Post by Prof. Zam on Mar 11, 2011 10:01:23 GMT -5
Chapter 11-Together Again
We safely got back to the locker room, where I was greeted by my friends.
“Where have you been?!” The winged girl asks.
I explain what all happened.
“I see. So even Fred was in it.
“Against his will Crystala” Wesley puts in.
We turn to the voice which came from the door. Fred is standing there.
“What, are you going to turn him in again?” Wesley asks.
He shakes his head. “No! On the contrary! After seeing that display of abilities back there, we all are safe!”
“All of us?”
“Yeah! They did want to get rid of all of you to begin with!”
I turn to my friends. “I wonder why they wanted us all…”
“I can understand me,” Wesley starts, “but why the rest of us?”
“Well me too” Crystala says. “I helped your dad all those many years ago.”
“That’s right. Same with you too Waria.” I say.
She nods.
“But why the rest of us?”
“I don’t know much,” Fred began, “but from what they DID tell me, it has something to do with you interfering with their boss’ plan. Master plan they called it.”
I put a finger to my chin. “Do you think that maybe, possibly, they work for the Shadow Witch?”
Fred nods. “I think so. There isn’t anyone else I can think of!”
I nod. “Right.”
Phil walks up and decides to join up in our little conversation. “Well, I have heard about some vigilante, but he isn’t the good kind. He calls himself some sort of world-famous thief.”
“He’s still alive?!” I ask surprised. If we were thinking of the same person, then he would have to be over 60 years old!
“Still? What do you mean?”
“Where is he from?”
“The Bean-Bean Kingdom.”
“The same guy that Mario and Luigi ran into on the way to get the Chuckola Cola?”
“What? No! That’s not him!”
“Oh.”
“No! The guy I’m talking about calls himself world-famous. To be honest, I don’t think that many people really know who he is.”
“I sure don’t” I say while crossing my arms.
Maria giggles a little. I smile at her. She smiles back. “By the way, have you changed a bit, or is it just me?” I ask her.
“She does seem a little different…” The bartender Phil exclaims. “Nowhere near as…crazy…or as adventurous…”
Even Zess T. thinks so. She walks over and inspects Maria. “You…oh my gosh. No way! You did!”
“I did what?” She asks while cocking her head slightly.
“Matured!”
She stares at her with a blank expression. Wesley clears his throat. “I’m sorry, but that isn’t quite as important as the matter at hand here!”
I nod. “You’re right. Now, you were about to say his name I believe, right?”
Phil nods. “Yeah. His name, his real one anyway, nobody alive knows.”
“What about himself?”
We all turn to Waria, who is smiling with mischief.
“Yes…I suppose…you could be right. Anyway, as I was about to say, the name he goes by is actually a little catchy. He calls himself the Midnight Marauder. You see, he normally acts at night and he wears all dark clothing.”
I nod. “The Midnight Marauder eh? Hmm… I like that!”
Fred shakes his head with a slight smile.
“So how do we find this Midnight Marauder?” Wesley brings up this important detail.
Phil is speechless. He finger stays in the air and his mouth open, but nothing comes out. “That’s a good question…umm…well…”
Wesley crosses his arms with a big smile. “You don’t actually know where to find him do you?”
Phil shakes his head. “Nope.”
He facepalms. “Thought not…”
“But I do know the general area of where he works. Where he is the Midnight Marauder that is. He works that life over in-“
“Rougeport?” I finish for him, assuming that was the correct answer.
He nods. “Yes, Rougeport is the place alright.”
“Kinda obvious” Waria says. I couldn’t help but agree with her.
“So when do we head out?” I ask him.
“That, I do not know. We are probably being watched as we speak by those…ruffians…” Fred says.
“Uh, Fred?”
“Hmm?”
I twist my foot in the carpet. “Why did you just call them…ruffians…after everything that they did?”
“Well, I wouldn’t call them something worse than that in front of these fine ladies.”
“I can handle it” I hear both Waria and Crystala say at once. Maria nods. “So can I.”
“Anyway, those sons of bitches are probably watching us this very instant. They have spies that are gifted in the arts of ninjitsu, they have tiny mobile security cameras about the size of a fly, and they tend to eavesdrop through doors!” His voice escalated when he started saying doors. We all turned to the door. A few seconds later we hear retreating footsteps.
“I rest my case. In any case, we need to relocate. A lot of the fighters here have gotten involved with them and are being paid quite well.”
“How well?” I ask. I hear Wesley facepalm again. Louder. “I was joking people!”
“As I was saying, they get paid well. They won’t be brought back to our side so easily. We need to go somewhere else where it’s safer, say a safe house or bunker with supplies.
I see Wesley’s head shoot up from looking down at his feet from sheer boredom. We make eye-contact and both nod. “We know a place” we say in unison.
“This is it?” Fred asks once we arrive. It looks the exact same as when we left.
Wesley nods. “Don’t let looks deceive you! Wait until you see the interior!”
Wesley pulls out his keys and goes to unlock the door, but it is already unlocked. “That’s odd…” He opens the door and we see Charlie the Red Bones greeting us.
“Welcome to the Red Bones; Blue Bones; Dull Bones; Dry Bones party! Please come right…Wesley? Is that you?”
He nods.
“Uh…hi?”
Wesley forces his way in and sees a whole house set up and ready to party. “I hope you were
Meaning to invite all of us to this party too, Charlie…”
“Of course!” He says a little scared. “You are welcome to a party in your own house!”
Wesley turns to Charlie and smiles. “Excellent! Because you know how I like to party!” His attitude changed from angry to happiness. I don’t think he was even really angry at all.
Charlie welcomes the rest of us in, but when he gets to the last person, Fred, he hesitates. “What about this bean guy?”
Wesley nods. “He’s with us. He’s cool! He is also the manager of the Glitz Pit.”
“Wow! Is that true?”
Fred nods.
“Sweet! Hey, uh, ya think I could fight there sometime?”
“If you can fight or guard well enough, then yes.”
Charlie makes a yes gesture with his arm. After we’re all inside, we get comfortable in the living room. I boot up the Wii and pick Brawl. I challenged Maria to a rematch-best out of three. I pick Luigi and her Meta-Knight. Halfway through the three-minute time limit of the first brawl a knock is at the door. I pause the game and we all listen. Another knock. Another. We all-except Wesley and Charlie-head for the bunker. I activate the security cameras that Wesley was watching from last time and watch as the two upstairs open the door to reveal a small bean-like person. It’s the same one from the group of soldiers from the first time. It is their leader.
“Sorry to disturb you again” it says when it sees Charlie. “We have some intel that there are wanted fugitives living here.”
Charlie shakes his head. “Nope. I’m just waiting for some friends to arrive so we can party.”
“Ooh! A party? May I come in?”
Charlie shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but I was told to only let people I know and other people like me into this house.”
“You were told that? By whom?”
Charlie pauses a moment. “By my…uh…my…landlord. He says only people that we both know and my own kind.”
“Your landlord? Where is this said landlord?”
Wesley walks up. “I am he. Is there a problem here sir?” He says in an aggravated tone.
“Well, sorry sir, but-“
“I heard you the first time” he interrupts. He sounds more aggravated now. “Now, I can assure you, nobody in this house is a wanted fugitive. I pay close attention to everything that happens here and I can tell you right now, since nobody of that type is in this house, then you can go ahead and leave.”
“Well, I have to search the house anyway, so please move aside.”
He goes to enter but the two don’t budge.
“Excuse me fine sirs.”
Wesley shakes his head. “No.”
“What?”
“I said, no. No. Nope. No. Nada. Zilcho. Zip. That’s how much the percentage of you to get in this house is. Zero. Now leave the premises or I will make you.”
The bean person scoffs. Charlie leans down next to him. “I’d listen to him if I were you. He’s serious. And he is an old Glitz Pit Champion! He still has a LOT of moves left in him!”
“GP Champ eh?”
Charlie nods.
He thinks about his predicament for a moment, and then he turns to Wesley who is still in his way. “Alright. Sorry for disturbing you Mr…uh…what was your name again?”
Wesley hesitates. “The name is…Lee. Just Lee. I dumped my old name for that one.”
“What was your old name?”
He looks downwards. “I’d…rather not say.”
“Why not?”
“It is embarrassing…”
“How?”
“It…used to…be…”
“Yeah?”
“……Lynn.”
The bean person starts cracking up. “I understand now! Ha ha hahaha! Alright, I’ll see ya guys later, Charlie and…Lynn…HA!”
He turns and leaves. We all sigh in relief. After the coast is clear, Wesley motions at the cameras for us to come back up. We head up the stairs and meet up with the two upstairs at the base of said stairs.
“So, Fred,” Wesley starts, “whatcha think of the bunker? Is it safe enough for you?”
Fred nods. “Yeah. It’ll work.”
Wesley turns to me. “Ya think it’ll be big enough for your little army dude?”
I shrug. “I think so…”
Wesley nods. “Good.”
“Speaking of which…”
We all turn to Fred.
“Where is this so-called army being amassed in the first place?”
I go to answer, but then realize that I don’t know that answer.
“…um…”
“Yeah, that figures.”
Fred pulls out a small cell phone about the size of his palm and flips it open. He starts texting something. He shuts the phone when he is done and tells us to wait a few minutes.
A few minutes later…
-Knock knock knock-
Fred tells us to open the door. I do, and Baine and his brothers are standing there. “We heard that you are holding your army here, is that true?”
I nod. “I suppose so.”
“Good.” He turns around. He screams, “HEY GUYS! IT’S OVER HERE! I TOLD YOU IT WAS THE BLUE HOUSE!!!”
Baine walks in with his brothers close behind him. Seconds later, Private Goomp, The Koopinator, and a lot of other people I haven’t ever met, all rush in through the door. They find the stairs open and head downstairs into the bunker. Luckily, it was large enough to harbor everybody in the army, because there was no more room for the rest of us to sleep down there!
After they all head downstairs, The Koopa Bros. came back up and sat near the television in their own way. Raymen went into Lotus position; Baine got the couch; Yuichi got a cushion and sat on the floor; Gene got a loveseat; and I got a small chair next to the TV. Wesley still had his rocking chair and Maria took the couch along with Phil and Zess T. I give Maria her controller and we resume our brawl.
When the timer hits zero, a winner isn’t decided. Instead, it went into sudden death. Both of us were at 300% damage, but we went in for the attack and both were sent flying by the other. It went game as both of us went off screen.
“GAME! THIS GAME’S WINNER IS…META-KNIGHT!”
I hear one of Meta-Knight’s taunts as he gets first place. I grunt playfully at her like as if I was angry. She smiles back at me. At that moment, I saw the old Maria in her eyes, and I knew that she liked me. I just felt it.
So, we continue playing until we have dinner, after of which we went off to bed. Wesley got the rocking chair; Maria and I got the master bedroom; Charlie the guest bedroom; the Koopa Bros. stayed up throughout the night staying as guards outside. The next day…
I wake up. I found it odd that I hadn’t been to the realm of training whilst I slept. Eh, oh well, for I smell breakfast cooking! I rush downstairs after getting dressed-and after noticing that Maria wasn’t there-and I see Wesley cooking my only breakfast that I seem to have anymore. Blueberry pancakes. Whoopee…
I get a few flap-jacks and eat up quickly. I remember making a promise to Baine and the other Koopa Bros. to train with them outside after brecky.
When I get outside, I see the Koopa Bros. on a nearby bench to the path to the large fountain. When I get there, Baine stands up, and walks over. He bows down to me. I do the same after realizing that he was up first. We each take starting positions for a fight.
I do the bring it on gesture with my hand. Baine nods once, then dashes in at such incredible speed! It caught me off guard! I barely managed to dodge him and trip him. When he stumbles I grab his legs and give him a triple whammy! It doesn’t even faze him! He grabs a nearby root of a tree and uses it to swing himself upwards, loosening my grip, and then sending me flying!
I land on a nearby roof with elegance and precision. I use this moment of landing to use the momentum I gathered from both falling and his attack and I send myself flying for him! He puts up both arms to block, and when my body is about a foot away, I wheel around into a hard kick-which hits dead-center on its target!
My kick continues its impact until we skid back into a tree where Baine hits it and it falls over from our momentum. By this time, we’ve slowed down enough, and he lashes both arms outward and sends me flying off. I land about ten yards away from him.
We stare at each other dramatically and intensely for what feels like an hour. Then, he stops his fighting pose and chuckles. “I guess I’ll have to go all-out” he whispers just loud enough for me to hear. I watch as his entire body gets cloaked in darkness and shadows, which diverts to his hands, and large menacing blades protrude from between his fingers! It is just like Wolverine of the shadows!
“Prepare, for you will be hit much harder now,” he tells me as he takes a single step forward. I prepare for anything that he might throw at me with a defensive pose. He leaps up into the sun’s path to my eyes; I shield them, and just barely manage to block a powerful kick from him! We skid back a few yards and I toss him behind me with his own momentum. I back flip and try to pin him but he vanishes into the ground with a black circular portal”
“Oh come on! That’s not fair!”
I prepare for an attack from any direction. Minutes pass by with nothing happening. Until…
I shut my eyes and focus on the earth’s vibrations. I feel him arise right behind me and I turn around to attack. He blocks my quick jab with ease, but not my second one! I surprised him after he blocked my first attack with a quick jab to the gut! He kneels over in pain!
“Oh shit! Are you alright? Was that too hard?” I ask when he doubles over.
He holds up a single hand, with the other one still clutching at his stomach. “Nah” he starts, “I’m fine. I’ve taken worse before, trust me!” He smiles. I smile back. He wobbles over to the bench and sits down just as Raymen stands up.
“You’re next eh? Bring it on, Ray-Man, let’s see what you’ve got underneath that red shell of yours!”
Raymen bows to me and I bow back. Honor and all-you understand. He dashes forward, much like Baine did, but he’s a little slower. I dodge him easily, but he is much more agile then his younger brother! He turned and circled me a few times before tripping me immediately after I side-stepped him to dodge his dash attack! Still on the ground, I wipe my mouth, and say “You will be a good challenge for me. Don’t hold back!”
He nods with a smile and dashes for me while I’m still down! I roll over as he dashes and barely get away! He almost mowed me over! I jump back up and barely block his Dragon Drop Kick! He rolls back and jumps back up to both feet in a flat second! I’m in trouble, I can’t help but think, especially since he is older. More experience, more skill, more power, and more of a challenge.
I dash in and take the offensive before he can attack again. I jab but he side-steps me like I did to him and Baine, and I start to stumble. I regain my balance just as I was about to hit a tree and I run up it like a wall and jump at the top of it. I land right behind Raymen who was chasing after me! I jab quickly to the gut but I’m denied. I try the head-he catches my hand in his. I use my other hand to jab at his chest, but he grabs it as well! I gulp as he smiles. He tosses me right into the tree and I hit it so hard that it falls over!
When I stand back up, I see him slowly walking towards me, the ground behind him in flames with every step, as he gets oh so ever closer.
I jump back up and leap into the air just as a large fireball flies past where I would’ve been if I hadn’t jumped at that time! It hits a tree which explodes into mere ashes!
Looking back to Raymen, his palms ablaze with white tipped-red based flames, I know I can’t beat him. I surrender.
“Ha! That was a good fight nonetheless Mr. Cody!” He exclaims as we shake hands. “We’ll have to do it again some other time!”
I nod while still shaking hands. “Agreed Raymen, agreed. I need to get a little better before I rematch against the oldest brother.”
Gene starts to get up when I tell him to wait. He asks me why.
“I need to recharge, as it were. You saw those fights, I need to rest if I’m gonna be at full power for ya.”
Gene nods and tells me that he understands. He can wait till later. I nod. “Maybe after lunch” I tell him with a smile. He smiles back and returns to the bench with Yuichi who seems to be pouting. I ask him why he is and he says because he can’t fight me yet. We all laugh out loud at his joke.
After we all return to the basement base, the Koopa Bros. (who call themselves Team Elementa when together in a fight) go over to another Koopa that is a ninja like them. It’s white and seems to be a female though.
The Koopinator walks up to me. “Hey, Cody, I’ve been wondering something…”
After asking him what it was, he asks about my looks. “A human with Koopa-colored skin which is as hard as a Koopa’s. How is that possible?”
I tell him about my parents being Princess Rose and Killer Keenan the Koopa. He nods with an “ah. I see now.”
“Yeah…”
We both rub the back of our heads, not sure of what to say.
“Well, I guess I’d better get back upstairs with the rest. See ya later?”
He nods. “Sure thing.”
I nod back and head up the stairs. Once at the top I go over to the television to watch some Anime. Kekkaishi should be starting any minute!
I turn on Adult Swim and right as the show is starting, a news bulletin appears.
“This just in” the news reporter starts with an almost fearful voice, “sightings of a large purple and black creature have been recorded all around the vicinity of Rougeport. Some say that it’s just people who have had too much Whisky, while some others state that since they never drink, it has to be real. We have an artist’s rendering of the reports given and combined to give an average and accurate vision of said creature. Okay, bring it up!”
A picture comes up on the screen and it looks a lot like what my dad and mom said the Shadow Witch looked like! Wesley is already standing over the couch staring at the TV. “That’s…her…she’s back…”
I stare at him. “You mean…?”
He nods. “The Shadow Witch is returning.”
END OF CHAPTER
We safely got back to the locker room, where I was greeted by my friends.
“Where have you been?!” The winged girl asks.
I explain what all happened.
“I see. So even Fred was in it.
“Against his will Crystala” Wesley puts in.
We turn to the voice which came from the door. Fred is standing there.
“What, are you going to turn him in again?” Wesley asks.
He shakes his head. “No! On the contrary! After seeing that display of abilities back there, we all are safe!”
“All of us?”
“Yeah! They did want to get rid of all of you to begin with!”
I turn to my friends. “I wonder why they wanted us all…”
“I can understand me,” Wesley starts, “but why the rest of us?”
“Well me too” Crystala says. “I helped your dad all those many years ago.”
“That’s right. Same with you too Waria.” I say.
She nods.
“But why the rest of us?”
“I don’t know much,” Fred began, “but from what they DID tell me, it has something to do with you interfering with their boss’ plan. Master plan they called it.”
I put a finger to my chin. “Do you think that maybe, possibly, they work for the Shadow Witch?”
Fred nods. “I think so. There isn’t anyone else I can think of!”
I nod. “Right.”
Phil walks up and decides to join up in our little conversation. “Well, I have heard about some vigilante, but he isn’t the good kind. He calls himself some sort of world-famous thief.”
“He’s still alive?!” I ask surprised. If we were thinking of the same person, then he would have to be over 60 years old!
“Still? What do you mean?”
“Where is he from?”
“The Bean-Bean Kingdom.”
“The same guy that Mario and Luigi ran into on the way to get the Chuckola Cola?”
“What? No! That’s not him!”
“Oh.”
“No! The guy I’m talking about calls himself world-famous. To be honest, I don’t think that many people really know who he is.”
“I sure don’t” I say while crossing my arms.
Maria giggles a little. I smile at her. She smiles back. “By the way, have you changed a bit, or is it just me?” I ask her.
“She does seem a little different…” The bartender Phil exclaims. “Nowhere near as…crazy…or as adventurous…”
Even Zess T. thinks so. She walks over and inspects Maria. “You…oh my gosh. No way! You did!”
“I did what?” She asks while cocking her head slightly.
“Matured!”
She stares at her with a blank expression. Wesley clears his throat. “I’m sorry, but that isn’t quite as important as the matter at hand here!”
I nod. “You’re right. Now, you were about to say his name I believe, right?”
Phil nods. “Yeah. His name, his real one anyway, nobody alive knows.”
“What about himself?”
We all turn to Waria, who is smiling with mischief.
“Yes…I suppose…you could be right. Anyway, as I was about to say, the name he goes by is actually a little catchy. He calls himself the Midnight Marauder. You see, he normally acts at night and he wears all dark clothing.”
I nod. “The Midnight Marauder eh? Hmm… I like that!”
Fred shakes his head with a slight smile.
“So how do we find this Midnight Marauder?” Wesley brings up this important detail.
Phil is speechless. He finger stays in the air and his mouth open, but nothing comes out. “That’s a good question…umm…well…”
Wesley crosses his arms with a big smile. “You don’t actually know where to find him do you?”
Phil shakes his head. “Nope.”
He facepalms. “Thought not…”
“But I do know the general area of where he works. Where he is the Midnight Marauder that is. He works that life over in-“
“Rougeport?” I finish for him, assuming that was the correct answer.
He nods. “Yes, Rougeport is the place alright.”
“Kinda obvious” Waria says. I couldn’t help but agree with her.
“So when do we head out?” I ask him.
“That, I do not know. We are probably being watched as we speak by those…ruffians…” Fred says.
“Uh, Fred?”
“Hmm?”
I twist my foot in the carpet. “Why did you just call them…ruffians…after everything that they did?”
“Well, I wouldn’t call them something worse than that in front of these fine ladies.”
“I can handle it” I hear both Waria and Crystala say at once. Maria nods. “So can I.”
“Anyway, those sons of bitches are probably watching us this very instant. They have spies that are gifted in the arts of ninjitsu, they have tiny mobile security cameras about the size of a fly, and they tend to eavesdrop through doors!” His voice escalated when he started saying doors. We all turned to the door. A few seconds later we hear retreating footsteps.
“I rest my case. In any case, we need to relocate. A lot of the fighters here have gotten involved with them and are being paid quite well.”
“How well?” I ask. I hear Wesley facepalm again. Louder. “I was joking people!”
“As I was saying, they get paid well. They won’t be brought back to our side so easily. We need to go somewhere else where it’s safer, say a safe house or bunker with supplies.
I see Wesley’s head shoot up from looking down at his feet from sheer boredom. We make eye-contact and both nod. “We know a place” we say in unison.
“This is it?” Fred asks once we arrive. It looks the exact same as when we left.
Wesley nods. “Don’t let looks deceive you! Wait until you see the interior!”
Wesley pulls out his keys and goes to unlock the door, but it is already unlocked. “That’s odd…” He opens the door and we see Charlie the Red Bones greeting us.
“Welcome to the Red Bones; Blue Bones; Dull Bones; Dry Bones party! Please come right…Wesley? Is that you?”
He nods.
“Uh…hi?”
Wesley forces his way in and sees a whole house set up and ready to party. “I hope you were
Meaning to invite all of us to this party too, Charlie…”
“Of course!” He says a little scared. “You are welcome to a party in your own house!”
Wesley turns to Charlie and smiles. “Excellent! Because you know how I like to party!” His attitude changed from angry to happiness. I don’t think he was even really angry at all.
Charlie welcomes the rest of us in, but when he gets to the last person, Fred, he hesitates. “What about this bean guy?”
Wesley nods. “He’s with us. He’s cool! He is also the manager of the Glitz Pit.”
“Wow! Is that true?”
Fred nods.
“Sweet! Hey, uh, ya think I could fight there sometime?”
“If you can fight or guard well enough, then yes.”
Charlie makes a yes gesture with his arm. After we’re all inside, we get comfortable in the living room. I boot up the Wii and pick Brawl. I challenged Maria to a rematch-best out of three. I pick Luigi and her Meta-Knight. Halfway through the three-minute time limit of the first brawl a knock is at the door. I pause the game and we all listen. Another knock. Another. We all-except Wesley and Charlie-head for the bunker. I activate the security cameras that Wesley was watching from last time and watch as the two upstairs open the door to reveal a small bean-like person. It’s the same one from the group of soldiers from the first time. It is their leader.
“Sorry to disturb you again” it says when it sees Charlie. “We have some intel that there are wanted fugitives living here.”
Charlie shakes his head. “Nope. I’m just waiting for some friends to arrive so we can party.”
“Ooh! A party? May I come in?”
Charlie shakes his head. “I’m sorry, but I was told to only let people I know and other people like me into this house.”
“You were told that? By whom?”
Charlie pauses a moment. “By my…uh…my…landlord. He says only people that we both know and my own kind.”
“Your landlord? Where is this said landlord?”
Wesley walks up. “I am he. Is there a problem here sir?” He says in an aggravated tone.
“Well, sorry sir, but-“
“I heard you the first time” he interrupts. He sounds more aggravated now. “Now, I can assure you, nobody in this house is a wanted fugitive. I pay close attention to everything that happens here and I can tell you right now, since nobody of that type is in this house, then you can go ahead and leave.”
“Well, I have to search the house anyway, so please move aside.”
He goes to enter but the two don’t budge.
“Excuse me fine sirs.”
Wesley shakes his head. “No.”
“What?”
“I said, no. No. Nope. No. Nada. Zilcho. Zip. That’s how much the percentage of you to get in this house is. Zero. Now leave the premises or I will make you.”
The bean person scoffs. Charlie leans down next to him. “I’d listen to him if I were you. He’s serious. And he is an old Glitz Pit Champion! He still has a LOT of moves left in him!”
“GP Champ eh?”
Charlie nods.
He thinks about his predicament for a moment, and then he turns to Wesley who is still in his way. “Alright. Sorry for disturbing you Mr…uh…what was your name again?”
Wesley hesitates. “The name is…Lee. Just Lee. I dumped my old name for that one.”
“What was your old name?”
He looks downwards. “I’d…rather not say.”
“Why not?”
“It is embarrassing…”
“How?”
“It…used to…be…”
“Yeah?”
“……Lynn.”
The bean person starts cracking up. “I understand now! Ha ha hahaha! Alright, I’ll see ya guys later, Charlie and…Lynn…HA!”
He turns and leaves. We all sigh in relief. After the coast is clear, Wesley motions at the cameras for us to come back up. We head up the stairs and meet up with the two upstairs at the base of said stairs.
“So, Fred,” Wesley starts, “whatcha think of the bunker? Is it safe enough for you?”
Fred nods. “Yeah. It’ll work.”
Wesley turns to me. “Ya think it’ll be big enough for your little army dude?”
I shrug. “I think so…”
Wesley nods. “Good.”
“Speaking of which…”
We all turn to Fred.
“Where is this so-called army being amassed in the first place?”
I go to answer, but then realize that I don’t know that answer.
“…um…”
“Yeah, that figures.”
Fred pulls out a small cell phone about the size of his palm and flips it open. He starts texting something. He shuts the phone when he is done and tells us to wait a few minutes.
A few minutes later…
-Knock knock knock-
Fred tells us to open the door. I do, and Baine and his brothers are standing there. “We heard that you are holding your army here, is that true?”
I nod. “I suppose so.”
“Good.” He turns around. He screams, “HEY GUYS! IT’S OVER HERE! I TOLD YOU IT WAS THE BLUE HOUSE!!!”
Baine walks in with his brothers close behind him. Seconds later, Private Goomp, The Koopinator, and a lot of other people I haven’t ever met, all rush in through the door. They find the stairs open and head downstairs into the bunker. Luckily, it was large enough to harbor everybody in the army, because there was no more room for the rest of us to sleep down there!
After they all head downstairs, The Koopa Bros. came back up and sat near the television in their own way. Raymen went into Lotus position; Baine got the couch; Yuichi got a cushion and sat on the floor; Gene got a loveseat; and I got a small chair next to the TV. Wesley still had his rocking chair and Maria took the couch along with Phil and Zess T. I give Maria her controller and we resume our brawl.
When the timer hits zero, a winner isn’t decided. Instead, it went into sudden death. Both of us were at 300% damage, but we went in for the attack and both were sent flying by the other. It went game as both of us went off screen.
“GAME! THIS GAME’S WINNER IS…META-KNIGHT!”
I hear one of Meta-Knight’s taunts as he gets first place. I grunt playfully at her like as if I was angry. She smiles back at me. At that moment, I saw the old Maria in her eyes, and I knew that she liked me. I just felt it.
So, we continue playing until we have dinner, after of which we went off to bed. Wesley got the rocking chair; Maria and I got the master bedroom; Charlie the guest bedroom; the Koopa Bros. stayed up throughout the night staying as guards outside. The next day…
I wake up. I found it odd that I hadn’t been to the realm of training whilst I slept. Eh, oh well, for I smell breakfast cooking! I rush downstairs after getting dressed-and after noticing that Maria wasn’t there-and I see Wesley cooking my only breakfast that I seem to have anymore. Blueberry pancakes. Whoopee…
I get a few flap-jacks and eat up quickly. I remember making a promise to Baine and the other Koopa Bros. to train with them outside after brecky.
When I get outside, I see the Koopa Bros. on a nearby bench to the path to the large fountain. When I get there, Baine stands up, and walks over. He bows down to me. I do the same after realizing that he was up first. We each take starting positions for a fight.
I do the bring it on gesture with my hand. Baine nods once, then dashes in at such incredible speed! It caught me off guard! I barely managed to dodge him and trip him. When he stumbles I grab his legs and give him a triple whammy! It doesn’t even faze him! He grabs a nearby root of a tree and uses it to swing himself upwards, loosening my grip, and then sending me flying!
I land on a nearby roof with elegance and precision. I use this moment of landing to use the momentum I gathered from both falling and his attack and I send myself flying for him! He puts up both arms to block, and when my body is about a foot away, I wheel around into a hard kick-which hits dead-center on its target!
My kick continues its impact until we skid back into a tree where Baine hits it and it falls over from our momentum. By this time, we’ve slowed down enough, and he lashes both arms outward and sends me flying off. I land about ten yards away from him.
We stare at each other dramatically and intensely for what feels like an hour. Then, he stops his fighting pose and chuckles. “I guess I’ll have to go all-out” he whispers just loud enough for me to hear. I watch as his entire body gets cloaked in darkness and shadows, which diverts to his hands, and large menacing blades protrude from between his fingers! It is just like Wolverine of the shadows!
“Prepare, for you will be hit much harder now,” he tells me as he takes a single step forward. I prepare for anything that he might throw at me with a defensive pose. He leaps up into the sun’s path to my eyes; I shield them, and just barely manage to block a powerful kick from him! We skid back a few yards and I toss him behind me with his own momentum. I back flip and try to pin him but he vanishes into the ground with a black circular portal”
“Oh come on! That’s not fair!”
I prepare for an attack from any direction. Minutes pass by with nothing happening. Until…
I shut my eyes and focus on the earth’s vibrations. I feel him arise right behind me and I turn around to attack. He blocks my quick jab with ease, but not my second one! I surprised him after he blocked my first attack with a quick jab to the gut! He kneels over in pain!
“Oh shit! Are you alright? Was that too hard?” I ask when he doubles over.
He holds up a single hand, with the other one still clutching at his stomach. “Nah” he starts, “I’m fine. I’ve taken worse before, trust me!” He smiles. I smile back. He wobbles over to the bench and sits down just as Raymen stands up.
“You’re next eh? Bring it on, Ray-Man, let’s see what you’ve got underneath that red shell of yours!”
Raymen bows to me and I bow back. Honor and all-you understand. He dashes forward, much like Baine did, but he’s a little slower. I dodge him easily, but he is much more agile then his younger brother! He turned and circled me a few times before tripping me immediately after I side-stepped him to dodge his dash attack! Still on the ground, I wipe my mouth, and say “You will be a good challenge for me. Don’t hold back!”
He nods with a smile and dashes for me while I’m still down! I roll over as he dashes and barely get away! He almost mowed me over! I jump back up and barely block his Dragon Drop Kick! He rolls back and jumps back up to both feet in a flat second! I’m in trouble, I can’t help but think, especially since he is older. More experience, more skill, more power, and more of a challenge.
I dash in and take the offensive before he can attack again. I jab but he side-steps me like I did to him and Baine, and I start to stumble. I regain my balance just as I was about to hit a tree and I run up it like a wall and jump at the top of it. I land right behind Raymen who was chasing after me! I jab quickly to the gut but I’m denied. I try the head-he catches my hand in his. I use my other hand to jab at his chest, but he grabs it as well! I gulp as he smiles. He tosses me right into the tree and I hit it so hard that it falls over!
When I stand back up, I see him slowly walking towards me, the ground behind him in flames with every step, as he gets oh so ever closer.
I jump back up and leap into the air just as a large fireball flies past where I would’ve been if I hadn’t jumped at that time! It hits a tree which explodes into mere ashes!
Looking back to Raymen, his palms ablaze with white tipped-red based flames, I know I can’t beat him. I surrender.
“Ha! That was a good fight nonetheless Mr. Cody!” He exclaims as we shake hands. “We’ll have to do it again some other time!”
I nod while still shaking hands. “Agreed Raymen, agreed. I need to get a little better before I rematch against the oldest brother.”
Gene starts to get up when I tell him to wait. He asks me why.
“I need to recharge, as it were. You saw those fights, I need to rest if I’m gonna be at full power for ya.”
Gene nods and tells me that he understands. He can wait till later. I nod. “Maybe after lunch” I tell him with a smile. He smiles back and returns to the bench with Yuichi who seems to be pouting. I ask him why he is and he says because he can’t fight me yet. We all laugh out loud at his joke.
After we all return to the basement base, the Koopa Bros. (who call themselves Team Elementa when together in a fight) go over to another Koopa that is a ninja like them. It’s white and seems to be a female though.
The Koopinator walks up to me. “Hey, Cody, I’ve been wondering something…”
After asking him what it was, he asks about my looks. “A human with Koopa-colored skin which is as hard as a Koopa’s. How is that possible?”
I tell him about my parents being Princess Rose and Killer Keenan the Koopa. He nods with an “ah. I see now.”
“Yeah…”
We both rub the back of our heads, not sure of what to say.
“Well, I guess I’d better get back upstairs with the rest. See ya later?”
He nods. “Sure thing.”
I nod back and head up the stairs. Once at the top I go over to the television to watch some Anime. Kekkaishi should be starting any minute!
I turn on Adult Swim and right as the show is starting, a news bulletin appears.
“This just in” the news reporter starts with an almost fearful voice, “sightings of a large purple and black creature have been recorded all around the vicinity of Rougeport. Some say that it’s just people who have had too much Whisky, while some others state that since they never drink, it has to be real. We have an artist’s rendering of the reports given and combined to give an average and accurate vision of said creature. Okay, bring it up!”
A picture comes up on the screen and it looks a lot like what my dad and mom said the Shadow Witch looked like! Wesley is already standing over the couch staring at the TV. “That’s…her…she’s back…”
I stare at him. “You mean…?”
He nods. “The Shadow Witch is returning.”
END OF CHAPTER