#blake.writes

“Boboiboy, are you alright?” Yaya asks, a steadying hand on his shoulder as she looks over to his expression, concern is all over her own.

“Just a little nervous, is all.” Boboiboy admits as they approach the castle grounds, where already, there was an army awaiting them, “but nothing I can’t handle.”

The ship eventually docks at the landing pad where the guards immediately all point their weapons at them.

Gopal, as in-character as ever, cowers.

“Agh—just look at all the guns they’re wielding!” He exclaims, shakily pointing to the alien technology, far more advanced than any they had ever seen, aimed directly at their door. And Boboiboy also winces at the sight of all those nozzles pointed right at them.

Eventually, one hand raises and lowers itself, and the guns all draw down. The soldiers still keep it close to them, fingers by the trigger in case they try anything wrong.

“Eesh, talk about a warm welcome…” Ying comments as she looks at the person who called them down; someone with red-wired hair, a visor that glows an ominous red, and a grin that could only be described as shark-like with how menacing it is. Next to her, is a behemoth of a man whose helmet covered the upper half of his face, posed stoically, a cold sort of intimidating.

Boboiboy swallows a lump in his throat he didn’t know was there, but he gives his friend a reassuring smile, “Just don’t try anything you guys, and don’t be afraid, I won’t let you guys get hurt.”

Banded together, the doors to the ship lower down, and the short, wire-haired one’s grin somehow grows wider, making Boboiboy ever so uneasy.

They head down slowly, careful to not make any sudden movements. Even with Ochobot trembling behind him, Boboiboy remains firm as he looks forward bravely.

The wire-haired one steps forward, and greets them with a flourish. Still, it doesn’t make them any less uneasy.

“Greetings, Boboiboy and friends…” She greets them as she raises herself up, her mildly terrifying grin has yet to leave her expression, “I am General Sa’riya, I am…honored to meet you.”

“...Same.” Boboiboy responds, slightly bowing his head, but those brown eyes are always on her.

“Not someone who wastes time, good. Allow me to escort you to Her Royal Highness, Princess Kira’na.”

—

The throne room of the Imperial Palace was somehow more imposing than the outside. The red banners of the Gur’latan Empire hung high upon the ceiling, but the room was so very cold. One half of the room was completely covered in shadow, while the other lit by the starlight, giving it a cold, unsettling menace.

And at the very end of all this, seated high above her throne, was Princess Kira’na, current de facto ruler of the Queendom of Gur’latan. She was a beautiful woman, but her face was cold with a silent conviction.

Nevertheless, Boboiboy and his friends stepped up to the throne and bowed politely—well, Gopal went into a kowtow while Ochobot had to physically lower himself to the ground—but the action was received nevertheless, as the princess motioned for them to rise.

“...So you’re Boboiboy.” She finally says after a long time.

“...Yes, I am.” Boboiboy responds back.

…

“I expected someone more…confident.” Is all Kira’na says after resting her head against her hand, looking down at the poor human who never backed down from her gaze. She sits back properly, “I assume you are here to negotiate for the PBB’s release?”

“Yes.” Yaya responds to Boboiboy's behalf, her tone is as hopeful as ever, “Princess Kira’na, those people you captured, they are highly important people back on their home planets. Keeping them here as hostages will do no good for the planets only now recovering from each of their respective issues.”

Kira’na seems to consider their answer, her fingers gently tapping against the armrest of her chair, before she sighs.

“Miss Yaya, with all due respect, they are not being kept here against their will, I am just…giving them the time they need to consider my plans.”

“Your plans?” Boboiboy asks.

“My plans to unite the Galaxy under the Gur’latan Empire, of course.”

…

They expected this answer. There had already been various small incursions on the other planets between them and Gur’latan forces. The Guruhan Army made quick work on areas less defended than others on those planets, and have established a small but secure presence on each of them, sending a pretty clear message; they will not leave.

“...With all due respect, Your Highness, those planets don’t want to be conquered—” Ying tries to explain, but Kira’na stops her with a hand.

“It does not have to be subjugation if they willingly agree to fly Gur’latan’s banners.” Kira’na retorts, “I can assure them the protection that they need while they rebuild their nations, guarantee their safety, make sure nothing could ever come to harm them.”

Gopal doesn’t seem to agree, “Dey, that’s already TAPOPS’ job—”

The glare she levels him makes him shout in a panic and hide behind Boboiboy, who feels sweat drip down his temple as he sees the grip she has on her armrests turn deadly.

“Ah yes, TAPOPS,” her voice barely restrains her anger, voice booming like the thunder emblem that decorates the wall behind her, “The organization that failed to protect my home when we needed it. The organization that time and time again, consistently falls to threats like the Space Pirates and Retak’ka, who prioritized saving their resources instead of fulfilling their mission of protecting the galaxy.”

“Yes, they’ve been doing a good job now, haven’t they?”

…

Boboiboy could tell immediately this was personal. They had received reports that while the PBB delegates have been treated somewhat well in prison, Commander Koko Ci not so much.

“...But, I am willing to let go of them.”

“Really?” Boboiboy brightens, maybe she could be reasoned with after all.

“Yes, really.” Kira’na replies, cold as ever, as she points to them, “just give up your Power Bands and all your Power Spheras, and we can let you and the delegates go.”

…

“Y-you’re crazy, lady!” Ying exclaims, suddenly finding her hand on her own Power Band protectively, “that would just be giving you an easier time conquering planets and intimidating any future ones to surrender!”

“Besides, we need them to protect the galaxy and our home ourselves!” Yaya adds, hand against her heart, pleading.

“And you think I can trust those powers to children?” Kira’na answers back, as she stands up from her throne, “children who do not fully grasp the responsibility of wielding such incredible might? Children who could become corrupted by it? Children—” her gaze levels to Boboiboy, who flinches at the hatred in her eyes, “who can become power-hungry monsters like Retak’ka?”

Boboiboy feels his heart drop.

“Dey! Boboiboy isn't like that and he knows it, right Boboiboy?” Gopal tries to shake a response out of him, but nothing, as Boboiboy looks down, “Boboiboy…?”

She’s not wrong.

There were moments where he nearly fell to the temptations of wielding such powers. His mind especially conjured memories back to his time back in Windara, when he had first transformed into Beliung. The power was so sickeningly sweet, the bliss of easily beating down the mutated tyrant with the gusts of winds he wielded was euphoric. In his own sense of elation, he had failed to realize how dangerous his winds were becoming to his own friends and allies, and how much of a risk he became at that moment.

Kira'na scoffs, “...even your fearless leader seems to agree with my sentiment. And yet I can only presume that you won't agree to my terms.”

“...we won't.” Boboiboy concludes, looking up determined, “I'll admit, we'll face problems with our powers, but I know that we have each other to help one another if we ever lose our way!”

A small click of the tongue sounds from somewhere, and poor Ochobot managed to pick up on it. He looks around in utter confusion, but finds no one else in there besides them and Princess Kira'na.

The Princess meanwhile, sighs, disappointed, “Here you all are, defending an incompetent organization that barely functions on its own, whose forces are spread out so thinly they failed at their mission of protecting the Galaxy,” each word that escapes Kira'na is more cutting than the last, “who have to rely on naive children, whose powers don't even belong to them in the first place, who don't understand the true gravity of their powers…”

“And you're telling me that with those dire circumstances, the Galaxy wouldn't fare better in the hands of the Gur'latan Empire?”

…

“Princess Kira'na, your Highness, with all due respect…I understand your frustrations.” Boboiboy manages to say despite the heavy silence, there's a hesitantly hopeful smile on his face, “TAPOPS isn't the best, but wanting it to disband under the guise of serving as better protection? You're looking for an excuse to have no obstacle in your path so that you can have free leeway to conquer the Galaxy.”

Kira'na raises a brow at his accusation.

“TAPOPS will have its limits, Your Highness, but at the end of the day, we manage to pull through each and every time!” Yaya adds once more, “Surely that must count for something!”

“Yeah! We saved a lot of Power Spheras and people—if you don't believe our word, believe in what we managed to achieve!” Gopal grins rather confidently despite the terror that's making his legs shake.

“All of this—we couldn't have done without TAPOPS help.” Boboiboy pleads, voice loud and clear, “surely that counts for something, right?”

…

Kira'na sighs. “Perhaps, but the word of children being run by an organization like TAPOPS is moot.” Kira'na sits back down on her throne, crossing her legs, “But there is something respectable about your blind loyalty, so I propose a deal.”

Kira'na's hands point towards Boboiboy.

“I shall put you through a series of trials then, where Boboiboy can prove to me his worth of keeping his elemental powers. If he wins…I'll stop the invasion, but if he loses, his powers are mine.”

Boboiboy looks up nervously, a series of trials? That should be easy enough, but it sounds…too good to be true. Boboiboy can already see gaps in her plan. Either this was hastily made up just now, or it means something else.

He's cut off by his train of thought by Gopal, who wraps his arm around his shoulders and gives a thumbs up to nowhere in particular, “Hah! Easy-peasy for a guy like Boboiboy, he's got this!”

Ying stomps on his foot and he immediately wails

“Shut your mouth…!” she hisses at Gopal, who's clutching his foot and rolling in the ground in agony.

“He's right, Your Highness, your proposal would be too easy.”

A deep voice from nowhere echoes, and everyone except Kira'na looks around in surprise. They didn’t even notice someone else was here!

Ochobot immediately notices, “In the shadows!”

Someone walks out of the shadows that loom over the other half of the throne room, and it wasn’t a normal sort of reveal, the shadows unfurl around him like a flower blooming, peeling off his form, as they take measured steps towards Kira'na, who has a proud smile gracing her features.

The man who exited those very shadows had uncharacteristic purple spiky hair, dressed in the same royal garb as the rest of the people of Gur'latan they had seen. But unlike the other inhabitants, his skin was pale, his hands tipped in dark purple, as if the shadows he had just left had tainted them.

But the thing that shocked them was his gauntlet; a Power Band fitted onto it, which had everyone staring in shock.

Everyone turns to Ochobot, who holds his hands up in surrender immediately.

“D-don’t look at me! I don’t remember anything before Boboiboy, remember?!”

The poor Power Sphera goes to cower behind Boboiboy nevertheless, and Boboiboy places a hand on his head.

The man bows in front of Princess Kira'na, and her smile turns into something fond as she motions for him to rise.

“General Pang,” Kira'na greets, and the man—General Pang—turns around to face the gang. Unlike the other two generals they had just met, the upper half of his face is only covered by electric-blue tinted visors, matching Kira'na's red ones. His handsome expression is stern, the curve of his frown is severe, as he looks down upon the group with tight posture befitting a soldier; with his arms behind his back and back straight.

This one is much different compared to the other two. Boboiboy thinks to himself as his eyes follow the other. Too casual for a General, but too armored for royalty. Not to mention…

His eyes briefly flit over to Princess Kira’na, and she sees clear pride and fondness in her eyes.

They must be close.

General Pang’s eyes meet Boboiboy's roaming eyes, and Boboiboy flinches at the vitriol swirling in his unnaturally-colored slitted eyes. He's never seen someone hate him so much, and they've just met…!

“What is he right about?” Kira'na asks.

“That these trials would be too easy for the elemental hero. And considering TAPOPS, I highly doubt we can trust their word without them trying something underhanded.” General Pang notes, each word is firm and calculating, but the hatred in his eyes never seems to leave as he leers down at Boboiboy and his friends.

“...I suppose so.” Kira'na hums.

It makes Ying stomp on Gopal's other foot. This time, he has the decency to keep himself quiet as he writhes around on the floor, clutching the other one.

“So, I propose a setback for them,” the general suggests, “the elemental hero believes he can easily do this.”

General Pang stare never breaks with Boboiboy, and neither does the elemental hero, despite the fact the anger in his eye makes Boboiboy uncomfortable. What did I do to deserve such a look?

“Oh?” Kira’na leans over, already musing whatever the General plans to ask of her, “then what is it you propose?”

…

Fang’s uncomforting gaze finally leaves, but it instead turns towards his friends, who become uneasy. Ochobot clings further into his form.

He eventually stops in front of Princess Kira’na’s office, the double doors bearing the insignia of the Imperial Family of Gurla’tan emblazoned on each of them, he takes a deep breath…

And goes to knock.

“Come in!” The voice inside calls.

When Fang finally entered the room, there Princess Kira’na was, signing away some other documents that were likely in relation to the upcoming conquest.

WIth how busy she had been regarding that particular situation, it fell to the Royal Council to govern the proper internal affairs of the state. Fang didn’t like that one bit, considering the fact that those old crones were more susceptible to corruption, but questioning his own sworn sister’s decision would be doubting her conviction, so he silently keeps those criticisms to himself.

Princess Kira’na looks up from the documents she was reading, and she beams at the sight of him. He only nods his head in return.

“Your Highness, I humbly ask you to—”

“Pang,” Kira’ana softly calls out to him, and he immediately stops and looks up, confused. She can only chuckle as she smiles fondly at him, “We are the only ones in here right now…”

Fang sighs, an embarrassed, purplish-red tint crosses his features as he acquiesces to the unspoken request.

It still feels weirdly inappropriate, considering that she’s his Sovereign, but it was her personal request for him since they were sworn siblings—and therefore, family.

“...Kak Kira, I humbly ask you to sign these documents.”

Kira’na sighs as she rests her hand on her head, “Ah~ more of them? Any more and I think I would go cross-eyed from how many I have read through already…”

Fang wants to comment that she brought the situation upon herself, but he wisely keeps his mouth shut.

“Alright, what are they about, then?” Kira’na grabs the paper from Fang.

Fang straightens his back and returns to his usual upright stance, “They’re the release forms for the PBB delegates, and the last one is for the elemental hero’s imprisonment.”

“Ah~” Kira’na hums, immediately grabbing her pen and already getting to work signing it.

…The silence weighs on Fang more than expected, but he doesn’t let it appear like it’s affecting him.

Kira’na seems to have a much different idea, though, because as she sets one paper aside, she gives a knowing smile at her sworn brother.

“So, Pang, anything interesting that happened to you as of late?” Kira’na asks. 

It seems Fang didn’t actually expect this question, since he flinches and looks at her with a brief, confused expression.

“Oh…uh, no.” Fang says, looking away, suddenly feeling awkward.

Kira’na frowns as she reads through the next paper, “Pang, at some point, you must allow the breeze to carry you off far from the Imperial Palace,” she encourages happily, looking up and giving him a soft smile, “there is more out there than meets the eye! You could make some friends with people your age in nobility, maybe even propose a duel for someone’s hand?”

Fang feels a shiver of disgust roll down his back at the notion, “Those nobles my age are nothing but—pardon my wording—pampered brats who do not know even the struggles of the common man. I fear that we would have nothing in common if they do not understand the barest notion of conflict.”

Kira’na chuckles, “I suppose you speak some truth, but you must at least attempt some form of making acquaintances! It saddens me to see you swamped with nothing but work and duties, my dear brother, I want to see you happy.”

Fang’s eyes soften at Kira’na’s concern for him. He likes it when they have these moments, even if they do feel a little awkward for him, “I appreciate your concern, y—Kak Kira, but I want my focus for now to be those of my duties for our planet’s glory.”

…

At Kira’na’s pout, he groans, looking away with lips pressed thin, “But I shall…attempt such, and will let you know how it goes.”

That added statement satisfies the princess, “Good!”

—

Greeting Warden Deemo, he makes his way down to maximum security with a tray of food in hand.

Since he was  the one to suggest the imprisonment of the elemental hero, Fang had the privilege (punishment, he’d like to correct) of being the one to deliver the stubborn elemental hero’s required 3 meals per day..

“We will do what we must to ensure the Galaxy’s protection under our rule,” Kira’na explains to him, as she walks towards him with the tray in hand, “sometimes, we must be cruel, but that does not mean we are monsters, Pang. Even though the elemental hero is our enemy, do try to treat him with respect and dignity, like any other citizen of Gur’latan.”

“Why me?” Fang asked, hoping it didn’t sound like he was whining about this.

“Because I can see the distaste in your eyes, Pang…I want you to get over that distaste, for it may harm your judgement against future colonies.”

Dignity and respect, Fang scoffs as the elevator dings, indicating he was at the very bottom, “He barely gives enough to himself.”

Working for TAPOPS, the failures who entrusted and forced him to fight against a threat such as Retak’ka—relying on him and his friends who were children at the time? Honestly, Fang is surprised he and his companions hadn't quit right after the fact.

Which only makes him a bigger fool in Fang’s eyes.

He steps out of the elevator, and already, he hears something banging against a wall.

He clicks his tongue and marches over.

Sure enough, it was Boboiboy, attempting to use his body to try and break the red hardlight barrier that separates him and freedom, all while two Santriantar robots stand guard, poised tensely, ready for him if ever his reckless decisions prove themselves right.

Fang’s free wrist flicks, and the shadows pool under him, tendrils slowly stretching from them, the elemental hero unaware as they lend into the shadows of his cell, slipping under the barrier, and…

The harsh slam of a body coupled with the hero’s cry of agony brings Fang a unique schadenfreude he’s never felt before, feeling himself smirk.

His face is quick to return to its usual severe expression, as he walks over to the cell.

He sees Boboiboy down, slumped already, groaning in pain as he slowly gets up from his spot on the floor.

“If you had ceased earlier, perhaps that would not have happened to you.”

Boboiboy immediately gets up, ignoring the pain considering the small yelp he made when his bound hands slipped and nearly made him fall flat on his face. He looks up to see General Fang already glaring down at him, a brow raised at the position Boboiboy had found himself in.

Immediately, the elemental hero looks up warily, “It’s you…”

“So it would seem.” Fang responds in kind, tone hard.

Boboiboy is already quick to glare at the other, “What do you want?”

“...” I want to see your face crushed when your naive ideals cannot contend with what this world could be, “I am here to bring you your meal. This will be your accommodations until the end of the trial.”

“I figured…” Boboiboy looks around, wincing at the state of his cell, “I didn’t think you’d want to see me.”

“Let me make this clear right now. I don’t.” Fang hisses at the other, and he internally relishes at the sight of Boboiboy being so afraid of him, considering how he flinches, “I was assigned here by her Royal Highness to take care of your necessities as I was the one who suggested you be incarcerated, think nothing more of it.”

Boboiboy frowns at that, “...sounds more like you’re being punished—”

He may have muttered that, but Fang’s sensitive hearing heard every single thing. Rage boils over faster than anything, eyes turning into slits as he gives Boboiboy a dangerous look, “What was that?”

“N—”

“I would rather you do not disrespect her Highness’ judgement a second time.” Fang quickly warns, face contorted into sheer rage at the audacity shown to him just now.

In fact, in his anger, he carelessly tosses the tray in front of Boboiboy, who barely manages to catch it, and even then, half the contents had already spilled.

Fang watches Boboiboy’s shocked expression, and sneers.

But the general has already stomped off, leaving Boboiboy sitting there, bewildered.

…

What did I do to make him spite me so much? Boboiboy could only think to himself as he went to sit back down by the wall. His bound hands make it difficult for him to properly set down the tray onto the floor. And his face cringes at the food.

It’s strange, unidentified gray matter that looked squishy and so incredibly hard to swallow, alongside a glass of water that was only a quarter filled due to the reckless toss.

Boboiboy picks up the spoon, mind heavy with his thoughts as he eats.

There is an immediate uproar from his friends, with only Ochobot staying silent beside him, moving to hide behind Boboiboy’s back, hands bunching into his uniform, already terrified.

“Are you crazy, mister?!” Ying exclaims, furious as she points an accusing finger to the general, who doesn’t even blink at it, “We’re not giving you our friend, what’s wrong with you?!”

“General Pang, please, there must be a better alternative than that…!” Yaya pleads, level-headed as ever, but those clenched fists show what she truly feels.

Gopal looks mortified, “Dey—I knew you guys were crazy, but I didn’t think you guys would be that crazy—”

“Enough.”

The shadows that cover the other half of the room seemingly grow, and tendrils shoot out deadly fast. They wrap around the heroes and pin down the group save for Ochobot. The slam against the floor is painful, even with the carpet. Boboiboy grits his teeth in trying not to groan in pain. It certainly worked in shutting down the uproar as the room went silent with tension.

“You have no room to try and make your own proposals,” General Pang warns, walking down the steps with a cold menace, “your incessant babbling is disrespectful to her Highness.”

The atmosphere ever grows colder as Boboiboy feels his own restraints get tighter, with Ochobot trying to get rid of the bindings, to no avail, as they phase through his robotic fingers.

Princess Kira’na, amidst all of this, chuckles.

“Pang, that’s enough.” she gently chides, “I think they understand their place.”

The general looks behind him for a moment, eyes hesitant. Eventually he sighs and flicks his hands, and the shadow tendrils melt away from them. The group sounds a sigh of relief, Boboiboy in particular rubs at his wrists, and winces at the angry red that’s forming.

“Okay…noted…” Yaya grimaces as she rubs at her own wrists, “and if we don’t accept?”

“All of you will be imprisoned, and the elemental hero will go through the trials regardless.” General Pang answers, “None of you are leaving until we come to an agreement.”

Boboiboy can’t help but level a glare at General Pang, “So we don’t really have a choice, do we?”

The deadly stare Fang levels at him in return makes him flinch, “You don’t.”

There’s a loud, sound of metal behind them, and the gang look just in time to see the large door to the throne room getting completely enveloped in gigantic, eerie shadow hands, blocking their main way out. The sound of mechanical whirring follows, and soon, the red, menacing glow of Pak Pato’s robots walk in.

Only they don’t look like his usual horde of robots. Their sleek, black forms are feminine, with a strange horned head that buzzes with artificial electricity. The praying mantis-esque blades that make up the lower half of their arms look sharp and deadly.

His friends slowly group together, each of their powers readied. But they don’t strike yet, not until one of the robots does. Everyone is ready for a fight.

Except Boboiboy, who looks down at his own power band, mind swirling with an internal dilemma.

“Boboiboy…?” Ochobot hesitantly calls out, seeing his friend distracted.

But Boboiboy doesn’t hear him.

Regardless of what they do here, it seems that the Gur’latan Empire is dead-set on keeping him here as prisoner, and will force him through these trials until he either succeeds or fails.

If he has to suffer for the fault of becoming the new elemental wielder, the hero of the Galaxy, the savior of Earth, then…he will.

But someone will have to take care of Tok Aba while I’m gone.

“I’ll do it.”

…

His friends turn to him in horror, “BOBOIBOY?!”

General Pang’s brow raises, as the hero finally stands and gives him a determined look, clenched fist across his heart as if to affirm his resolution, his sudden, and incredibly reckless decision.

“Then we—”

“Only if you let go of my friends and the members of the PBB.” Boboiboy adds, his face turning fierce, trying to rival the severe face of the general as he faces off against Princess Kira’na, who watches the whole scene with an unreadable expression. “You want me, right? You want my powers but want me to go through a bunch of trials so I can prove I am worthy of them. I’ll do it! But let go of my friends. They aren’t a part of this.”

“Boboiboy…” Yaya manages to say, a hand reaching out to his shoulder, but hesitating, floating right above it.

“Dude, have you gone crazy?!” Gopal yells, “it’s one thing to let us go, but I don’t think they wanna let go of the delegates—”

“Fine.”

Everyone—even General Pang—whip their heads towards the throne where Kira’na sits. There is a small smile on her face.

“Your Highness,” General Pang is the first to protest, staring at his monarch in disbelief, “you would so easily give in to such a reckless demand from someone untrustworthy as him?!”

“TAPOPS are the untrustworthy ones, my general,” she stands and slowly starts walking down, her tengu geta-esque shoes clicking against the hard surface in a slow, steady rhythm. Her poise is regal but demands presence, “and Boboiboy is as far-removed from them right now as we are. Besides, as a fellow warrior, I can respect his willingness to protect what he cares for.”

She finally stops when she stands side-by-side with General Pang, her stare levelling down on Boboiboy.

“Do you abide by this decision of yours?” she asks him.

Boboiboy doesn’t hesitate, “Yes.”

…

“Very well then,” Kira’na waves her hand, “seize him.”

The robots suddenly rush in, and in a blink, they’ve already pinned down the elemental hero, who shouts in pain in turn. His hands are forced behind his back and his head pinned down by a cold, robotic hand.

His friends exclaim his name in shock, as the robots circle around them, preventing them from rescuing their friend.

Yaya glares at the bots, lifting her hands, “Gravity—!”

“One attempt to try to free him, and he dies.” General Pang cuts them off by pulling out a blade from a hidden holster and levelling it to Boboiboy’s back, right where his heart is. The sharp end of the blade dangerously close, the tip already cutting a small tear into his vest.

Yaya gasps in horror and the characteristic pink glow of her hands vanish as quickly as it came, even Boboiboy stops squirming when he feels the sharp tip of the blade against his back, threatening to cut him down.

“Guys, just go!” Boboiboy shouts to them, “I’ll be fine, just go!”

“But—” Ying tries to protest, but Boboiboy cuts her off.

“Just trust me! I’ll…I’ll see you guys again, I’ll win these trials, I’ll stop them, and then we can go hang out in the Kokotiam again, but you guys need to get out of here, please…!” Boboiboy tries giving them a reassuring smile, somehow managing to twist his head somewhat and flash them his grin, despite the situation.

No one moves for a while, as his friends look between him, the general who watches their every move, and the robots surrounding them.

“...guys, let’s go!” Gopal is the one to resolve this dilemma, and the two girls look at him horrified. He just scoffs at them for it, “Dey, I trust him to be able to get out of here, do you?!”

Both girls are silent, turning their gaze to Boboiboy, and back to Gopal.

It seems they’re following Gopal’s lead.

“...you better keep your promise, you dummy!” Ying shouts at Boboiboy, the anger in her voice is tinged with a sob, “you better!”

“...stay safe, please.” Yaya mournfully advises.

Yaya has to grab Ochobot, who has been desperately trying to free Boboiboy from the robots grasp, and he wails.

“No—Boboiboy! Boboiboy!!!” Ochobot’s shouts of desperation are haunting, as the shadow hands to the door finally pull away and the gang save for Boboiboy, whose heart lurches at Ochobot’s shouts.

Just take care of Tok Aba for me, Ochobot. His mind silently asks.

He manages to turn his head back to the floor and presses his forehead hard against it. His teeth bite down on his bottom lip to suppress the cry he nearly let out.

He’s terrified to be alone and within enemy territory. If he could, he would’ve run away alongside his friends. But knowing they would suffer imprisonment when they haven’t even done anything wrong besides stay by his side, he knows that would terrify him more.

The robots clasp something onto his wrists, before they finally get off him. The blade on his back disappears as well, and the robots force him on his knees.

There’s the face he’s starting to really dislike.

Princess Kira’na’s looming presence is gone, but honestly? Boboiboy much preferred it to the look of poisonous hatred General Pang gives him now. All his barely-there pleasantry is gone, replaced by a sneer, as he kneels down to Boboiboy’s level.

Those taloned hands come to roughly grab at his chin to force him to look up at the other.

His glare is so fierce. Boboiboy thinks, as the general turns his head around to inspect him. It sort of reminds me of someone…

“Tch, nothing special, after all.” he finally concludes as he wrenches away the other’s head. The general stands up, looking over to the strange robot who stands by his side, “Get me Warden Deemo. It appears we have a new prisoner for maximum security.”

He then looks back down at Boboiboy who stares back at him, and his face turns to disgust, “you are a fool to have made this decision with such reckless haste.”