As a future legendary hero, Mao Mao had learned to trust his instincts. It was a skill honed throughout years of adventuring. So when he woke up that morning, he kept his eyes peeled, his body tense, and his mind sharp, because Mao Mao trusted his instincts and his instincts told him…

'Today is gonna suck.'

The day started well enough. It hadn't really descended into the realms of suck till mid day.

The monster they were currently fighting resembled a lizard riding inside a top. Between the spinning of its impenetrable shell and the electricity it was shooting out, none of the crew could get close to it. The only place it seemed to be weak was its head. Mao Mao would have used the aerocycle to get to it, but the monster had shot it down when he called for it.

'Hmmm, a bad day but not the catastrophe my instincts are telling me it's going to be,' he thought as he used Geraldine to redirect a blast.

"Adorabat!" Badgerclops cried. "Watch out dude!"

Mao Mao diverted all attention to his young ward.

"Don't touch my dau- er, deputy!"

He dove for her and pushed her out of the way of the blast.

'This is gonna hurt, but it's still not the legendary suck I know is coming.'

Before the bolt of lightning could tear through his body, he was quickly lifted into the air and out of danger.

"That was close."

"H-hinata?"

'There it is.'

His sister gripped his arm. Her golden scarf spread out like wings.

"We gotta go for the head, right?" she asked as they zipped out of the way of another attack. "I'll get you close, you take it out."

"Now wait a min-"

"No time! Fastball special! 3 2 1 GO!"

She whipped him around in a dizzying spin before he could say another word. He soon found himself flying straight towards the monsters head.

"Fine," he growled.

He gripped his sword in both hands.

"Flying Crescent," he cried, slashing through the monsters neck.

He snagged a light post just past the monster. Spinning around said post dissipated his momentum and he soon dismounted with stylish flip. As the monster collapsed behind him, Mao Mao brushed himself off.

"Mao Mao!" Adorabat cried as she crashed into his arms. "I'm sorry! I got distracted and you almost got fried and I froze and-"

"Easy Adorabat," he said softly. "Everyone's alright. I'm just glad you're okay, deputy."

She sniffed and hugged him tighter.

"Still, you're gonna need more training. Remember, you need to keep a clear head in a fight."

She wiped her tears and nodded.

"Right," she said fiercely. "I swear, I'll do better next time."

"I don't doubt that."

'One thing down, now for-'

"Woo hoo!" Hinata Mao whooped as she landed next to him.

His sister was just as he remembered her. She stood a head taller than Mao. Her form was lithe, her build in line with that of a gymnast. She wore a green piece of leather armor over her chest. Green bands of cloth were wrapped around her wrist and wore green shin pads on her legs. Her green eyes, the same as his, were alight as she approached him.

"That was awesome, Mao Mao," she said with a grin. "I've done that with Brunhilde before, but it was so much easier with you. I mean Brunhilde is built like a house but with you being so much smaller and lighter, I can get a lot more spin." She smiled at him and held up her paw. "High five, little bro."

Mao Mao frowned and turned away.

"Sister, I am afraid I have to cut this visit short. I thank you for your help, but I have sheriff work to do"

She lowered her paw as her smile fell.

"Oh, yeah, okay. Talk later?" she said to his back.

He didn't respond.

"Nice going, Hina," she mumbled under her breath. "Great start."

"Adorabat," he called as he walked away. "Give the village a fly over. Make sure it was the only one."

"On it, Mao Mao."

"Badgerclops."

"Yeah, dood?" he asked as he approached.

"We need to get this thing out of the village."

He expected complaining but none came. Instead, Badgerclops glanced at him with suspicion.

"You okay, dood?" he asked softly.

"I'm fine," Mao growled.

"I mean, you don't usually go for the kill," he said.

"Badgerclops,"

"I mean its fine if you're not, what with your sister showing up and all your family issues."

"Badgerclops," he said through clenched teeth. "I am fine. Now focus on how we're gonna get this monster corpse out of the village."

Badgerclops was silent for a moment before sighing.

"Just, promise me you'll talk about this with Blue."

Mao Mao sighed. "Yeah, okay."

Hinata Mao, wielder of the golden scarf of speed and flight, stared at the ground as she walked through Pure Heart Village.

"You're a total idiot, Hinata," she mumbled as she hugged herself. "Mom told you not to mention size with him. That it was a sore spot with him. And what do you do?" She threw her arms up. "Wow, Mao Mao you're so much smaller than Hilde."

She scoffed. "Why can't you just keep your big mouth shut, Hina!"

She cupped her face in her hands.

"I'm lucky I didn't mention the lack of a tail."

That one threw her a bit. Her mother hadn't mentioned that. To be fair, Mao Mao hadn't visited home since… since he first set out. The Mao matriarch probably hadn't known.

The loss of a limb should have been something the family should of known about, but Hinata couldn't blame him for the lack of communication. A scar, as far as her family was concerned, was a badge of honor. You got hit but you powered through. However, a loss of limb… Hinata had to suppress a shudder. The look her father would give her if she came home without a tail.

"And it would be so much worse for Mao Mao," she whispered.

For her or her sisters, the look would be of disappointment. For Mao Mao…

It'd be the proof that Dad was right.

"Oh, Mao Mao."

C.T.K: … yet another fandom I've become absorbed by. This is just a taste. I've become fascinated with his family and needed to see more interactions between them. I like the idea of at least two of Mao Mao's sisters being nice and/or indifferent. Since popular consensus is that 'Hat Sis' is most likely Minori, I decided to use Hinata for 'Scarf Sis'. Don't know who first coined that but thanks man.

Next chapter: Hina flashes back to a conversation she had with Mama Mao where she asks an important question, 'Am I a bad person?'.

Till next time!