Kicking Dust/Episode 7

Kicking Dust Episode 7 - Mission Nimbus!
Duster and Gampa infiltrate the former's hometown to fetch Nimbus back, though there may be some unexpected hurdles in the way.
==Scene 1==
Fractus and Nimbus are sitting at a table in their house. Nimbus looks rather tense, Fractus less so, though she appears somewhat unhappy.
:Nimbus: S-so… uhm… can you… tell me more about Diamond?
:Fractus: … of course. I had a feeling the conversation was going to pop up eventually. Diamond… Diamond was a Flydevin Warrior, a great one at that. He was swift and precise, which made him a great partner for me when combined with my strength and durability.
:Nimbus: I see…
:Fractus: That was a big reason for our marriage. We had thought an offspring between us two would combine our forces.
:Nimbus: That’s… I’m, uhm, not sure how I feel about that...
:Fractus: … Why is that so?
:Nimbus: Uhm… I just… I was e-expecting it to be something more… uhm, romantic?
:Fractus: That’s where you came in, Nimbus. As I was raising Duster to be a Flydevin Warrior, we got to know each other further. Your father, in private, was an ice artist, much like you. In a way, he lives on through you.
:Nimbus: Ah…
:Fractus: Much like Duster, your father was short, and didn’t quite like it when people reminded him of that fact. He wasn’t strong, but as I said, his swiftness and precision were unparalleled. While I was pregnant with you, he was fighting for your safety.
:Nimbus: I see…
:Fractus: … and then it happened one day. Diamond’s durability did not live up to his name. He was mortally injured in battle.
:Nimbus: O-oh…
:Fractus: A-and… that’s why I keep fighting. To… honor his legacy. To keep you safe. And to honor the legacy of Flydevin Warriors. M-many of them… die, or get injured, like him. We fight for our right, our prosperity.
:Nimbus: Right…
:Fractus: I think… you can see why your duty as an ice sculptor to honor them is so important.
:Nimbus: I see… uhm, but… Duster…
:Fractus: What about Duster?
:Nimbus: I wish… you were fighting for her, too… you, uhm… y-you don’t t-talk about her like she was y-your child. B-but she was. S-she’s my sister, too… and s-she was one of D-Diamond’s daughters, too…
Fractus steps back, seemingly shocked.
:Fractus: That’s… that’s…
Fractus was cornered. She couldn’t tell Nimbus that she actually kicked her out of the house, but she can’t keep up the lie of her just being at an hospital either, right…? For now, she decides to keep up the lie, however.
:Fractus: … I will. Once she’s out of the hospital.
:Nimbus: … can I visit Duster?
:Fractus: Uhh… I’m sorry. It’s, I’m sorry, not a hospital that accepts visitors.
:Nimbus: Ohhhh…
She looks disappointed.
==Scene 2==
It cuts back to just before the previous episode left off, with Gampa and Duster walking through a canyon, the Catus juice they’ve harvested in hand.
:Duster: If you want to get payback on Fractus, there may be something we could do. It’s risky, though.
:Gampa: Hmm… I’m interested. Do tell.
:Duster: Well… Fractus seems to care a lot about Nimbus, my sister. She’s always cared more about her than me. I guess she’s… more useful to her, since she’s forced to make ice sculptures of the Flydevin warriors. I… I just ended up not being close to the heir she wanted.
:Gampa: For the better!
:Duster: Right… so, what I was thinking is that we could fetch Nimbus from her home. With how my last conversation with my mother went, she’s probably terrified of her now, so we’d be doing her a favor. Meanwhile, it’d definitely hurt her…
:Gampa: Hmm… that does sound pretty interesting…
They appear to think.
:Duster: Only issue, is, uhm, sneaking in’s gonna be tough. Since I’m, y’know… exiled.
:Gampa: … ah, don’t worry about that! This actually fits squarely in my own plans.
:Duster: … plans?
:Gampa: Eeyup!
Gampa begins whispering things to Duster, too quietly for the camera to really pick up on them.
:Duster: … I see. That does sound like a good plan, yes…
:Gampa: … alrighty. Now, let’s dine, and then, let’s meet at the outskirts!
Duster nods, as the two begin turning back.
==Scene 3==
A timeskip occurs. Gampa and Duster are now hiding behind a dune next to the entrance of the latter’s hometown.
:Gampa: Alright, Duster. You still remember the plan?
Duster nods.
:Gampa: Alrightttt. Then, let’s get this show on the road!
Gampa crouches, before leaping upwards, onto walls bordering the town. They then jump into the town, striking a pose while producing a flash of lightning on their position. This surprises the surrounding people, most of which back away.
:Gampa: Grrrreeetings, fellow Flydevins!
:Flydevin Witness: An invader…?!
:Gampa: Invader? Fret not, I am no invader! I am one of yours.
:Flydevin Witness: Huh…?
:Gampa: I am the child of The Drizzler! And I’m here to call out Fractus on her crimes. And trust me…
They wave their hand around their face, as if to disperse a bad odor.
:Gampa: The stuff I’m about to tell’s really ugly!
The onlookers look confused, as Gampa marches proudly towards the center of the town, attracting more onlookers, which follow them.
Duster takes this occasion to sneak into the town, hiding in the alleys and making her way towards her house.
:Gampa: Alright, everyone… today, I’m about to drop a diss track on Fractus!
A large, heavy figure begins walking towards them, however.
:Figure: You will not be saying much today.
The camera turns around, to reveal Fractus.
:Gampa: Oh look! We have a special guest, today!
:Fractus: You are invading our hometown. I order you to leave - if you don’t, I will have to use force!
:Gampa: Ah yes! Like how you hit your daughter?
The crowd gasps in shock. Fractus looks offended.
:Fractus: I… I did no such thing! You dare enter our hometown to spread such lies?!
:Gampa: I mean, I belong to this town too, do I not? After all, you already conquered my home village! Knocked out my father with those… Smoke Winds of yours!
The crowd is surprised again, muttering things to themselves.
:Fractus: H-how… Smoke Winds? Ridiculous! Has the desert heat gotten to your head?!
:Gampa: Oh, I don’t need to worry about the heat, lady Fractus! I’m great at Dr-
:Fractus: I am no mere lady. I am the Flydevin General!
:Gampa: You know, that was actually a compliment. At least I’m not calling you a killer!
:Fractus: You dare reduce me to the level of a killer?! Yes, I have to fight in wars... For our rights. For our prosperity. For our safety.
:Gampa: Well, y’know, you aren’t keeping a lot of people safe by constantly starting fights!
:Fractus: Fights out of obligation. Not out of desire.
:Gampa: Right, because you couldn’t imagine doing diplomacy!
Gampa sticks their tongue at Fractus, before beginning to run away. Fractus sighs, and starts slowly following them.
:Fractus: W-what an immature, crazy child…
The camera then cuts to Duster, who has found her house. She looks around, to make sure Fractus isn’t around, and rings the door.
==Scene 4==
Nimbus is shown to be laying on her bed, with worry visible in her face, visibly thinking about the recent events. Then, she hears the sound of the house’s bell ringing, and quickly heads down. She gasps in shock upon seeing Duster at the door, and opens it.
:Nimbus: D-Duster?!
Duster puts a finger to her mouth to signal her to be quiet, and sneakily enters the house.
:Nimbus: I-I thought… y-you were… at a hospital…?!
:Duster: A hospital…? Wait, that’s what mom told you?
:Nimbus: Uhm… yes…?
:Duster: Cloudie… if I was gone, it’s because Fractus kicked me out. By force.
:Nimbus: W-what?
:Duster: Yup… and she slapped me, repeatedly. S-she… she threw me at the walls. She r-ripped off the stone wings I usually wear. She… she tried to hit me with her rock club. I r-ran after that.
Nimbus steps back, beginning to cry, terrified.
:Nimbus: S-she d-did all of t-that… t-to you…?
:Duster: Indeed she did…
:Nimbus: Oh… o-oh m-my gosh… D-Duster, I’m scared… w-why did s-she do that…?
:Duster: I confronted her about her misdeeds.
:Nimbus: I-it got r-really scary, I know...
Nimbus wipes some of her tears.
:Nimbus: S-she said s-she had to d-defend herself… b-but s-she was t-the one attacking y-you… I-I’m s-scared, D-Duster…
:Duster: That’s, uh… the reason I’m here…
She tries comforting Nimbus by petting her on the head.
:Duster: She doesn’t deserve you, Duster. You deserve… more safety than that. A-and, m-most importantly… I-I really missed you…
She hugs Nimbus, who hugs back, still scared.
:Nimbus: W-what a-are you g-gonna do…?
:Duster: W-we’ll be sneaking out. A friend I met is d-distracting Duster. We’ll be safe… I-I promise.
:Nimbus: A-alright…
Duster stops hugging Nimbus, and holds her hand out so she can grab it. Nimbus takes the hand, and Duster then sneaks out of the house with her sister.
==Scene 5==
The scene takes place outside again. Gampa has perched themselves on one of the walls of the town.
:Gampa: Allllright, violent Fractus! I’m gonna go, now!
:Fractus: Good. Don’t come back, or you will be jailed on the spot.
Gampa looks over the town, noticing Duster and Nimbus sneaking out of the town, smiling.
:Gampa: Oh, you really don’t have anything to worry about, Fractus! After all, you’re the one that’s going to miss us!
:Fractus: Us…?
Gampa jumps off the walls. Fractus looks around.
:Fractus: (Were they talking about…)
Fractus rushes towards her home, to the surprise of onlookers. She enters her house, and looks around.
:Fractus: … N-Nimbus?
No response. Worried, she goes upstairs, and slowly opens the door to Nimbus’s room.
:Fractus: NIMBUS?
She looks around, and finds that she is gone.
:Fractus: Nimbus? Nimbus?! Where are you? If this is a prank, p-please stop now!
She is shown to look in every room in the house, to no avail.
:Fractus: That person… t-they took away Nimbus! S-she’s in danger…!
She puts on her armor, and then gets out of the house. She flies up, looks towards where Gampa left, and then dashes at great speeds towards that direction.
The camera then pans down to show Beruli and Trida.
:Trida: … do you think they were saying the truth?
:Beruli: I don’t know. I mean, they seemed genuine enough, but… Smoke Winds? I’ve never heard of such a thing!
:Trida: Right...
==Scene 6==
Duster arrives at Gampa’s shelter, a scared Nimbus following.
:Nimbus: … t-this place doesn’t l-look very, uhm, cozy…
:Duster: Well… well, yeah, it was jarring for me too at first.
:Nimbus: You say y-you came here with a friend… b-but there’s o-only one thing that, uhm… looks like a bed?
:Duster: Yeah...
:Nimbus: Ohhh…
:Duster: We’ll, uh, probably be sleeping on the floor. You can take the bed.
:Nimbus: W-what? N-no, please, uhm, take the bed for yourself. I’ll be fine. I’m, uhm, basically wearing blankets right now.
Duster appears to think for a bit.
:Duster: Well, if you say so… you’re not exactly wrong, y’know. I’ve always thought Powder Winds outfits looked super comfortable.
:Nimbus: They are! I mean, y’all wear rocks. That can’t be comfortable!
:Duster: They, uh, ain’t actually rocks…
:Nimbus: I know. But it looks like some!
:Duster: Fair enough, I guess…
:Nimbus: So, uhm, mom told me about what dad was like… I-I didn’t, uhm, like the way she was talking about you, though. She was, uhm, talking about you like you were just made to be some, uhm, weapon.
:Duster: Right… I’ve... suspected that, actually.
:Nimbus: S-she looked so shocked when I told her, uhm, I’d like it if she treated you the same way she treats me…
:Duster: She probably can’t bear that thought… it’s much too late for her to apologize for any of what she’s done, and she knows it.
Nimbus stays silent for a bit.
:Nimbus: Dustie. Is… uhm, is Fractus a bad person…?
:Duster: … yes.
Nimbus stays silent for a bit longer.
:Nimbus: Am I a bad person?
:Duster: W-wh… no, of course not! You’re innocent. Fractus has killed people for the sake of power.
:Nimbus: Ah…
:Duster: You’re just an ice sculptor, being tricked into making sculptures you don’t want to make…
:Nimbus: But, uhm, don’t they fight for our sake? Our safety?
Duster takes a deep breath.
:Duster: Cloudie… they’re the ones starting the fights in the first place. If they didn’t, there would be no fights.
:Nimbus: Oh… ooohhhh…
The two stay silent for a while, Nimbus visibly thinking about these new facts. That is, until distant footsteps are heard, followed by the entrance of Gampa.
:Duster: Heya, Gampa.
:Gampa: Yo! So… this is Nimbus, eh?
:Nimbus: Uhm, hi. Yes!
:Gampa: Nice to meetcha, Nimbus! I’m Gampa Pararain!
They hold a hand out for a handshake. Nimbus hesitantly shakes it.
:Gampa: You’re a shy one…
:Duster: I mean, yeah, she just met you and got thrusted out of her normal life…
:Gampa: Fair point. Anyhow, welcome to my den, Nimbus.
:Nimbus: Duster, they scare me.
Gampa just stands there for a second, before reeling back.
:Gampa: Ow… I-I’m not scary, I’m eccentric.
:Duster: Yeah, don’t worry about it too much. They’re a goofball.
Gampa pauses again.
:Nimbus: Hmm… Gampa was the name, wasn’t it?
:Gampa: Eeyup!
:Nimbus: Uhm, got it. Then, I’ll call you… Grampa!
Gampa looks offended, but chuckles at the same time.
:Gampa: Alright, that’s it! Duster, contain your sister.
Nimbus giggles. Duster stands up straight.
:Duster: Alright, Nimbus. If you don’t stop, I’m taking the pos-
Nimbus immediately stops giggling. Duster then whispers to Gampa.
:Duster: She has a fear of scarecrows… she gets scared if you take the pose of one.
:Gampa: Wait, are you saying she’s afraid of T-Poses?!
:Nimbus: I-it’s not funny! Uhm, scarecrows really creep me out, can you, uhm, not joke about it?
:Gampa: … fine. I won’t.
:Nimbus: T-thanks… so, uhm, what will we be eating?
:Gampa: Catus juice!
:Nimbus: … wait, Catus are REAL?! Gimme!
Gampa smiles, the episode ending on this note.
Category:Episodes
Category:Poisonshot