TE:R Adventures: Joyce's Quest (2/3)
WRITER - TURTLEDOODLE1
COVER ARTIST - SOHEKUN
EDITOR - LUNA
RUN FOR IT, BOYS!
Hey-
STOP IN THE NAME OF THE CRYSTAL QUEEN!
Funny, Markus thought. Usually, they were the ones hunting down innocent people, screaming for help. But now? The roles were reversed.
The Rascals were being chased around by crystal knights, wanting new comrades for their cause. The trio were lucky with dodging all of the oncoming lasers, but Markus knew they were going to get tired eventually.
Sir, what are we going to do?!
* Shoots an arrow at their leader *
We will try to get them off our backs, of course!
Joyce!
Yes, boss?
Paralyze them with one of your potions!
Surely, you must have something like that!
Sure, boss!
Joyce stopped running, transformed her card into a potion and threw it towards the army. They stopped in their tracks... for a little bit. They were free from the potion’s affect in less than a few seconds.
What the-
Markus pulls Joyce away from an oncoming laser at the last second.
B-but it should have...
No time to think about that, Joyce!
“We need a plan... fast!”
Meanwhile, back on Diamond City; Joyce was questioning reality all together. She was looking at the two people she never wanted to see ever again in her life... her older brothers.
Come on, Joyce!
Just say something!
...what are ya’ two doing here?
We could ask the same to you, sis.
The scientist in green clothing starts slowly walking towards her.
NO, NO!
STAY AWAY!
STAY AW-
Before she could defend herself, the brother leaned in for a hug. Joyce was feeling so uncomfortable.
We missed you so much, sis!
Yeah, we really did!
* Joins to the sibling hug *
It’s been such a long time, sis!
Where have you been?
And who’s your crow friend?
Joyce slightly pushes the two away and looks at them.
It’s none of ya’ business.
Aww, but why the aggression, sis?
Yeah, we missed you so much!
I thought you would as well!
No, ah haven’t.
Now, can ya’ two just leave me alone?
Joyce turned her back and continued trying to get the motorcycle to work while The Folio Bros were confused. They didn’t understand why their little sister was acting this way towards them. Sure, they haven’t seen her for over a decade, but they didn’t think she would be so aggressive.
What are you trying to do, Joyce?
Like ah said, it’s none of ya’ business Hattie!
Maybe we could help you with... whatever you are trying to do.
No chance, Don.
Ah don’t need you two idiots’ help.
Ya’ will just slow me down, anyways.
Hattie took a deep breath and put his hand on his little sister’s shoulder.
WHAT?!
Look, Joyce.
I... know that you don’t really like us but please.
We haven’t seen you in such a long time, we were worried about you.
Yeah, just tell us what happened, and we will help you.
...fine.
But only because ah know you two won’t take “no” for an answer!
Sweet.
* Looks around *
Though, we should probably go talk somewhere more... private.
Good idea bro.
Our lab should be somewhere close.
You two own a lab?
Yup, we sure do.
We would love to show it to you.
Loi suddenly stars biting Hattie’s hair.
OUCH!
Can you tell your pet bird to stop eating my hair?
I took a bath just this morning!
He’s not mah pet bird.
Hattie shoos Loi away and puts Joyce’s arm on his shoulder.
What are ya’ doing?
I’m helping you walk there!
Ah’m fine, Hattie.
I can walk on my own just-
Joyce walks a step forward and then holds her heart in panic. The escape really had a toll on her.
See, you need my help.
Let me help, sis.
...sure.
Whatever.
And thus, the Folio siblings were reunited after a decade apart from each other. Joyce was still unsure how to feel about this but if there was a choice between spending time with her hated brothers or lying down helplessly on a dark alley all by herself... she knew which one to pick. Still, that didn’t mean she was completely happy with her decision. While they were going around the city looking for the lab, Don was playing tourist guide to her, explaining what places this “lovely” city had in store for her.
And this right here is a coffee shop!
Me and Hattie get our daily coffee here every night!
Isn’t that right, bro?
* Gives him a thumbs up *
You are dang right, bro.
Ah hate coffee.
Aww, it ain’t so bad when you acquire the taste for it.
Whatever... where’s that stupid lab anyways?!
Just a few blocks ahead, sis.
Hold on a bit longer, okay?
Fine.
Whatevs.
* Points at his right *
And now, we have the MPC2 HQ!
The most fabulous place on Diamond City!
The... what?
Oh, you know?
The awesome team fighting the forces of evil for all of us!
That’s their headquarters.
Uh... huh...
You sound like you aren’t too thrilled about them.
What’s wrong?
N-nothing.
Maybe we should talk to them!
They could help you!
I think you forgot about something, bro.
Huh?
MPC2 members left the city a few hours ago, remember?
They are probably busy fighting another force of evil!
Oh, right.
I forgot about that.
Don smiles and pats Joyce on the back.
Oh well, maybe next time.
Yeah…
Speaking of evil forces, I wonder if they caught any of the Rascals by now... they have been causing mischief around Perdiah for a while now.
Grr...
Yeah, there are so many selfish people around Perdiah like them.
I have no idea how they can they live with themselves when there are people trying to protect everyone on this planet-
CAN WE JUST GO TO THE LAB ALREADY?!
Oh, sorry sis.
Oh, was it something I said?
Joyce pushes Hattie away and starts walking on her own.
WHERE IS IT?
Sis, is everything alright?
NO, IT IS NOT.
QUIT YAPPIN’ AND SHOW ME WHERE IT IS!
The Folio Bros looked at each other in worry and confusion. Why was she so mad again? The two thought they were all connecting again. The two continued showing the way to their lab and then stopped in front of a pretty modern building.
Is this... the place?
Don points at the sign in front of the building saying, “Super Folio Bros. Potion Store”.
Ah.
The Folio Bros. enter the building and start showing off the place to their sister. It was a majestic sight to behold. There were a bunch of brewing stands filled with different types of potions, all waiting to be delivered to the customers. Even Joyce was impressed... a tiny bit at least.
* Lightly hits Joyce with his shoulder *
Ayyyy?
Do you like it, sis?
Ah must say it’s... an interesting place.
Yeah!
It was such a good feeling to finally accomplish what dad wanted all these years later!
Ah noticed...
Even though he wanted all three of us to be a part of his dream... I’m glad me and Hattie made it come true.
Yup!
* smiles *
But now, we all make dad’s wish fully come true!
W-what?
Yep! Since you are with us now, we can rebrand our store to... The Folio Family Potion Store!
Erm... I don’t know.
The name doesn’t roll off the tongue as well.
Pfft... we can think of a different name in the next few days anyways!
* Puts his hand on Joyce’s shoulder *
So, Joyce... what do you think?
Are you excited?!
...no.
Um... pardon?
So happy to see ya’ idiots still oblivious as ever!
Was that... sarcasm?
Of course it was!
Loi lands on Joyce’s shoulder and starts chewing on Joyce’s hair again.
WOULD YA’ STOP THAT?!
But... why?
If you didn’t want to be with us again... why did you come here?
Ah didn't come here by choice!
...technically ah did but it wasn’t fully my decision!
But what were you doing in that back alley?
Ah was trying to steal that motorcycle and then go back to mah crew!
You have a... crew?
YES, YOU MORONS!
Joyce knocks off all the potions on the table and then jumps on it.
AH’M PART OF THE RASCALS!
“AND SOMEONE THERE IS TRYING TO STEAL MAH IDENTITY.”
Boss, we can’t keep them at bay for much longer!
I know Joyce, I know!
* Shoots another arrow towards a nearby crystal knight *
We are just waiting for Murray to finish that darn bomb!
* Looks over his shoulder *
How is that bomb of yours coming along, Murray?
I’m almost done, sir.
Though, I don’t think the shield will be able to handle the sheer power of this bomb once we defuse it.
Now, THAT’S what I wanted to hear!
You can’t stay in there for much longer!
Just surrender yourselves to the Crystal Queen!
Not in a million years, bud.
I DID IT!
I FINISHED THE BOMB!
GOOD JOB, MURRAY!
THROW IT AT ‘EM!
Murray quickly throws the bomb at the crystal knights and starts running away with the other two Rascals following behind him. Shortly after, there was a gigantic explosion in the area, knocking every crystal knight down. But the explosion was so large that it was catching up to the Rascals themselves.
Dang it, Murray!
Why did you make it THIS powerful?!
B-but you said-
Markus looks behind him in fear as the dust clouds get closer to covering their vision.
WE ARE NOT GONNA MAKE IT!
Suddenly, Joyce holds both Markus and Murray’s hands and the trio get teleported to somewhere that was still close to the area but not close enough to get affected by the explosion. Murray was shocked beyond belief.
How did you do that?!
Uhm... I... created a new potion!
* Smiles at Murray which freaks him out *
I created this potion from the materials I got from those different zones!
I was keeping this as a backup just in case anything drastic like this happened to us!
W-well, that’s just too convenient!
* Pulls Markus’ jacket *
Boss! Back me up here!
(tired) You know what, Murray?
I honestly don’t care.
She just saved our lives from near death.
I’m not gonna bother checking if it was too convenient or not.
Markus puts his hand on Murray’s back to comfort him.
What matters now is that we are safe.
Yeah!
...fine.
While the two were arguing, Markus was looking at the direction of the explosion. Surely, they were dead... right? Unfortunately for him however, Markus noticed the bright light coming from their crystal body parts. They couldn’t even make a dent on them. Markus was horrified. What were these creatures?! If an explosion of that size couldn’t stop them... how were they going to escape?
YOU TWO!
Yes, boss?
They are... they are still alive somehow.
We must fight back.
Murray gulps in fear while “Joyce” was preparing new potions for the team. Markus cracked his knuckles and went to his fight stance. They wouldn’t go down without a fight. But before crystal knights could notice them, something strange happened. All crystal knights held the crystals stuck on their hands like they were all controlled by one being.
What the-
The queen calls us back to the kingdom!
Our guests have arrived!
And just like that, the whole army turned their back and went away, like nothing ever happened.
W-what was that, sir?!
This is far bigger than we could have possibly imagined, Murray.
We are staying somewhere safe for the night.
“We can’t risk being hunted by those things again.”
So, you are... part of the Rascals?
Uhm... yes?!
Didn’t ya’ listen to what ah just said?!
* Looking at the wanted poster *
But you don’t look anything like the girl on the poster.
Yeah!
That girl has a cowboy hat!
Joyce grabbed the wanted poster out of Don’s hands. She tore up the top of the poster, where the hat was shown and gave it back to Don.
Ooohhh!
That makes sense!
So that was you!
Took ya’ two long enough.
Ugh... but why would you want to be with them?
We have each other now!
Ah’ been running off with dat crew for almost a year now.
Ah gotta let them know they have a creepy witch pretending to be me with them.
Please don’t go, Joyce!
Is it more important than family?!
Joyce punches the table in anger.
Stop talking like dad.
Is this really what this is all about?
YES!
* Shoos Loi away again *
Les say, ah stay here with you two morons.
Then what?
Do we just sell potions to the annoying citizens while we sit around and do nothing?!
Or worse, do we provide goods for those MPC2 bastards?!
I-
* Drops her accent *
That’s the reason why I left all those years ago!
He liked you two more because you were more accepting of his ideas!
I WASN’T.
I never ended up being the favorite child, so I left!
Joyce...
WHAT?!
NOTHING YOU SAY WILL MAKE ME STAY WITH YOU TWO.
You misunderstood dad so much...
We weren’t the favorite children... YOU were.
...what?
In fact, he always told us how much smarter you were compared to us.
He took fondness for your unique style of potion making.
The only ones he didn’t approve of were the very destructive ones.
He wanted to tell you how much he loved you before...
Don looked at Hattie as both closed their eyes with sadness. Joyce knew exactly what they were talking about.
But... that doesn’t make sense.
It truly does.
Trust us, please.
Yeah, Joyce.
Please...
Ah understand what you guys are trying to do, really, ah know.
But this here ain’t my lifestyle.
No matter ya’ two like it or not, ah belong with mah crew.
And right now, their life is in danger!
The two brothers looked at each other in content.
If you say so, Joyce.
Finally!
Just get me a ride and ah’m outta here!
But.
ARGH!
WHAT NOW, HATTIE?!
Joyce was expecting her brothers to try stopping her but they both hugged her again.
Let us help you with the vehicle, okay?
Yeah!
Don’t steal anything, please.
That way, the regional guards won’t notice you were even here!
What do you say, Joyce?
...sure.
Ah don’t want any more trouble till’ ah get back to my rightful place.
I’m glad we could agree, sis.
Yeah.
* chuckles *
Ya’ two are far too nice, ya’ know that?
Actually, yes.
Yeah, a couple of people tell us that like daily.
* smiles *
That’s nice.
Joyce cracks her knuckles and looks around for new lab clothes.
That was a decent enough break.
You two have any free lab coats?
Of course!
Hattie runs to their wardrobe and opens it, revealing a bunch of hangers with the same lab clothes.
Uh... that’s a lot of lab coats.
Yup, it sure is.
Ah’ll just grab one of these for me.
Mah old one got... kinda dirty after having a near death experience.
* chuckles *
I see.
What?
What’s the funny part?
Is just...
* Points at her hair *
Your hair...
What’s with mah hair?
Ah like mah hair better like this!
It just...
* chuckles *
Remember the time dad made Joyce have pigtails?
Oh yeah, that was so funny!
Can we focus on the task already?!
Right, sorry sis.
JINX!
Gosh darn it...
Now you owe me a soda!
Before Don could complain, the entire building started shaking like an earthquake was happening. All 4 of them hanged onto something until it stopped.
* Holding her head *
GRRR... WHAT NOW?!
Hold on, sis.
Let me check outside!
Hattie helps Joyce get up while Loi was spinning around the room panicking.
Are you alright, Joyce?
Ugh... definitely could be better.
Don runs inside the building in panic and locks the doors.
Don, is everything alright?
N- no, not at all!
C-crystals...
Simmer down, bro.
What’s the problem?
Just spit it out already!
There are giant crystal pillars surrounding the entire city!
We are trapped in here!
END OF CHAPTER
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