Shinobu had seen images of the Palace from Ryoko’s media device, remarking on its magnificence with a somber tone. It pained him to hear that someone from the Empire could have done such a thing. Such careless disregard for another world’s labor and beauty was not only an insult to those who belonged to that world, but also to him. He was prepared for the worst when he could see the light at the end of the Corridor of Darkness. Or so he believed. When he set foot on Agrabah, he heard the sounds of shredded metal and shattered architecture crumble beneath his weight while his attention was focused on the desolation that surrounded him.
Besides Tseng, who he could already see approaching from the corner of his eye, Shinobu had seen nothing more than hopelessness in physical form. Ryoko had guided him to the center of the Palace—and this was it; ashes upon ashes to be carried off in the breeze with remnants of scorched materials scattered about. Nothing appeared salvageable though. That was the only good that could possibly come from such a disgusting result.
He reached into his suit jacket and retrieved a cigar, planting it in his mouth and reaching in his pocket for his lighter, lightning it up in a silence so deafening that no one—not even Tseng—dare open their mouths until he was prepared to speak. A long drag was taken, followed by a slow, smooth exhale, and at last he acknowledged the two beside him once more.
“I didn’t plan on coming out here like this, but I had to see it for myself. Had to see what a madman could be capable of,” Shinobu looked to Tseng, addressing his subordinate with his best attempt at a relaxed expression. Frankly, containing his outrage, his horror, took quite the effort. Even dragging from a high-quality cigar did little to help shield his aura, which had risen to a level that might even cause Ryoko to shiver.
“I won’t say it’s good or bad that you arrived, but I respect your choice no matter what,” Tseng said. He cast his eyes to the surrounding area, joining Shinobu in examining it all. “I only just made it here myself. There wasn’t much I could gather from the locals other than that this was the fault of a ship belonging to the Empire that hung in orbit.”
“So nothing Ryoko didn’t already tell us. What about casualties?”
“Unknown. There were numerous injured, but no one appeared to be looking for someone missing.”
Shinobu met this news with silence. Bad, with a shred of good in that none were missing. With any luck, the only people vaporized in this attack were those that belonged to Nomis. He turned to Ryoko. “It should go without saying but I’ll say it regardless: I don’t blame you for this. Despite your temperament, you are the last person I would pin this on. However, you and I both know that Nomis has caused irreversible damage here, both to the people of Agrabah, and to the reputation of the Empire as a whole. As a result, I would ask you to make certain that he answers for this in a cell for the rest of his days. Or worse...”
“There was something else.”
Shinobu turned to Tseng. “Go on.”
“I haven’t the means to prove anything given that much of the evidence here is scattered to the winds, but there is a possibility that this was more than just damage control,”
“He had another reason for doing this, then?”
“It’s just a theory. A group of people rebelling against the Empire would be easily neutralized under a competent leader’s watch. There shouldn’t be a need to use a bombardment to take out a small group… that is, unless…”
“…Unless they’re that much of a threat,” Shinobu finished, glancing at Ryoko. “If they can outmaneuver Ryoko, also a General, then they aren’t an ordinary group.“
“It’s not just that, it’s… what if Nomis was not only doing this to win, but to protect something?”
Shinobu considered this, offering Tseng a glance before his attention returned to Ryoko. As close as they were once, he knew Ryoko kept secrets guarded closely. There would be things that only a General would have access to in terms of knowledge. He respected that to an extent. But he knew that it could be problematic between them if she were holding anything back. Gambling on their friendship was all he could do for now.
“Ryoko, tell me, you must have some idea of what he was up to here. What is so important to him that he would destroy this place? A group of rebels, are they really so threatening to him? Or...”
Shinobu’s thoughts trailed away as well as his voice. The area had become unnaturally still, as if it was a picture they themselves had placed themselves in. There was not a sound to be heard other than the breaths they drew. Dead silence. This was the sort of quiet that emerged when something dangerous was about to happen.
Or, someone dangerous was near. He knew the feeling all too well.
The sensation of danger was strongest against his neck. With a guarded turn of his head, Shinobu’s eyes narrowed at the sight of a young man with a khopesh in hand, shrouded in a tattered cloak. The sands themselves shifted around him, likely the effect of his own natural energy. A good, hard look at this youth had told Shinobu that he indeed belonged to this world. Except his eyes, pure gold… they reflected much more, as though they had taken in more sights than he could ever know.
Shinobu turned around entirely to face him, slowly as to not instigate a conflict that need not occur. He was only several feet away, yet this stranger’s nature made him feel as though he was right beside him. A chill ran down his spine in anticipation of what could happen next. The eyes of gold had only fell upon Tseng and himself for a fraction of a second before they fell on Ryoko, staying there.
“…A friend of yours?” Shinobu asked Ryoko. Tseng looked to reach for his gun, but Shinobu’s hand had risen, halting him. “Don’t try it. This one... he's dangerous, I can tell.”
The sands that surrounded the three foreigners to the world had begun to shift much like they did around the cloaked figure. Several pillars had begun to rise, stopping at a height similar to the stranger himself. His gaze did not leave Ryoko’s face, but that did not mean he was unaware of the threat the two new faces could represent to both him and his world.
“You should not have come back, Ryoko.”
Taka
Dane
erikh
