Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ferra was a stubborn creature. You had to be to survive in Outworld. Of course, being partners with a hulking behemoth who can bulldoze almost anything  in his path made it easier.

But this wasn’t an army or a particularly stubborn door. She didn’t know what it was, but she was tired. She was so unbelievably tired.

Everything hurt. She could barely open her eyes, let alone stand to her feet.

Ferra felt the lull of unconsciousness sing to her, and felt no urge to disagree. Torr would like her to get some rest.

As she closed her eyes, Ferra heard a worried voice and footsteps approaching.

That must be one of Bossy’s guards. She’d be home soon. She’d like that. 

With no more strength to spare, Ferra fell asleep.

Ferra’s vision was blurry. Like she was waking up from a particularly long day. Her back ached. Big Bossy was probably waiting for her and Torr to wake up.

”Torr. Time to wake up.”

”Oh, you’re awake,” an voice spoke. It had a strange quality to it. Not like Bossy’s soldiers.

Wait a minute. Where was Torr?

Ferra jumped to her feet, throwing off the strangely coloured sheet. Her eyes immediately darted around, taking in the situation. Was she captured? It didn’t sound like Tawny or Big Teeth, but maybe they used magic to disguise themselves.

She flicked her wrist, expecting to hear the satisfying sound of her hand claws, but heard nothing. She looked to her arm, finding her weapons removed.

Not only that, so was her headdress, exposing her buzzed black hair that she barely took care of. She was dressed in something colourful and new that covered her arms and legs completely, not her usual outfit suitable for the scorching Outworld heat.

She heard the mystery woman speak again, more forcefully this time.

”Please, just calm down! I’m not going to hurt you.”

Ferra finally locked eyes with the mysterious woman, who she decided to call “Not-Torr.”

”Now that you’re awake, I have a couple questions.”

 Ferra’s usual instinct would be to pounce on this woman and squeeze her eyes out. But she has no idea what was happening. Perhaps it would be best to “play along.”

”What you want to know?”

Ferra sat across Not-Torr at a wooden table. She gave her best intimidating glare at the woman who didn’t seem to take her seriously as a threat. The woman had a small book beside her. Ferra didn’t like books. Action was more fun.

Not-Torr introduced herself as “Tara.” Ferra liked her nickname better. The woman was curious about Ferra, asking questions about her life that Ferra didn’t want to answer.

“What is your name?”

“My name Ferra.”

Not-Torr wrote something down.

”Do you have a mom or dad?”

Ferra hated this question. Everyone asked like it mattered. She has Torr. That was all she needed.

”No need. Torr is all Ferra need.”

She wrote something else down.

”Who is Torr, sweetie?”

Ferra growled at the woman. She wanted to bite her nose and squeeze out her eyes. She wasn’t cute, she was ruthless.

”Torr is best friend, bound for life. Have you seen him? Very big and very strong? Sack on face?”

Not-Torr shook her head, moving into the next question.

“Do you know how you got here?”

Ferra thought back to the moment everything fell apart.

A recent battle between Mileena’s rebels and Kotal’s soldiers earned Ferra a new trophy to add to her collection. An amethyst gemstone with a crack down the middle. Ferra held it up to Torr in glee.

”Purple stone look pretty, you think?”

Torr growled disapprovingly. Ferra ignored the warning as she played with her new toy.

“Torr worry too much! It just a pretty stone.”

In a moment of clumsiness, Ferra dropped the stone to the ground. She winced at the sound, hoping it didn’t wake Froggy or Bang Bang up. Big Bossy wouldn’t like that.

The gemstone seemed to spark crimson energy from the crack, catching Ferra’s attention despite the possible danger. Torr grunted, this time with worry.

”Torr, it’s fine-

The crystal cracked open, filling Ferra’s vision with bright light.

That was all she remembered.

Ferra finished her story, and Not-Torr seemed disbelieving.

”You have a colourful imagination.”

Ferra slammed her hands on the table. First she wants to know the truth, then she says Ferra’s lying? Not-Torr make no sense.

”It not a story!”

Not-Torr wrote something down. Ferra wanted to steal it and rip it into a million tiny pieces.

“You mentioned people called bang bang, froggy, and big bossy. Who are they?”

Ferra thought about her fellow enforcers. Big Bossy probably wouldn’t want her “disclosing valuable information.” 

“No tell, Big Bossy say it secret.”

Not-Torr sighed, Ferra feeling a sense of pride that quickly melted away as the woman sat up and walked close to the young girl.

“Well, until anyone arrives, I’ll be taking care of you.”

Ferra jumped to her feet on the chair, trying to seem more intimidating.

”Ferra no need taking care of! She need Torr!”

The woman smiled at her, placing a warm hand on her head.

”I’m sure Torr will come back for you, sweetie. Just wait a little bit.”

Ferra forced the woman’s hand off of her head. This was too bizarre for her liking. She ran out of the door, ignoring the shouts of Not-Torr. Outside of the house was a bunch of strange metal carriages and loud noises.

The noise made it hard for Ferra to focus on her psychic link with Torr, she’d have to do this the old fashioned way.

Mustering up all of her energy, Ferra shouted into the distance.

”TORR! I’M HERE! WHERE ARE YOU?!”

No response. She kept trying, to no avail. She felt tears prick her eyes. They weren’t menat to be separated, they were always meant to be together. To win together, to lose together, to do everything together.

She collapsed to her knees, not caring about the sudden pain that struck them.

”Where are you, Torr?” The child croaked out through her tears.

For the first time in their lives, Ferra and Torr were separated.

And she didn’t know how to get him back.

Chapter Text

After news reached Kotal about the disappearance of one of his personal guard, he immediately ordered a search party to find her. 

After hours of searching everywhere from the swamplands for behind the palace, Kotal’s head guard met with him.

“Sir, we scoured every last place in the palace, even the outside wastelands. Wherever she left to, it’s far outside our borders.”

Kotal sighed. His scouts hadn’t been having any luck finding her. It didn’t make any sense, why would Ferra leave? Not only that, but without Torr? 

“I see. Retire for the day, we’ll make out next choice tomorrow morning.”

”As you wish, emperor.”

Speaking of Torr, the beast was distraught. His lumbering footsteps seemed drained and lifeless, as though waiting for commands from his rider. Kotal would often hear him sob and roar from outside the palace.

Syzoth was close by, acting as a way to Kotal to vent his thoughts about the situation. He was always a good listener.

”Have you had any luck?”

”Not yet. It’s as if she vanished into thin air. I cannot pick up a scent outside her quarters. And I doubt I could go in there, even if I wanted to.”

Kotal sighed again, a frequent action in the last hours.

“I can only hope we’ll find her soon. Who knows what Ferra’s absence can do to Torr’s health.”

As if on cue, a large shattering sound echoed across the palace, followed by deep and monstrous sobbing. Syzoth slowly backed away to the door.

”I’ll… see what that was.”

”Thank you, Syzoth. Maybe check her room for anything.”

”At once, emperor.”

As his companion left, Kotal stood from his throne and out to the balcony. The sun was setting, and a new day would soon approach.

Wherever his guard had disappeared to, he could only hope she could find a way back.

Ferra hated this. She hated these clothes that didn’t let her move freely. She hated that her hand claws and headdress were considered “inappropriate.” She hated the way Not-Torr would talk to her like some wounded taigore cub.

But all of that paled in comparison to the sheer and utter vitriolic rage she felt about this “school.” 

Ferra wasn’t stupid, despite what everyone thought. She knew this was just a way to make her more “manageable.” She heard Not-Torr talk on her magic rectangle about how Ferra was a “distressed and lost child.”

A woman up the front, wearing the same smile as Not-Torr, stared directly at Ferra. 

“Okay, class. Before we begin, I have to introduce a new student. Ferra could you please come to the front?”

All eyes locked onto her. Ferra felt the instinctual urge to attack. But she couldn’t, it wasn’t “appropriate.” She really hated that word.

After a moment, Ferra stood from her table and up to the front, giving her most intimidating expression to the other members in the class.

”Her name is Ferra, and she seems to have come from a rough life. So please, try to treat her with the same respect you do for each other.”

There was a chorus of “Hi, Ferra.” She quickly returned to her desk as soon as she had her chance.

The teacher turned back to the large board, writing on it with chalk.

”Now, since we have a new student, I figure we could learn a bit more about each other.”

She began handing out sheets of paper with a tree in the middle.

“I’ll need you all to write up your family trees. Do as much as you can think of. The best one gets a treat.”

At the mention of treat, the class immediately got to work. Ferra fumbled with her new writing implement.

Famiky tree. Ferra didn’t really have a family. Not one she remembered, anyway. It didn’t bother her, she had Torr.

But these people would want her to try, and there was a treat on the line here.

She ran down the list of people on her life. Froggy was like a brother at times, spitting at her whenever she’d annoy him, but he’d never actually hurt her. 

Bang Bang wasn’t close to her, and Ferra would often steal stuff from his room. Mac-Mac was reclusive, often ignoring Ferra while they read ancient tomes of boring words. Still, they often spoke to her calmly.

Bug Lady was a traitor. If Ferra saw her again, Torr would squish her into bug paste. But, while she was often around Big Bossy, D’Vorah never went out if her way to attack Ferra.

Although, she did wrap Ferra in silk when she caught her stealing honey from her quarters. Ferra didn’t regret it, it tasted delicious.

Ferra didn’t know where to put her, so she moved on. Big Bossy. The person who gave Ferra/Torr a purpose. A home. Friends.

While he wasn’t the one to raise her, Kotal was thankful for their loyalty during strenuous times. She wrote him down as “father.”

That just left Torr. There wasn’t enough space on the page to fit everything, so she improvised by turning to the back. She wrote as much as she could think of. How they were bound together, how they had to rely on one another for several years before they were found by Tarkatans raiding parties.

”And, that’s time.”

The teacher collected the pages, sparing a glance at Ferra when she took hers, before returning to the front.

”We certainly have some interesting families in our school. Grace, you win today’s prize.”

Their was a loud ringing sound, and Ferra immediately glanced around for any ambush. The teacher clapped her hands together.

”Well, that’s all for today’s class. Go out and enjoy yourselves.”

Ferra was ready to leave before the teacher called her back.

”Ferra, can I talk to you for a moment?”

Ferra looked out the window, freedom so close yet so out of reach. She walked up to the desk.

”What wrong?”

”Nothing is wrong, but I don’t think you understood the work.”

”Ferra understand. Write about family.”

Teacher looked over Ferra’s paper.

“From what I can make out, your brother spits at you when he gets angry, your father rips out hearts and performs grand speeches, you have a strange aunt obsessed with bugs, you know a cowboy who you steal from, and what looks to be a mummified ghost?”

Ferra nodded, seeing no problem with her choices.

”Torr is on back. Not enough room.”

Teacher flipped the page over, finding a story about this mysterious “Torr.” They seem very close, perhaps an older brother?

”I see. Well, while I appreciate your imagination, this is about your real family.”

Ferra snarled.

”Ferra know, that what I did!”

”Calm down, you’re not in trouble, just try to remember next time.”

”But-

Teacher stood to her feet and held Ferra’s hand.

”That’s enough. I think you should go outside, play with your friends.”

Ferra didn’t consider anyone here a friend. But the conversation was over, and Ferra was in no rush to spend time with this woman.

Ripping her hand free, Ferra sprinted out of the room. Teacher shook her head.

”What a strange child.” 

The one good thing about this new place was the chance to stop and eat. Even if she couldn’t do it in the building. It reminded her of Big Bossy, but even worse.

She had been packed food, and she tore into it with reckless abandon. She learned early on to consume as much as you could before it was stolen from you.

”My mom says you shouldn’t eat so much at once.”

Ferra looked up from her feast to see a new girl with orange hair in pigtails. She didn’t smile like the grown ups, but Ferra didn’t trust anyone here.

”You mama wrong.”

”Maybe. Is this your first school? You don’t look like you’re from here.”

”Ferra not from here. Want go home.”

Ferra was given a stress toy before she came here. Something to squeeze if she ever felt the urge for violence. She’d popped a few, but she saw something in Girl’s hand. It was a wide monster with orange skin and big teeth. 

It reminded her of Torr. She missed him. She wanted it. She wanted to take it.

Girl noticed her focus on the toy.

”Do you want this?”

Ferra nodded, waiting for the chance to snatch it. So imagine her surprise when Girl just passed it to her with no fanfare.

”I never liked it anyway.”

Ferra quickly grabbed the new toy, holding it like it would be snatched away at any moment. Girl stood up, looking to Ferra.

"I'll be with friends."

Ferra looked at her new toy, feeling the first smile touch her face since she got here. Unfortunately, it couldn't last. Some boy walked up to her. She tried thinking of a nickname, remembering one that she'd heard shouted at her whenever she'd steal things.

Brat snatched Ferra’s toy from her hand, inspecting it.

”Where’d you get this from?”

In a moment of instinctual action, Ferra grabbed Brat’s hand and pulled her toy out of his hand, releasing a sickening crack from the boy’s arm.

"Give back!"

The boy started squealing bloody murder, Ferra returning back to the bench with a new sense of pride. A pride that was soon ruined by another adult asking her to come with her. Brat followed.

She didn't care. She got a new toy out of it.

Chapter Text

It had taken much convincing for Torr to allow Kotal to enter his and Ferra’s room. The most peculiar sight was a shattered crystal. It was similar to the portal stone Kotal had used in the past.

It was as if a lightbulb went off in his head. He called Ermac over, gesturing to the shards which littered the floor.

“Ermac, can you use your powers to weld the crystal back together?”

”We can, but how will that aid your mission?”

Kotal looked down at the shards, memories clouding his mind.

”This gem is similar to the portal stone my father left me. I believe I can use the incantations to activate it and find Ferra.”

Ermac nodded, holding out their palm which pulsed with telekinetic energy. The pieces of the gem lifted into the air, slowly being pushed together.

”Emperor, we suggest you begin the ritual. We do not know how long we can keep the fragments together.”

”As you wish.”

Kotal spoke the incantation, holding the fragmented crystal in his hands as purple light sparked and crackled from it.

As soon as the final words left his lips, the crystal shone a brilliant light, leaving no trace of Kotal behind.

Kotal opened his eyes to find himself in an unfamiliar city. Mechanical carriages sped past him, and civilians stared at him in confusion.

He didn’t have time for that. He had to find Ferra.

"Great, another of you weirdos?"

Kotal looked to the voice, marching up to him with a goal in mind."

"Have you seen a young girl here? With a silver headdress, dressed in dark leather with clawed gauntlets on her wrists?

”Uh, I think I saw someone take her into that house. First on the left.”

”Thank you for your service.”

Kotal crossed the road, avoiding certain collision when a bike raced past. Earthrealm had certainly changed since his last excursion.

He pounded on the door, careful not to break it. He had to keep some decency.

”Ferra! Are you inside?”

There was no response. He noticed the button on the wall and pressed it. He heard a strange noise, and approaching footsteps. 

The door opened, revealing a woman of middle age with short black hair. Definitely not the person he was looking for.

“I was told you found Ferra. Where is she?”

The woman took a few steps back, looking Kotal up and down. 

“She’s at school. Are you the ‘Big Bossy’ she mentioned?”

Kotal felt a smirk tug at his lips at the mention of Ferra’s nickname. 

“Correct. My name is Ko’atal. I am here to retrieve Ferra and return her home.”

”I’m Tara. I can take you to her, if you can answer a few questions for me?”

Kotal didn’t have time to answer questions, who knew what Ferra could get up to without supervision?

”I’m afraid I don’t have time. Please, just tell me where to find her.”

”My car can get you there faster than walking.”

Seeing no point to challenge her, Kotal sat inside of Tara’s large metal carriage, having not seen much like it in Outworld.

She turned the metal key into the slot, activating the vehicle as she drove down.

”What did you want to know?”

“How did you find her? A kid like that probably wasn’t found at an adoption centre.”

Ko’atal was going to assume he knew what that was. He made a story on the spot, altering certain details.

“Ferra’s life was not a peaceful one. She grew up with only her friend, Torr, to aid her. She eventually ended up trapped in a cage by bandits, before I found and freed her with Torr’s help. I gave her and Torr homes and purpose for the first time.”

Kotal smiled at the memory. He omitted the whole “taken by Tarkatans for food” aspect. His story worked.

”Well, I’m glad you found her. She’s a bit… off. I don’t mean to be rude, but-

“No, I understand. We are attempting to properly educate her, but my duties don’t give me as much time as I should. It is fortunate she has others to guide her until her time comes.”

Tara looked to the man beside her. If this was the “Big Bossy” Ferra was talking about, maybe she was in good hands after all.

The car pulled up at the school, and Tara turned to her guest.

”Alright, we’re here. Ask around, I’ll be here if you need me.”

”Thank you, miss. And thank you for keeping her safe.”

Ferra sat in another chair, Brat sat beside her holding his arm. A suited man sat behind a large brown desk, eyes glaring holes into Ferra.

“Ferra. While I am aware you are new to this school, you just be aware that acting like this only ends poorly for both parties.”

Ferra didn’t respond, looking away with clear frustration. The woman who brought them in spoke next.

”Perhaps she should be put into counselling. She clearly has-

There was a pounding knock on the office door. 

“Come in,” The principal declared.

An intimidating looking man entered the office. He was tall and stern with a face of iron, tribal tattoos painting up his arms and legs. His eyes glowed a faint blue, and his posture was one of command and dominance.

Ferra recognised the man instantly, a wide grin making its way on her face.

”Big bossy!”

The stern face became one of relief, almost at odds with his intimidating stature. 

”Greetings, Ferra. I apologise that it took me so long to find you.”

The suited man cleared his throat, gaining Kotal’s attention.

”Who are you?”

”Ko’atal, Ferra’s guardian. I am here to retrieve her and be on my way.”

The security guard to the left made herself known.

”All due respect, your kid dislocated someone’s shoulder. She can’t just get off with a slap of the wrist.”

Kotal looked to Ferra, who gave a smiling shrug. Somehow, he wasn’t surprised by the course of action.

”Your concerns are well founded, but I will deal with it myself. Rest assured, you will not need to worry about another incident like this again.”

The guard looked ready to continue, but the principal silently told her to stand down. 

“I see. In any case, you two should be on your way.”

”Yes, we should. Ferra, come.”

Ferra hopped off her seat, sticking out her tongue as she left the room. Finally, she was going home.

Upon exiting the building and giving thanks and apologies to Tara, Kotal found a secluded area from which they would return home to. Ferra wasted no time rambling about her experiences here. 

”So, how did you find your… excursion? Have you learned anything new?”

Ferra released a grumbling sound. 

“Place have lots of rules. No fun.”

Kotal chuckled at her simple explanation, taking out the portal stone from its pouch.

“Now, we should be on our way. Torr has missed you greatly.”

At the mention of Torr, Ferra’s mood instantly improved. Kotal activated the portal stone and entered the gateway with his guard close behind.

Ferra had been gone for far too long.

Chapter Text

Upon returning to the palace, Ferra’s uniform doing little to cope with Outworld’s climate, Kotal turned to his young enforcer and gave her permission to see her companion. As she ran down the corridors, Reptile walked up to his emperor with questions.

”I trust that the search went well?”

”Indeed. Ferra has been returned, after being taken in by an earthrealm woman.”

Syzoth chuckled at that mental image. A rarity, but one Kotal enjoyed nevertheless.

”What shall we do now?”

Kotal placed a hand on Syzoth’s shoulder.

“Now, we rest. This ordeal has been taxing on all of us-

A loud joyful roar shook the walls. It didn’t take an oracle to decipher where it came from.

”It would be a miracle to sleep with their reunion.”

Kotal turned to his friend, clearly agreeing with the sentiment.

”Stranger things have happened, my friend.”

After an emotional embrace between Ferra and her massive friend, they finally pulled away.

Torr grunted to his young rider, placing a massive hand on her head..

“Ferra missed you too.”

Torr’s red eye looked up and down Ferra’s attire, grunting in confusion.

“Earth-realm have weird clothes. Oh, have something to show you!”

Ferra placed the orange toy up on her shelf, staring with pride. Torr placed his own creation beside it, a small clay statue that had a passing resemblance to Ferra. Ferra's eyes sparkled with glee, looking up at her friend.

”Torr make that?”

Torr grunted with a gesture of his hand. He had some help with the finer details, but it was mostly his idea. Ferra felt a new smile form on her face, leaning against Torr.

”Looks good.”

They stood in silence for the moment, enjoying their company and their new statues. It was good to be back together.

As if they could ever be apart.

There was a feast that night, a moment of levity after a turmoil filled day. Kotal gave a short speech about Ferra’s return, which was interrupted by the girl of the hour.

Eventually, Ferra fell asleep with a stomach full of delicious Outworld cuisine. Torr carried her up to their quarters. Ferra collapsed on her bed with Torr focusing his vision on her sleeping form.

Unknown to Ferra, there would come a time where they would be forced to separate. It would be a painful time for Ferra as she grew into maturity.

But as long as Torr lived, he would protect his rider. It was not just his duty, but his choice.

He spared a final look to the sleeping child, so dangerous and yet looking so unguarded.

Rest well, young one.