Trip To The Tower

--Charlie's Perspective--

"This Tower place... is it a city, like Zealous is? I'm still confused about it," Alex asked, walking nervously in front of Chi-Chi and Asoh.

"You can think of it like that, sure. It's the capital of Antarctica, and the highest building left on Earth. It's big, so big that trees are able to grow in it and mini-cities can be within it as well. You'll see it from miles away," Asoh said to us sharply before looking in the opposite direction.

"Never would've thought we'd be here. All your Queen wants is to ask us about Sky Asterio… why does she care about him?" I asked Chi-Chi specifically. I could see her tense up and turn to Asoh for a response.

"Does it matter what our Queen plans to do with Sky Asterio? To you, I mean?" Asoh asked.

Shit, she trapped us with a question. Alex luckily seemed to catch on and defused it perfectly.

"We may or may not know something about this guy, and you're betting a lot on us having some sort of information. So much so that you're bringing us to your central hub, and your own Queen's Palace. That must mean she's desperate. I want to know, why is that she's so desperate. Does Sky have something she owns?" Alex asked her.

"Of course he does. We had records of him up on The Pinnacle Isle, up in space, and he's holding something of importance to our Queen," Asoh explained to us again.

I ignored that conversation and looked back at Chi-Chi. Her personality definitely shifted from that aggressive person who tackled me, to a frail girl who barely could maintain eye contact. I was observing her behavior far too much for me to be subtle, so I finally asked a question specifically meant for her so Asoh wouldn't butt in like she has been doing.

"Chi-Chi, if you don't mind me asking, how did you lose your eye?" I asked. Yet again, Asoh chimed in before she could open her mouth.

"She doesn't like to talk about it," Asoh told me, even interrupting the conversation with Alex.

"Okay, maybe this is stupid, but I think you should really shut your mouth," I said, scrunching my face together. I really how stupid that was to say, especially after everybody stopped moving to look at me.

"I wasn't asking you. If it was a rude question, Chi-Chi, I'm sorry, I didn't mean it to be like that. We've been through some tough times and things as well, and if I can learn more about you, then I would be willing to share our hardships as well. But for just ten seconds... Asoh, let Chi-Chi talk," I demanded, looking at her with my best Sky-look I could manage. One of irritation, knowing that you should probably stop talking.

"N-No, it's fine. Asoh's right, I don't really like talking about it... what about your hardships? Do you... feel like talking about those...?" Chi-Chi finally muttered.

Asoh kept her mouth shut and looked annoyed as I began to explain to Chi-Chi what happened.

"I used to have these two friends... Cody and Robby. We were all in a war, fighting for the freedom we've never had before, and we still don't have to this day. Cody went down fighting, taking out more people than I could count, and Robby was stabbed in the stomach and bled to death. I guess, the reason it hurts so much to remember them, is that we didn't win that war. Sure, we might've gained some sort of freedom, but without them, it felt pointless. Death feels so useless in a world where it's more common than life, doesn't it?" I asked Chi-Chi again, side-eyeing Asoh so she would keep her mouth shut.

"Y-Yeah, I'd agree. I'm sorry about your friends, Cody and Robby... I had to kill my Dad if that comforts you..." Chi-Chi muttered.

A detail I could've never found out with Asoh butting in, Chi-Chi finally seemed willing to share information about herself.

"I'm sorry you had to do that. I'm sure he would be proud of the girl you've become to this day. You seem pretty strong now, you even tackled me," I said, laughing a little too loudly. Chi-Chi joined in with a small smirk and a giggle, and Asoh started again.

"Enough with the small talk, if you two like each other so much, get a room," She said. Asoh being upset put a smile on my face, but I knew I shouldn't make enemies.

"I'm sorry, Asoh, it's just that you can't be the voice for Chi-Chi when I talk to her. If this does work out and we both get what we want, I'm sure we'll be friends. How am I supposed to be friends with Chi-Chi if you keep talking for her?" I asked. Asoh shrugged and avoided eye contact.

"I see Chi-Chi as a little sister. I've protected her from danger, and I don't know if you're dangerous. I'll say this right now, in front of both of you. If any of you hurt Chi-Chi in any way... and I mean at all... I'll kill you in front of her, make you bleed, make you beg, and make you suffer. Do not test me and what I would do to keep her safe," Asoh told Alex and me.

"Understood, but we don't have any plans to hurt either of you. If telling your Queen what we know about Sky will achieve peace, then we won't hesitate to do it. I told you already, that war took a lot from us, so much that I don't think there's anything you can take from Alex or me that hasn't been taken. However, if we end up dead, expect an army on your doorstep the very next day," I told her.

"If this goes over well, your army will be our army, your lives will be our lives. Our Queen doesn't take lightly to those who oppose her rule," Asoh admitted.

Alex and I both looked at each other and nodded with a smile.

There was no way that Queen and Sky could exist in the same world... Sky wouldn't stand for a grip on his freedom, and he wouldn't stand for anything once he learned we were missing and in danger.

Our group... no, our family works in one simple way.

"We don't get separated, not forever," I lightly said, and Alex nodded again.