Chapter 4: Balbazack
"We're doing everything we can, but…we can't afford medical treatment…"
"B-but…father…he's dying…we have to do something! We have to…"
"We're doing everything we can, Balbazack…everything will be OK."
"…Mom…I'm afraid…"
Balbazack could do nothing but think as he waited in the forest for Chao and his allies to show up and challenge him. No matter how much time passed, the same thing haunted him every day. The bitter memories of his late father, the suffering he had to go through, the horrible illness that his father tried so hard to endure…and all in vain. He didn't survive. Balbazack's family couldn't afford to pay for the medicine. But what was Balbazack supposed to do about it? He was too young to work, and his mother couldn't get a well-paying job in time. The truth exploded in his face rather painfully – his family needed money, especially with his father dead. He had no other choice. He had to become a pirate.
The forest clearing was perfect for self-reflection. The large, empty space was surprisingly relaxing, and the wind gently caressed the bushes and trees surrounding the circle, creating a calming sound that fueled Balbazack's saddening daydreams. Suddenly, however, Balbazack's thoughts were interrupted by a rustling in the bushes around him. He could tell it was Chao, trying to make a dramatic entrance. He drew his rapiers and readied himself for a potential sneak attack, but Chao simply walked from out of the dense forest, accompanied by four others; Dominac, Xeg, and the other McChao brothers. Balbazack smirked.
"I see you brought back up just in case…well, I can't fault you for that." Balbazack looked around, hinting at the fact that his crew was waiting to ambush them. Before anyone else could say anything, Balbazack continued. "I've been waiting to exact my revenge on you for seven years. You had better perform to the best of your abilities."
Balbazack took a fighting stance, and Chao did the same immediately. Chao's four friends stood in silence, excitedly waiting to see what would happen. A thick silence filled the air for a few seconds until Dominac broke it. "For the love of…can we just get this over with?" he muttered. Chao smiled and nodded, then instantly rushed at Balbazack and attacked. Balbazack quickly parried all of Chao's swift slices, rendering them useless. Chao stopped before he wasted too much energy. Then, much to Chao's surprise, Balbazack dashed forward and, without explanation, appeared behind him, leaving behind afterimages. Balbazack instantly attacked Chao's back with his swords, flooring him. Chao turned over, still grounded.
"Wh-wha…h-how…?" Chao stuttered.
"…My discipline reaps its rewards."
Chao frowned and sprang up. He attempted to attack Balbazack with a vertical slash, but Balbazack's image phased out, appeared in the air, and drop kicked Chao. Balbazack stood in place, motionless, as Chao got up as quickly as he could.
"How are you…"
"The shinobi has done his job. The sailor waits…" Balbazack slowly changed his fighting stance from that of a ninja to that of a pirate. "And y'er not gonna defeat 'im, scallywag!" Balbazack used his twin swords to attack Chao, pushing him further backwards and giving him little time to guard.
"You've gotten a lot better, sir, I'll give you that!" Chao said, while dodging fervently.
"Don't pretend y'er not afraid ta lose. Prepare ta walk the plank, sonny!" Balbazack knocked Chao down with the hilt of his sword, but Chao retaliated by tripping the pirate while floored.
"I'm not about to lose! Riverbank needs me!"
Chao sprang up into the air, drew his sword, and thrust it downward into Balbazack's back. The pirate screamed in pain.
"Woohoo! Now you know how it feels!" Cham yelled, still rubbing his back from being stabbed. TTC scratched his head.
"Wait…shouldn't being stabbed kill you? How are either of you still alive? You should be dead! Chao should have inherited all of your clothes by now!" TTC chatted.
"TTC, people don't die from being stabbed. Sure, it hurts, but they don't die. Have you been playing M rated 'reality' games again?" Cham replied.
"No…erm, wait. Yes…"
Balbazack got up and rubbed his back almost exactly the same way Cham did. His "ninja" side suddenly took over again. "I may reap what I sow, but I mustn't let that hinder me." He picked up his dropped swords from the ground. "Family matters…I cannot let hatred blind me." He took a deep breath before attacking Chao again. Chao caught on to Balbazack's parrying techniques and guarded just as swiftly as Balbazack did. "What are you talking about?" Chao asked, while countering Balbazack's attacks like mad. Balbazack said nothing, but temporarily stopped his futile attacks.
"You know piracy is wrong. All I was doing was protecting the island. So what's all this 'justice' stuff about?" Balbazack instantly threw kunai at Chao, but all ten knives were guarded. He then ran at Chao and feinted an attack, but phased out and kicked Chao in the back of the head from the air again. This time, however, it wasn't as hard.
"I've let revenge blind me, and from there, hatred stemmed…But until the battle is over, my insatiable thirst for justice will not be quenched."
"Justice…?"
Balbazack had already begun to try something – he circled his arms around, his hands meeting in front of his face in a ninja symbol. He then began to recite Japanese words, just like A.E before him. Again, like A.E, Balbazack shouted the last word louder than the rest. Chao gulped, expecting the same lightning shield from last time. However, the Ninjitsu turned out to be different this time – flaming ribbons circled around Balbazack, a huge Japanese kanji symbol appeared in front of his body, and he became engulfed in an orange flame. Chao sighed, but he wasn't sure why.
"For her…justice."
Balbazack began to throw kunai at Chao again, this time engulfed in flames. Chao's face reaction was priceless as he tried frantically to avoid the now-faster moving, burning knives. His friends began cheering him on more and more.
"Yeah, Chao! Dodge those things! They've got nothing on you!"
"Victory will be yours!"
"You can do it!"
Xeg was the only one who didn't say anything. He stood on the sidelines in silence, watching Balbazack closely, as if his eyes were stalking him.
Remembering the tactics he studied, Chao ran up to Balbazack, holding his shield up high to block the kunai. When Chao reached a sufficient distance, he mimicked his favorite hero's signature move – the spin attack. He silently apologized to the hero of time for stealing his move, stood on one foot, and spun around in a circle while holding out his weapon. The strikes were too quick for Balbazack, apparently, for he failed to guard every hit and fell backward, overwhelmed.
Balbazack struggled, but got up. Before either Chao or Balbazack could do anything else, Xeg walked over slowly.
"It's obvious why Balbazack wants 'justice' for what you did to him, rather than revenge." Xeg crossed his arms. "Justice implies that you did something morally wrong, Chao. I say you figure out what that is and apologize for it instead of carrying on with this moronic fight." Chao and Balbazack just stood there, blankly staring at him. "…Is this too hard to understand for you two? Stop standing there like morons and settle this!" He walked back toward the trees and stood next to Dominac again, staring angrily at the two combatants. Balbazack growled.
"…Perhaps I should tell the truth…As much as I loathe you, child, it's only fair that you understand why." Xeg smiled smugly, pleased he was being listened to.
"Well, by all means, tell me! Fighting is only fun when you watch…"
Balbazack sighed. "I never wanted to become a pirate…my father was a filthy liar. A thief. A pirate…but I loved him. I don't know why. When he became sick…I was devastated and afraid. Apart from my mother, he was the kindest person I had ever met. The only reason he stole was to fend for us. But…" Balbazack looked away. "He didn't steal enough, apparently. The disease killed him. My mother and I were left sad, poor, and helpless. What else could I do about it but become a pirate myself and fend for my mother?" Balbazack shook his head, looking angrier and angrier. "I never wanted to become a pirate like him, but I had to fend for my mother somehow. I stole easily for many years…" He turned his head to Chao and gave him a piercing glare. "Then you came along. After what you did, I could barely steal from anywhere again. I was ashamed, but worst of all…I couldn't help my mother. I don't even know what's become of her now." He closed his eyes, and calmed down. "For now, I will take my leave. But this isn't over. The next time we meet, the battle will be for my mother. Not for revenge." Balbazack stood silently for a few seconds, then jumped and phased out in midair. A sudden wind filled the air of the clearing, signaling the exit of his crew as well.
Chao stood in silence, bewildered by Balbazack's saddening tale. Chao had no idea that Balbazack had dealt with such a hard childhood. It turned out he was only trying to get money for his mother…but did that make it right? Chao daydreamed, thinking about that critical question until TTC broke his trance.
"That was awesome! You were all like, 'BAM! POW! TAKE THAT, VILLAIN!' And he was all like, 'No. Ow. It hurts. Poetry. Rant. Angst. Bye.' And he ran away! You're the best!"
Chao nodded, though with an uncertain look still on his face. Pastor Carl had said that Balbazack was going to join him, but he figured he had to wait a bit longer. Otherwise…well, he wouldn't have left. The most he could do was forget about it until the next time they met. Chao sighed and put on a happy face.
"Y'know, his story reminded me of when our dad died…" Chao's fake happiness turned into real confidence. "…but dad wouldn't want us to dwell on the past. He'd want us to tough it out and take action, and so would mom!"
Cham smiled back at Chao. "Yeah…We can't change the past, so we might as well make lemonade, right?" TTC chuckled. "Uh, yeah, right. Lemonade will solve all of our problems." Cham rolled his eyes at TTC, amazed that he didn't get the allusion. Slightly amazed. TTC was always like that. Always.
The group of five was immediately summoned to the chapel by Pastor Carl. Once they got there, Carl immediately congratulated them and rewarded them with cookies and sandwiches. …He wasn't the best gift giver.
"You never cease to amaze me, young prodigy. You practically single handedly drove those pirates out of the city!" Carl bellowed, with open arms.
"Yeah, single-handedly," TTC said, "since he didn't let us do any fighting!"
"You fought A.E, or whatever his name was. Besides, being kicked in the head by ninjas over and over again isn't fun, TTC," Chao explained.
Carl instantly changed the mood. "Even so, the remaining people on the list are waiting to meet you. Musn't prolong destiny, now, should we?"
Dominac stopped stuffing his face for a second. "Hm? List? What list?" He began munching on the cookies again.
"Chao, you haven't told them?" Carl inquired. Chao smiled shyly. "Um…the pirates made me forget." Dominac stopped eating and sat, staring at Chao. "Well, I'm all ears. What's this about a list?" Xeg walked over too, and set next to Dominac silently.
"Um…well, it's a long story, so here's the short version. Basically, according to some legend, the Hero of Charalia – that's supposed to be me, I guess – his brothers, and a bunch of other people on a list are supposed to become friends and reunite that Shining Brigade from hundreds of years ago to defeat a great evil. I'm not sure what that is yet, but…uh…um…" Chao stammered at the end, but Dominac interrupted.
"I'm in! What about you, Xeg? Come on! Aw, you always say no! Why!? WHY!?"
"Shut up! I wasn't gonna say no! Don't be a moron!" Xeg replied, angered easily.
Chao made a priceless face at the two unlikely siblings. "Um…Ok, that's settled! Who's next on the list, Pastor?"
Carl smiled. "According to legend, you should be able to remember any name on the list, but only if you're reminded of it first. You shouldn't even have to memorize it." He cupped his chin, thinking about where Chao should go next. "Hmm…try East Star City. Surely you've heard of it?"
Chao nodded. To the far east of Charalia was its neighboring country, and long-time rival Dedon. East Star City was very close to the border of the two countries. Riverbank wasn't too far from the place, but it'd still be quite a journey.
"Why East Star City?" Chao wondered.
"Also according to legend, your 'guide' is supposed to tell you where to go next to find your next ally. I hoped that it was me, but it looks like the dream really came true! This is so exciting! I finally feel useful! I'm gonna go tell my wife…!" The Pastor cleared his throat embarrassingly. "Ahem…anyway, besides that explanation, it's just a hunch."
Chao shrugged. "Well, I say we get going. I wonder who we'll meet there…?"