The day was young, as Umi wrestled around with the children Grubbs.
Stranger stood high upon the hill, watching the children have their share of fun in the snow, making forts, and having snowball fights.
But as he watched, laughing along with the excited children, he couldn't stop thinking of the dream.
Would what he saw come true? As the voice said?
No, it wouldn't, he kept to himself.
Not as long as he was there.
But would he always be there? To watch Umi, and make sure she was out of trouble?
Without a doubt, he hoped, that he would keep a keen eye on her, until they were safe. From whatever antagonized him in his thoughts.
"A'ight, kid," Stranger stared up at the sky, turning a corrosive blue against lavender and orange from whence the sun last stood.
The evening took over quickly. Like what people said before, "Time flies when you have fun".
"Time ter come in!"
Umi snapped up from the children gathered around her, burrying her under snow.
They all whined and groaned up to Stranger, Umi giving off an innocent face.
"Can't she stay out fer just a little longer?" the children pleaded.
Stranger, stubborn to his word, shook his head.
"Sorry, kids. She got'a go in," he thumbed behind him.
"Aww, please, Stranger? It felt like only 2 hours!" Umi whined.
Stranger just shook his head.
Umi sighed roughly, unburrying herself under the snow, and waving to the Grubbs good-bye.
She trotted up by Stranger, giving a harsh glare to him.
He only placed a hand on her shoulder.
"'Dun give me that look," he told.
"Just thinkin' you stayin' out 'ere might get yer cold back,"
Umi's face slowly softened back, her head then drooping back down.
"You sure know how'ta ruin the fun..." she mumbled, following him back up to the hut.
He gave a playful chuckle.
"I sure do," he laughed.
Umi snorted, lunging at his back, and wrapping her arms around his chest.
"What'cha say?" she growled.
He laughed.
"I said I sure do," he began to run up the hill to the door.
Umi skidded her heels in the slick snow, attempting to stop Stranger from running.
"Stop, Stranger. I'm gonna fall..." she mumbled.
He skidded to a stop, plucking her arms from around his chest, and turning to her.
"What'cha say?" he gave a crafty grin.
Umi's nose crinkled angrily.
"Yeh, yer funny," she swatted lightly at his face.
He chuckled at her anger, giving her a quick squeeze.
"I'm just playin'. 'Dun need's to get so aggrivated 'bout it," he told.
He held her hand in his giant palm, leading her to the door of their small home.
But the only reason why he needed to make sure that they were well-rested for tomorrow, was the special day.
The day of theirn bonding, was right around the corner...
DAY SIX...
Ok. Got's my armor, good 'n clean...
He was awake, not even near the break of dawn, gathering his needs and things to leave out of his home down to Last Legs.
But he had to do it, quietly.
For on the couch, sleeping in one large winding lump, was Umi, sleeping soundlessly under the covers.
He held everything he needed under his arm, then slowly tip-toed back in to the kitchen. He gazed upon in to the front room, a gentle smile rolling across his face.
Today was the day, that he would cherrish for the rest of his life.
But hopefully, it wouldn't be a shock to Umi.
He looked away, holding tightly under his arms, and heading for the door. He creaked it open quietly, stepping out in the snow, and giving a quick shiver of the frostiness touching his foot.
He shut the door without a large thump, then turned out through the village on the snowy hillside.
The sky was turning a lighter shade of blue, dissolving the stars that sparkled brightly in the sky.
He headed towards the docks, carefully treading on the dock, for water had splashed on it overnight, and frozen over.
He stepped lightly in to his boat, nearly invisible of sight with the deep darkness of the river.
The water broke off from its frozen state around the boat, floating aloft out towards the deeper middle of the Mongo River, half frozen over.
He rowed through the thicker ice, heading out again towards the river's path to Last Legs, with only excitement swelling in his chest.
Today was it.
He would be the legal father of one he loved so deeply.
Bang!
'The hell?'
Bang bang!
'Damn that's annoying...'
BANG!
"GO AWAY!"
The banging continued, irritating her deep to the core.
Whatever lurched at the door at this time of morning was crazy to even bother the creature of hate right now, snoozing lightly under the covers, and hiding from the evils of morning.
BANG BANG!
'UMI! WAKE UP, LET US IN!' a voice outside shouted.
She growled, whipping off the covers from her frazzled, statical-shocked hair sticking up in a swirl of messy hair.
"GO AWAY!" she shouted.
'Now you listen to me, young lady! You open this door without grouching to me in that tone!' the female voice spoke firmly, in a motherly tone.
"Why d'you have ter bother me so early?" Umi said whining.
''cause! We have to go! NOW!'
Umi flopped out of bed, stamping up to the door, unlatching it from its lock, and swung open the door.
The Rebel Leader stood, with arms on her hips, and a firm face up to the groggy human.
"Why, d'you have ter bother me, on a Saturday morning?" she griped.
The Rebel Leader frowned in surprise.
"Ok, a few things," she forced Umi back in the house, and slammed the door shut.
"One; Get dressed in your new clothes," she bent a finger out.
"Two; Your hair is a total mop!"
Umi patted her head, feeling the whipped-up head of hair in a messy do.
She groaned, rubbing her forehead.
"Right now?"
The Rebel Leader nodded her head sternly.
"Oh...fine. Ok, I'll go," she trotted stiffly in to the wardrobe, picking off her new clothes, and slowly dressing herself.
The Rebel Leader tapped her foot impatiently, holding her arms across her chest.
"Any time now, Umi!" she shouted.
"Oh, shut up. I'm moving..." Umi growled from inside the bedroom.
She trotted out, still half-asleep, in her new clothes.
The Rebel Leader tsked in pity.
"Ok. Sit yerself down. I'm-a get rid of those knots," she told.
"You'd better be gentle. I'm tender-headed," Umi warned grouchily.
But, as if everyone ignored her, the Rebel Leader didn't heed her warning.
She grunted in pain, as the Rebel Leader forcefully pulled down Umi's head, and brushing out the knots tied in her frizzy hair.
"What did-OW-I tell you!?" Umi nearly yelled.
"Put a sock in it! I'm almost done!' she spat.
But that 'I'm almost done' lasted nearly an extra 15 minutes. An extra fifteen minutes Umi had to endure tearing pain at her scalp.
The Rebel Leader dropped the brush, giving a relieved sigh.
Umi's hair was flat, but yet, a little unruly. But it would pass.
She stood Umi up, inspecting her from side to side, then nodded.
Umi raised a brow suspiciously to her.
"What's the rush?" she asked.
The Rebel Leader looked up to Umi.
"I'll tell you when we head down to Last Legs," she said.
"Now, c'mon. Out, out, out! Get to the boats!" she flicked her wrists at Umi out the door.
Umi frowned irritatingly down to her, as she pushed her out the door.
"Quit it, would ya!?" Umi told, the Rebel Leader slamming the door, and turning to her.
"No time! We're gonna be late!" she rushed, grabbing Umi's arm, and running down the hill straight to the docks.
Umi was first to step in, as the Rebel Leader plopped down, and nodded to two Grubbs operating the oars.
They heaved the oars in unison outwards, backing the ship up out to the river, and rowing swiftly with the current.
The Rebel Leader gave a rash sigh, leaning her head back on the edge of the boat, and staring high in the light-lavender sky.
Umi placed a palm on her chin, looking at the relaxed Grubb.
"So..." she began.
"What was all the ruckus? What's goin' on?"
The Rebel Leader looked up to the human, then a soft smile rolling across her lips. She scooted towards Umi on her knees, holding one of her hands in both of hers.
"Umi," shelooked up to her with gentle purple eyes.
"I know this may be a bit...shocking..."
Umi listened intently, keeping her face rock-hard with no expression.
"But...the Steef..."
I knew it had to do something with Stranger... Umi thought.
"...has agreed..." she stopped in mid-sentence, searching for her words.
Well? Agreed to what? she thought impatiently.
The Rebel Leader looked back up to Umi.
"...to bond with you,"
Umi's brows furrowed down confusingly.
"I-I don't get what you say," she told.
"Look, hun. The Steef wants to be your legal guardian. He's agreed to state a bonding ceremony, where you two can become, 'legal', father and daughter," she explained.
Umi's jaw began to hang down slightly.
What a shock she was in, as the Rebel Leader would think.
"Umi?" she asked gently.
"H-h-he wants...to be, my..." she swallowed.
"my dad?"
The Rebel Leader nodded.
She sat in shock and awe. She couldn't believe this. And after all this time, she thought Stranger was up to someting bad, or somewhat.
But it was pointing out the obvious;
Stranger leaving every morning, new clothes, the rush...
The Rebel Leader smiled down from Umi, stroking her hand gently.
"I know," she spoke softly.
"He loves you that much, Umi,"
The thought dampened her thoughts with awe. This had to be the sweetest thing Stranger had ever done to her.
Finally, she would have a thought of where she belonged, why she had a purpose when she landed on Oddworld.
She was meant to be with Stranger.
And he was meant to find her.
That was her destiny.
She broke out of her shock, looking down to the Rebel Leader, she smiling kindly up to Umi.
"This is gonna be one helluva day..." Umi whispered.
The Rebel Leader nodded in agreement.
"Yep. Sure will," she whispered back.
Scratching the back of his neck, Stranger continued to look out and back through the pavillion flaps, a nervous look on his face.
The Queen, however, couldn't help but supress a laugh, a childish smile creeping onher face.
"Steef!" she laughed.
"Why are you pacing so much? Please keep calm, or you'll lose youself at the ceremony,"
Stranger turned to her, a pleading look on his face.
"I'm sorry, ma'am. I'm just so...damn nervous," he scratched the back of his neck again.
She chuckled, walking up to him, and wrapping her arms around his hand.
"I know. So am I," she whispered.
"But that doesn't mean you should be,"
Stranger gave her a confusing look.
"Look on the bright side, Steef. Umi will be your lawfully bonded daughter. To forever love, keep, and cherrish, emotionally, spiritually, and physically," she said.
Stranger dropped his arm to his side, giving a more relxed grin down to her.
"Thanks, m'lady. That made me feel ton's better," he sighed, looking out the pavillion flaps again.
"But...how long will it take them ter get's 'ere?"
The Queen shrugged.
"Who knows. Maybe they're almost here," she said.
Good... he thought.
[/i]'cause these tights'r ridin' up me legs...[/i]
He moved uncomfotably from the tightness of his blue tights, along with his armor he shown off when he defeated Sekto. It was a symbol of pride, protection, and liberty. To the Grubbs, and to himself.
A heavy grudge set upon him taken out.
Or was it?
His heart jumped, as he saw the faint outline of a boat riding up to shore.
They're here
The Queen patted his arm.
"Just play cool, Steef," her voice became stern.
"Don't hide what you feel. Or it'll get back at you,"
He nodded reassuringly to the Queen, as she set off from the Pavillion, down to the docks.
She gave a greetful smile to the Rebel Leader and to the human sitting with her.
"Welcome!" she raised her arms.
The male Grubbs docked the boat to the stake in the riverbed.
The Rebel Leader stepped out, holding Umi's hand, as she followed.
The Queen ran up to the human, grabbing her hand.
"I hope our dear friend here has informed you," she glanced at the Rebel Leader.
She gave a reassuring nod to her.
"I hope you're excited, young Umi," the Queen looked back to Umi.
"Steef's quite the frazzled one today..." she glanced back to the Pavillion.
Umi gave a huff, a grin spreading across her face.
"Yeah," she spoke.
"So am I,"
All three of them trekked up to the Pavillion, entering the warm tent, and hiding from the frosty outside.
The Queen glanced out the Pavillion's entrance, a crowd of chilled Grubbs in snow jackets sitting outside patiently for the ceremony to commence.
"Good. We're all in order," the Queen slapped her hands together, glancing at Umi.
"Where's Stranger?" Umi asked.
"He's with the Best Lady," she said.
"Huh!?" she gave a bewildered look.
The Queen laughed.
"The Best Lady is the one that takes you to the Steef, arm in arm," she said.
Is this like a wedding!?
"Now I have to find the Seer...wherever that geezer has wandered off-Rebel!" she called.
"Can you find me Guru Daedlus?"
The Rebel Leader gave a thumbs-up to her, and ran off through the village.
She gave a relieved sigh.
"That's the only thing we're missing..."
She looked to Umi, she having her arms around her chest, and looking away a bit unnerved.
"Umi? What seems to be the matter?" she approached her.
"I'm...just a bit...nervous," Umi replied.
"Oh, don't be!" she smiled, walking up to her.
"What I told Steef, you shouldn't be! He'll be your father, to learn from and to love! And I know you're happy about that,"
Umi looked in to the Queen's lavender eyes.
She's been looking for a father-figure for a very long time. Almost despirately. And she has found one at last. After her years of searching.
"Yeah," Umi nodded.
A patter of crunching snow entered the Pavillion.
The Rebel Leader returned with the Guru of the city; Seer Daedlus, the wisest of the Western Mudos.
"'ere's the ol' coot, Queen-y," the Rebel Leader smiled.
"Ah, sir Daedlus. So glad of you to join us," she greeted.
"And to you, madam," he bowed his head, and returning with a wrinkly smile.
"Alright, alright. 'nuff with the fancy-doings. Let's get this ceremony started," the Rebel Leader snapped.
"Very well. Daudlus, to the pasture, please," the Queen led him out through the Pavillion, and through the line of Grubbs sitting beside the line.
Umi stood alone in the Pavillion, peeking through the flaps outside to the Grubbs.
A patter of small footsteps trotted to the opening.
Umi turned to the opening.
And came through the flaps was Jala, dressed in a long-skirted jade-green dress.
"Jala!" Umi smiled.
"Hey, Umi!" she greeted.
They both gave themselves a friendly hug.
"What're you doin' 'ere?" Umi asked.
"Oh, I'm the Best Lady," she said.
"Really!" Umi exclaimed.
"Yeah, and I'm real glad I could be a part of your ceremony,"
A hushed silence rolled among the crowd outside.
Umi and Jala scooted to the flaps of the Pavillion, peeking through to the crowd.
The pasture, Seer Daedlus, had his arms up to the crowd, his pope-like robe rolling down his wrinkled arms.
"May I have your attention, please!" he announced, his voice stronger than everyone thought.
The crowd grew silent, not even a whisper heard.
The Seer dropped his arms on the pasture, gazing upon the crowd with a grin of confidence.
"Today, I shall be legally bonding two loving souls together as father and daughter. A young human and the guardian of the Tribes. Although, I think it's awkward that such a creature is bonding to a loyal Steef," he said, then looking down on the slant pasture.
"And I shall announce them by the following. May the Steef please step out," his arm forwarded to a Pavillion beside the crowd.
All heads turned to the Pavillion, the flaps parting, and showing off Stranger, the Steef, in his blue armor.
He began to stride down the lane to the pasture alone, his chest out, and a smile on his face.
The Grubbs smiled to him, nodding their heads encouraging.
He stopped in front of the pasture, the Seer giving him a reassuring smile.
"And now," his arm moved to the Pavillion behnd the crowd.
"I'm pleased to announce, Umi, the human who shall be bonded to the Steef,"
Silence rolled over excited whispers, all heads turning to the Pavillion behind them. Even Stranger urged himself to turn.
"That's us. Hold my arm," Jala whispered, wrapping her arm around Umi's.
The flaps parted, revealing themselves to the crowd's stare.
Both the girls strode out, supressing a smile to the Grubb's eyes of awe.
Stranger grinned happily, as the human took down the lane.
So far, yet so close was she.
Jala and Umi stopped by Stranger, Jala releasing Umi's arm, and giving a respectable bow to both, and standing aside by the pasture.
Umi and Stranger looked to each other, both giving each other a joyful smile. They turned back to the Seer, looking down at his book open wide.
He glanced back up, looking directly to Stranger.
"Steef," he addressed.
"Such a long time we've spent together, you looking out for our village, and defeating the evil taking over our home, and our hearts. We are forever thankful of that, Steef. We shall always remember you as a loyal guardian of the Grubb tribes," he bowed his head.
The crowd gave off a few cheers, then dimmed down, looking to the human.
Daedlus looked down to Umi, a gentle smile appearing under his folds of skin over his mouth.
"And dear Umi, the most oddest-looking creature ever found," he said.
"You've proven yourself to be a legendary part of a Steef guardian's life. An important part in his life, you have shown. And to be a loyal savior of the Grubbs. I've heard of you saving the child's life for your own," he glanced out in the audience, seeing the child in the mother's arms blushing down from his gaze.
"That is the most daring feat I've ever seen," he went back to Umi.
"I'm glad that you've decided to become one with the Steef," he raised his arms.
The crowd roared of cheers, clapping and whistling.
His arms slowly went back down, and the crowd died down.
"Now. I shall begin this...very quick process..." he dipped down in to his book in front of him, turning the crisp, crackling paper pages over to the page he desired.
He went back to both, holding his folded hands on the page, and addressing to Stranger.
"Steef,"
Stranger's eyes locked on to the Seer's wise gaze.
"Do you take, this human...to be your lawfully bonded daughter? To love and to take care of, in sickness and in wealth. To teach, and to learn from, forever, in life?"
Stranger looked down to Umi, his throat clogging with words.
He wanted to express what he really felt, but causing a dramatic scene in front of a crowd wasn't what he had in mind.
"Yes. I do," he looked back to the Seer.
He then turned to Umi, his eyes gentle upon her nervous stare.
"And you, Umi,"
She snapped to attention to him, her gaze fixed easily upon him.
"To have Steef, be your lawfully bonded father. To be loved, and to learn from. To act upon and have in wellness, forever in your life?"
Umi looked down, her throat clogging as well. She couldn't get it out, her shyness growing stronger.
Get over it, Umi. Be strong she thought.
She snapped back up to him.
"I do," she nearly croaked.
The Seer gave her a confident smile, encouraging her from fear.
His hands laid softly upon his book, slowly closing it, but stopping at end.
"Very well," his voice grew grave, glancing at them under his eyes.
"I now can proudly announce you both..."
The crowd grew tense, holding in their urges to hoot and hollar.
"...lawfully bonded. You may hug each other, and all the lovey-dovey things fathers and daughters do," he waved his wrist around, and slapped his book together, sealing the process.
The audience bursted out in excited cheers, jumping up and raising arms.
Umi and Stranger looked at each other for a long moment, then Stranger knelt down to Umi.
The crowd dimmed to a near silence, watching in suspense.
His eyes looked down from Umi, she doing the same. He then looked back up, his eyes growing brighter.
"Umi," he said quietly.
She hesitated to look at him, but broke the fight to keep herself down, and looked up to him.
"Yes?" she said timidly.
The audience was silent.
Stranger's lip curled in to a smile, his mouth opening to the words he really wanted to say.
"All the time, I've been dying to say this..."
Umi listened only to him.
His eyes looked back up to her.
"I love you,"
Her heart sank, and her lip quivered. Tears sprung to her eyes. She lunged herself on to Stranger, wrapping her arms tightly around him, and sobbing, rubbing her face on his shoulder.
"I love you, too," she cried.
Stranger's arms crawled around her back, and lifted her up off the ground.
The audience bursted out in awe, hollering cheerfully at the Steef and human embracing each other.
Umi wanted to savor the moment forever, be stuck in the melacholny moment.
His embrace grew tighter, tears also streaking down his cheeks. How much he loved the human was more stronger than before. He truely loved her to death, to the point he'd die for her.
The crowd didn't die. The excitement was too much to supress themselves.
The Seer and the Queen stood by each other, smiling and almost feeling to cry with both.
Jala, however, was bawling, wiping hier eyes with her arms, in the happiest moment she witnessed. She was proud that Umi and Stranger were going to be happy together.
Daedlus leaned to the Queen, a smile growing.
"You know what this means now, ma'am," he whispered.
The Queen nodded.
"But let's give them a while, sir," she replied back.
"You know if we approach them quickly, they'll be heart-broken,"
The Seer nodded in understandment.
"I know. When winter almost passes to spring, we shall inform them," he said.
"Very good, sir," the Queen nodded.
She began to clap along with the jumping crowd, smiling kindly upon the Steef and Umi still embracing.
Stranger nuzzled his nose deep in to Umi's hair, then pulled away from her, looking deep in to her eyes. His eyes shone brightly of tears.
That only made Umi cry more.
"I love you so much..." he brushed her bangs from her forehead.
She nodded, wiping her eyes of tears rolling down her cheeks.
His hand cupped around her chin, and wiping her cheeks with his thumb gently. He moved forward, pressing a kiss on her forehead, and closing his eyes deeply.
He was more than happy, to show how much he cared for Umi, how much he loved her. For she would know, instead of keeping it to himself in shyness.
Their adventure was only beginning. Who knows what dangers and perils awaited them in the wonders of Oddworld.
But they knew, deep in their hearts, they had each other, to look after, and to make sure they were in check.
The Seer nodded, knowing what awaited for the newly-bonded couple. And all he hoped for was the best out of them, for it was the only thing he could do, for them to fulfill themselves.
There is a road in the hearts of all of us.
Hidden and seldom traveled.
Which leads us to an unknown, secret place
|
I love the last one - yer get the athonomy of the body well done, great work
I liked it keep 'em chapters comin'
Very great Story!) Anyway, it will takes a long time till page 33, because my English isn't perfect. 
I'm ashamed. 
*hugs everyone and cries hysterically*