SOMEWHERE IN CASTLE BLECK…
~*-SPP-*~
"…Yeah, so I just got a brief memo from Mimi?" Started Bleck's assistant, "It says, 'I messed up bad!' …That's the message in its entirety. Yeah…"
"Bleh heh heh heh heh… She failed to best him, even with the gift of power? A Light Prognosticus hero… Descendants of the ancient tribe… Their strength grows." Out of nowhere, the burly voice of O'Chunks called for the count as fell to his box pedestal.
"I beg yeh, gimme the honor o' whalin' on this pack o' nambly-pamblies! I SWEAR ON ME WHISKERS THAT I'LL SPANK 'EM LIKE NAUGHTY LITTLE CHERBILS, I WILL!"
"Oh, so, O'Chunks, yeah, you think you're all set to go? That must mean you finished up that report on your own inadequacy that I needed?"
"Eah… Y'see… I…just got a wee bit left. I'm workin on me conclusion. …YEH GOTTA GIMME A BREAK! Me written takes time, lass! An' 1,000 pages be a lot!" He pleaded.
"O'Chunks, calm yourself." The count commanded, "Take a minion time-out. Count Bleck will send… DIMENTIO! Come to me… Count Bleck." As soon as the words came out of his mouth, the maniacal jester appeared in his own picturesque way.
"And so I arrive, like a sudden windstorm at a kindergarten picnic!" he proclaimed enthusiastically.
"Bleh heh heh heh heh… You'd like some playtime, I imagine, Dimentio?"
"Oh, yes indeed, my count!" He answered before the count could continue.
"Very well, so you shall have it, but do not disappoint Count Bleck. Dispatch this Hero."
"Your wish is my command!" he responded, with a wink, "Besides, this fool sounds like an amusing challenge. So… if there isn't anything else, I'll just be on my way. Ciao, my count." And with that, he left in the same manner he entered. Nastasia spoke next, tying the conversation back to O'Chunks.
"Yeah, so, O'Chunks? Can you fill me in on why you're still not writing that report?" His short-term memory got the better of him, but only for a second. He said he'd get back to it, calling Nastasia a beard-tweaker.
"Count," she started just as O'Chunks left, "let me just bring you up to speed on the current state of the castle: I still have to root out a few unconverted rouges, but I'll report back soon." She bowed her head and jumped down, signaling she was on her way to doing what she just told the count.
"Heroes…" our alone count told the air, "trying to save these pathetic old worlds. Bleck, says Count Bleck!" he laughed his laugh, "Their efforts are in vain. No one can stop Count Bleck!" He flipped out, taking the book with him. But he wasn't finished talking.
"Just as no one can ease the tempest that rages in my suffering heart…"
~*-SPP-*~
The screen brightened up to where Ieda lay in a sleeping position.
"Ohh… My head… and hair…" She tried getting up, succeeding on the first try. "Where am I?" She tried thinking of what happened previously to lead up to now.
"Wait, I think I remember that Bleck guy taking us into here and then marrying Ray and Rachel… that was really weird. But I think I tried to save us and screwed up bad and… wait. Where is everyone?" She questioned, at last seeing that no one (except for two goombas) could be seen for miles.
"You awake, er… don't know what to call you." Someone… thing called out to the Heroine. She turned around and saw two mushroom looking creatures.
"Um… shouldn't you two be trying to kill me?"
"Naw… we're on a temporary truce. Got a call from the boss in the Bitlands to find someone with – what was the term? Oh yeah… – ebony skin. You fit the description perfectly (I think?)."
"Oh, how… considerate. So, you two doing all right?"
"Yeah, we're doing okay. I'm just glad you're okay. (Finally, I'll get that raise for finding her first! SCORE!)"
"So have you two seen two others like me? –I mean, with lighter skin? One had white hair and the other… kinda obvious." She asked, regretting calling Ray 'obvious.'
"No," the second goomba answered, "You're the only one we found. (And the only one we tried to find.) But hey, at least you're fine." The first told Ieda that most everyone else had been captured and that they could be next.
"Sooooo… mysteriously skin-colored girl, what do you say we get outta here ASAP?"
"Great plan. But how?"
"We were thinking you'd have that part of the plan… (Great, we're stuck here longer.)"
"Maybe we just walk through the hallways and see if we find something?" Goomba One answered in a question.
"…That'll work." Both Ieda and Goomba Two answered. Ieda continued, however, "Well, what're we waiting for? Let's get outta here!" She jumped up and spun to face the door... hich was the direction she was facing anyway, so she made a circle. Her hair flowed with the direction she spun, adding to the effect of the spin. Like all good things, however, what goes up must come down. Gracefully, she landed on both feet. Commenting on the fun while heading to the door, the goombas paid no mind to her. They got to the door and she opened it, heading into Castle Bleck's colder interior.
~*-SPP-*~
Ieda tried upstairs first while the Goombas automatically headed downstairs. Ieda wasn't so lucky, so she admitted defeat to the goombas and headed through the door they surrounded.
~*-SPP-*~
They all commented on how the last room was to small as they saw how long this room was. Nevertheless, Ieda trekked the entirety while the goombas fell behind.
"Wait! Wait for us!" one of them called. One walked passed Ieda and noticed no door.
"Uh oh… Looks like the end of the line here."
"Ugh! You're right… now what?" she asked the goomba while walking over herself.
"I hope there's another way out. (I really need the extra coins!) But we can't be looking for it if we're still standing here! So let's—" GAZOOOORT! Ieda looked down at the goomba, then to the blue secretary concentrating hard on the goomba.
"HAIL BLECK!" the brainwashed goomba unthinkingly spat out.
"GARY!!! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
"Hm-mm-mm… I've been looking all OVER for you." The secretary told more to Ieda than to the other goomba.
"You've... been looking for… me?" She gulped.
"Of course. You're the gal who wasn't really a team player back at the wedding. You're gonna need a little disciplinary action for that. So let's get started, hm?" She stepped closer, but Goomba Two wouldn't have any more of this.
"All right! It's time for me to goomba-up! Hey, lady!" Goomba Two shouted as he ran past Ieda, "Got room for one more on your team?"
"You…" Ieda started balling up her fists in anger, scowling at the deserting traitor.
"Good call. Love the enthusiasm, there. Go ahead and swear your, y'know, undying loyalty toe the count, and you're on board." The goomba started cheering like a cheerleader.
"OK, guys, new agenda? Hold this fool down so I can get her priorities in order." They agreed, rushing over to Idea to prevent escape.
"Wha-? HELP! RAaayyyy-ough…"
~*-SPP-*~
"You're late. Did something
happen?"
"Yes, my father caught me.
Sneaking out of the castle
wasn't easy after that."
"I was worried you wouldn't
come…"
"You are a strange girl…
You know what I am and yet
you do not seem afraid."
"I don't care what you are.
I just wanted to see you.
Is that… Is that so wrong?"
"No. No, of course not.
I wanted to see you too…"
"Blumiere… Do you mind if
I sit next to you?"
"Please do, Timpani. Let's
return to our conversation.
I must know more of you…"
Surprise! I felt like posting early this week spontaneously so... yeah. There you go! :D
On a relative note, here's how to pronounce Ieda's name: Eye•ee•dah. I'm not exactly sure where the accent goes, but there it is in general form. Hope that helps.