Chapter 41: En Route to Barrel Volcano
The white crests poking out over the blue waves of the vast Northen sea of Vista caressed the barnacle-encrusted pirate ship, the HMS Torte. Up on deck of the wooden beauty, an ignorant Changling swabbed the deck for an infinite time listening to a new Noko Ono number one on his walkman, the pitiable Apprentice taking helm once again, humming an annoying tune. Across the deck towards the end of the ship, the newly joined Snow Birdo of the air, Crystal, sat dangling her talons off the side of the boat. An evil gaze fixed upon the unknowing Crystal from atop the crow’s nest. Genius Guy stared down at her through a large telescope. Embert hovered nearby.
“Oh how I hate that rookie-cookie. She’s stealing my part as the ice-powered, attractive female!” Genius Guy snarled.
Embert blinked, dumbfounded. “Ice powers?”
“Never mind, never mind.” Genius Guy waved his hands as if flying. “Now let’s step out of this picture and go do that thing we do.”
“What thing?” Embert asked.
“Just follow me to the lab!” Genius Guy barked.
“But the lab’s back on Isle Soshi!” Embert prodded.
“Oh shut up already!” Genius Guy shouted.
“Up doesn’t have a door,” Embert chuckled.
Genius Guy smiled, placing the telescope away in one of his seemingly-infinite pockets. “Well done, my padawan, well done.”
Down in the depths of the potato-smelling ship, Cap’n Torte was performing the forbidden and slightly nauseating feat of Elaine Dancing. Mini Moi watched from the corner of the room in disgust.
“Sorry Mini Moi, but I’m just so happy! I zought ve vere about to be cut out of ze story but zis unexpected plot tvist put us back in! Oh yeah! Besides, Elaine Dancing ist somezing you must experience, vatching it vill blind you in some cases,” Cap’n Torte explained.
Mini Moi nodded and left the room, in search of anything lisene rich. As he passed through the kitchen, Dingpot bubbled and boiled. “Hello small turtle thingy. Wanna jump inside for a nice dingy bonus?” Dingpot asked.
Mini Moi ignored the comment and continued his search for his urging thirst for lisene, as he was engineered to depend on it. He pulled out a soy bar and chomped it down, releasing a gargantuan belch. Dingpot frowned. “Excuse yourself!” Dingpot yelled.
Mini Moi stared back at the chattering cauldron, fragments of the long, lost soy bar surrounding his lips.
“What’s the matter, cat got your tongue?” Dingpot asked.
Mini Moi nodded and pointed a finger to his right. Dingpot turned and saw Lucy dangling a tiny plastic tongue with her claw. Dingpot was about to ask a question before Mini Moi walked away snickering.
Soshi was sleeping soundly in one of the vacant rooms that was fortunate enough to have a bed. He seemed to be having a pleasant dream from the noises he was making. His eyelids twitched around while a big transparent bubble poked out of his left nostril. He used his large wings like a blanket and covered himself up. Only his feet and end of his tail poked out on the bottom of his wings. His delightful slumber was interrupted when a large pounding came from the next room. He opened one eye and his bubble popped. He growled and turned to his side, covering his face with a pillow.
The sound was caused by an angered Whomp, who had jumped up and down in his fury. He stood at a square, wooden table with four legs. One leg had a book entitled Of War and Reason underneath to keep it steady. Parallel to Whomp, across the table floated the Grand Glum Reaper. A deck of playing cards was grasped in the Reaper’s ghostly pale hands. Whomp pushed forward a stack of gold coins. The Reaper dealt two cards to Whomp and himself. Whomp had the five of spades and the nine of diamonds.
“Whomp want hit!” Whomp snorted.
The Grand Glum Reaper tossed another card the way of the big brick. It was the six of clubs. Whomp smiled and bellowed with laughter.
“WHOMP STAY!” the concrete creaton shouted.
The Grand Glum Reaper looked down at the table, seeing his cards, the eight of diamonds and the three of hearts. Then the Reaper tossed down another card: Jack of spades. The Grand Glum Reaper looked up at Whomp and his glowing green eyes smirked at the cinder block.
“WHOMP NO LIKE BLACKJACK! WHOMP WANT REFUND!” Whomp raged.
The Reaper snatched away the coins and placed them into the deep, dark folds of his purple cloak. Whomp growled and narrowed his eyes.
“WHOMP WHOMP YOU! URR URRRRRRRR!!!” Whomp urred.
The giant gray rectangle of cement dropped and fell through the Grand Glum Reaper and crashed into the table. The Reaper, unaffected and not even aware of what happened, heard his beeper go off and pulled it out. He shook his head and tossed the beeper away, pulling out his scythe. He snapped his fingers and poofed away, appearing an a dark, damp scene outside of the Cratchet’s home. A corpse-like old man wearing expensive-looking pajamas stared speechless at the Reaper. The ghost pointed towards a nearby tombstone reading Scrooge.
Cap’n Torte and Mini Moi surfaced from below deck and sniffed in the putrid sea air. Afterward they contorted in disgust and shook their heads.
“Vell Mini Moi, ist time to inteirview our newvest recruit. Gotta make sure she’s really devoted to ze cause. Like ze rest of us are!” Cap’n Torte said, looking around at his lazy henchmen off doing their own things. “Okay, neveirmind, let’s just go.”
Torte and his clone walked around to the end of the boat and looked at their brand new, first female member of the Team of Terror. She continued kicking her clawed feet off the side of the boat, lifting her right hand to cover her mouth while she yawned.
“Bonjour Crystal! I am your captain, you are loyal to moi from now until veneveir your contract ist void. Haf you any questions?” Torte asked.
Crystal turned and smiled at the Terrapin, completing with a wink. “Yes, I have a question.”
Cap’n Torte shook his head. “Uh... yeah, vat ist it?”
“Did you know we were being followed?” Crystal asked.
“As a matter of fact I... VAT?! VE ARE?!” Cap’n Torte panicked.
Crystal nodded and pointed far beyond the ship. “Yep. Can’t you see the tiny fishing boat far off in the distance? It’s been tailing us for about an hour now.”
“Mon dieu!” Cap’n Torte gasped. “Crystal, being a part of ze Team of Terror gives you certain responsibilites, most importantly telling moi if ve’re being followed! Do you undeirstand?!”
Crystal sighed and turned back to view the ocean beneath her feet. “Yeah, okay.”
Cap’n Torte groaned in his frustration and walked back to the front of the ship. Mini Moi followed behind quickly. The captain cleared his throat and looked around. “GENIUS GUY!!!”
The Shy Guy fell from the sky, landing on his head with a squishy sound about two meters away from Torte. “Yes Cap’n?”
“Give moi your telescope!” Cap’n Torte demanded.
“Why don’t you just use the PAN OF PERIL’s telescope device?” Genius Guy asked.
“Because I didn’t KNOW zhere vas vone, you idiot!!!”
“Why didn’t you read the manual I gave you?” Genius Guy asked.
“VAT MANUAL?! YOU NEVEIR GAVE MOI IT!” Cap’n Torte snapped.
“Sure I did,” Genius Guy responded. “Let’s flashback! Doo-doo-da-loo! Doo-doo-da-loo!”
~****~FLASHBACK~***~
Picture of a public bathroom, a pair of feet wearing green tennis shoes hanging below the door of one stall are visible. A second pair of feet wearing brown boots are visible in the adjacent stall.
“Um... could you spare a square?” Chef Torte asked.
“Nope, I need them all to myself, sorry,” Genius Guy replied.
“MON DIEU!!!”
~***~END FLASHBACK~****~
Cap’n Torte nodded angerly. “You mean to tell moi all zat time it vas YOU?!”
“Um... yes?” Genius Guy whimpered.
“YOU FOOL!” Cap’n Torte said unleashing the wrath of his PAN OF PERIL.
“The fishing boat is approaching rapidly, Cap’n!” Embert chimed. “Oh and, MAN OVERBOARD!!!”
Chapter 42: Identity Theft
Larry scratched his snout lightly with his foreclaw and yawned quietly. He was now reclining on his simple bed, crossing his legs and placing his hands together behind his head. He looked up at the bottom of the bed above, hoping Roy wouldn’t take it when he became restless. He turned his head slightly to view his older siblings Wendy and Iggy caught in an intense game of bloody knuckles. Wendy was winning. The whimpering cries of his brother seemed to fade out as he closed his eyes and began slumbering. The familiar stomping of Roy was heard as the massive turtle slowly made his way through the narrow hallways. He grunted and used the reserves of his energy to slide through it. Bowser Junior was off in yet another room, chomping down some chocolate he had been so lucky to come across and was endulging himself in a comic book, The Adventures of Chrono Koopa, Troopa of Time. As all of this was happening on the sister ship Devastator, back on the flagship, the Gargantuan, Bowser was pacing in his quarters.
“Bowser, why are you so nervous?” Kamek, who had been sitting in a chair near the corner of the room, asked. “We have great forces at our dispatch, and the secret weapon the Reznor. Plus your new Koopa Jet aircraft. I know we’ve failed in the past before, but I think this time we might actually stand a chance!”
Bowser stopped pacing, and now had his large, green spikey shell towards Kamek. He cupped his hands together in front of him and looked down, sighing. “Yes, Kamek. I also agree on your viewpoints. I do not think we shall lose.”
“Then what’s the problem?” Kamek continued.
Bowser turned to face his vizier. “What will I wear to my crowning ceremony?”
Soaring through the sky was the small doomship craft dubbed the Warrior Wing. The image of a Magikoopa draped in violet with short graying hair riding a broomstick approached the ship hastily, leaving small circles of spent purple mana in its trail. Kammy Koopa reached the Warrior Wing’s deck and hopped off her broom, making it vanish. She pulled out her wand and waddled down into the depths of the flying machine. She knocked on a nearby metal door upon arriving at the base of the stairway. A tired-looking General Jagger answered the door, poking his scaly head out to see who had disturbed him.
“Yes, what is it?” Jagger asked.
Kammy detected some tension in Jagger’s voice. “Come with me, King Bowser has instructed me to give you a task.”
Jagger blinked twice silently. “Oh, alright. Hold on one minute.”
The door slammed in Kammy’s face, and the sorceress snorted. Jagger re-emerged, making it so that only a slight fraction of it was open when he could slip out without the room being visible. Then he shut and locked the door tightly behind him.
“Lead the way,” Jagger said, extending his hand outward.
Kammy nodded in response. She started down the long, dark corridor and the General followed closely. They turned and continued down until coming upon the largest room of the airborne vessel. They entered quietly, the room full of young new recruits of the Koopa Troop. All were garbed in the newest armor, the Koopatroller outfit, though some had taken their helmets off. Jagger noticed a few Hammer Bros. in the back as well. When the two entered the training arena, the Terrapins fell silent and stood facing them. Kammy stopped in the front center of the arena, and Jagger did the same. The witch turned to Jagger.
“King Koopa wants you to train these rookie warriors to get them in tip-top shape for the upcoming battle,” Kammy explained.
“Why me?” Jagger asked, slipping up.
Kammy lifted a concerned eyebrow. “Because of your great expertise in the field of martial arts.”
“Oh, right. Of course. I was just joking with you, Kam.” Jagger forced a laugh.
Kammy shook her head. “There are some weapons and other items in the supply closet over there if you need them. Just make these Troopas stronger.” The Magikoopa walked out of the room.
Jagger looked at the closed door nervously. He stared at it with a concerned face for about two minutes until one Shelled Warrior raised his hand and called out to the General. “Um, excuse me, General Jagger?” the Koopatrol asked.
Jagger’s concentration was broken and he turned to the Terrapin soldier.
“What do you plan to teach us?” the soldier asked.
Jagger closed his eyes and thought for a minute. “Um... soldier. What’s your name?”
The Koopatrol looked to either side of him and pointed to himself. “Me?”
“Yes you,” Jagger grumbled. “Get up here... post haste.”
The Koopatrol nodded and nervously scrambled up next to Jagger. “Yes sir! Oh, and my name is Spikey Tom, but please, call me Slash.”
Jagger rolled his eyes. “Alright, Spikey Tom. Would you kindly show the class how you would handle a scuffle with the so called Super Mario Bros?”
Slash nodded. “Yes sir.”
The young Koopatrol clenched his fists and stepped into a fighting position, bending his knees slightly. He raised an outstretched hand all the way it could reach in front of him, opening the palm. He pulled the second fist back to his lower side. He grunted and fired his fist like a missle, following through with a roundhouse from his two booted feet, then landing with a shell spin. He got up and smiled.
“Very good, Slash,” Jagger said, showing his approval. “But what if Luigi pulls out a hammer? Then what do you do?”
Slash was at a loss for words. “Uh... um... I...”
“That’s right,” Jagger replied. “Let’s see how you’d hold up against a hammer-wielding foe. You back there! Come up to the front of the class.”
A conceited-looking Hammer Bro pushed his way through the rows of soldiers and hopped up to Jagger, pulling out his large black hammer. It glinted from the lights overhead. He grinned in the corner of his mouth.
“What’s your name?” Jagger asked.
“I’m Mallet,” he responded.
“Alright then. Slash, you and Mallet here are going to duel. Use whatever methods you have. The battle ends when someone is unconcious, or dead. The victor will be promoted to top of the class and get a recommendation to King Koopa,” Jagger instructed.
Slash and Mallet
were loving the reward for winning. But when Slash looked to the taller
and more musular Mallet, his hopes for victory shrunk significantly. Mallet
chuckled and grasped his long hammer in his hands. Jagger stepped to the
side of the ring. “Begin.”
Kammy Koopa, still puzzled over the strange comments and actions of Jagger, had concluded it wise to search his room. She now stood outside the locked metal door and tried opening it normally, expecting to fail as she knew it was locked. But it was a necessary procedure anyway. Kammy placed her right claw flat on the cold door and closed her eyes, breathing in deeply. A soft, velvety light of periwinkles and lavenders surrounded her physical body. The ends of her cloak and sleeves, as well as her hair and hat, rustled slightly as if being whirled about by wind. She opened her eyes again and looked down at the door. She peered through it, only to find a strange wall of orange static blocking the interior of the room. She recoiled and the light faded. There was something very peculiar going on, there was no way Jagger knew how to cast such a spell to deflect Kammy’s encantation to see through walls. She sneered and walked up the stairway, hopping on her broomstick when arriving at the top of the ship. She flew off toward the Gargantuan in search of her elder cousin Kamek, hoping he could shed more light on the situation...
Chapter 43: Deja Vu
A warm glow crept through the open window of the mud hut, finding its way to Yoshi’s sleeping face. He shut his eyes with all his strength, but then surrendered and lifted his eyelids halfway open. He wiped the corners of his mouth for any drool, and sat up on the comfortable bed of leaves. He wobbled his feet off the side of the bed and rubbed his eyes of sleep. He then opened them fully. An enticing aroma tickled the sensitive smelling receptors of the green dinosaur’s large nose. He smiled and licked his chops with his dry tongue. Fruit. Yoshi leapt out of bed and hurriedly walked toward the source of the scent. Young native children walked below the taller Yoshi and rushed out of the way to avoid the hungry creature. Yoshi didn’t even see them as he stomped his way to the large pile of fruit near the center of the village. As he chomped on a delicious kiwi, it reminded him of his home back at Yo’ster Island. He hadn’t realized it then, but it wasn’t so long ago that he was there, enjoying the varied fruit. He recalled the morning Splooshi had arrived with the mysterious treasure map, and the three of them had begun their long journey. Himself, Splooshi, and... Mallow. Yoshi stopped chewing and swallowed. He had forgotten! He turned, never letting go of the exotic melon he grasped, and walked toward Nuba and Naya’s hut.
He took another bite while walking, looking to the sides of him to see if he saw any sign of the twins or his friends. He tapped his free hand on the side of the hut and poked his head in. The hut was vacant, only small butterflies hovering about. He left the hut and continued searching the village. This time he noticed the young natives. Their light-colored skin were odd colors for humans, Yoshi thought. Not at all like Mario and Luigi, or even some of the Mushroomers. Their flesh was light violets, blues, greens, and pinks. Yoshi thought back to Orchil’s unique color. It was identical to Splooshi’s. He looked around and noticed no other child had the exact same color as she, nor were any two the same. They were as diverse as his own species, which for some reason made the dinosaur smile warmly.
“You’re up, finally,” Splooshi said.
Yoshi turned around and found his homogeneous buddy greeting him with his constant, happy-go-lucky grin.
“Mornin’ Splooshi. I’m surprised you awake already. You went to bed a lot later then I,” Yoshi greeted.
“Oh I didn’t get to sleep last night.” Splooshi yawned. “I’m just a bit tired, but I’ll be able to stay awake until tonight.”
“Sure you will,” Yoshi laughed. “Hey, why were you up all night anyway?”
Splooshi looked to the ground. “Oh, Orchil and I were just having a blast. We played hide and go seek, searched for fruit, she taught me how to shoot a bow and arrow, we just talked and-”
“She taught you archery?!” Yoshi interrupted.
“Huh? Oh well, no, not exactly,” Splooshi replied. “She tried to teach me, is more truthful. Heh heh.”
“I had no idea she was good at archery. Go figure...” Yoshi trailed off. “Where is she now?”
“Sleeping,” Splooshi responded. “Nuba and Naya told her that she must go to sleep if she was going to be awake to see us off.”
Yoshi once again remembered what he was looking for. “Right, Nuba and Naya! Where are they?”
Splooshi walked over to the fruit pile, grabbing a banana, shrugging his shoulders. He took a bite. “I bet they, yum... this is good, oh boy! I mean, I bet they went up to see, mmm! So good! Err, they went to see Mosolunar, is my guess.”
“I see,” Yoshi answered. “I’m gonna go find them, then. You stay here in case they come back.”
Splooshi nodded
and waved as Yoshi walked off. He continued eating the delcious fruit until
he fell sound asleep fifteen seconds later.
Yoshi climbed up the steep mountain trail for a second time, hoping to reach the holy grounds of the island’s guardian spirit. As the heroic dinosaur grabbed shrubbery along the path to help him keep his balance, he once again took in the mystical beauty of Flora Isle. Flowers were everywhere, tropica flowers, types the Yo’ster had never even seen or imagined. If there was dew on a blade of grass, it sparkled like a tiny diamond. The vines and trees created a natural ceiling for most of the island, except for the clearing in the village and Mosolunar’s den. Small spheres of light floated all around the enchanting island, their colors reflecting the elements of nature and the ground.
The only animals that Yoshi had seen, now that he thought about it, were the butterflies inside of Nuba and Naya’s tent, and the natives, and Mosolunar. They were the only forms of fauna here. Well considering the name of the island, Yoshi found it to be acceptable. He climbed up one last bend and reached the sacred soil of the guardian spirit, Mosolunar. He found the giant creature sleeping again, the large bubble poking out making the massive being seem at peace. It twitched its antennae around occasionally as it slept. There was no sign of the twins Nuba and Naya, nor was Mallow in the vicinity. The green dinosaur frowned in disappointment and turned around to head back to the village, but he found the purple-skinned twins standing before him. Their arms were crossed, and they didn’t have the same kind look they had the passed night.
“What are you doing here?” they asked in unison.
“I came to find you, I want to know where my friend is, was all. I didn’t mean any disrespect...” Yoshi apologized.
The twin islanders removed their firm, authorative stance and replenished their peaceful glow. They bowed to the green one. “Please forgive us, Yoshi. We only had suspicions because another green lizard creature, such as yourself, had come to our island the last new moon. But after he left, Mosolunar became ill. Now we are very cautious of our visitors.”
Yoshi nodded in agreement. “No need to apologize. I can understand why you would be so wary now.” Yoshi looked back at the slumbering spirit. “So, what has happened to her?”
“Ever since the strange lizard left, Mosolunar has not been able to sing her song when the new day arrives. She sleeps all the time, and we can sense her power slowly decreasing with the passing of each great shine. We hope it will stop, but so far we don’t have any clue how that could happen...” the native sisters explained.
“I’m very sorry, I wish I could help,” Yoshi said.
Nuba and Naya
exchanged looks and turned to Yoshi. “There is a way you can help us...”
Orchil opened her eyes and yawned. The tiny girl sat up and ran her blue fingers through her bright red hair, attempting to straighten it. She stood up, touching her bare feet to the cold ground of the dirt floor of her hut. She walked outside the hut, still in her pajamas, made of a soft material. The long gown was colored white and ended shortly above her ankles. The young islander skipped through the village and walked over to the pile of freshly picked fruit. She pulled out a grouped bunch of berries and picked them off one by one. Orchil turned and found Splooshi snoring in a pile of mangoes. She giggled and pushed on his back. The blue dinosaur jumped up and turned around, half asleep still.
“Huh? What? I’m up, I’m up...” Splooshi mumbled.
Orchil giggled again. “You’re so funny, Splooshi.”
Splooshi smiled and felt more awake. “Heh, thanks.”
“Where’s Yoshi?” Orchil asked, looking around.
“Oh he went to find Nuba and Naya. He’ll be back soon, I’m sure,” Splooshi answered.
“Oh hey, I just remembered something! Follow me,and I’ll show you my favorite place on the island!” Orchil said, starting to run out into the jungle. “Don’t just stand there, c’mon!”
“Okay, I’m coming.
Wait up! I don’t want to get lost!” Splooshi said, following quickly after
his friend.
Yoshi folded his arms and lowered his head in concentration. “But she’s only a little girl! If I’m not mistaken, six or seven?”
Nuba and Naya looked discouraged. “No, you are incorrect. She only appears that young.”
Yoshi looked back at them. “What do you mean?”
“You probably think we’re humans, don’t you?” Nuba said.
“Well, two arms, two legs, one head. No tail, I kinda assumed that...” Yoshi replied.
“Well that’s where you are mistaken,” Naya explained. “We are sprites.”
“Sprites?” Yoshi asked.
“You’ve never heard of sprites?” Nuba and Naya responded. “Well, sprites are enchanted folk that take on certain forms, normally of human-esque nature. Most live in the forest, though. These are called Forest Sprites. But we live on an island. We would be classified as Tropical Sprites.”
“Oh no, I hate that commercial...” Yoshi groaned.
“Commercial?” Nuba asked.
“Never mind..” Yoshi commented.
“Well anyway,” Naya continued. “Sprites can exist in the same form for a very long time. The young girl you see as Orchil, is actually fifteen. Still quite young, but obviously more than you thought.”
“Is that so?” Yoshi rubbed his chin. “Well, I suppose that does change the matter at hand slightly... but still, she did get captured by those ghost pirates...”
“Yes, but were they not worthy adversaries?” Naya asked.
“Okay, okay... I see...” Yoshi grumbled. “But, are you sure she can help us? I don’t want to endanger her again.”
“Most certainly,” Nuba answered. “Her archery skills are second to none.”
Yoshi nodded again. “Okay, she can come. I just hope you know what you’re doing... and she knows what she’s doing...”
Nuba and Naya smiled and bowed thankfully. “Many thanks to you, green friend.”
“Speaking of friends...” Yoshi added. “Where’s mine, Mallow?”
“What do you mean?” Nuba and Naya asked.
“He’s not sleeping next to Mosolunar, like how you left him the night before...” Yoshi said, sounding a bit worried now.
“He’s not?” Nuba and Naya mumbled, nervously.
Yoshi then looked terribly worried. “Where is he?!”
Nuba and Naya looked to each other, panicstricken. “Um... we may have given the wrong chant...”
Yoshi’s eyes widened. “What does THAT mean?!”
“I think...” Nuba mumbled. “She accepted him as a... err... sacrifice...”
“She... ATE him?!” Yoshi screamed.
A loud burp came
from behind, the source being the sleeping Mosolunar. Yoshi turned to the
twin natives, a horrified look of dread on his face. The two turned to
each other, then looked ahead to their guardian spirit...
Splooshi finally caught up with Orchil when they reached the sandy beach. The hot sand stung Splooshi’s webbed feet and became caught in the webbing between his toes. It didn’t bother Orchil at all, she seemed to enjoy the super-heated sand, in fact. The dinosaur hopped after her until they reached a dead end. The beach stopped at a large base of a cliff that towered above. The waves crashed upon the shore from the end of the beach. At the base of the cliff in front of them was a large altar of smooth gray stones, arranged in a circular pattern. Orchil walked into the center of the stone circle and turned back to Splooshi. The dinosaur stepped halfway in the circle of stones, looking over all the ancient hyroglyphics carved onto the stone pillars.
“Isn’t it neat?” Orchil asked.
“Wow... it sure is! I bet Cumulo could have read these symbols...” Splooshi mentioned.
“Who’s Cumulo?” Orchil asked.
“Wha?” Splooshi replied. “Oh... he was the one who told us what our treasure map said. Pretty nice guy, he was.”
“Interesting...” Orchil said.
“Yeah, that’s when we caught the first of our troubles... but I’m glad that’s over with, at least...” Splooshi said.
Splooshi looked out at the ocean and noticed a strange bubbling near the shore. He stepped out of the circle and further down the beach, ignoring the hot sand now. Orchil wrapped one arm around a stone pillar and placed herself up against one side. Her face looked worried and touched the warm stone. Splooshi continued to ponder what was happening and stepped just a bit closer. Suddenly, two dark figures splashed out of the water where it was bubbling. Splooshi looked above and saw the things standing in front of the sun. The silouhettes, the only thing visible, were frighteningly familiar. With a loud thump, they both landed in the sand in front of Splooshi. The dinosaur stared back in terror as a pair of axe-wielding Dark Warriors stood before him. Their red eyes pierced his soul and made his confidence shatter. Splooshi fell to the ground like a child, as tears began to appear in his eyes. The pain that had been caused had returned, and Splooshi felt a twisting feeling in his gut. Orchil cried out as one of the Dark Warriors pulled back its axe and swung at the defenseless Splooshi...