Me: Hello! I'm kind of having a bad week, even though to everyone else involved it's perfectly fine… but anyway, here's chapter 4!

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Time passed on quietly once more, and soon, the war was raging on. Many were lost, many were incredibly wounded. Many more were still on the battlefield, fighting off and even greater force than expected. Gunshots rang out like a melody, and blood painted Shugazoom as if it were a large, white paper.

Night had fallen, and back in the Robot, Gibson was working on Medical business, and treating the wounded. He seemed overworked, so the team took shifts by taking wounded soldiers to the med. bay.

Sprx limped in, followed by a young man with deep, bleeding wounds on his arms, chest, and legs. He left a faint trace of blood with each step, the droplets making another painting of pain.

"Here's another one, Gibby." Sprx panted hoarsely. He stepped back out after the patient was settled, retrieving gun powder for the undead weapons on his way out.

"It's Nova's shift now." the simian muttered, disappearing.

Gibson acknowledged his words, and then got to work examining the man.

Otto ran across the city, retrieving the hurt for Nova to take back to Gibson. His eyes scanned the battle, and he eyed a woman who was leaning over, yelling in pain while helplessly shooting the formless around her.

The green monkey ran, and then shot down the formless with a swift attack. She smiled at him gratefully, and then followed him over to the robot.

Skeleton King grinned in satisfaction. Soon the world will be mine for the taking… and I will expand my power across the Universe! These weaklings could never beat me. I was right for giving them a fighting chance… too bad they've shown they don't HAVE one!!

MUAHAHAHA!

He was very enveloped in his thoughts, while he sat cackling on his throne.

Mandarin sighed. The war had begun, and he didn't even TRY to break out. "I'm hopeless." He muttered aloud.

The guard nodded. His voice was that of a strained, drunk cowboy. "You got that gosh darn right, you scum!"

The orange monkey shot a death glare at the guard, which silenced him.

At least I still have power over SOMEONE…

Mandarin glanced at the iron bars before him. Maybe he could trick the guard…?

The thought seemed as hopeless as ever. Even that stupid guard wouldn't fall for anything.

"I hope they succeed. I guess I'll have to wait."

"No." a voice said next to him.

"Who's there?!" Mandarin whispered urgently.

A face appeared out of the darkness… in the cell in front of him. The bars were extremely bent, as if someone strong had tried to break through, but practically failed. A small gap gaped like a giant mouth.

The creature's head was small, about the size of a grape. His eyes were smaller, and his mouth barely visible.

The simian had no idea what the body looked like. He recoiled in confusion.

The creature smiled. "I get that a lot in here. Anyway, as I was saying…"

Mandarin spat, "You filthy criminal! I don't belong here! I am perfectly innocent!"

The creature's eyes glowed with amusement. "Not really. I've heard about you. But like I was saying, don't wait. That's exactly what I did, and my planet is now under the control of the Skeleton King. I'm only here because I waited. I waited for my people to win… and they lost me, their commander, their teacher and source of determination and courage. I'm probably an outcast."

Mandarin was moved that a stranger who was insulted would tell him something like this.

At least he wasn't alone.

"So… any idea of how to get out?" the other captive asked.

Mandarin glared at him. "If I did, I would be long gone."

"…Oh, right. I KNEW THAT!"