Chapter Text
Magenta Knight sits in his armchair, reading the newspaper. It was nice to be able to read without getting nauseous, even if it had taken some time to get used to being on solid land again. Even so, he thinks, it'll never be quite as comfortable as it was before he had metal plates permanently affixed to his rear end. He shifts uncomfortably. Worse still, the steel rubbing against the fabric was ruining his favorite cushion. Magenta sighs. He had come to accept the worst aspects of his life as a walking tin can, but it seemed each day brought a new minor annoyance that reminded him of his fate.
A knock at his front door. His son, Gregor calls out "I've got it!" and Magenta Knight hears footsteps pounding down the cottage steps and to the foyer. The door squeaks as it opens, and notes of a muffled conversation carry through to the study. "Dad! It's for you! Some guy who says he worked with you!"
"Send him up." Magenta Knight swivels his chair to face the door, curious as to who the visitor might be. A goldarmor from King Pridemoor, come to give him a new mission? Perhaps an old military buddy, looking for a favor. Or of course, anyone from either the mission to stop the Piscine Revenant or Charter Knight. A brief smile touches upon Magenta's lips as he considers just how many acquaintances he has now, from all walks of life.
His study door opens to reveal a minute alchemist, stretching on his tip-toes to reach the doorknob. When he sees Magenta, his hand flies to his forehead in a salute. "Hello, Admiral Magenta."
"I'm not your admiral right now, Nezu. While I'm off duty, you can just call me Magenta. Here, take a seat."
Nezu scrambles up the second study chair and turns to face Magenta Knight. "So, Magenta. I was wondering if you'd answer a few questions for me." He pulls a notepad out from his robe, along with a quill and ink.
"I suppose I can find the time. What were you hoping to learn?"
"Oh, just a bit about Plague Knight's takeover of the armor outpost."
Magenta Knight freezes. He hears the distant sound of explosions, rocking the foundations of buildings. Guards, agonizing over burn wounds. A flash of light, then all the air knocked out of him as he's submerged in freezing liquid.
"Um, Admiral? Are you alright?"
Magenta snaps back to reality and forces himself to put on a weak smile. "O-of course. Why, uh, why do you want to hear about that?"
"You mentioned that your armor got stuck to you after a bomb threw you into a vat of dye, and I figured that if I could find out the type of bomb that was used and the chemical composition of the dye, I could recreate the accident to form a powerful adhesive!"
Magenta can't even pretend to smile. "You want to recreate what happened to me? So you can do it to others?"
Nezu falters. "Well no, there are plenty of manufacturing uses for such an adhesive. You see, I could-"
"I won't be a part of this. Get out of my house."
"No, just hear me out-" Nezu is nearly thrown out of the study and the door slammed behind him. Behind it, Magenta Knight paces angrily.
"Please, just let me say one more thing." Magenta pauses at the muffled plea from behind the door.
Nezu takes the silence as an invitation. "This was supposed to be a surprise for you, but I guess I should have led with it. If I have the chemical composition of the adhesive, I'll be able to derive a solvent."
"Meaning?"
"I can concoct a substance that can dissolve your bonds!"
Magenta Knight remains silent.
Nezu tries once more. "I can melt the glue and get that armor off of you."
The door opens slowly. Through the crack Magenta peers down at the alchemist. "You can do that?"
Nezu waves his hand. "I'm like 87% confident."
Magenta Knight opens the door fully. "Okay. Let's do this."