(Thanks to Dthehalfdragon, TsubakiTwilight, L-R-D, and Draco Oblivion. And also a big thanks to my new beta tester, LaZy-RaIn-DaNcEr, which means the chapters shall be a much better quality. Annywho, let's read on, shall we?
"So, you are the prisoner." Sheridan, Captain of the Jungle Pirates, asked Tromso as he sat down. Tromso could only sense a large figure, but nothing else in the room, apart from another figure who remained quiet. 'Sometimes it can be a real nuisance being able to sense thing usingsonar'. Tromso thought to himself.
"If only you were a mammal or a bird. I'd have invited you into our ranks."
"And I wouldn't accept." Tromso said, crossing his arms. "I'm already in a pirate crew, unless you didn't notice."
"You could leave, but I guess your mind is made up." Sheridan's voice was almost sinister and unforgiving. "So... what do I do with you, fishman?"
"Free me?" Tromso suggested.
"A good suggestion indeed, but an invalid one. I'm not going to 'free' you, fishman. I'm thinking more along the lines of... ah... entertainment." Tromso stiffened, remembering back to his imprisonment on Skytopia. How the King loved entertainment. What, was he meant to fight against other prisoners?
"What sort of entertainment?" Tromso asked, keeping his voice level.
"I'm thinking... Raidyn, is Akasha still in the pits?"
"She is, Captain." replied another voice. What was it the leader said? Raidyn was the doctor.
"Good. Send him in the pits. I wish to see him fight." So it was a fight after all. Tromso sighed. No Attacura to protect him this time. He couldn't come and protect Tromso this time. No, he'd have to prove
that he could to do this himself. "Who's Akasha?" Tromso asked.
"Oh... just our pet snake." Sheridan replied.
XXX
"Just our pet snake." Tromso muttered to himself ten minutes later. "You forgot to mention it was a GIANT snake!" he yelled up the pit, where Sheridan was sitting, watching. In front of Tromso was a huge, green snake. She was about five times as thick as Tromso, and her scaly body curled around the pit two times. Her teeth gleamed, and her tongue flickered in and out. Tromso went to get his battle axe and realized he didn't have it. So, he prepared his fists.
"Ready." Sheridan shouted down the pit, sitting in a chair and looking down. "Begin!"
Akasha shot forward straight at the beginning. Tromso dived to the side, allowing her to take out a huge chunk of the pit. He stood up and saw Akasha draw back. She glanced at Tromso with her slitted eye before her tail suddenly slammed into Tromso's back, surprising him. Tromso flew forward, and Akasha grasped him in her jaw, ready to swallow. But Tromso had got his bearings and had somehow managed to stand in her mouth with his hands pushing upwards preventing the snake from clamping down. Akasha hissed, but Tromso stayed where he was.
"Good snake, now, put me down nicely and I won't have to hurt you." Tromso said quietly. In reply, Akasha flung her tongue forward, which whipped into Tromso's cheek, causing a thin cut. Tromso remained where he was and tilted his head. "Fine, have it your way." Tromso suddenly jumped backwards, causing Akasha's jaw to snap shut. Just before he fell, he grabbed her bottom lip and hoisted himself on top of her head. He then lifted his fist and slammed it as hard as he could on Akasha's head with so much force it drove her downwards. "That wasn't a human strike." Sheridan said from the top of the pit. "I'm no human!" Tromso replied. "I may not be a full-grown fishman, but I'm still stronger than the average human."
Akasha suddenly reared up, causing Tromso to be thrown into the air by the momentum, but Tromso curled into a small ball and suddenly plummeted down towards Akasha's head. He slammed straight onto her skull, driving her head straight down into the ground, causing a plume of dust. Tromso hopped off and punched Akasha in the side of the jaw before hitting her on the other side. Tromso repeated punching Akasha like this before the great snake opened her mouth, causing Tromso to hit air. Akasha clamped her jaws down, straight on Tromso's arm. Tromso grimaced in pain and punched her straight on the nose, but the snake didn't let go. Instead she reared up, almost wrenching Tromso's arm out of its socket. Akasha started shaking Tromso to and fro, trying to break his arm.
"I am going to regret this." Tromso said to himself, before he thrust his hand straight into Akasha's nostril. This produced the desired effect. Akasha let of a roar and in turn let Tromso go. Tromso fell to the ground but landed on his feet. He motioned for Akasha to come and get him, and Akasha complied. She rushed forward, but Tromso jumped, allowing her to smash into the side of the pit. Tromso landed on her head and punched side of the pit with so much force it caused a spider web of cracks that soon turned into chunks of rock which collapsed onto Akasha's head, sandwiching her between the rocks and the floor.
Tromso looked up straight to Sheridan. "I believe I win." He called up.
"I don't think so." Sheridan growled before Akasha threw her head up, causing rocks to fly everywhere making Tromso lose his balance. He grabbed her bottom jaw, so he wouldn't fall then crawled into her mouth. Akasha closed her mouth, causing those who were watching to wonder what had just happened. Then there was a great splash of blood, and Akasha opened her mouth while letting out a deep, pained cry. Tromso stood on her tongue, covered in blood but holding one of her teeth under his elbow. With one hand, he managed to flip over to the top of Akasha's head before getting to her eye. Tromso lifted the tooth upwards, let out a shout, and slammed the tooth straight into Akasha's eye.
Akasha roared and flailed around, trying to get Tromso off, but Tromso started hammering away into the tooth through what remained of the eye and into the snake's head. She gave one final spasm, which caused Tromso to be thrown into the air.
As Akasha fell to the ground, Tromso directed himself straight toward Sheridan's direction, and his momentum threw him forward. Then, with all his might, Tromso smashed his fist straight into Sheridan's face, driving the Captain of the Jungle Pirates off his chair and to the floor. Tromso rolled and stood up, flicking blood off of him as Sheridan lay back first on the ground.
Then he let off such a loud roar, it rivalled Akashi's. It was one of pure rage. Sheridan stood up, and he cracked his neck, looking at Tromso.
"I'm gonna bathe in your blood, fishman!" Sheridan dropped down on all fours before suddenly shooting forward straight toward Tromso, who was unprepared. But then a foot planted itself into Sheridan's jaw, lifting the Captain up and off the ground. As he fell to the ground, Gouki drew Kazufuchi and grinned at Tromso. "Almost had us some sushi there, Tromso. Try not to get yourself killed." Gouki turned back to Sheridan, who was getting up. "Right now, I'm in the mood for a fur coat. Come and get me!"
(Yay for Gouki coming back!
Random Fact: Noob Saibot off Mortal Kombat is "Tobias" and "Boon" backwards, the last names of two developers.
Next time on OPNN: New Dreams: Under the order of Sheridan, the Jungle Pirates attack Gouki, although he is move than enough to take care of any threats. That is, until five people arrive on the battle scene...
See you then!