School Confrontations
#9 of The Rose Garden
Well, finally getting around to posting chapters to my stories again. Sorry you all had to wait, but I sorta got carried away with that big Dragonrider Legion story. But here is the next chapter of Rose Garden where Monday has come around and school is just about to begin, but what plans do the three adults have for the kit and those that roughed him up before? You'll have to read to find out hehe.
And also, I've gotten to like how I set up the previously mentioned story and so I tried setting up this chapter the same way to see if my readers would prefer it over how I was writing chapters. What's it mean exactly for y'all? Well, for one the text is smaller and closer together, so I'd have to write more to fill the same number of pages I usually set for each chapter. >.> I think that'd be good enough incentive for readers to agree with the change, but I will leave it to you guys to decide that.
~ ~ Kyle's POV ~ ~
The ride back to school was nerve-wracking, I could help but feel uncertain or stop rubbing my paws together in my lap as I sat on the backseat across from Snow. He's been almost giddy about something the whole drive, both him and Ryker actually, like they had talked together while they were both upstairs getting dressed. And Cecil soon started to be just as enthusiastic after the folf leaned over and started to whisper in his ear, likely about the same thing as what had Snow bouncing excitedly in his seat, it just made me feel even more nervous.
I knew they wanted to get back at the guys that had attacked me, and they even likely knew it was James and some of his jock friends. I wouldn't be surprised if Ryker could read minds with the other stuff he's already done. But none of them were giving any sort of hint as to just what they all had in store, even as we made it to Redwall High and Necross found itself a place to park in the teacher's lot. It's now or never, just don't know what to expect. I thought to myself as we all shuffled out of the fancy car and started to walk towards the buildings. My stomach churned as the nervousness increased with each step I took, making my blink several times to clear away the-
Wait! W-what just happened?
One moment I was closer to the ground and just after blinking my eyes I'm suddenly seeing the school grounds from a higher angle that's more to the right than where I was just before. I tried to move my head to see what was going on but I couldn't manage to make it budge at all, even as the rest still seemed to move, padded footpaws stepping one in front of the other. The only part I could do anything with were my eyes, which I used to almost frantically scan around me. For some reason I was now walking alongside Snow instead of Cecil like before, and it was only slight, but I just could make out greyish fur at the corner of my sight. But the only one of us four that has darker grey fur is Ryker, don't tell me he used those freaky powers of his to trade our bodies.
Now don't go calling my powers weird kit. All I did was switch our bodies for a little payback on those four that attacked you. So I was right, I really was trapped in Ryker's body while he took mine, and now I could feel his neck turn to look down at my body, letting me see my own face grinning back at me.
I didn't want you to cause a scene when we switched so I retained control of my body as well until you calmed down. You were a fidgety little thing and we both know you're not much of a confrontationist, so I'll be the one to do it for you in your body.
But why? Do we really have to confront them like this?
Oh, don't get the wrong idea little fox. I'll be the only one to do anything with those big boys, you, Cecil, and Snow will only be watching. Those two are gonna make sure you don't freak out when I meet them and release control of my body to you for a bit.
I didn't know what to think about this, it was so unexpected to suddenly get moved into another bigger body and have to watch someone else do something for me. It was making me realize just how much I had let people do what they wanted around me, I never stood up to James and his buddies before, nor tried to get my parents' attention. The realization just made me feel even more weak and undeserving of what Cecil, Snow and Ryker had done so far, but they didn't see me as any sort of burden, not even close. They liked me, helped me after that ambush and even took me in after coming out to my parents about it.
So... just what are you planning to do Ryker?
Heh, don't get all sentimental in my body kit, would ruin my whole tough-guy image. I personally just plan to confront and call them out on what they did to you, or me as the case is right now. But of course, from what I've seen in your mind about them, they might try to start something, and we all don't wanna see our new little fox to get hurt again.
It was hard not to agree with him there, the lion and some of the other jocks were always acting like bullies to people, pushing others out of their way, throwing around threats and insults, and I even heard they had done a few swirlies on some of the more nerdy students in the chess and video clubs. When you considered all of that along with the beating they had given me, it was very likely that they would try and do it again to shut up anyone that challenged them in front of other students.
Unfortunately I wasn't able to continue thinking about the possibilities as the four of us soon entered into the main building of the school, the halls bustling with activity even so early in the morning as friends met up with one another, talking about what happened over the weekend among other things. Same old, same old it seems. I thought to myself as I watched everyone going from one place to another as Cecil stepped into the office for guest passes for Snow and... well me I suppose.
As we waited, I also noticed that Ryker was quietly sitting off to the side in my body, almost perfectly still with eyes closed, just like he was meditating or something. The only parts that moved were my... his ears and tails, swiveling and flicking around, he really mustn't be bothered by crowded areas.
"I'm back boys. Hope you all are nice and ready for the day."
I looked back up and saw Cecil walking back over, his muzzle smiling just it always seemed to be, before he handed over a pass to me and Snow. The two of us stood up as we took the passes, slapping the stickers onto our shirts as we all looked to Ryker, me lucky enough to do it myself after having convinced Ryker he didn't have to keep moving his body for me. He was quiet for a while, barely budging at all until he suddenly grinned and opened his eyes, looking back up at us.
"Hehe, guess we're in luck. That leonine kid is just down the hall and around the corner. And judging by the feel of things, he's hanging with the same group from that afternoon. They also don't seem to be up to anything right now and have quite a few other students around them, I'll certainly be able to make a show of calling them out and have the students spread the word for us."
"Well well, I didn't think James could actually not be up to something that'd be bad news for someone else while at school. He sure isn't the good student type from the days I've taught him so far."
"I can't read what they're saying just from their aura kitty, so maybe they are talking about mischievous things or it could just be stupid jock things. It doesn't really matter though when I am about to confront them."
The three of them chuckled at what he said, making me think they have had prior experience with stuff like this and weren't bothered at all by possibly facing four tough jocks that had already attacked me. But a few of the things they were talking about confused me, like how exactly he could tell where they were, and just how many people there were around them. And what is he talking about when he says aura, I thought he was just a psychic? Doubting my thoughts would be answered this time, I decided to finally speak up again.
"Aura?"
It was a weird feeling to know that while I was the one talking, it was still Ryker's voice that came out, don't think I like it or could get used to it. Good thing this is only temporary. I thought as they looked over at me.
"Oh right, we never told you. Sorry about that. Where should we start Ryker?"
"It's actually quite simple really. Whether you know of them or not, there are a number of martial arts styles throughout the world that are designed around the control and movement of energy generated by our body. The aura we mentioned is just another name it goes by, it is also known as qi or ki in some of the eastern parts countries. Thanks to my psychic influences, the three of us have control over it and we even practice martial arts to make use of it."
"It's also what I used to heal you and get back at your dad after he hit you, as well as why Ryker is such a big shot for the government along with his psychic powers, it's how we can afford that house really because his job voids all forms of taxes and mortgages since he can't actually be paid for such a secretive position. It really helps when I'm the only one making an actual paycheck out of the three of us."
"The job is quite enjoyable. Only downside is I can be called off suddenly for days or weeks at a time."
"So that's why all those cuts and bruises weren't as bad as they should have been, and also why you guys seem so relaxed about facing jocks as big as them."
"Heh, that's right kit. Cecil and Snow could take on a whole team of jocks and not get a scratch. And when you add my psychic powers to the mix, I can pretty much stand up to an armed platoon of soldiers without a problem. But enough of that stuff, we better move before those boys decide to leave."
I wasn't given much time to fully process the implications of just what they had said, Ryker turning me around before walking past me, Cecil and Snow almost fluidly taking his place and pulling me along with them as we followed the evermore increasingly strange male. It was really amazing how someone so strange could exist or how the two beside me could actually stay sane after just the stuff I had seen in the past few days, and I could only imagine that there is still more to come. I was dragged along with the three of them down the hall from the front office, weaving our way through the crowds of students socializing with their friends until we had reached the end and stopped just before the corner, already able to hear the jocks with how loud they were talking.
"That was an awesome party your dad let us through at your house James. He really let you go all out since he won that lottery and left for a vacation."
"I know right? It's awesome being home alone while my parents are gone. I can do what I want when I want and not have to hear them complain. Dad only said not to break anything and have it clean when they get back, not a bad deal at all."
"I'll say, sure was a wild time with all those chicks and drinks. I had like five girls give me lap dances and got so trashed I woke up on the floor with two of them on either side of me."
"Hah! Only two Marshall? I had three around me on the bed when I woke up."
"Oh shut your fat muzzle Charles. Obviously they were after what all you equines have, a big fat dick, none of them probably care for the rest of you, especially your gutter mind."
"Big talk from you squirrel, only good part about you are those fast feet to help you run away when the real big boys show up."
"Guys guys, really, it's time to chill. Probably not the best idea to mention drinking at a weekend party while we're in school, ya know. Really want the teachers to hear and call your parents?"
"Oh relax Andrew, there aren't any teachers down this hall and none of the other students care. For a big husky, you sure do worry quite a bit. That's why you played lookout Friday."
Despite how much I hated the lion, what he just said was true, and it was one of the reasons he liked to hang out there. The hallway led from the one we were in to a staircase that lead out in the direction of the other buildings, and there were only a girl's bathroom and long line of lockers on either side, no classrooms with teachers in them to possibly overhear these jocks talk about some party they threw. The nerve really, to do that sort of thing after what they did to me after school, even seeming proud of it.
"Please James, I'm just trying not to get in trouble like some people. You're party was fun and all but I'd like to not get detention or lose my chances at a football scholarship because someone has a loose mouth about that and what you guys did back then."
"And that's why we put your unsure tail as the lookout while the three of us did the bashing, you'd think just by appearances we'd put Mars here in your position but no, you are the only one of us that didn't want to get at the fox."
"Shush Charles, you should know very well I have hemophobia and couldn't do it. You three drew blood and if I had been involved I would have had another episode and we would have all gotten caught by that new teacher."
"I don't think you need to worry about that anymore boys."
~ ~ Third Person POV ~ ~
Hearing his own voice suddenly after listening to the jocks surprised Kyle, making him look down and see his body standing in clear in front of the hallway, the still new height while in Ryker's body making the movement go unnoticed until he heard Ryker speak up. And he wasn't the only one to be surprised, all four of the jocks and the other students that were also talking or grabbing things from their locker turning to look over at the fox after he spoke. The four males looked stunned as their eyes fell upon the victim of their afterschool gay bashing, their expressions turning to ones of shock and confusion as to how someone so small could not only return to school and face them, but look so unharmed after such an assault.
"The heck?"
"H-how are you here?'
"What the fu-"
"I wouldn't finish that train of thought if I were you, cursing at school is very quick way to be sent to detention just like the husky said. Though I suppose it's no surprise you four would be so shocked to see me after what you guys did."
Ryker kept his voice the same way that Kyle tended to speak, but he was having a hard time not smirking as he watched the baffled jocks stare at him. It was proving too amusing a site for him to maintain the small semblance of being the kit in front of them, he was enjoying getting to tease them even though they were so much bigger than Kyle's body. Karma is one heck of a bitch boys, and you'll soon learn that bullies always end up biting themselves in the tail for their actions.
"Don't try and scare us freak, you wouldn't dare tell anyone what happened Friday. Not with what we have on you too."
The teenage lion definitely wasn't as intimidated as the other three about a small fox that could easily get them in so much trouble, even thinking he could threaten the kid into silence just because he held some little bit of trivial knowledge. That was the type of attitude that Ryker didn't really enjoy having to deal with back on bases or in the field with uppity soldiers, so a kid having the same attitude was even worse off when facing the folf, even while hiding who he really was.
"Hmm, I guess you're James. I couldn't possibly go up to a teacher and tell them three football players and a track & field runner ambushed me in the new GSA meeting and did an old fashion gay bash. Really? Does it really make since to you that I would confront the same four that attacked me and not have done something already?"
"You little fa-"
"Oh don't worry your dull little jock mind about that, the only teacher that knows is Cecil since he helped me afterwards. No, neither of us told anyone at school until I spoke now. Actually, I've come to handle you four myself before letting Mr. Cecil take you to the principal."
"Hah! That's a right fox. Handle us yourself? What makes you think you can even take the four of us? You were so pathetic Friday I can't even see you taking down Marshall here, let alone me or Charles."
Just the smug remark I was waiting for. Ryker thought, grinning inwardly as he looked at the four of them, everyone but the husky in back smirking like they knew what they were getting into. He had everything set up and was ready to pay the boys back for attacking a helpless and kind kit, and even unable to use his full powers was still confident he could handle all four of them at once, but one-on-one would help to keep things from going overboard.
"Then let's test that theory. You got the jump on me last week, but..." the fox said, finally revealing a little smirk as his paws reached for the bottom of his shirt, grasping the hem and lifting the tight garment up and over his head. The smirk grew wider as his abdomen and chest became exposed, muscle never seen before on the teen now more toned and pronounced than ever in his life, newly polished washboard abs and taut biceps flexing as he threw the shirt away. Ryker had been doing more than just searching for the boys while he was waiting before, psychically shifting and conditioning the vulpine's body to handle the people standing in front of him, it was something he had had fun with considering how much he loved to tease and mess around with his friends.
"this time will be quite different. You'll see I'm more than capable of taking you guys now."
His right leg slid out slightly, both footpaws twisting to the side as he leaned and raised his arms into the typical starting stance, and eyes staring back at the squirrel as Ryker readied himself for the exciting fun. He made a show of those long foxy tails swishing behind him, going back and forth one after the other, one, two, three, four... five. The sudden appearance of another tail not escaping the confused and uncertain teens, especially as they went rigid along with the rest of Ryker, each of them spread out evenly behind him and curling forward to point their tips at the young males.
"Whenever you're ready Marshall, see if you can teach this _freak_another lesson on your own."