FA+
Shop
1021
Views
Views
78
Favorites
Favorites
Category
Artwork (Digital) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 521 x 342
File Size 187.4 kB
Report this content
★
More from SaberGhatz
Listed in Folders
![We'll Get There [Pixel Art + Short Story]](http://d.furaffinity.net/art/sabertooth-raccoon/1494291909/1494291338.sabertooth-raccoon_whatelse.png "Click to change the View")
We'll Get There [Pixel Art + Short Story]
Ghatz and Nix go on a late-night food run after a particularly bad day for both of them.
This is my first time trying pixel art, and I really enjoyed it!
The following short story is written by my incredibly talented friend, Comets_Nix, which was my inspiration for drawing this![CHARACTERS] GHATZ the GOAT | NIX the ALIEN WOLF
[SETTING] 1982 | LAS VEGAS
[RATED] PG
Nix could feel a headache coming on just as the sun had set and put his lab in a dark, nearly pitch black shadow until only the glowing greens and blues of chemicals and energy illuminated the cluttered desks and walls. The large, barely visible silhouette of the rocket reaching almost to the high ceiling had been forgotten hours ago as he sat slouched over and leaning against a clear spot on one of the many desks; watching the aqua blue, lava-like substance float and swirl in a large glass container mindlessly as the pounding in his head grew. He stared off into it in a daydream of nothing; thoughts and problems ghosting his mind on how to fix that, how to get this running, how to make that one thing work more smoothly, he needed to buy those wires, and where on earth he would find liquid uranium.
He could feel his hammock from a few stories above stare down at him from behind, but Nix kept his eyes away with a low groan as he felt his brain slowly give in. But before he could even finish his tired sigh and stand to force himself to bed, the doors of the lab opened with a scratching echo on the silent walls; exposing a soft breeze and the pale moonlight of the Nevada desert.
“Rough night?” Nix rose an eyebrow as he looked over at the figure slouching and now walking over with a tired scowl and drooped head.
“As usual.” Ghatz grumbled in a low growl; still loud in the dark building as she drug her hooves on the hard floor and crossed her arms when she came to a stop a few feet away.
“Hmmm.” Nix hummed quietly as his eyes sunk back on the lava substance and his head fell looser towards the desk.
It had been a bad week all around; nothing seeming to work out as the universe threw one problem after the other at them- the entire system of the new rocket engine had completely backfired with a red hot, overheated tube of iron. Traces of a rouge demon ghost let lose in search of voodoo swamped the the area and no matter how fast they drove or what they shot, the damn thing just kept slipping away.
One knock to the head on a shelf from Nix reaching for pliers had its entire utensils and gadgets falling to the floor and spilling until liquids mixed and a sweaty smoke bubbled up from the small puddle and stained the floor. A three hour hunt straight into the night desert hot on the tail of the spirit ended in a split second when Ghatz had only circled back and ended up right on the other side of the city- all traces of the demon gone with a blink. This broke, that fell, nails were chipped, an ankle was sprained, the days blended, and Ghatz even lost one of her ear rings at some point in the week; not even noticing.
Nix didn’t bother asking what is was this time as she stood with her arms crossed scowling distantly at the darkness; silence sitting for only a few seconds.
“We need food.” She said suddenly; causing the others eyebrows to raise as he finally lifted his head and peered at her with confusion.
“What?” He asked confused, but she only turned to look at him with a serious expression.
“Come on, Sonic is open, we’re going. You’ll like it. Famous Earth food.” She turned, beginning to walk out as Nix rose and followed unsure after her, not bothering with asking any other questions.
They hopped in the dingy black fastback that Nix had swiped from the dump and rebooted not too long ago; a 1970 black challenger with a kiss of rust and squeak of the door as it rumbled a bit too loud and had a fine layer of desert wind dust. But it did the job- and looked fancier than it was whenever going through the cities bright lights at night.
Nix let Ghatz drive, still unknowing and too tired to ask where exactly they were headed, but the slow drive around the edge of Vegas relaxed each of them as every color imaginable reflected and danced over them in and on the car. The radio blared everything from I Ran to Metallica’s new hits; each song somehow fitting the scenes perfectly as they drove in silence between hundreds of other cars past buildings and fountains and lights, until the last few city streets thinned into a smaller town and they could cruise with ease.
Just as sleep teased Nix’s brain from the comfortable seats and smooth ride, Ghatz pulled in to a brightly lit diner glowing yellow and red, and Nix lifted his head to look up and out of the window to read the tall sign that indeed displayed SONIC in large letters.
He never understood Earth’s fascination with light.
It was so odd, how colors and display meant everything around him on the planet; the night barely dark and the stars drowned out by the neons and strobes and spot lights. Not a single building or object or path went without illumination. He wondered if the people of this world simply feared the dark; he wouldn’t be surprised, yet it made him wonder why exactly they felt so much more comfortable with the brightness. How could they not want a break when their sun shined exactly half- sometimes even more- of each day? Was the rest of the planet like this?
“Alright, whatda’ ya want?” Ghatz’s tired voice snapped Nix from his thoughts as he looked around and realized the music had stopped and the car was now parked between two signs- each brightly displaying multiple food items and drinks he didn’t know could even exist. Ghatz was looking out of the opened window on her side, studying the items silently and trying to pick as her hoof tapped on the floor lightly and her thumb did the same to her thigh.
“Uh…” Nix sat up and looked out of his window too; barely reading the words as he grazed over the photos until one managed to catch his attention. “Number three,” he settled and sat back slightly again, looking ahead at the buzzing city outskirts and it’s life continued to thrive and race about.
Ghatz ordered for the both of them, and sat back when she was finished; looking out at the view along with him with a quiet sigh.
“Were you just speaking to that sign?” Nix asked and rose a brow.
“Don’t worry about it.” She replied bluntly, keeping a smirk back.
They sat in silence for a short moment, until Nix spoke again. “I’m sorry about that demon…” He sighed heavily.
“Yeeeeeaaah…” Ghatz groaned quietly; unable to bring herself to say that it was okay, it was fine- because it wasn’t. Damage was being done, black magic was being played with, people might be hurt- and they were just too slow. She tried to ignore the anger that clawed inside her because of it, and Nix tried not to mention it; knowing ghosts still yet weren’t his top subject.
He knew how much it meant to her that she did what she was born to do- and there hadn’t been a spirit like this, well… ever. It was only discouragement and frustration all week as her passion slipped from her grip and taunted around every dark corner.
A few more seconds went by of tired silence as each of them day dreamed through their own minds; the weight of the night and safety of the car calming their lives for just a moment of relaxation.
It was short lived, as just four minutes later, their food was brought out by a tired doe wheeling to a stop at the open window with the tray of food; Ghatz carefully taking it and grumbling a thanks. Nix turned when she left and watched out of the back window at the monstrosities he’d been told were called roller skates attached to her feet, and how her tired frame didn’t quite match the bright, wheeling shoes.
“Why the skates? Isn’t the door right there?”
A smile finally broke the corner of his mouth as he turned back and took the wrapped food Ghatz handed to him. “Why not the skates?” She smiled slightly as the mood finally lightened a bit, and they each grinned and rolled their eyes at each other.
“Wanna sit on the roof?” Nix sighed then, and Gahtz immediately agreed; the two opening the doors and easily stepping on the hood to sit in the car roof with their legs resting down on the windshield.
The cold night air was refreshing as they each took a breath and ate in silence; Nix watching over the restless city in the distance and the countless cars that weaved and raced in even paths and patterns all round. The dark sky was blank above them with only the small, pale moon reflecting an almost orange in the navy sea above the black mountain silhouettes. The city had a glowing aura as he watched the the lights flash and change and illuminate everything around them in purples, greens, pinks, and rainbows of life- it was nothing but happiness and party; people at their finest where their worries were gone and all they had to do was look and see and experience.
It was magical, really- Nix and Ghatz each loved the wild life and never ending style; but he recently found himself staring beyond the city and towards the dark sky, where stars painted the atmosphere just beyond the lights, and the wind wasn’t hidden.
The quiet, distant hum of car horns, tires on pavement, and engines rolling down the streets gave the full effect of watching the city; Sonic quiet and still for the most part around them this time of night as the few cars kept to themselves.
“Do you think we could travel more?” Nix asked softly; pausing.
Ghatz froze along with him before taking another bite, and slowly lowered her food to rest in her lap after a few seconds. “Where to?”
“I don’t know… I miss the stars. Earth is not exactly small, so I just… wonder what else there is…” Nix worried it sounded stupid out loud, and shrugged as his eyes remained glued to the famous Vegas fountains dancing small in the distance.
Ghatz was quiet again; so long that Nix was sure she’d ignored the question and moved on, but just as his mouth opened to reply with an apology, she spoke.
“Me too…”
He looked over to her finally; seeing her eyes distant and thinking elsewhere- the orange of them glowing in the artificial bright lights and reflecting the city that was patiently waiting for their return. He was about to then ask what exactly she meant, when her next words kept him silent.
“We are gonna catch this guy. We’ll do it, I know we will. And then- I think we need a vacation. I’ll show you some places where you can see the milky way itself, where it’s darker down here than it is up there. There’s mountains taller than these ones, and forests and plants and oceans and beaches- you’ll love it.”
Nix was quiet, imagining and wondering in awe how a planet like this could have so many different worlds all in one. “You think so?”
“I know so. In fact, I know someone down in the Fiji islands. That will be our first stop. Hope you don’t mind tropical heat.” She smirked and took another bite.
Nix smiled fondly and looked back out to Las Vegas ahead. “You know temperature does not affect me nearly as much as you guys.”
“Yeah yeah, I know, no need to brag.” That earned them each a small laugh, and the rest of the midnight dinner was spent in content silence; the weight of the week lifted from their shoulders for the first time in days.
Nix watched the city that had become his home thrive on in the distance; remembering the empty desert around it and the oasis that was like a beam in the center; people from all over coming and going to see the sights and live the ride that he was around each and every day. Hopefully one day, he and Ghatz would be the ones leaving to see where those hundreds of people were coming from.
But no matter what happened, in the end, they would get where they wanted to go. That’s how it always turned out- they always found a way, no matter how hard it was. They’d done it before, and they’d do it again. They were a team, and had much more to explore and learn- and nothing could take away their courage or strength to be wild and free as they always had been. That’s who they were- Ghatz running from her past life to find herself, and Nix searching endlessly for his lost home and far away planet.
But as he sat and watched their city- eating and breathing so simply with his new family next to him- for the first time in a long time, Nix thought that he might be home; that maybe he was lost from his planet and sent through space for a reason.
Maybe this was where he was supposed to be; maybe his rocket wasn’t meant to be fixed after all.
Maybe that demon was getting away for a reason- calling them to go further.
Maybe he had a journey and travels waiting right there, beyond those desert mountains and city glow.
For the first time in a long time, the thoughts of space and going back home slipped from Nix’s mind, and he looked forward, instead of up.
ART + GHATZ © SABERTOOTH-RACCOON | STORY + NIX © COMETSNIX
Do not re-upload this on other sites without credit+source. Thank you!!
-Saber
Category Artwork (Digital) / All
Species Unspecified / Any
Size 521 x 342px
File Size 187.4 kB
Comments