"Mo... mo..." Toco-Toco repeated, struggling to articulate the words that seemed stuck in his throat. His heart pounded as he stared at the figure before him, unable to believe what he was seeing.
"Yes, it's me, your mother, my little kitten," she said with a warm smile, slowly approaching him. Her name was Siri, a snow-white cat with heterochromatic eyes—one red and one green, just like Toco-Toco's. She wore a light blue dress that accentuated her natural elegance, and her voice was so kind it felt like an invisible embrace wrapping around the small feline.
"I think he had a nightmare or got scared by yesterday's training. It's best if he rests," Siri commented, gently placing a paw on her son's forehead to check for fever. "He doesn't have a fever, but yesterday's training must've shaken him up."
"No, I can go train," Toco-Toco insisted, his tiny eyes shining with determination. Though his mind was full of questions, he didn't want to waste a single second of this moment with his parents.
"Alright, my child, you can go," Siri responded, kissing him on the forehead before giving him a loving hug. Toco-Toco hugged her back tightly, thinking to himself: Is this real? Am I really here? He wondered if everything he had experienced with Paltio and the vortex had been nothing more than a bad dream.
"Son, who is this Paltio you were talking about?" Ged asked, interrupting Toco-Toco's thoughts. His father looked at him curiously, tilting his head slightly.
"Why do you know about him, Dad?" Toco-Toco replied, surprised by the question.
"No, but before coming in, I heard you muttering his name. Is he a friend of yours?" Ged asked, furrowing his brow slightly. "I don't know anyone by that name."
"It's nothing, Dad. Forget it," Toco-Toco quickly responded, trying to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Well then, is it time to train? What do you say, son?"
Toco-Toco nodded enthusiastically. "Yes!"
"But first, let's have breakfast," Siri interjected with a maternal smile.
"Yes!" both father and son exclaimed in unison.
The little feline got out of bed and began preparing. He put on his boots and his favorite blue suit, along with his two preferred weapons: the sais his father had gifted him. He adjusted his belt, specially made by his mother, and felt how every piece of his outfit connected him even more to this reality.
The three felines shared a breakfast filled with laughter and light conversation. Once they finished, Ged and Siri donned their respective combat outfits, demonstrating that both were seasoned and respected warriors.
"You're missing this, my little one," Siri said, placing an ancient medallion around his neck. "It belonged to your grandmother. It has been passed down through generations."
"Thank you, Mom, meow," Toco-Toco replied, touching the medallion reverently as a wave of pride washed over him.
The three left their home and headed to a coliseum where other cats were already training. The place buzzed with energy, the metallic clang of weapons colliding and shouts of effort echoing in the air.
"Alright, boys, have fun," Siri said, smiling as she bid them farewell before joining a group of warrior women.
"Siri is the best. She's an exemplary leader and the strongest among all felines, don't you think, son?" Ged commented, his voice brimming with evident pride.
"Without a doubt, Mom is the best, meow," Toco-Toco replied, admiration gleaming in his eyes.
But as he made his way toward the training field, his mind remained divided. How strange... Why is the coliseum here, and why are all these other cats present? And where is that brat of a prince? Toco-Toco wondered, trying to reconcile this new reality with the memories he believed were real.
Suddenly, someone gave him a light pat on the head. "Hello! Earth to Toco-Toco?" a teasing voice said. "Are you awake, or are you still sleepwalking? Is that some new trend?"
"Ah! It's you, cousin Mikol," Toco-Toco said as he saw the purple cat approach. Mikol was taller than him, with a shiny, deep-purple coat that made him stand out among the others.
"Well, who else did you think it was? Your little friend, the kitty over there?" Mikol joked, pointing toward where Zaril was training. "Or is she something more to you, meow?"
"Hey, take it easy! What nonsense are you talking about? She's just a friend," Toco-Toco replied quickly, though his cheeks flushed slightly at the comment.
"That's good, because she's coming this way," Mikol teased with a mischievous smile.
"Hi, Toco-Toco," Zaril said as she arrived, her voice soft but confident. She was a gray cat with piercing blue eyes, wearing her combat suit. "I wanted to ask if you'd like to join me later to do some shopping."
"Ah! Hi, Zaril," Toco-Toco responded, feeling even more nervous as he noticed how she was looking directly at him. "Sure... I'd be happy to," he finally managed to say, trying to hide his discomfort.
In his mind, Toco-Toco was confused. Wait a minute... She had never spoken to me before? She was always so shy... So what's changed now? He thought, analyzing the situation while trying to maintain a relaxed expression.
"I think some mouse ate his tongue," Mikol joked, crossing his arms. "But good for you, my cousin always wanted a date with you."
Toco-Toco snapped out of his daze and glared at Mikol. "What's it to you, cousin!" he exclaimed, now completely blushing from his cousin's comments.
"Calm down, don't get all riled up," Mikol said, raising his hands in a peace gesture. "Luckily for you, you've got your cousin who can give you some love advice."
"I didn't ask for your advice or help," Toco-Toco retorted, annoyed but trying to stay calm.
"If you're done playing around, it's time to train," Ged interrupted, appearing behind them with a serious but proud expression. "Come on, boys, no time to waste."
"Yes, we're coming, Dad. I think it's better to do that," Toco-Toco quickly replied, running toward the training field to avoid further awkward comments.
The training was intense. Toco-Toco threw precise punches, moving with agility as he practiced with other felines. Though he still had doubts about this reality, his body responded as if he had always belonged here. At the end, his father approached to evaluate him.
"You did well," Ged said, crossing his arms. "But you still need more power in your attacks. However, you're better than your cousin, who's lying exhausted on the ground."
Toco-Toco's training companions congratulated him, giving him pats on the back. "Good job, Toco-Toco!" some said, smiling with admiration.
Despite the praise, Toco-Toco was still full of questions. Everything seemed too perfect, like a lie he didn't want to fade away. This world was exactly what he had always wished for: his parents alive, his friends nearby, and a life filled with purpose. But how was it possible? How could they all be here, alive and happy?
As he walked lost in thought, he accidentally bumped into someone.
"Hello there, little one, are you alright?" asked a deep and reassuring voice.
Toco-Toco looked up and saw Golden standing before him, observing him with a kind smile. "Toco-Toco, right?" the leader of the felines asked.
"Lord Golden, I'm so sorry," Toco-Toco quickly said, bowing his head in respect. "I didn't mean to bump into you."
"Calm down, boy, it's nothing," Golden replied with a laugh, placing a hand on the small feline's shoulder. "But you should watch where you're going; there might be something dangerous in your path."
"I'm sorry, my lord. It won't happen again," Toco-Toco responded, feeling relieved by the calmness in Golden's voice.
"It's alright," Golden said, observing Toco-Toco with a mix of pride and seriousness. "I saw your training, and it's clear that what my great general—your father—is teaching you is bearing fruit. Soon, you'll become a great soldier, and who knows… Perhaps you'll be my right-hand, just like your father."
"Thank you, my lord, meow," Toco-Toco replied, bowing his head respectfully as a spark of excitement lit up his eyes.
"I see you're the fastest of your age, even faster than some who are older," Golden continued, smiling between chuckles. "Though, of course, not as fast as me."
"You honor me, my lord, meow," Toco-Toco responded, feeling his cheeks flush slightly at his leader's praise.
As they spoke, someone interrupted Golden. He turned toward the voice, nodding briefly before turning back to Toco-Toco. "See you soon, little feline. I've been looking forward to seeing what you'll become," he said with a warm smile before walking away.
Toco-Toco remained in place, watching as Golden departed. His heart was beating with pride and satisfaction. This is everything I've ever wanted, he thought. The admiration of Lord Golden, my family being proud of me, and my friends seeing me as someone to look up to—like my cousin Mikol. For the first time in a long while, he felt like he truly belonged in this world.
Meanwhile, in another place, Paltio was experiencing a similar mix of emotions. Everything seemed perfect: he was surrounded by friends who admired him, his parents were present and happy, and he was treated with respect at school. However, something inside him kept whispering that this reality was too good to be true. Is this real? Or am I just living a dream? He wondered silently, though he couldn't deny that he was enjoying this new life.
In a dark corner, far from both worlds, two figures observed what was happening. One of them spoke in a mocking tone: "Well, well… It seems they're having fun with the desires hidden in their hearts. How pathetic."
"It's time to change everything," the other voice responded, laced with threat and coldness. "Let them face the harsh reality, the nightmare it truly is."
A sinister laugh echoed in the air as shadows began to move, enveloping the figures in a dense and impenetrable darkness. Something big was about to happen, something that would test the true strength of Paltio and Toco-Toco.