Vibrations raced up Marshmallow's paws from the trembling ground. Splinters of wood pierced her fur like shards of glass -some breaking through her skin causing tiny beads of blood to appear amongst her dirtied white and grey coat. Her head throbbed from the ringing in her ears, and she tried desperately to regain focus.

The tree had landed inches away from where the tip of her tail had been before she curled it up between her legs. Marshmallow knew that if she didn't move soon, the next missiles would hit their target. But, no matter how many times she blinked and rubbed her eyes, a misty grey haze covered her surroundings, impeding her vision.

In fact, if Marshmallow didn't know any better, she would have assumed a thick layer of mist had mysteriously swept over her surroundings. Her mind must have been playing tricks on her. A chill ran through her body, despite the warm sun that had been shining mere seconds ago. Perhaps a cloud had covered it, but Marshmallow couldn't see to find out. 

Her ears perked up at the sound of her sister's voice hollering loud enough for Gear to hear from wherever she was safely hiding. Well, at least Marsh hoped she was safely hiding. Knowing Ninja, there was no telling.

"Uh-oh, you know what kind of tree that was? The protected Willow Oak. You'd be in trouble if a human found out~"

Gear responded through the robot much too close for Marshmallow's comfort, "Human rules hold no value to me."

Marshmallow could hear Gear's missile launching bracelets beginning to spin again. She went to step in the direction of the sound, not entirely sure what she could do to stop him in her current state. However, her ears flicked behind her when she heard someone whisper, "Marshmallow?"

Recognizing the voice as Emsea's immediately, Marshmallow whipped her head around to face the silhouette of a cat approaching and whispered back, "Emsea? You shouldn't be out here."

"Save it Marsh," retorted the tabby as she got close enough for Marshmallow to see her. Although the haze obscured some of Marsh's vision, her memory of Emsea's silver cat form was fresh in her mind.

Unlike Marshmallow, whose black stripes never reached the white fur on her belly, Emsea's delicate grey stripes streamed down her sides to where her silver fur mixed with white. Although her facial features were stone cold, Emsea's cantaloupe orange eyes held the same soft touch as Squmkin's darker ones.

"Brownie and Smores are with Ninja," she explained, quieter than before despite Gear's attention entirely on Ninja. 

When an explosion sounded from Ninja's direction, Emsea's hair bristled up, turning her into a fluffy ball. A very anxious fluffy ball. "We have to get out of here," said Marshmallow to her frightened sister. 

Judging by how Emsea had been searching for her despite being so close told Marshmallow she wasn't the only one having vision issues. Perhaps the mist idea had been correct. And perhaps it had something to do with one of her sibling's hidden "talents".

As if confirming Marsh's suspicions, the mist cleared away, revealing the tree that had nearly crushed her lying on its side. Emsea crouched to the ground, clearly not prepared for that to happen, but after looking in Gear's direction, she understood.

Gear was no longer facing them. He wasn't even near the fallen tree. Whatever Ninja had done to distract him had worked. Emsea sighed in relief, but Marshmallow had a different opinion.

"What did Ninja do?" asked Marshmallow, a sinking pressure developing deep in her chest. Typically, Gear only bothered with Ninja if she was actively taunting him. The fact that Ninja was nowhere in sight, but Gear's attention was on her didn't bode well.

The hard to miss figure of Gear's gigantic robot was nearing the remains of an exploded tractor. Marshmallow didn't recall the tractor being in very good state to start with but not blown to pieces!

"There's no telling," answered Emsea truthfully. Ninja did have a reputation for getting on other's nerves after all. There were probably quite a few out there who wanted to explode the snarky tuxedo. Without glancing towards Marshmallow, Emsea added with confidence, "But she has help. Better help than me and Rocky can give you."

Marshmallow nodded her head in acknowledgement. Mist wouldn't help in combat- at least as far as she knew. Trying to form a plan, Marshmallow asked, "What is your power?"

"It's stupid, that's what it is," replied Emsea and her face immediately scrunched up in disgust as if briefly forgetting the danger they were in. "Basically charmspeak, but I can't do it on a robot. I can't even do it when the wind's blowing too strong. The thing's useless."

"So Rocky's is the mist," said Marshmallow, mostly to herself.

Without asking any more questions, Marshmallow ducked close to the ground and crawled over to the fallen tree. Emsea's whispered protests were ignored as she ascended the tree's base, careful not to place her paws on the tiny splinters.

Without the mist, Marshmallow could finally figure out what was going on. The robot, which Marshmallow recalled being named X-stellar 3.1, lifted the tractor wreckage above its head and tossed it to the side, crushing a few bushes.

"Here kitty kitty," taunted the robot. Letting out a relieved sigh, Marshmallow relaxed her shoulders and closed her eyes for a second. If he was looking for Ninja, then that meant her sister was okay. For the time being.

Marshmallow's relief was short lived- very short lived. Upon opening her eyes, the first thing she noticed was the brown tabby-on-white inching her way behind the massive robot.

Beside her, Emsea choked out a surprised whisper shout, "Smores?!" Indeed, there was no mistaking the beautiful short-haired white cat with hazel and dark brown patches of tabby markings.

Smores flicked her right ear in Emsea's direction, but didn't turn to face her. Instead, her eyes glued themselves to the robot as if it were a big, juicy mouse. Neither Marshmallow nor Emsea were prepared for the girl to rise from her crouched position and holler to the robot, "Hey!"

Gear, who had been busy flinging tractor parts around the yard like a child throwing a royal tantrum, turned to face her. At once, his pixelated angled down eyebrows popped up in confusion. "What do you want?" He asked with his robotic voice making it sound like a genuine question. It probably wasn't.

"Um," Smores looked around, trying to come up with something to say. Marshmallow didn't know what kind of reply she expected from Gear, but that definitely wasn't it. After a pause, Smores responded in what sounded more like a question than an answer, "This is our property?"

Marshmallow knew she had to step in. Gear's patience was limited, and Ninja had already blown through all of it. But, when she went to hop off the tree trunk, Emsea placed a paw to block her way.

Marsh went to push it aside, but the silver tabby explained quickly, "What do you think Smores' doing?"

"Commiting suicide," replied Marshmallow. If the situation wasn't so urgent, she would have cringed at her Ninja-like response. Maybe the tuxedo's snarky ways were starting to rub off on her.

"Would you stop underestimating us already?" The overwhelming irritation in Emsea's voice snapped Marshmallow's focus off Smores. Sure, Emsea had spoken with that tone countless times to Ninja but never to Marshmallow.

Emsea's fur bristled, and her ears peeled back tight to her head. She looked nothing like the cowering cat she was moments ago. Or was that just what Marshmallow had pictured her as?

"What she's doing is entirely idiotic," admitted Emsea. "But her actions are being backed by Brownie and Ninja. If you play hero now then you might destroy whatever attempt at a plan they've developed."

Marshmallow flicked her eyes back towards Smores who had an awkward smile plastered on her face as if it would save her from her stupid reply. She knew Emsea was right, but what if their plan went wrong anyway?

"Come on," said Emsea, sliding down the tree trunk. "The sooner we find Ninja and Brownie the sooner you can go get yourself killed by the robot. At least that's what it seems like your goal here is."

With one last glance in Smores' direction, Marshmallow frowned and slid down after Emsea. The same moment her paws touched the ground, an alarm went off from her watch.

Quickly as she could, she silenced it and peeked above the trunk to see if Gear had noticed. Fortunately, his robot eyes were still staring at Smores.

"Marshmallow?" asked a female's voice from the watch.

***

"What do you want?"

"Um... this is our property?"

Ninja touched her forehead to the ground and groaned. "Couldn't have said something like an ice cream sundae or I have no idea, got any suggestions?! Is she even my sister?"

"Considering you've been travelling with Marshmallow for so long, I'm surprised you aren't used to it yet," replied Brownie while intently watching Smores.

Ninja raised her head and responded, "Marshmallow would either have ignored him or said something in a heroic way. It doesn't take much to beat this is our property?" Brownie didn't respond, too focused on what Gear's response would be.

Gear, whose robot had one pixelated eyebrow raised to show disbelief, replied to Smores, "While that sounds entirely convincing," note the sarcasm that was not present in his robotic voice, "I'm afraid I could care less whose property this belongs to."

"Copy that," returned Smores, a giant smile still spread across her face. "But I have to ask, what's with the kid's toys obsession? I could see a four-year-old human playing with that. Even the missiles are childish."

"What did you say?" The robot's voice boomed out of the hidden speakers. Ninja could imagine the smoky grey cat glaring into his computer at Smores' remark.

"You heard me." Smores, although casting a few nervous glances towards the porch Ninja and Brownie were hiding beneath, held her chin high with confidence. Her awkward smile had shrunk to a light, natural smirk.

The robot's missile launching bracelets spun, producing a sound similar to propellers on a helicopter. Its pixelated eye brows tilted down to express anger, and he spoke in a monotone voice, "Perhaps you will have second thoughts about how childish X-stellar 3.1 is after this."

"Do show me," Smores replied, her chest swelled with pride but her breathing increasing in anticipation.

Ninja swiped her paw through the air and shot her head up high. "That's my sister!"

With a deep rumbling, like the engine of a motorcycle, four pencil-sized missiles spun out of X-stellar 3.1's bracelets towards the awaiting tabby. Her paws shifted, grasping the grass and dirt beneath them. She was prepared as she'd ever be.

Standing her ground, Smores waited for what felt like minutes but was actually less than a second for the spirling missiles to reach her. At the last moment, right before the pointed tip brushed her nose, Smores kicked out her back feet, propelling her forward. The force of the explosion behind her rippled through the tabby's fur, but she had made it. Their plan had worked!

A golden-brown glow highlighted her white paws and legs as she danced across the yard, avoiding the incoming projectiles. Her heart beated quicker than she could supply oxygen for it, yet Smores continued. Even when one, the fourth and final one, hit close enough to fling dirt over her shoulders and face, she still turned around with a joyous smile.

Her chest heaved, but Smores felt like she could continue all day. "Is that all you've got?"

"Impossible, how are you so fast?" Gear asked, and although it may have just been Ninja's imagination, even his robotic voice sounded astonished. "No, I see now. How could I have not noticed before. You look just like the purple one and talk like the black one. Just what I need, another one of those pesky brats."

"Black and white," Ninja grumbled under her breath. "And like you have anywhere to talk about us being brats."

She opened her mouth to add something but snapped it shut when she heard whispers nearby. Brownie heard them too, and turned away from Smores to see the three newcomers.

Fiddling with her watch, Marshmallow followed Emsea. Behind them, Rocky, who resembled a much larger, slightly duller grey version of Emsea, tagged along. The whispers belonged to Marshmallow and her watch, but Marshmallow figured out how to turn it off before arriving beneath the porch.

"New we'd find you here," announced Emsea in a quiet voice, clearly proud of herself.

That didn't last for long when Ninja replied, "What gave it away? The fact that it's the only hiding place left nearby or how Smores keeps blatantly turning towards us? Honestly, Gear is beyond oblivious."

Snarling, Emsea went to reply but the sound of an explosion cut her off. Looking out from between the steps leading up to the porch, they could see Smores running from the missiles again. This time, however, the missiles were catching up on her, exploding just out of range of her rear feet. She wouldn't last much longer.

"Listen up," spoke Brownie quickly, unafraid of Gear hearing them over his own explosions. "Rocky, we need you to spread a mist over the robot to prevent him from seeing us. Marshmallow, you and Ninja will take it from there. I'm back-up, but if Emsea hasn't explained my power yet, it's too dangerous to use like this."

"It's a small portal," explained Emsea, refraining herself from glaring at Ninja. "But Brownie can't control where it leads to within a certain distance."

"So sending missiles that explode on contact through it is a big no-no," summarized Ninja. Emsea rolled her eyes but was ignored by Ninja who turned to Rocky expectantly. "Let's see what you've got, big bro," she said, causing Rocky to cringe at his new title.

"Don't call me that," whined Rocky. His faded dark green eyes focused on Gear's robot. The others fell quiet, not wanting to distract him.

Like steam pouring out a teapot, mist rose from the patch of ground beneath X-stellar 3.1. Swirling and churning, the thick grey gas concealed the massive robot before Gear could figure out what was happening. No matter where he hid his camera, he could no longer see to target his missiles.

Smores was visibly relieved. Ninja hadn't noticed how tense she had been until she saw Smores' back relax and her shoulders sag. Even so, she still wore a triumphant smile, and her power still lit her paws with a golden brown glow.

Not wasting any time, Marshmallow pushed Ninja out from beneath their cover. "Target the eyes," she ordered. "Even if they're not where the camera's located, they're an easy shot past his armor."

"Got it," replied Ninja as she raced past Marshmallow, her cotton candy pink cape flowing behind her.

The mist sparkled in the sunlight, but so did the metal arms that batted at it, trying to clear the haze away from X-stellar 3.1's cameras. Gear would make quick work of escaping the fog. Ninja could only hope Rocky had more control over his power than simply creation.

"Marshmallow?" A voice called out from behind Ninja, causing the tuxedo to trip over her paws in a not-so-graceful manner. "Marshmallow, can you hear me?"

Ninja looked over her shoulder to see Marshmallow giving her watch an annoyed glance. "I already told you," she said, "Sort of busy right now." With that, Marsh clicked off the watch, cutting Ilene's reply short.

Shaking her head to clear away doubts about Ilene's sudden call, Ninja turned back to face the robot. Marshmallow knew what she was doing, Ninja liked to believe. Then was not the time to question her.

With her mind made up, Ninja leaped into the air. Her siblings had given them a reset, and Ninja knew that this time, they'd win the battle. There was no other option.

------------------

Hello dedicated readers! Yes, by this point you're all somewhat dedicated.

Another chapter! Honestly, I'm having to refrain from posting more than one chapter per week. I'm nearly ten chapters ahead, which is awesome, but I want to post them all.

So, what do you think Misha's going to encounter next chapter? I'm willing to bet that unless you've read through all the chapter names, you won't even be close. But, I'm still interested in what you're thinking. I might even use you response as inspiration. Who knows.

Thanks for reading! Have a wonderful day.