Of Mice and (Proto) Men [Exemplary]

[Proto Man]

Although he had watched Princess Guu compete in Dante’s Abyss, Proto Man had still been taken aback by the girl. For someone who didn’t look old, she certainly had a certain air around her that betrayed what had to certainly be unique origins. Of course, Proto Man himself was a sentient machine masquerading as an almost teenager, so he didn’t dwell on it too much.

Despite it being a first meeting, Guu was extremely welcoming to both of them, offering them the freedom to come and go from Ambrosia as they pleased. Apparently, Proto Man’s exploits and accomplishments had become known information while he wasn’t paying attention. Guu had plenty of questions about the nature of the Blighted Dell. He promised the girl that he would send her his files (technically Wood Man’s) on the nature of the Blight, which seemed to please her, although it was hard to tell). When she brought up a possible connection between the Blight and the Scorched Grove, Proto Man feigned ignorance, not wanting to go into detail about the corruption and death of his sibling.

While the meeting was pleasant and took on a very personal tone in a matter of minutes, it wasn’t long before Princess Guu was being summoned to deal with issues within the city limits. After quick farewells and promises to meet again ‘soon,’ the three primes went their separate ways.

Proto Man figured something was up when Mireya stayed behind to have a few closing words with Princess Guu. By the time the half-night elf exited the room, Mickey had already wandered off, allowing the pair of old friends to speak among themselves.

“I’m going to stay here,” Mireya stated bluntly as she glanced out the nearby window. “Guu is okay with me building a little place out in the woods.”

The robot furrowed his brow behind his visor. “What do you mean ‘stay’? You’re just going to go back to hunting in the woods?”

Mireya shook her head. “Not this time… something a little more fixed, I think.” The woman frowned slightly. “Maybe I’ll have a little garden? It’s nothing against you, Blues, I just think I need to take some time to relax.” The woman pushed up a sleeve to reveal a variety of scars and partially healed bruises. “I’m not like you, I bruise,” she said, smiling despite the defeated look on the android’s face.

“I understand,” Proto Man muttered, knowing that the woman who stood before him was made of flesh and blood. If she bled too much, she would die, and unlike the growing number of primes in the Omniverse, she would not reappear at the fountain. She’d be gone, and he’d only have himself to blame for dragging her along on all his gung-ho/somewhat bullheaded schemes to right the variety of wrongs in the world. “You should keep in touch with Mickey’s wife… I think she’d like the company.”

The half-night elf snickered. “I guess I should get use to the taste of tea then.”

With a smile, Proto Man held out a hand. Mireya chuckled and shook hands with the preteen machine. Before either could speak, the half-night elf undid the necklace that hung around her neck and handed it to her friend. “Keep it.”

“Thank you,” Proto Man replied as he secured the necklace and readjusted his scarf. The little piece of bone had been part of some monster from the rivers of the Green, and while he didn’t know the entire story, he was aware that Mireya usually wore it all the time, even when she slept. Whatever it was, it was important to her, which made it all the more important to him. “I’ll be back soon.”

At that, Mireya snickered once more. “We’re not Minnie and Mickey… you don’t have to make promises you know you can’t keep,” with a final smirk, Mireya made her way off in another direction, leaving Proto Man alone in the hallway. The preteen machine was only left with his thoughts for a few moments before Mickey Mouse came walking up behind him.

“You’re all by yourself,” he replied as he glanced around the hall for a sign of their taller companion. “Where’s Mireya?”

Proto Man turned around and tried to put on a good front for the mouse. “She said she had a lot of business to take care of elsewhere in this verse.”

“So she won’t be coming back to the clubhouse with us?” Mickey asked, his shoulders sagging slightly when he saw the frown on his friend’s youthful visage. “Awwww, I hope it’s nothing too dangerous.”

“I don’t think so,” Proto Man replied before gesturing toward the door. “We should probably head back.” With that, the two started to make their way out of the palace. While both the mouse and the machine were usually quite chatty, they made the journey back to the Clubhouse in near silence. They only shared a brief exchange over the fact that both had spoken with Samus Aran, who was in Camelot. Although neither of the came out and said it, they both knew where they’d be heading in the near future. Even if they didn’t find the somewhat elusive bounty hunter, the pair were both resolved to keep ‘on the road.’ For Proto Man, he knew he wasn’t ready to return back to Coruscant, despite the years of travel, and while Mickey loved his wife and their home, he was perpetually consumed by the urge to explore this massive and strange world.

Mickey’s Post

With the Clubhouse vanishing into the forest behind them, the pair made their way toward the gate that would usher them into the Nexus.

“You think she’s still there?” Proto Man asked, glancing over at his mouse companion.

“Huh?” Mickey replied, some confusion in his big eyes as the pair plodded toward their next destination.

“You still think Samus is in Camelot?”

The mouse, understanding the question, gave a smile and a quick nod. “I’m sure she is!” He replied, his disposition a little brighter than when they first left the Clubhouse. “And if not, I’m sure that we’ll discover something just as exciting.”

Proto Man smiled as well. “Yea, I’ve heard some neat things about Minas Tirith… they have a floating city or something.”

“I heard wizards.”

“Yea! Harry Dresden lives beneath these old ruins near the city… we should see if he’s around somewhere too!”

Mickey grinned as they passed through the Scorched Grove. Just a few days ago, the location had marked their first real meeting, and while they had dropped from four to two, the pair of undersized primes had all the more enthusiasm as the trekked toward unknown objectives and limitless adventure.