Chapter Text
A New Face, A New Life… (Part 4)
By: TubaSlayer77
Artemis: Uhm… Annette?
Annette: Oh hey Artemis! I'm just feeding the moosheep as all… You alright?
Artemis: Y-yeah! I’m good, I'm fine… W-why ya ask? *He was nervous…*
Annette: You seem skittish today…
Artemis: Me?! No! No! Hehe… but actually… you're right but… I wanted to ask you something important…
Annette: Well… What is it?
Artemis: *exhale* okay… Will you… go out on a date… with me?!
*Annette blushed…*
Annette: Really?!
Artemis: Yeah!... Do you wanna?... I-i got plans to book us a table at a little restaurant in the next town over… it's not fancy… but I think you'll like it.
Annette: O-okay! Yeah! Let's go tonight.
Artemis: Yes!... oh i mean… I'll get ready around 2!
Annette: Sounds good…
*Later at the restaurant…*
Artemis: I gotta level with you… you're not the first gal I've dated…
Annette: Did you both break up?
Artemis: No… She… died…
Annette: Oh!... I'm so sorry! Mind me asking what happened?
Artemis: She was a scientist… and she very quickly got sucked into her work… she'd do anything to make a breakthrough… She helped in on a secret project for a machine that would have the power to bring back the dead… She was playing god… and she paid the price for it…
Annette: I-I'm really sorry…
Artemis: It's okay!... because now… I'm more open… I've still got some ways to go before I've healed from my psychological wounds but I'm getting better and THAT'S what matters! *smirks*
Annette: Hehe! Well I guess for your sake I won't press you to tell me more about your traumatic past…
*After some time after dinner…*
Artemis: Hahaha! And after he ran from the cave… this guy starts chasing him with a machete as he's trying to hold his pants up!
Annette: Ohoho my! Haha! What happened after that!? *cackling*
Artemis: Okay okay! So eventually… someone shot the guy chasing him… he starts yelling about why we took so long? Hehe… then he says he actually dropped the bomb in his pants! And it was also funny because he had his ass hanging out for everyone in the company to see!... especially when he told us he shat himself! Hahahaha!-
*They both had a hearty laugh… but then Artemis asked Annette something…*
Artemis: Well… how about we get outta here?... It's winter and when the sun goes down it gets even colder out…
Annette: You're right!... let's head home…
*Artemis paid the bill and they left in Annette's truck… then Artemis had an idea to make this date more special…*
Artemis: Hey… wanna walk with me to the lake?
Annette: Uh… sure?!
*Artemis took two boxes with him… when they arrived Artemis asked Annette to take one of the boxes and open it…*
Annette: Ice skating shoes?...
Artemis: Ready to learn? Hehe!
*They spent a little while… but Artemis helped her catch on quickly…*
Annette: Hey look! I'm skating on my own Arty!
Artemis: Yeah there ya go! But now…
*He pulled out a small device… then put in a tape… then it played an old song… he reached out his hand to her and said…*
Artemis: Care to dance? Hehe…
*Annette blushed and smiled as she took his hand and then Artemis pulled her away and they slid across the ice! Spinning and twirling and having fun… Artemis her close to him as they slowly danced on the ice till they stopped… and they looked at each other… staring into each other's eyes…*
Annette: Uh… hehe…
Artemis: *chuckles softly*
*Then just before the woman on the tape player said the last words… they kissed… and from that night forward… They continued to date for the next six years till they married… but there are some other things that happened during those six years… let's talk about them shall we?*
*One year later… Artemis was out relaxing in the hammock with Annette… when suddenly…*
???: HELP! SOMEONE HELP PLEASE! -
*A female Caninu was running into the village yelling for help!*
Artemis: Mmm… huh?
Annette: Whoa… What’s happening?!
Female Caninu: Please help!
*A male Caninu ran to her…*
Male Caninu: Honey what’s wrong!
*She was very distraught, and she then started to tear up…*
Female Caninu: I-I was out in the forest picking some fruit out when… I-I just let him down for a moment! B-but then!... *sniff!* A giant creature came out of the woods and took our baby!... I couldn’t get close to take our baby because it wasn’t alone!... It’s other smaller ones tried to attack me so I ran!... Please! We need to get some weapons and go out and save our baby!...
Male Caninu: This isn’t good! Our son will be like a lamb in their clutches!... They’ll kill him if we don’t hurry!
*The woman started to break down…*
Female Caninu: Oh god! Not my baby boy… *sobs!*
*At the beginning of that conversation… Artemis and Annette got up…*
Artemis: Something bad's going down… I’m gonna see if i can help…
Annette: Okay but be careful!...
Female Caninu: Oh god! Not my baby boy… *sobs!*
Artemis: Hey! What’s the situation?
Male Caninu: Our son was taken by some feral creatures!... They're usually not this close to the village! They must be real bold to come this close!...
Female Caninu: One was almost at my height!... The other two were at least half my size!... Oh god… That huge one could probably just…
Male Caninu: Honey! Don’t dwell on that thought! We're gonna get him back!
Artemis: I’ll go get your child back myself…
Male Caninu: Wait! By yourself!?
Artemis: Yeah… I have years of combat experience… I can take care of them with just my fists! *smirks*
Female Caninu: Oh bless you sir!... I’ll lead you to where it happened!
Male Caninu: We’d be forever grateful if you brought our son back!
Artemis: Let’s not waste any time… Let’s go!
Female Caninu: This way!...
*She showed him the spot where the attack happened…*
Female Caninu: They left in the bushes that way!... Please!... Stay safe!
Artemis: Thank you ma’am… I swear on my tail I'll bring him back!... What’s his name?
Female Caninu: Malt… Malt Marzipan…
Artemis: Alright… I'll get Malt back…
*He ran off… following the tracks as he went along… After a short while Artemis caught up to them… He saw the one big one set Malt down on the ground… Malt was constantly crying in fear… The big monster had two other smaller creatures smaller than the half pint sized ones…*
Artemis: (They must be her babies? Oh no! That means she might feed him to them!)
*Then without warning… Artemis sprang out from the bushes and attacked one of them with a kick!*
Artemis: Hold it right there!... Give me the baby back or I'll make you all regret ever coming near our village!
*Of course the big mama creature just stood in front of the kids and the baby… instinctively protecting her young… She was getting ready to charge!*
Artemis: Okay then heh!... *He cracks knuckles and stretches for a bit…* Let’s test who’s stronger! *Artemis assumed the starting position used in Sumo wrestling and readied to stop the beast's attack.... But then a strange aura appeared from his body… his eyes gave off light from his pupils… And he gave a look of smug confidence…*
Artemis: Come at me! I’m ready!
*The beast charges at him! The beast looked like it was more massive than Arty! But his aura got more violent… like a raging fire! His eyes glowed in a blaring light of blue alongside his blue aura… He then slowly but successfully body slammed the beast!*
Artemis: There! Now stay!...
*He walked over towards the nest and then the other creatures left to hide… but then the mama rolled over back onto its legs and attempted to get up close for a close range attack! But Artemis noticed and punched it square in the head!*
Mama creature: RAAAAAH!
Artemis: Yeah! Ya like that knuckle sand-wich?
*Some rustling noises came from the bushes!... Both the mama and Arty looked out from the bushes… was one of the creatures! It was a baby one! It was as happy as could be!... The mama then walked over to the little one to nuzzle its face… Then Artemis put two and two together!...
Artemis: Huh? So… I guess it thought that Malt was one of her babies? Or was it grieving thinking one of its children were never coming back?... Well… I’m taking the kid back…
*The creatures then left to go somewhere else and disappeared into the bushes… Artemis picked up the crying infant and started to calm him down…*
Baby Malt: Waaaaaah!-
Artemis: Oh… It’s okay now!... You're safe and those monsters are gone now…
*He rocked him back and forth slowly and sang a somber lullaby to him… it was working and he calmed down then fell asleep… He walked along back to the village with Malt cradled in his hands…*
Artemis: Poor little guy!... You look like around yer eyes are turning red!... Let’s ease off on the tears, okay bud?
*When he reached the village… Malt’s mother noticed and ran up to Artemis with her arms reaching out at them…*
Mrs. Marzipan: Oh my baby!... You saved my baby!
*He passed her the baby… and she couldn’t help but hold him close and burst into tears of happiness…*
Mrs. Marzipan: *sniff!* Thank you so much!
*She then thanked him, kissing him on the face…*
Artemis: You're very welcome ma’am… If you or anyone else has a situation like this again… Just ask me! Consider me like a town Sheriff!
Mr. Marzipan: Thank you so much Artemis!... *They shook hands…* How can we ever repay you?!
Artemis: It’s okay! Your thanks is more than enough…
Mr. Marzipan: Perhaps you and your girlfriend would like to come over to our house for some tea?
Artemis: Well what do you say Annette?
Annette: I wouldn’t mind at all!
*So they left towards the Marzipan residence to sit down and talk over some tea…*
To be continued in Part 5…