerForLifeNumber2]

Ion's babbling caused Dedede to blush a bit. Ion called him a pretty princess, but he was probably too dazed and weak to refer to him as a king Dedede told himself. He chuckled lightly and nervously as he was brushed and snuggled, but his little moment was interrupted by "Isaac".

"Hmph! Well, see here, 'Guardian of the mountain'; How do I know that you're not just gonna kill us at your home to protect your giant rock's secrets?" Dedede objected, "And you'd get away with it too! I see no witnesses!" He looked at Ion and then his troops; not only his own safety was at stake but their's too. He decided to side with Isaac, but just for the night. "I suppose we'd be safer in your clutches than out here," he told Isaac looking around, "I can fight off a scrawny kid like you, but I'm powerless against forces of nature. I know its difficult to believe, but I'm not THAT powerful!"

He and his army walked a bit head of him; all of them with their noses high in the air. He turned around to look at Isaac. "Lead the way...!"

[mrfancypants]

Ion opened his eyes again and blinked. He wondered about what happened while he was out, and why he was all snuggled up against the penguin. But, he was so....warm and it was getting quite cold. He buried his face deeper into Dedede's belly.

As the sun went down, the temperature dropped steadily and soon Ion's body was shivering compulsively.

He was hardly paying attention to what Isaac and Dedede were saying but he picked up a few words here or there. "W-what are t-the t-t-terms?" He whispered through his chattering teeth. However his question probably went unheard as his face was still pressed against the penguin king.

[Mage]

Isaac looked at Dedede with an annoyed look on his face, but he quickly fixed it to a small smile despite the kings attitude. After all he wouldn't feel right abandoning them, he quickly lead the way. "Don't worry, I have no intention on killing you."

He then heard Ion's weak question, the Earth Adept could hear earth spirits it wasn't a surprise he could hear faint noise's. He looked at Ion and Dedede while leading them up a secret trail. "As long as you two don't have plans to destroy the mountain, then Ive no problem with you climbing it." Eventually they got to a house on one part of the mountain, it appears to be built in a safe place too so there's no need to worry about land slides anymore. He opened the door for Dedede and Ion. "Take him inside first, theres a couch inside."

[ButlerForLifeNumber2]

"And what good could I possibly gain from destroying this mountain?" King Dedede snapped. "If you keep pestering me like this, I might consider it!" Despite that, Dedede and the Waddle Dees followed Isaac to his home obediently without further interruption.

He walked into Isaac's home with a loud grunt of disgust. This wasn't his idea of a home. Being a king, he was only used to the best of everything and anything lower was unacceptable. But it would have to do-- because desperate times come to desperate measures...!

When he noticed the couch, he placed Ion on it very carefully so he wouldn't wake him. He felt Ion shivering before and decided to place his robe as a blanket. He was content with Ion's condition and finally plopped himself on the opposite side of the couch. He lifted Ion's legs to make room for him to take a seat, then placed them on his lap.

He rested his hand on Ion's knee and patted it a bit as his eyes wandered around the house. Waddle Dees one, two, and three sat themselves on the floor around their king's feet and the couch. They all looked at Isaac as if to ask, "Now what?"

[mrfancypants]

When Ion was placed down and the king's coat thrown over him he felt the warm spread all over his body. That and it smelled nice, like crisp freshly fallen snow. He felt a little bit uncomfortable with the hand he felt on his knee but decided not to say anything about it. Although he was feeling very tired, he wished to converse. He wanted to at least know the name of the guy that had offered him such kindness. So he focused his energy on talking. "Thank you, kind sir! I am afraid that I have caused you much more trouble than I am worth. If it weren't for me, you would probably be at the top of the mountain already..." Even though technically speaking, if it weren't for Ion, Dedede would've been still knocked out. "May I ask you your name? I don't believe I caught it."

[Mage]

Isaac closed the door behind him, and looked at the Waddle Dees. "Make yourselves comfortable." The boy went to the kitchen where some tea was left boiling and poured it into 3 glasses. He put it on a tray coming out to Dedede and Ion. "How is he doing?" He asked putting it on the table in front of them, he sat down taking his cup blowing steam off alittle to avoid burning his tongue.

[ButlerForLifeNumber2]

King Dedede nervously chuckled at Ion and rubbed his head. He felt a small bump on it, but the cause of it was unknown to him. He didn't remember what knocked him out... only waking up from a deep sleep. It hurt to touch, so he placed his hand back on Ion's knee. "M-my name is King Dedede, miss," he said with a light laugh and bowing his head, "and please rest assured! It was absolutely no trouble at all!"

The Waddle Dees rolled their eyes. Dedede made a big deal out of US lagging behind, but its ok when a girl causes it!, they all thought. "We would probably have had to rest for the night anyway!" the king added as he pulled his glass to his beak.

Before taking a sip he told Isaac, "I'm sure all she needs is a night of rest and she'll be fine... We will be leaving first thing in the morning!" He drank, swallowed, then gagged. He held the glass to the light and stared deep into it. "This tea isn't suitable for a king! Perhaps not even for consumption!" He placed the glass of the arm rest of Isaac's couch while his other hand held his throat. "I suppose you used mud and dirt from your mountain to create it?" He took away Ion's glass also, "I believe this will make you worse, my dear...!"

[mrfancypants]

"Nice to meet you Dedede. Strange, that name means 'foolish good-for-nothing ruler' in Ancient Ispanian. That does not seem to fit your character at all." Ion chuckled a bit before adding, "And please call me Ion." It would be easier for him if he wasn't addressed as 'miss.'

The smell of tea wafted through the air and Ion was reaching out to take a glass when it was snatched up by the penguin. He sighed disappointedly and stared at the cup longingly. "...but"

[Mage]

Before Isaac took a sip of his tea he got up putting it down and taking Ion's cup from Dedede's hand giving it to the Fon Master. "Here you go Ion, my name is Isaac by the way." He quickly introduced himself before turning to Dedede. "Really your not his mother or anything, he can do whatever he wishes. And so can you. If you dislike the tea thats fine, I can get you water instead." He smiled. "Although water up here is stagnant with mud, so your better off with the tea made from clear water; that I offered. Your Majesty."

The blond enjoyed that alittle, but sat back down to his seat to get serious. "Anyway Dedede, you can stay here till dawn, and ill help you reach the top." He smiled warmly after taking a sip of his tea. "Its going to be worth it, the view apon the summit is breathtaking." He even looked to Ion. "And when you recover I'm sure you'll enjoy it too."

[mrfancypants]

As the cup was placed in his hand, Ion said "Thank-" but was cut off at the sound of glass shattering. The weight had been too much and the cup had slipped out of his hand. The fon master looked at the mess, horrified. His heart was heavy in his chest. Isaac had gone through the trouble with making the tea and he had to mess it up by dropping it. That and the cup was now broken, thanks to him. "I am terribly sorry..." He pulled Dedede's coat over his head to hide. The material moved slightly as his shoulders gently moved up and down while he sobbed quietly.