I'm Sorry, But the King You're Looking For is....

[Miranda Frost]

*BANG* *BANG*

The point blank sound of gunfire demanded the attention of the two siblings, Miranda and November. It had been like this all afternoon. Father had forced them to fight each other, to "Train" for hours on end, until they couldn't move at all. Everyday was like this. After working in the fields or in town, they would return home to this madness. Training and sparring was once something the two actually enjoyed. It was something to fuel their childish sibling rivalry. Father had twisted it into something much more, and would not tell the two why.
"Again!", their Father commanded, the two sibling hesitant to do so.

Miranda scanned over her arms. Bruises of varying color covered them. Her muscles were swollen and hard to move. Cuts and scrapes dripped and trailed blood down her arm and spilled to the ground to be soaked up by the earth beneath her. Her breath was heavy and jagged, almost forced. Vision blurred and her balance was off a bit. Tears threatened to well up in her eyes but she held back. The rest of her body just in bad shape as her arms. Her grey eyes looked over her brother, who returned his gaze. He was tired as she was. He was hurting, but his injuries were not on her level.

Miranda was stronger and more durable than her younger, thinner brother. Her punches when they landed always made him cry out. However he was much quicker, able to dodge in and out of her moves with seemingly ease. As a result he was able to take less and give out more. Miranda thanked her pain tolerance for keeping herself up with him. It was something she had that her little brother lacked.

She stepped off and closed the distance in three strides, throwing an open palm at his face. She threw it too early. He was gone before it would have hit. Miranda wasn't able to avoid what came next. November had dropped to the ground and sent a powerful kick into her stomach.

Her breath was stolen from her, and her body slumped to the side. She curled up, cradling herself where she was hit. She coughed and struggled to catch her breath, all while under the watcheful gaze of her father and brother. She was done mentally and physically. Despite her father's urgent shouts and angry threats, she did not move a muscle. She lay there in the soft, golden colored grass. She drowned out all the pain, all the noise with her sobs, her coughs, her gags.

She stared off in the distance in time to see the sun finally dip beneath the surface of the horizon. Beautiful shades of red and orange illuminated the sky before her vision blacked out. There was nothing.. only her. Only her and the darkness

She awoke up to find herself bandaged from head to toe and tucked into her own bed. A fold-out table sat beside her, a wooden bowl full steamy stew. It smelled so good but it hurt to move. She failed to notice her brother sitting crosslegged beside the table, wolfing down his meal as if he hadn't eaten before.
"Mmmm com'onnn shish. Eat your supper or I will", he said, slamming down his bowl with a sound of satisfaction eminating from his lips. "Ahhhh that was good".

This was like him. He was always so childish, even though he just turned eighteen years of age. He just could not let it go. No matter what he always had that stupid grin plastered on his pale face. It was quite annoying, but she was used to it.

She sat up and took her bowl into her hands. Her muscles quivered uncontrollably, making her look extremely awkward when she drank it. The only thing good about it was its warmth. She couldn't quite pick out what made up this stew but she couldn't quite complain. She couldn't afford to. She finished her bowl and placed it beside her brother's. He would pick them up and stand. For a moment, his smile had faded. A more serious look took its place. Miranda blinked and it was gone, replaced by his stupid grin. He paused outside her room's door before exiting.

"You know.. i'm glad you are still kicking. I would have hated to rupture your guts. You just wouldn't be the same without them", he said with a giggle.

Miranda grumbled and turned painfully on her side, her eyes drifting closed. "Shut up and get out. I'm trying to sleep"
__________________________________________________________________________________________

"Hey! Look sharp"

Out of nowhere, a water canteen bounced off the side of Miranda's skull, effectively bringing her back to Earth. She blinked once. She blinked twice. She took in her surroundings. They were parked off to the side of the rode, taking a short rest break by request of the Mayor. Apparently he had "Business" in this plain, boring area.

From what they could tell they were still a good ways from the fortress they were checking for this turtle king. She had talked with one of the Koopa guards before their exit from the town.

"So.. who is your leader Guards-turtle? What is he like?". she had asked about thirty minutes earlier.

"Why that would be the mighty King Koopa, Bowser! He's like us, but bigger... and scarier!"

Bigger and scarier that koopa said. How scary can a turtle get. Personally she found the turtle guards a little cute. When she eventually settles down it would be nice to have a stuffed Koopa guarding her fireplace for an eternity. Maybe she could turn one into a shiny green table and have the rest as turtle stew. She blinked a third time and shook her head. 'Just drink the water...'

Her mask was removed in no time , with its corresponding screws laying inside of this metal imbrace She didn't bother fetching the hose this time. She tilted her head back and poured the cool liquid into her mechanical "Mouth", or rather a cylindrical, meat grinder-like device she used to eat and drink.

With her throat no longer parched she tightened the canteen's cap and tossed it over to Zack, nodding in silent thanks. The dear Mayor Orange that had accomponied them had just returned from his.. "Business" as he put it. She hardly cared in the first place, but he probably went to take a piss off in a nearby lava pool to see if it would eaven touch it before evaporating.

The Mayor's reaction to her jaw-less face was typical for most who weren't used to being around her. Zack was an exception and took no interest, care, or disgust to her.... far less than beautiful feature. He kept looking at her and the world with this huge grin on his face.

Mayor Orange plopped his probably slightly over weight ass beside Miranda, a little to close for comfort. He kept staring and eventually she grew tired of it.

"Keep staring dear Mayor and I'll have to forcibly take your jaw as a replacement"

"If you would put your Mask ba-", he started to reply quickly, only to be cut off

"IF YOU didn't realize it.... we are in a volcanic wasteland. It's hot and metal like this retain that heat. I am going to enjoy not having it on. Go bother Zack, you prick.", she grumbled, looking up at the red skies. If she liked anything about the place it would be that. Red was her favorite color. To her it symbolized strength and power, two principles she treasured.

The mayor slipped off of the rock that was beside Miranda and sat beside the soldier, Zack, who was seemingly enjoying the rest as she was. Well, minus the annoying Mayor.

The mayor observed the soldier's features and coughed to break the silence.."Well Sir. You seem strong. Have you done any physical labor like mining or farming before taking up that eh... steel girder of a sword you have there?", he asked lightly, tightly gripping his orange case in his grip.