Note: This is my first time with this whole "fanfiction" thing. So, don't kill me too badly.

Chapter 1: This Isn't My Bed

from undertow3412

Wait, how did I get here?

I don't even have the energy to open my eyes. It's a wonder I'm not asleep. I can hear a hollow metallic rattling a few feet to my left, so I must be inside. How did I get here? Last I knew, I was climbing up Mt. Oriander, and I think something hit the back of my head…

Am I dead?

…No. No, I think I would know if I was dead.

I would, right?

Yes. I think I would.

So, ruling out me being dead, I guess someone kidnapped me or something. Annoying. I was in a hurry to… do… something?...

…

That's right. The Drago

My mother! She –

No. Don't think about that. I can't. I need to k- get rid of it. The Drago that… I need to get rid of it. Once I get the energy to get up and out of… wherever this is.

Having regained my senses a little, I can tell I'm wearing more than I was before the kidnapping. I'm wearing a jacket, some pants that feel a little too big, boots, gloves, and… a helmet? There's some kind of cool glass or something pressed against my left eyelid.

Well, I guess questions will have to wait. I should be able to open my eyes by now, at least.

Mmphh.

Guess not yet. Maybe the eye-glass is causing a little problem. Oh well, that shouldn't be too big of a problem. After all, I'm one of the most energetic kids in my grade! Even with something like this, I'll be back up before the bad guys know I'm awake.

…Cause, y'know, if someone's kidnapped, then they've gotta be the bad guys, right? Exactly. Actually, this could be kinda cool. What other kid in Tazmily can say they escaped a big group of bad guys like that. Yeah! I could be a hero! I can see a good headline now – "Claus discovers big bad company!"

Or something like that. Lucas is the one who makes things pretty, not me.

Lucas. I love my brother and all that mushy stuff, but he's gotta stop being such a scaredy-cat. If he had been there earlier, I could have saved him from these guys. Cause, y'know, they'd've taken the easier bait, of course.

The ground shakes, and an electricky* sound comes from under me. What? What're they doing now? I can take on an earthquake if I need to! But, I guess I don't need to. I can tell now I must be on a stretcher. Like at the big hospital our family went to after I accidentally rammed into a tree and a beehive landed on Lucas. (…What? I said I was sorry. How was I supposed to know we're allergic?) Only this stretcher feels hard, like it's made on metal – and no pillows or blankets. Maybe I don't need to worry, if I'm just at a hospital.

It'd still be nice if I could open my eyes, though.

"It is finished."

A worn-out voice came from my right. He must be the one who kidnapped me! Why else would he sound so tired? He sounds a lot older than I'd think though. He sounds as old as old man Wess, maybe even older - if that's even possible.

"You sure? We ain't gonna just send the thing over to King P if you're not sure. 'Cause I'm not sure."

The other voice in front of me sounded fat. I don't even know how that works, but that's the only word that fits here. Fat.

"I am certain. This will work exactly as intended." replied the burnt out voice.

"Hrm. Prove it. I don't wanna be bacon if it doesn't work." challenged the chunky voice.

I need to see this thing they're talking about. Maybe if I try really hard right now…

The elder voice sighed, and took a few steps towards me. I've gotta see this! Harder…

…! I can see! YES! Well, sort of. Looking through my right eye, the metallic tiles above me have small reflections of the fluorescent lights spread across the ceiling. As for my left eye, it's still pressed under the eye-glass. But, what matters is I can see.

And I can also see the person that had walked towards me – some scientist whose hair was in two puffs at the back of his head, with a moustache and glasses to boot. It looks like he took his hair advice from a cotton swab.

The eccentric looked in the direction my feet were pointed and explained, "Everything else is programmed in, but it won't work until we put the king's DNA in there. It needs to be able to recognize its master before it becomes functional. We do have the sample, correct?"

"Right, we got that right here," affirmed the obese voice, who I couldn't see from that angle.

After a few seconds of moving things around, the scientist scoffed, "Really? The king couldn't be bothered to lose a hair, or perhaps have a bit of blood taken?"

"Trust me," assured the plump voice, "saliva was easiest sample to obtain from him."

These guys are real freaks. I just wish I could see what it was they were working on.

I waited, and eventually, an electronic whirring came from under me my stretcher. It kept getting louder, until it started to shake the stretcher a little. Actually, this is pretty nice. Sorta like a vibrating cha-

Awck!

All of a sudden, I felt a shock go through me. I gasped unwillingly, and – ow, it burns! It feels like fire is on my inside, trying to break out! OW! Owowowow ow oww owwwww… agh… I can still feel it. But it's dulled now.

Then, an image popped into my head. You know I was saying how that second guy's voice was fat? Well, in comparison to this, that guy's voice is as skinny as bell-ringer Leder. This kid who popped into my head… I think I gained calories just seeing him in my head. He had blond hair with bangs completely covering his eyes, and was wearing overalls. Ew.

Porky. That's the kid's name. Wait, what? I don't know that. But, anyway, I think I should serve him. Huh? What? No, I didn't mean that! Where did that co – Master Porky. Wait, no, that's not right! Get out of my head! Stop it! I- no, sto- how –

I stood up. No, wait, I didn't stand up. My legs moved and somehow I'm standing, but I didn't actually do anything. How did I do that? But now I can't move. Not that I could before, but considering the fact I'm standing up, you'd figure I could do something. Like, walk to the door.

Which I'll now go do. Right now. Wha- No, I wasn't doing that! But now I'm there, by the metallic automatic door. How?

"There. Now I've done what you've asked. I'm leaving," stated the professor grudgingly.

"No, Dr. Andonuts," said the still-overweight voice. Now I can see that he's wearing a pig-like outfit, in white. "You have much more to work on with the chimeras here. In the meantime, my new commander will be escorting me to New Pork City grounds."

Huh. New Pork City. Sounds nice. I can't imagine anywhere else I'd rather be. I want to live there forever.

Stop it!

Nonetheless, I walked with my new minion towards a ridiculously long limousine. Wait, no I'm not! I shouldn't be, I never wanted to go over there! I want to leave, and go find Lucas and my father! I want to kill that Drago! At least, I think that's what I want? Yes! I think so! Then, why am I still walking? I want to turn around! Turn! Turn around! …Wait, why was I turning again? There was something important. But what was it?

I reached the leather seating of the limo, still aware that I didn't want to, for some reason. The pig-masked guy walked past me towards the drinks.

I can't do it. But why not? Why am I changing my mind so much? I can't take this. I'm not two people! My name is Claus! My name is Claus!

A teardrop falls from my right eye.

Wait. My right eye.

I still have control of my right eye.

*If Claus says "electricky" is a word, then it's a word. Claus is a modern-day Shakespeare, dagnabbit!