Chapter 4 — Pandora
Plop
An object landed on Garfield's cat paw. Garfield looked down and his entire catness went blank.
What's this?
A tiny, winged person?
Pointed little teeth were biting into Garfield's fur, making little growling sounds.
He extended a cat paw, pinned the little person down, and lifted his cat head to ask Ancient One: "Master, what's this?"
Before Ancient One could speak, the little person struggling beneath his paw shouted: "You low-level creature, release this monarch at once! Do you believe I'll bite you to death?"
Monarch?
That Dark Dimension monarch?
You've got to be kidding. This little fairy-like creature, smaller than a hummingbird, is actually the Dark Monarch?
Ancient One's expression remained normal—perhaps it was just age-related facial paralysis: "You two can discuss this later. Right now, I'll return you both to normal."
Ancient One dissolved the mirrored space. Everything returned to normal. Garfield was still that orange tabby crouched before the coffee table covered in tea sets.
The only difference was that beside Garfield's foot was a suspected Dark Monarch fairy creature, still biting his cat paw—though it didn't even seem able to break the skin.
HP-1
HP+10
Maybe it was forced damage.
Garfield ignored the Dark Monarch at his feet and continued asking Ancient One: "Master, can you explain this problem?"
Ancient One said seriously: "This is the Dark Monarch. Currently without dark energy, it has returned to its original form."
Oh
So that's how it is
Garfield searched through his memories and could only confirm a few similar creatures—like mythical flower fairies, or that Life Goddess Ding Dang creature from Daddy Chen's household.
Seemed somewhat similar, actually.
Except for the temperament. Those were adorably dumb; this one was a fierce-little-baby.
Maybe tired from biting, the fierce-little-baby Dark Monarch flapped its wings to the teacup on the table, lay against the rim, and craned its neck to drink.
Gulp gulp
Garfield thought two sips at most. Unexpectedly, the creature drank the whole cup dry. The result: she tumbled straight into the teacup. The remaining tea soaked her completely, leaving her rather bedraggled.
Extending his paw, Garfield fished the fierce-little-baby Dark Monarch from the teacup. He stared at her suspiciously: "What's your name? Why did you become like this?"
The Dark Monarch propped her hands on her hips and declared solemnly: "Call me the great Dark Monarch, Lady Pandora."
Pandora?
"So Pandora, what creature are you exactly? How did you become a Dark Monarch?"
Pandora rubbed her head, thought for a long time, and finally shook her head: "This monarch forgot. Something about going out to play, getting hurt, and then... can't remember."
Well
Forget it then
Given how these cliché stories usually go, eighty percent she was some daughter or empress of some major power who went out for fun and got usurped.
Ancient One watched Garfield and Pandora start another round of attacking each other and said helplessly: "Garfield, let me prepare a resting room for you first. You'll stay here. Also, you two are one entity now. Cherish each other."
What?
Was this like wedding vows?
Pandora pointed at Garfield defiantly: "How can such a low-level creature be my host?"
Garfield raised his cat head proudly: "His Majesty is a Flerken, understand? Not your average big orange cat, meow!"
"Hmph"
╭(╯^╰)╮
Garfield hmphed too
╭(╯^╰)╮
The two were deadlocked.
Ancient One just smiled and didn't mind, leaving the space to them. Garfield appeared proud but inwardly doubted: why did Ancient One seek him out? Why did she drain this so-called Dark Monarch's energy? The creature originally seemed like an elven light being. Did Ancient One know her from before?
Something was fishy.
As a scheming orange cat, Garfield silently noted all this. Ancient One probably wouldn't harm him; otherwise, she could end his life with one hand. Unless—was His Majesty the destined cat, following future Ancient One to find Doctor Strange as her successor?
If he was apprenticed to Ancient One, then that Stephen Strange would be his junior disciple. Imagining making him call him "senior disciple" every day and his embarrassed expression made Garfield inexplicably happy.
After Ancient One left, she instructed an apprentice named Pema to bring him to his new room. Pema was a typical Tibetan girl, seemingly only 13 or 14. Unlike the darker, UV-exposed Tibetan skin, Pema was much paler. Her large eyes seemed to speak, and she carried a floral fragrance. She showed great respect toward Garfield, this orange cat taken as disciple by Ancient One.
Along the way, she carefully carried Garfield to a room: "Lord Garfield, this will be your residence. Please call me if you need anything."
What an adorable little girl~
Garfield smacked his lips. Pandora, who had just returned to Garfield's soul, appeared atop his head and pointed at him accusingly: "You lecherous cat!"
"How can you slander this innocent cat?"
"I saw that evil thought of yours just now!"
"Nonsense! I was looking at her with the same pure gaze as my older brother!"
"Hmph, your brother already owns several mines."
"That's talent!"
"And women on both sides."
"That's called charm!"
"You simp!"
"I'm a standard freeloader!"
"Broke and worthless!"
"..."
Garfield realized how tragic it was to be defeated by his own thoughts. Enough said. A single cat occupied the bed, enjoying the warmth of the blankets, incredibly comfortable. Somehow, Garfield slept straight through to the next morning.
Lovely Pema brought breakfast: yak milk, yak meat, and some tsampa. Garfield hastily filled his stomach and began his first day of study under Ancient One.
First, learning written language.
Then beginning meditation.
As for fist and foot techniques, Garfield considered his cat-paw punch invincible—seven strikes per second with one paw. How's that for impressive?
When Garfield studied, Pandora occasionally came out to practice alongside him. Mostly she found it boring and returned to his soul. Sometimes she'd fly to Ancient One's side, and the two would talk about something unknown.
Study days passed quickly. Before Garfield knew it, he'd spent half a year in Kamar-Taj.
Half a year for an ordinary orange cat would be halfway to adulthood. But for Garfield the Flerken, it was merely a brief moment in life—barely even a full moon. After all, in the universe, Flerkens were among the most dangerous creatures, a very mysterious species with little recorded information.
Perhaps due to natural talent, Garfield learned to open portals and some basic spells within half a year. After examining Garfield, Ancient One announced: "You've graduated. You can now return to your owner's home in England."