Mofu

“So if I were your friends, what would I look like?” Griselda asks.

“Well there’s four. Aku is a half fairy half avatar, his gray skin is a dead giveaway. Amelia is a human, kind of short black girl, probably around 5’3 if I had to guess. She has an afro and a long sleeved green shirt. Sye is a kitsune in a yellow gi, and Amani is a tall black woman in a black robe,” I explain.

“Do you know the general direction they went in?” Agatha asks.

“Not at all, the snowstorm completely blinded me,” I respond.

“Do you think they could’ve gone back to Lumitown? It’s the biggest city in northern Sipha,” Griselda asks.

“It’s possible, but we were very far from everything, so I doubt it,” I say.

“And you think they’ve made their way down here?” Griselda asks.

“Well I did, but I doubt it. We were going through a forest when we got hit, my bet is they’re still in there,” I say.

“Alright, let’s get going then,” Agatha says, picking up a backpack.

“Wait, you two are coming?” I ask, bewildered.

“Yeah, why wouldn’t we?” Griselda responds.

“That’s one hell of a walk, especially with three people,” I say.

“You think we packed these bags for fun?” Agatha asks. “You’re still very injured, so we’re coming with you to make sure you don’t die.”

“But you two don’t even know me,” I argue.

“Sure we do. Your name is Mofu, you sleep a lot, don’t eat a lot, and didn’t try to do anything to us,” Griselda says.

“Don’t try to argue, just accept it. We’re coming with you, and that’s that,” Agatha states. I sigh in compliance before heading out the door, beginning the long journey.

“So tell us more about these friends of yours,” Griselda says.

“Who do you want to hear about first?” I ask, a smile creeping onto my face.

“Let's start with Amelia,” Griselda responds.

“Amelia, what do you know about her?” I ask.

“Whatever you do,” Griselda commands.

“Ok… well, she’s a year older than me, and, supposedly, has a little brother fetish,” I start.

“Oh, so you’ve been getting busy,” Griselda laughs.

“Nah, we’re not like that,” I respond, scoffing at the idea.

“Why? That sounds like an easy target for you, you gay or something?” Griselda asks.

“No, nothing like that, just don’t see each other in that light,” I reply.

“You wish you guys did, though, am I right?”

“Anyways, she’s one tough cookie. A scary ass fighter, but a sweet girl really.”

“You completely dodged the previous question.”

“What question?”

“Do you like Amelia?”

“Why are you worried about it?”

“This is a long trip, anything could happen…” Griselda says, her hand sliding up my arm.

“Not right in front of me, hun,” Agatha calls out.

“See look, we even have my grandma’s permission,” Griselda coos.

“Well you’re in the green, Amelia and I are just friends,” I laugh.

“Alright, good to hear. What about Aku?”

“A funny ass guy. Very proactive, a real leap first look later type. Him and Amelia always get me into some deep shit.”

“Is he also dumb?”

“He thinks there’s a giant tentacle monster at the end of space, you tell me.”

“He could be right, you never know.”

“Alright, enough about me and my friends, I want to learn about you.”

“But we only talked about two of them.”

“Ok but I’ve slept under your roof for two days now and still know jack shit about you, so it’s your turn to get interrogated.”

“Go ahead, I’m an open book.”

“Okay… why do you live on the border of No Man’s Land?”

“My family are farmers, and the soil right on the border is the best in the country. We grow everything, so I never have to get a job.”

“But I didn’t see any animals or crops or anything like that.”

“My grandma’s house is separate from my parents. They have the farm and animals, but I didn’t live with them because tons of demons and weird creatures attacked the farm at night, so I’ve lived with my grandma for most of my life. My parents are retired Reflectors, so they defend the farm with ease at night, and we all work it during the day.”

“Wait, your parents are Reflectors?!”

“Yeah, they were born in 6500, and had me in 6993. They always tell me stories about The Mesa.”

“I’m actually a Reflector, all my friends are.”

“No shot, dude.”

“I’m serious, look.” I flash my left wrist, revealing my armament.

“No fucking way, grandma he isn’t lying!” Griselda exclaims.

“An amethyst at that, you’re a summoner?” Agatha asks.

“Yeah, how’d you know that?”

“I was the Head of The Mesa before Bruno. We only gave the best summoners amethysts, the only other one being Olympia. You have a korat too if I’m not mistaken,” Agatha explains.

“Yeah, I do. So you know…” I start.

“Yeah, I knew you were lying from the beginning, I just wanted to see how far you would take it,” Agatha laughs.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I yell.

“That wouldn’t be fun, now. It’s alright, you’re an extremely talented liar. You kept up with your story quite accurately,” Agatha says. “I also saw you all fall from the sky, so I already know where at least two of your friends are.”

“Wait, what?” I ask.

“I have earth magic, and I mastered it, so I can feel the rumblings on Earth’s crust if they’re strong enough. A landshark was running around in the desert, and literally nobody goes in the desert because of landsharks, so I’d bet at least two of your friends are there,” Agatha explains.

“So if I didn’t say anything, you would’ve let us walk all the way up to Lumitown?!” I scream.

“Well the other two could really be up there, so yes,” Agatha responds.

“Your nonchalant tone is really upsetting me right now,” I say.

“Relax Momo, we know where to go now. Look on the bright side,” Griselda says, patting me on the back. The impact sends waves of immense pain through my body, knocking me off my feet with ease. “Sorry, it completely slipped my mind.”

“God damn, that shit hurts,” I grunt. Agatha helps me back to my feet, her muffled snickers only fueling my frustration more. “Griselda, who the fuck is Momo?”

“You. It’s your nickname. Momo,” Griselda informs, pointing at me.

“My name has four letters in it, and your nickname has four letters in it, and the same amount of syllables. Why do I need a nickname, especially if you literally didn’t shorten it in any way,” I ask.

“Cuz I thought it was cute,” Griselda pouts, drawing in the dirt with her shoe.

“Momo, you really like to argue, huh,” Agatha teases.

“Don’t call me that,” I demand.

“Would you prefer Moey Mo?” Griselda asks, a question I choose to ignore.

“Ok, why are we just standing here? Let’s go to the desert and, hopefully, pick up my friends,” I say, retracing our steps back.

“Well can we leave after this fight?” Agatha asks.

“What fight?” I respond, annoyed.

“Behind you, Momo,” Griselda says. I turn to see a giant flock of ravens, their eyes all locked on me. “Doesn’t look like their the happiest that you escaped, Moey.”

“God fucking damnit! Fuck these birds, fuck the broken ass sky, fuck Bruno, fuck Amani, fuck The Genie, fuck me!” I yell, putting my left hand in front of me out of pure rage. I begin to cast, the familiar warmth congregating in my palm. “I wouldn’t be in this shit if Bruno wasn’t a dickhead trying to solve everything at once! No, I wouldn’t be in this shit if I never entered The Mesa, but I just had to play hero and save Amelia. Olympia just had to choose me, I was the only sorry bastard available! I couldn’t live my life because Olympia just fucking NEEDED to have me, there was no alternative, it was either me or the fucking world ended and everybody died. Well fuck the world, fuck Amelia, fuck Aku, fuck Sye, DEFINITELY fuck Amani, fuck everybody in The Mesa, and fuck me! Blood withdrawals have my head spinning, my back hurts every hour of the fucking day, my mask was shattered by a trash ass bitch and I’m tasked with saving everybody on the fucking planet! There is BILLIONS of warm, supple, fine bodies on this earth, but these bitch ass dumb no life desperate loser birds want to come fuck with MINE! GOD, FUCK ME!” I flex my forearm, sending thousands of giant lightning bolts in front of me, terraforming the forest.

“You alright there, champ?” Agatha asks, peering over my shoulder.

“Yeah, just needed to let off some steam,” I say, trying to catch my breath.

“Okay, well you burned the shit out of your arm in the process, so try to ventilate yourself in a safer way next time buddy,” Agatha says, patting my shoulder.

“Well, the ravens are nowhere to be seen, as well as the forest that was just here,” Griselda informs.

“Yeah, sure as hell hope none of the lightning bolts hit anyone, or anything important,” Agatha says.

“Alright, let’s start walking towards the desert now,” I say. I try to take a step forward, but the world tilts sideways, almost like gravity itself got bored. My body follows as my head smashes against the ground, knocking me unconscious. Fuck me.