Oh boy
chapter 21
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"Yo! We're back!" yelled Eve from the front door with Smoke opening it as they walked inside.
"You do know you do not need to yell, right?"
"Hey your mom does it anyway, so it's nothing new.
"That doesn't mean you have to start screaming." Spoke Yang waking in. "What up girls? Glad to see you didn't kill each other."
"Oh trust me, we came close." remarked Eve pecking him on the lips before sitting down and sighed with a smirk. "Where's mom at? Wait, where's that annoying wart Smoke calls a sister?"
"Calm down. They both fell in a mud puddle while they were fighting so they had to take showers." he remarked while Smoke sat down and he took the spot next to her. "Mirage came close to making me attend her tea party, not what I had planned. Oh and Yin said to start packing, we leave for home tomorrow morning."
"Aw come on, we barely got to do anything that didn't end up in some fight." remarked Eve with a frown. "I wanted to stop at a sushi place and pig out, maybe see if I could freak any fish people out by munching on sushi right in front of them."
"The whole reason to come here was to get Smoke's sword fixed. We're inconveniencing her family, also Mirage is starting to creep me out." remarked Yang before whispering in Smoke's ear. "I think she nearly followed me into the bathroom once, and I found this." He said holding a crayon drawing of him and Mirage as bride and groom.
Smoke frowned and took it before crumpling it up. "If that is the case, then I agree with Yin. It is time to return home before Mirage attempts anything else, and before anything more dangerous should happen. Speaking of which, where is Triple Neko?"
"I'm sure she's around." Yang shrugged. "Honestly I didn't see her leave because Yin was trying to wrestle Mirage off my back."
They were drawn back to the door hearing it open. There they saw the CPK walk in with smiles making them look surprised.
(We're back!) Kitty called.
(And man, does it feel good to back in our own bodies.) Bella sighed.
(Yeah, but having to make a deal with that old badger lady was a pain in the butt.) remarked Ashley. (We….did things.)
(Embarrassing things.) shuddered Bella. (Let's just say we're staying away from the community theater.)
(But on the upside we got this!) Kitty said holding up an amulet shaped like a cats eye. (This will let us fuse again whenever we want.)
(But not for a while, I wanna stay me for at least a week or two before trying that again.) Remarked Bella.
"Wait, so that thing is chock full of magic?" asked Eve with a raised eyebrow.
(Back off parasite!) Kitty said holding the amulet away. (This is something we can use later on in life. It's not something to drain the power out of.)
"Fine." Eve rolled her eyes. "But if I wind up an empty husk, just keep in mind you could have kept me breathing."
"Relax Eve, Herman probably has some stuff still hidden back at the castle that might be the key." spoke Yang just as Yin walked out wearing a towel over her body and head making his eyes widen, face turn red, and steam come out his ears.
"Cool your jets Yang." Yin said.
"That is hard for him if you come out with no clothes on." giggled Smoke.
"All my clothes are still in the wash. Your mom said she'd wash them." she replied walking over and sat down with Yang's ears wrapping around the other while he started getting a nosebleed making her blush and look away. "Come on Yang, it's just a towel."
"Here in Yokan that is one of many famous and popular looks to excite your lover." piped up Smoke.
Yin groaned before she facepalmed.
"YIN! I HAVE YOUR CLOTHES!" Called Smoke's mother walking in with a basket.
"Thank you." Yin satated grabbing her training uniform. "Eve would you mind?" She asked pointing at Yang before the white rabbit covered his eyes.
"Hey!"
"Oh hush, no one wants to see you perv out while mom gets dressed." frowned Eve making the other girls nod in agreement.
"SAVE THAT FOR MARRIAGE!" yelled Smoke's mother before walking out of the room before Yin put on her uniform.
"Your mom is really nice Smoke, I wish I knew my mother."
"Hey, that reminds me of something." remarked Yang while Eve uncovered his eyes. "Didn't we try asking Master Yo about our mom before getting interrupted by a new villain that barely got any introductions before hand?"
"Yeah, and out of all the night masters he was the most pathetic."
(Wasn't there some kind of unshown fight between you three?) asked Kitty.
"Yeah, makes you wonder why that is." remarked Yang confused while Yin tapped her chin.
"More importantly why didn't we try asking again?"
"Well it's time we change that." Yang said walking over to the house phone. "You in Yin?"
"You know what, yeah. It's time we got answers." she nodded while Yang picked the phone up. "Call him, we're getting the truth no matter what."
Back at the castle, Yo was sleeping in his chair before the phone started ringing. "The monkey did it!" He blurted waking with a start. He let out a yawn while stretching and picked it up with a grumble. "Yeah, what is it?"
"Hi master Yo."
"Oh hey kids." He said rubbing his eye. "What's with the sudden call? I was having a great dream."
"...We wanna know about our mom!"
Yo's eyes widened before slamming the phone down on the receiver and sighed in relief. "Phew, dodged a bullet there."
"Did he just…" Yin pointed at the phone.
"Oh no way are we giving up that easy." Yang glared at the phone before hitting redial.
"Hello?" Yo answered.
"Tell us about our mom!" Yang yelled into the phone.
*Click*
"He's playing a dangerous games." Yang said pressing redial again.
"No one is here right now, please leave a message after the beep, beeeeeeep." spoke Yo's voice while he tried closing his nose to disguise his voice.
"Okay I see where this is going." Yin spoke with a blank look. "Okay Master Yo, when you get this message, just know we're not letting this slide. We're kids with tons of energy who can stay up all night if we have to."
"Yeah, and we'll keep asking over and over and over again until we get some answers. We'll even ask out in broad daylight and when you think you're with some lady." smirked Yang. "I'll bet they'd love to hear how you use to be married, wouldn't they?"
"...dang it! Alright fine." Yo caved
"Yes!" Yin and Yang high fived.
"What do you wanna know?"
"Was she Pretty?" Yin questioned immediately.
"Oh trust me, when I first saw her I couldn't look away."
"Was she into exercise?" Yang questioned.
"Um...well….in a way, I mean she definitely had some muscle, and knew how to use it too."
"Was she smart?" Yin asked. "Like was she a teacher?"
"Well you could say she was very knowledgeable on some subjects that caught a lot of eyes."
"Do we look like her?" Yang wondered.
"Yes, and that scares me." he muttered the last part.
"Where is she now? Is it on the way back from Yokan? What's her name?" Yin bombarded him with questions.
"Woah woah! Uh… Look kids, you're better off not knowing much more about Violet, and stay away from Burrowville!" He shouted and hung up then suddenly realized what he said. "DAMNIT!"
"Oh no! He ain't chickening out again." frowned Yang about to hit redial.
"Hold on Yang." Yin spoke grabbing his hand. "I think we have all we need to look for answers ourselves."
"But he-"
"He told us to stay away from Burrowville, you don't find that strange? And he said her name is Violet so we have that to go on."
"Huh, good point sis." he remarked putting the phone down. "But who knows where that place is."
"It is one of the train stops between here and back home." Smoke replied.
"Perfect! Then we'll stop by there and see what we can find out by asking around." smiled Yin. "It'll be just the two of us."
"And where are we in that scenario?" Eve questioned.
"This is a journey the two of them must take alone." spoke Smoke in a serious tone. "If too many of us go, it would ruin a good moment they would have, and it may be too much for their mother if we told her who we are. A meeting like that should be done carefully and delicately."
"Oh fine, but you two owe us."
(The next day)
Yin and Yang were sitting on the train with Yin bouncing in excitement more than Yang.
"Calm down sis you're gonna wear out the seat." Her brother quipped.
"I can't help it! We're going to the place mom lives! We're gonna finally get a chance to find out all we could ever want about her. How are you NOT as excited?"
"I'm a dude, I mean yeah I wanna meet her too. But let's face it, we probably don't even have anything in common." he shrugged. "I mean you might because you're a girl."
"Oh come on Yang, don't be like that." she frowned. "This is our chance to bond with her! I'll bet she'll be thrilled when she finds out we're woofoo warriors. You could even show her some of your big moves."
"Next stop, Burrowville." said a voice over the intercom.
"Alright, but if she ends up becoming like one of those moms who try to make their kids wear monkey suits, I'm out." he said as they grabbed their things and waited for the train to stop before getting off.
"Relax, I'm sure she's gonna be proud of us and can't wait to hear about all of our adventures." she said before they headed out and made their way to town. It looked like it had an archway made of trees with the name on the sign and a dirt road.
"Hey there." greeted a rabbit girl around their age with brown fur and a yellow dress. "I haven't seen you in town before, are you new?"
"Yes actually." smiled Yin. "But we're not moving here, we're actually hoping to find someone."
"Well in any case let me be the first to say, welcome home cousins!" She spoke and hugged the two.
The two groaned from the grip before she let go and saw numerous other rabbits walking around, young, preteen, older, and elderly going about their day.
"Uh thanks?" Said Yang.
"But how do you know if we're related?" Asked Yin.
"Oh I don't, but everyone in Burrowville calls each other cousin. It makes us feel like one big family." she smiled. "Want me to show you around?"
"Sure thing, cousin." Yin said with a giggle and Yang rolled his eyes.
"Great!" she beamed before grabbing their hands and started dragging them. "Burrowville is one of the most neighborly towns on the planet."
"Good morning cousin." greeted an older rabbit carrying a bundle of carrots.
"Morning cousin." spoke another one pushing a baby carriage.
"Sup cuz." greeted a teen rabbit on a skateboard.
"Hi cousin!" called a line of similar looking rabbits holding hands while their mom lead them across a street with the line looking like it went on for over a block.
"Wow everyone here is so friendly." Yin smiled and looked around.
"I can't tell if that's good or just plain creepy." remarked Yang looking around. "But it's nice to actually see more rabbits, usually it's just me and my sister, and Eve, and Yuck, but that last one tries to destroy us most of the time." he said before a tall grey rabbit walked by, completely in the buff while chewing a carrot.
"Ehhhh, what's up cousin?"
"Aw come on man!" spoke Yang covering his and Yin's eyes. "Put some clothes on!"
"Okay what the heck?" asked Yin.
"Oh right, I forgot to mention, see Burrowville is a town of liberals." The rabbit girl said.
"And you couldn't have told us sooner?" deadpanned Yang. "I like being liberated myself and free of clothes, but that's usually in my own home. And not out where everyone can see my junk like that gu…." Yang trailed of when he saw a bodacious rabbit woman with blond fur, a yellow top and purple shorts walk up to the tall grey rabbit before she kissed him.
"Yang? Quit staring." said Yin closing his mouth with a frown.
"Oh! Uh, sorry sis, I got distracted." he chuckled embarrassingly.
"Anyway, before we continue, could you tell us your name, cousin?" asked Yin.
"You can call me Thumper." she said. "What about you?"
"I'm Yin and this is my brother Yang."
"Hah! Yin and Yang, I get it." she chuckled.
"So other than everyone being overly happy, what else does this place have?" asked Yang. "I mean does anyone around her know how to fight?"
"Fight? Why would we wanna do that? Everyone here just wants to live a simple and relaxing life."
"Great." Yang drawled. "So there isn't anyone to get into random brawls with?"
"Not that I know of."
"That's alright, like I said, we're actually looking for someone and wanna avoid any kind of fighting." spoke up Yin quickly. "Tell us, do you know about anyone called Violet living here?"
"Hmm...Violet...Violet… nope doesn't ring a bell." she shook her head. "You could try asking around to see if anyone heard of her. Just remember one thing. Never EVER go through the log tunnel into the forest."
"What log tunnel?" Yang asked before Thumper pointed across the road towards a huge open log with a large number of warning signs in front of it. "Oh, now I see it."
"If you go in you'll never come back out." Thumper finished.
"How come?" asked Yin.
"Nobody knows. But there are stories of a great tree that protects the forest. Or at least it use to."
"Use to?" the siblings spoke in confusion at the same time.
"When my great grandma was a little bunny, she and all her friends use to play around it. But then one day anyone who went in the forest never returned." she replied with her ears drooping.
"Okay that's bad." Yin spoke.
"Anywho!" Thumper smiled. "What say I show you two where you can get a cool refreshing carrot shake? You can even ask around when we get there."
"Meh, why not, I could go for something to drink." shrugged Yang. "Lead the way cousin."
Thumper lead the two over to what looked like a stand in the shape of a carrot with several other residents standing around drinking from orange shakes while chatting with each other. "Here we are, the local carrot smoothie stand."
"It looks packed." Yin said
"And really? All they have is carrot flavor?" Yang added with a grossed out look.
"Well not really."
"Oh thank god."
"They also got onion flavor, cabbage flavor, radish flavor, and my personal favorite, eggplant flavor."
Yang's face turned green and he covered his mouth with his hand.
"What's wrong? You not a fan of eggplant?"
"He hates his vegetables." Yin said before Thumper blinked and looked at Yang like he was a weirdo.
"Not my fault if slushies have so much sugar in them. That's just something to help you get up and out of bed."
"Thumper why don't you get a couple for us while me and my brother ask around." Yin suggested.
"Sure thing! Once you have a taste of those carrot shakes you'll be lining up for seconds." Thumper said before walking over to the stand.
"Unless it's full of sugar, doubt it." muttered Yang.
"Come on Yang." Yin said grabbing him by the collar and pulled him away. "We've got a lot of rabbits to question."
The two started asking around if anyone knew a rabbit named Violet. They asked teens, kids, adults, but it seemed like the adults knew something the kids didn't since one rabbit seemed to blush and run off, while another seemed to smile with a weird look on his face which made them move on.
"Ok obviously we should focus on asking the adults." stated Yang.
"If we can even get them to talk." remarked Yin with a frown. "We need to corner one and get them to spill the beans."
"Why sis, are you saying we should use force?" mock gasped Yang before hugging her. "I'm so proud of you!"
"Don't get use to it. Now let's go." she replied as he let go and the two looked around for a prey. "Oh there's one."
They looked at a rather portly rabbit munching on a carrot with overalls walking by himself with the siblings giving a nod to each other before they tailed him. "Hey you!"
"Huh? What?" he asked turning around while munching on the vegetable.
"Do you know someone named Violet?" questioned Yin sternly.
The rabbit looked a little lost before his eyes widened and he dropped the carrot "Um….I um...gotta go!" before turning and ran.
"After him!" Yang shouted.
The two rushed after the rabbit who was sweating nervously and running around other residents while looking back and getting more scared.
"Yangerang!" Yang threw his weapon which spun and wound up tripping the rabbit up when it hit his ankles. "Got him!"
"Foo Field!" called Yin forming a barrier around the rabbit who groaned.
"What the…"
"Gotcha, now you can't run off." smirked Yang.
"Look all we want is answers about our mother." Yin said while crossing her arms.
"Wait, Violet's your mom?!"
"Yes!" Yang answered throwing his hands in the air. "Why else would we be looking for her?"
"Um….I don't feel comfortable explaining that to kids." he remarked with a gulp.
"Why? All we wanna do is find where she lives and talk to her." spoke Yin with a raised eyebrow. "It's not that hard to tell it to us straight."
"Uh, well I know where she use to live."
"Use to? Aw come on! You mean she moved?" groaned Yang.
"Well that's the thing nobody knows. Her old house is just a few blocks that way." He said pointing with his thumb. "It's the one with the purple mailbox. Ya can't miss it, maybe you'll find some clues we didn't. Now can you let me out of here?"
"Sure thing." replied Yin dropping the barrier making the rabbit land on his butt before she grabbed the back of Yang's gi and dragged him away. "Come on Yang, no time to waste!"
"Hey you guys!" Thumper called as she ran up. "You didn't forget about me did you?"
Yin blushed in embarrassment, "Oh my gosh I almost totally did."
"Well good thing I caught up, I got the shakes."
"I am so sorry." Yin said taking hers. "It's just, that person we're looking for… she's our mother."
"Oh my gosh! For real?"
"Uh huh. And we just found out where her house is." Yin nodded before taking a sip from her shake. "Oh! This shake tastes great!"
"Told you. Now, let's go find your mama."
Yang shuddered when he took a sip as the three began walking. "I think my tongue is gonna need a bath all on it's own later."
They followed the directions and soon came to a house with a purple mailbox with Violet written in cursive pink letters and a kiss mark next to the name.
"Wow, it looks beautiful." smiled Yin.
"I hope you mean the mailbox." Yang said looking at the house. The lawn was unkempt, the paint on the walls chipped and peeling, and a loose shingle even fell from the roof. "Otherwise we might need to get you glasses."
"Come on Yang, even if it looks worn down and dirty, it's still the home of our mom." she said and grabbed his hand. "Lets go."
"Oh fine." he relented before they went into the tall grass while Thumper stayed behind and sipped her shake. The door creaked open and knocked loose a few cobwebs. "Yeesh, I get why mom left it, must be a lot of spiders living here now."
"I'm not so sure that's why she left. It looks like all her furniture is still here." Yin said taking a step inside before stepping on something. She looked down and saw dozens of envelopes piled up. "And if she did move, why does she have so much mail here?"
"Forgot to send them her new address?" Yang shrugged before Yin picked them up.
"Bill, bill, final notice, bill. Wow, I guess mom had some money troubles. No wonder she couldn't keep us, she literally couldn't afford to." frowned Yin sadly while Yang patted her on the back.
"Relax sis, let's go inside and see what we can find. Maybe she left behind some pictures of us, or even between her and Master Yo."
"Good idea. You check the living room I'll go up stairs and look in her bedroom."
"Why do you get the upstairs?"
"Do you really wanna go through our mom's drawers?"
"I'll be down here if you need me." he replied quickly.
"That's what I thought." Yin spoke before going upstairs with the wood creaking a little and her having to wave some dust out of her eyes from the handrail. "What happened to you mom?" She questioned.
Yang himself tried to keep from sneezing as he looked around the couch and chairs from the dust. "Oh man, this dust is killer my sinuses." he wiped his nose while using his ears as a makeshift mask. He went over to a table and saw some picture frames covered with dust. "Hmm, wonder if these show mom." he said before picking one up and wiped the dust from the glass.
It showed a beaming rabbit that resembled Yin, only she was a shade of purple with her ears draped behind her head like a ponytail and had a green cheerleading top and skirt on with white accents while holding orange pom poms and being tossed up into the air.
"No way, mom was a cheerleader!" gawked Yang with wide eyes. He tried to keep his mouth shut while shaking his head. "I forgot what Yin was like growing old, but if she ends up like mom… I'm the luckiest boy in town." he said with a grin.
With Yin, she checked room after room, finding a bathroom, closet, before coming into what looked like the master bedroom. "Bingo." she said looking around before noticing the heart shaped bed with pink sheets, a red blanket, and drapes over it. "Hmm, it's really...red. Oh! Mom must have been a big romantic when she met our dad." she looked around a bit more and noticed a changing screen and an old record player. "Hmm, it'll be tricky, but there has to be some note or clue to explain where she went" Yin said before starting her search in the closet.
With Yang, he was looking through the pictures and saw several more with her mom and a few showing her standing next to Master Yo when he was younger and with an afro. "Ahahahahaha!" he burst out laughing before coughing when he inhaled dust and hit his chest to get the stuff out. "Oh man, that's a lot of dust."
He opened up a window to let it air out. "Wonder if there's any decent stuff left over, that carrot shake was nasty." he said before heading into said kitchen. But the minute he opened the fridge his nostrils were assaulted by one of the most pungent hours he'd ever smelled in his life. "Great ancestors above!" he slammed it shut and ran to the window as his eyes watered from the burning in his eyes to take in some fresh air and inhaled several times. "That was WAY worse than the time I went perfume shopping with Lina!" He let out and coughed.
He took some time to make sure he was good before going back in and tried the cupboards. Only to be enveloped in roaches. "AHHHH!" he screamed flailing his arms and began running back and forth. "If it's this bad down here it must be horrible for Yin!"
"Man,I wouldn't mind a bed like this in the castle." smiled Yin resting on the bed wearing one of her mother's dresses along with her jewelry she found in her jewelry box . "Mom sure had good taste. I feel like one of those little girls who wants to look like mommy." she giggled kicking her feet.
Yang groaned and ran out the back before rolling around the dirt to get the roaches off himself. "Gross." He said before walking back into the living room. "Come on mom, there has to be clue somewhere." he said before noticing a book on the coffee table with a marked page. "On second thought, it could be in plain sight right in front of me." he said before picking the book up and opened it. "Ok this looks promising. Yin! I think I found something!"
"Hang on! I need to put this dress away!" she called back making Yang blink and part of him wanted her to come down with it still on.
"Well hurry! It's a clue!"
After she put everything back Yin raced down the stairs. "Show me, where is it?"
"It's a book about Burrowville history, mom had a page marked about the grand tree Thumper told us about, read the chapters name."
"The Jewel of the Forest?" she muttered before browsing across the words. "This lustrous green stone is said to be the source of the ancient trees magic, those who wield this gem hold the very power and fate of the forest within their grasp."
"You think mom went off to try and get it?"
"Well she did have money troubles, but if she did go into that forest then…" Yin trailed off before going pale. "Oh no, what if she vanished like all those other people?!"
"Then I guess we have two choices, give up and go home or go into a cursed forest and never possibly never return." remarked Yang with two paws up and a thoughtful look on his face.
"...well we came this far." Yin spoke. "And since when have we ever been known to just give up?"
"Hmmm, dangerous mission it is." he smiled. "Besides, after seeing some pictures of what mom was like, now I'm feeling hyped up to meet her in person. I think you're really starting to rub off on me."
"I can already hear the earth screaming in horror." She quipped before they headed out. "If it's harmed one hair on mom's head, I'm gonna put it all in a wood chipper."
"And I'm rubbing off on you now." joked Yang.
After informing Thumper of their plan she was openly against it.
"Are you two nuts! Didn't you hear me about staying away?" she said as they stood just outside the giant log tunnel.
"Yeah, but we have a tendency to ignore warnings." remarked Yang rotating his arms. "But we also faced impossible odds dozens of times before and came out on top."
"And if our mom went in there, then we have to try and get her out." Yin said confidently. "Along with any others who got lost in there."
"But that's what the last three people said!"
"We need to do this, we need clarity." frowned Yin. "If we don't, then we won't ever find out who our mom is."
"Ugh...okay, just be careful cousins." sighed Thumper feeling a headache coming on.
"We'll be back faster than you can say hopscotch." Yang smiled. "Lets go Yin."
"See ya around Thumper." Yin waved as she entered the dark tunnel.
"Yeah, if you're lucky." muttered Thumper in fear.
"Man it's so dark in here I can barely see." Yang squinted his eyes trying to see what was in front of him.
"Hang on Fooluminate!" called out Yin before forming a light beam from her hand. "There we go." she said before they continued walking and eventually saw a light on the other side. "Wow, this log is shorter than it looks on the other side."
Once they stepped out they found themselves at a clearing with three other tunnels.
"Ok, so...which way do we go?" asked Yang.
"Huh, ooh I got an idea. Yincinerate!" She called and burned an arrow into the grass in front of the tunnel on the opposite side other clearing. "This way we'll know where we've been."
"Nice thinking sis, I was gonna suggest we go in separate tunnels and see which one got us where we needed to go, but this works better." He said before they headed through the tunnel. However once they were through they saw another clearing, identical to the first, with the arrow Yin just made pointing to the opposite tunnel "Huh?" he while scratching his head. "Um, Yin? What are the chances someone made an exact copy of your arrow?"
"Well if there have been others in here, it's a possibility. Although…" she scratched her chin before turning around and pulled Yang back to the first clearing, however one they were through they somehow ended in a clearing with only two tunnels and no arrow. "Aw hippity hop me hard! This is what I was afraid of."
"What? I'm lost, and I mean more so than usual how did we get here going back the way we came "
Yin groaned and rubbed the bridge of her nose. "The tunnels have an enchantment on them. No matter which way we go they send us to another random place."
"Aw come on, that's ridiculous. We'll just go through one tunnel at a time and do it over and over until we get somewhere on track." Yang said confidently.
"And get completely lost in the process? No way Yang we gotta stick together and think this over."
"Oh fine." he sighed. "What if we tried making a trail behind us? You know, like bread crumbs."
"Except we don't have any bread or anything thing else, but clothes on our backs and no Yang I am not unravelling my gi just to make a trail of thread, even if we are all alone.
Yang gave her a deadpanned look and raised an eyebrow. "Yin, I might enjoy seeing you girls in less clothes, but I wasn't talking about that. I meant like burn a trail in the grass behind us. That way every time we go backwards and wind up place in another, we can just keep marking our way around."
"Just making sure to say it before you got any ideas."
"The fact you were thinking something like that makes me wonder if you WANTED that to happen." he chuckled making Yin blush.
"No! I just know you that's all. You don't think straight whenever you have a pretty girl around. All the blood leaves your brain and goes...down south." she rebuked while Yang blinked and started chuckling.
"Hey, maybe we should stick with no pants when we really start growing. Especially y-" his mouth was covered by Yin who shook her head.
"If you promise to keep from getting any ideas like that, I'll give you a foot rub later...after you wash them."
"Deal." he smiled while pulling out his sword. "So want me to make a dirt trail or do you wanna burn one with your magic?"
"Honestly I'm not even sure that will work. Give me a minute to think." she said before she started meditating.
"Fine… but don't take all day."
Yin thought of a number of plans, but each one had more cons than pros. She started to worry that maybe entering the forest was a mistake, and she feared they would never get out. Then suddenly she heard what sounded like someone playing a flute.
Yang's ears perked up before turning his head. "Hey Yin, you hear something?"
"Yeah, it's coming from that tunnel." she pointed.
"Come on!" Yang said grabbing her and pulled her along.
The two followed the melody through one clearing after another in whichever tunnels it was loudest. All the while Yang used his sword to dig into the grass to make a trail of some kind just in case.
"I think we're almost there."
"I hope so, I think my head turned around when we took those last three lefts."
After one last tunnel they arrived at a bridge with a cloaked figure playing the instrument. Said figure didn't seem while playing a little louder.
"Um hello-" Yin started.
"Sorry can't talk," the figure said in a males voice. "Gotta keep playing."
"Just who are-" Yang tried to question.
"Are you deaf, I gotta keep playing to lead the others back." spoke the figure in annoyance before playing even louder.
The siblings looked confused until they started hearing footsteps from the tunnel they emerged from. The figure stopped playing and put the instrument away before a group of rabbits walked out hauling bags.
"What the heck Blinky?" Said the rabbit leading the group dressed in ragged clothes. "We almost got turned around, why'd you stop playing?"
"Because these two were bugging me and making it hard to focus." said Blinky pointing to Yin and Yang.
"To make you feel better dude, you really weren't all that good." remarked Yang who was elbowed by his sister.
"Great, more mouths to feed."
"Just who are you?" asked Yin.
"I think you mean who are we? That includes you two." Blinky said as the group walked past. "We are the unfortunate fools that came in this forest. So welcome to your new home."
"Sorry, our new home is a big castle with lots of cool stuff, not some forest with weird magic tunnels." spoke Yang.
"You're welcome to try leaving, just know that if you get lost and you want to come back, just listen for my flute."
"Thanks for the warning, lets go Yin."
"No offense Yang, but I'd rather not get lost in the forest." She said then looked back to Blinky "Just how often do you play that thing?"
"Once a week when our food runs low."
"So wait, you all have been stuck in this place ever since? Haven't you tried to go in a random direction that isn't one of these stupid tunnels?" asked Yang.
"All the clearings are surrounded by walls of rock, and it's not like we can fly out little cousin."
"What about climbing them then?" Yang said before he tried jumping up to climb the wall, but the surface was too smooth and there was nothing to hold to and he ended up falling on his butt. "Okay, can't climb out. Got it."
"You think we haven't already tried? We've had tons of time to try a number of thing, but nothing would work. Now we're stuck here for the rest of our lives. Or we break whatever curse is on this place."
"Wait, if you've been here a long time, then that must mean you've seen everyone that's come here, right?" asked Yin.
"Of course. Come, I will show you around." He said moving towards the bridge.
Yin and Yang followed him while trying to keep themselves from looking over the edge.
"Since escape seemed all but impossible we decided to make the best of our situation." remarked Blinky while putting his Hands behind his back. "We made a village to keep ourselves relaxed and together and to make sure we didn't go out and risk getting lost for good. It's just past the curtain of ivy vines up ahead."
"How long have you had to live out here?" asked Yin.
"Hard to say, after awhile the days seem to blend together, until someone comes around and tells you the date." he replied before they reached the ivy vines which he slowly spread open. On the other side was a village with houses made from hollowed out trees.
"Oooh." spoke Yin with awe. "How rustic."
"How boring." muttered Yang. "So quick question, do you know someone named Violet? Cause I'd really hate to think we came in here for nothing."
"Wait, you're looking for Violet? Um….aren't you two a bit...young?"
"How old do you have to be to look for your own mother?" Yin questioned raising an eyebrow.
"She's your mom?!" spoke most of the group in shock.
"Yeah, can't you tell the family resemblance?" remarked Yang dryly. "Do you know where she is or not?"
"Well...I guess it all depends." said Blinkey. "She could be at her house or someone else's."
"And why would she be at someone else's?"
"Um...she….she helps keep people company!" spoke up one rabbit.
"Yeah! Yeah she helps out anyone who is feeling lonely and helps them when they're feeling down." spoke another while he and the others had awkward looks on their faces.
"Then where is she right now?" asked Yin before the door of a nearby house opened. All of them turned with Yin and Yang following their gaze to see a tall purple colored rabbit with the ears fashioned together in a ponytail and was wearing a green vest made of leaves that covered up her chest with a skirt made of the same stuff, only with a few twigs added in, which showed and exposed her arms, stomach, and long legs that made the rabbits go wide eyed while her face resembled an older Yin's.
She let out a yawn and stretched her arms before noticing the group. "Oh hey, good morning everyone."
"It's 2:00 in the afternoon." Blinky stated. "Are you just now getting out of bed?"
"You ask that like you're surprised." she smiled while stretching her legs out making the males stare while arching her back making their jaws drop open. "Ah, I could go for something to eat." she said before noticing the twins. "Oh...new arrivals huh?"
"Oh! Uh, yes." nodded Blinkey with a cough. "Um...they said they've been looking...for you."
"Seriously?" the rabbit questioned in surprise. "Never thought they'd be sending a search party for little old me, especially after….how long has it been? Four, five years?"
"Actually eleven." spoke one rabbit up.
"Woah, that's a lot." she giggled. "Well better late than never as they say, but aren't you a little young?"
Yin stepped up to her and tried to swallow a lump in her throat. "Are you... really Violet?"
"In both name and color." she smiled while crouching down. "And who are you?"
"Don't you remember? We're Yin and Yang, your kids."
"Huh?" she looked at Yin like she was crazy before letting out a giggle and rubbed her head. "Oh you're so cute, you remind me of myself in a way."
"Say what now?" Yang questioned.
"I don't know where you heard that, but I never had any kids before, I'm pretty sure I'd remember pushing a living thing out of my body, or two in this case." she replied standing up with a smile. "I've never even been married, and right now I'm not itching to tie the knot just yet."
"That can't be!" Yin exclaimed. "Master Yo said our mother's name was Violet and she lived in Burrowville. How many other Violets are there?"
"Well sorry to tell you this, but it couldn't be me. I don't even know anyone named Yo. If I did I don't remember him now."
Yin was more confused than ever. "How can you seriously not remember...wait a minute…." she tapped her chin and thought for a moment. "That's it! I've got it! Your memory must have been erased, just like with Master Yo."
"Yin, what are you talking about?" whispered Yang. "Sounds more like to me that she's not the one were looking for.
"Yang think back, remember when Master Yo showed us that vision of the past? The day we were born?"
"Yeah?" he raised an eyebrow.
"Masters Chai and Ti erased his memory after they delivered us. They must have erased mom's memory too."
"Wait, they did that for dad because they didn't want him to hold back on training us, why do the same for our mom?"
"Hmmm, maybe they were worried she'd try to keep us away from training if she found out."
"So...just to surmise." he held a finger up before pulling a picture over showing the two felines. "These two masters, masters of Master Yo, literally kept us from our folks until now just so our training would be hard?"
"It's the most logical theory."
"Well it's official, if I ever become a spirit and meet them, I'm kicking their butts!" he yelled shaking his fists with the other rabbits and Violet completely lost before she saw Yin start to float with her legs crossed. "The only question now is how do we restore her memory?"
"Woah! How are you doing that?" Blinkey asked Yin feeling around over her head for any wires.
"Magic." she replied. "We're Woo Foo warriors."
"Woo-what?" spoke Violet scratching her head.
"Woo Foo!" The twins said.
"Mmmm, never heard of it." she said with her hands on her hips.
"Really? An awesome fighting style that saved everyone from the forces of evil?" asked Yang striking some poses. "Used to save the world? Any of this ringing a bell?"
"Sorry, but… this is all a little crazy." she shook her head. "Nothing you say makes any sense."
"I feel the same way half the time." Yang replied with a nod. "Sometimes I forget some stuff if Yin doesn't make it clear. But if you want crazy try being a Night Master, like me."
"Night Master!?" the group let out in shock.
Those who heard gasped before some ran for their home's screaming.
Violet backed away from the twins with a look of fear.
Yang looked around in confusion. "What? Did I say something wrong?" he asked before he was grabbed and lifted up by his arms. "Hey! Put me down!"
"You say you are a Night Master?" Blinkey questioned poking Yang's chest.
"Um, well technically I did say I was one, but-"
"Then you will set us free. Take him to the grand tree!" Blinkey pointed.
"To the grand tree!" the others bellowed before Yang was lifted off the ground and carried off by his arms.
"Huh?" Yin was confused before running after them. "Hey! Come back here with my brother!"
Back in Burrowville station a train was just pulling up into the station. A panda walked off with a frown and concerned expression.
"I hope those two haven't found Violet yet, otherwise Yang's NEVER gonna stop screaming." Yo said. "But when I get my hands on those kids they're gonna be doing chores for weeks!"
Back in the forest, Yang was trying to get free while Yin ran after them. "When I get loose im gonna go full woo foo on your butts!"
"Put my brother down! What are you gonna do to him!" called Yin.
"Quiet you." one of the rabbits holding Yang said before shoving her back making her stumble into Violet's legs.
"Hey! You can't just take him off to who knows where. Mom tell them!"
"I… uh…." she hesitated while looking away.
"Mom come on! He's your son for foo sake." Yin spoke up.
"Look, I already said I don't remember having kids because I don't have any. You obviously got the wrong rabbit."
"Ugh! I doubt all these clues would be a complete coincidence." Yin grumbled.
"Look, you shouldn't be so scared, your little brother is gonna be fine." Violet spoke trying to comfort her.
"Yang and I are twins, we don't know who's older."
"Really? Huh, he seemed younger than you." she idly remarked making Yin sigh.
"Just why are they taking Yang? And where to?"
"It's best you wait and see for yourself, I don't wanna ruin the surprise"
Hearing that made the pink rabbit groan in walked through the village and out of the trees before the siblings caught sight of a giant tree up ahead the size of a skyscraper.
"Woah, that thing could hold one killer treehouse." Yang Remarked.
"Be silent, you will soon be judged, Night Master." whispered Blinky before they stopped.
"Great Lord and protector, hear me! We bring before you one who lays claim to the title Night Master!" called out one rabbit while they began to slowly see a face forming on the tree, a rather old face, that looked down at them.
"BRING HIM FORTH!" it boomed making Yin and Yang wince at the volume.
Yang was carried closer before being shoved forward. He frowned at the rabbits before looking up at the face that looked down at him.
"HMMM…." the giant tree looked down at him while Yang gulped. "THIS IS NO NIGHT MASTER, HOWEVER HIS SOUL IS STAINED WITH THE DARKNESS OF SUCH A FIEND!"
"Wait, you can see into my soul?" Yang questioned. "Yeah like that's not creepy."
"SILENCE!"
"Right, shutting up." he replied covering his mouth. 'Still creepy.'
"THOUGH YOUR SOUL WAS ONCE TAINTED I CAN ALSO SEE THE AURA OF WOO FOO WITHIN YOU!"
"Well yeah, me and my sister ARE pretty good woo foo warriors." he smirked.
"YES, IT IS CLEAR THAT YOU SHOW GREAT PROMISE AS A GREAT WARRIOR!"
"My Lord, what does this mean for us?" asked Blinky stepping up.
"IT MEANS WE NOW HAVE A CHANCE OF DESTROYING THE EVIL THAT PLAGES ME! FOR IT IS ONLY WITH WOO FOO, ONE OF THE GREATEST MARTIAL ART STYLES OF THIS WORLD, CAN WE BE FREED!"
"Oh Yeah!" Yang let out then put his hands on his hips. "Finally a little recognition."
"Wow, we rarely ever get that for some reason." idly remarked Yin.
"LISTEN WELL CHILDREN. AS YOU MAY HAVE ALREADY SURMISED, ESCAPE FROM THIS FOREST IS CLOSE TO IMPOSSIBLE! HOWEVER I AM THE ONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS IN ORDER TO CONTAIN A WICKED FIEND THAT NOW LIVES IN MY ROOTS!"
"Who what now?" asked Yang with a raised an eyebrow.
"LONG AGO I FOUGHT AGAINST A NIGHT MASTER WHO WANTED MY JEWEL OF POWER!" The tree spoke before a green light shined just above his eyes and made flowers grow instantly from the ground.
"Oooh, pretty." smiled Yin.
"THIS IS BUT A FRACTION OF ITS POWER. MY ANCIENT FOE COVETED ITS POWER TO HOLD DOMINION OVER NATURE ITSELF! BUT I FOUGHT HIM BACK AT EVERY ATTEMPT! HIS NAME, WAS ERADICUS!"
"No way! You fought Eradicus all by yourself?" Yang asked.
"INDEED YOUNG ONE! AND WITH EVERY BATTLE I WOULD SEND HIM SLINKING AWAY TO LICK HIS WOUNDS LIKE THE COWARD HE WAS!"
"Wow, he got beaten by a giant tree. That would have been great blackmail." muttered Yin.
"ERADICUS NEVER GAVE UP AND GREW EVER MORE DESPERATE WITH EVERY ENCOUNTER! THEN ONE DAY HE PUT SOMETHING INSIDE ME, SOMETHING I ALONE CANNOT REACH! WITH EVERY DAY IT, AND ITS OFFSPRING, CHIP AWAY MORE AND MORE OF ME LITTLE BY LITTLE! I CAN REPAIR MOST OF THE DAMAGE, BUT MY AGE IS STARTING TO TAKE ITS TOLL!"
"Wait, he put something IN you?" asked Yin with a shudder. "I almost don't wanna know what it is."
"I MYSELF AM ALSO WORRIED, NOT JUST FOR MY WELL BEING BUT ALSO FOR BURROWVILLE! WHICH IS WHY I ENCHANTED THE FOREST, TO KEEP THIS EVIL IN! EVEN AT THE COST OF MY OWN LIFE!"
"You mean YOU'RE the reason we're all stuck here?" asked Yang.
"REGRETFULLY YES, MY ENCHANTMENT UNFORTUNATELY CANNOT TELL THE GOOD FROM THE EVIL! IT WAS A NECESSARY EVIL TO ENSURE IT DID NOT ESCAPE THE FOREST! KNOW THAT I DEEPLY REGRET TRAPPING YOU IN HERE!"
"We completely understand." spoke Blinky as the rabbits bowed.
"ONLY I KNOW HOW TO BREAK THE ENCHANTMENT! AND UPON MY DEATH IT WILL BE IRREVERSIBLE!"
"What?!" screamed Yin, Yang, and even Violet.
"BUT IF THE THREAT IS DESTROYED I CAN BREAK IT WITHOUT FEAR OF PUTTING OTHERS IN DANGER!"
"Sounds simple enough." deadpanned Yang. "And I mean boringly simple."
Suddenly the Grand tree began coughing before suddenly a spider came flying out from the force and landed in front in front of them. It shook its head before it laid it's five solid black eyes on the rabbits and hissed.
"Ahhh! Giant spider!" screamed Violet hiding behind Blinky.
"I got this!" Yang called out running toward the arachnid and it towards him. "Paws of pain!" He shouted as his hands enlarged before he brought them down on the spider and easily squashed it. "Ha! If there's one thing I love it's squashing bugs. Alright big guy you can let us all out now."
"ALAS I CANNOT. WHAT YOU HAVE SLAIN WAS MERELY AN OFFSPRING OF THE TRUE EVIL."
"Wait, just how many offsprings are there?" asked Yin.
"...IT IS PROBABLY FOR THE BEST I NOT TELL YOU." he said before roots sprouted and dragged the carcass underground.
"Relax, if there's more of those guys, I'll just squash them again and again." smirked Yang. "So how exactly do we get to it?"
"INSIDE ME." the tree spoke before opening his mouth as wide as possible.
"What?! You want us to go in there!?"
"Gross!" shuddered Yin pinching her nose. "It's smells like Master Yo's feet."
"You gotta be kidding us dude. That's the only way?"
"UH HUH."
"You sure you can't just cough them up instead?"
"UH UH."
"I say go for it." spoke Violet from her hiding place. "Before anything else comes out."
Yang groaned and facepalmed. "Oh alright, fine, we'll go down your throat. But don't chew us up!"
"Or swallow us into your stomach." spoke Yin walking behind her brother. They looked down the tongue and held hands before taking one leap and went sliding down the throat.
"Hang on sis!" yelled Yang while it felt like they were going down a water slide only it was more sticky than wet. "Blech! This sure doesn't feel like water!"
"It's not, it's tree sap." spoke Yin looking at the stuff while it felt like they were going across a turn before they went flying off the tongue and landed on the hard floor. "Oof! We could have done without the hard landing." she let out a groan and rubbed her head.
"Relax, if my head can take a beating your bunny bottom can handle a hard landing no problem." remarked Yang sitting up.
"Not the best time to flirt Yang."
"Force of habit." he replied before looking around where they landed. "Where are we?"
"Well off hand, I'd say it's somewhere in the root system." Yin replied and looked around at all the pathways. "Meaning we're gonna need to pick which way to go."
"Ugh! This is the tunnels all over again." groaned Yang in annoyance. "Let's just hope they don't warp us around."
"Well let's just pick one and get this over with." spoke Yin walking towards one root with a frown making Yang blink.
"Wait...you're not gonna think and make up some numbers on which way we should go first?"
"Even if I did, would you really listen? I just wanna get this over with, get back to mom and try to make her remember who we are," she grabbed his hand and pulled him before leading him down a root. "I'll do whatever it takes to get her to remember."
"Well good luck with- hold on... do you you hear skittering?"
Yin stopped and raised her ears with a distinct sound being heard. They turned to a tunnel before a giant centipede like insect crawled out. "Ahhhh!"
"Woah! Looks like we met Ms. Millipedes weird looking cousin!" Yang quipped before dodging it's snapping mandibles.
"Save the quips and just fight it!" Yin scolded and sent foo orbs hurdling at the insect.
It let out a hiss before knocking them away with the several arms while catching Yang's sword with the mandibles and slammed him against the ground.
"Ow!" he groaned before he went flying back and landed on his back. "Ok, so it can fight, didn't see that coming. Yin any ideas in that big brain of yours?"
"Yeah hit it really hard! Pretty Pink Paws of Pain!" yelled Yin as her paws enlarged before she slammed them into the centipedes stomach making it stumble on it's back. Yin landed on it before she repeatedly slammed her fists on it. "We're not. Getting stopped. By an ugly. Giant. Bug!" she screamed and continued to beat on it even after it was dead.
"Yin? Yin hang on!" called Yang running over and grabbing her wrists. "It's done! You won already! Calm down!"
Yin slowly stopped punching and took deep breaths while her paws returned to normal size.
"What just happened Yin?"
"I...I'm sorry, I guess...I just lost it there for a sec." she panted while shaking her head. "This was just supposed to be the day we finally meet our mom, no adventures, no craziness, but look where we are now, eaten by a tree! A tree Yang!"
"Well with our adventures that's actually pretty normal."
"No! I'm sick of adventures!" She snapped. "We've spent too much time fighting against fish, hamsters, cats, mooses, and all kinds of crazy things! For foo sake Yang, we had to fight a giant bat and griffon to keep the world from ending! Two kids and their friends, that's it! And how often do we get to relax? Little to none! This was just supposed to be a day where we could just relax and get to know our mom."
"Yin, I get where you're coming from, I do." he replied while rubbing her back. "But maybe you should sit down and take deep-"
"No Yang! I'm serious I'm tired of all this! I'd rather be in the earth dimension then deal with any more craziness!"
Yang gasped and looked at Yin in shock. "Yin! I like to lash out and say where I'd wanna go, but Earth? That place blows chunks! Even I wouldn't wanna go back to that weird world."
"Well it's better than here! At least there we didn't need to worry about giant who knows what attacking us out of thin air. I need a break or I am going to go BALLISTIC!" she yelled with one of her eyes twitching which made Yang gulp.
"Okay sis chill, no need to lose your cool. You're starting to freak me out." remarked Yang trying to hug her and pat her back. "You wanna take a break while I go ahead and look around?"
"Yeah… yeah just give me a few minutes to rest here." nodded Yin who plopped on her butt with a long sigh while trying to catch her breath.
"Okay. You wait here, I'll be back." he smiled before walking down the tunnel and following the root while looking at the ground with a frown. 'Just great, Yin's feeling down and I can't help out. How am I supposed to fix this? We go on a month long vacation? Wouldn't have the cash, and unless we can get mom's memories back, this is gonna hit Yin harder than anything Carl can dish out.' he was so preoccupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice the creatures crawling along the ceiling above.
Back over to where Yo was, he was looking around the town while getting nostalgic memories. "Dang, this place hasn't changed one bit. But this ain't the time for a trip down memory lane. Yin! Yang! Where are you!?"
"Hey, how do you know those two?" asked a voice behind him.
He turned and saw Thumper. "I should be asking you the same question."
"Well they're my cousins, or at least they were." she looked away sadly.
"Yeah I know you treat everyone here like family, but what happened?"
"They went into….the tunnel." she said pointing to the forest.
"Um, no, that's a forest." he raised an eyebrow.
"No one ever comes out." she gulped. "Everyone who goes in is never heard of again. Those two came here looking for someone called Violet and went off on their own."
"Uuugh, those kids." Yo groaned out rubbing the sides of his head. "Guess I'm just gonna have to go in and save their sorry butts." He spoke marching towards the forest
"What? But you'll never come out! Why does no one understands this?!" she cried out as Po walked past her and towards the forest.
"You'll understand when you're older kid!" he called back as the camera went back to Yang who was scratching his head to make sure he didn't have any bug parts stuck to him as he walked back to Yin. Said rabbit held her legs while taking slow deep breaths.
"Well had to squash a few roaches, but nothing in that direction. All though I did find, a boomerang, a grappling hook, these weird gloves that give you super strength, and these weird gems that come in assorted colors. It's like a maze in here" remarked Yang while holding all the items up over his head with an odd tune being heard. "For some reason that keeps happening too."
"We gotta find this thing so we can get out of here." remarked Yin with a frown. "Did you see any other big bugs that was like the first one?"
"Nothing from what I saw in that direction, it's one big circle."
"Then we'll have to go another way. The biggest bug is probably surrounded by tons more. If it's anything like a normal insect queen, like I assume it'll be guarded."
"Are you ready to go, or do you need more time?"
"Yeah, I should be alright, at least for right now." she said and stood up. "But just to be on the safe side, can you stick close to me? I'm a little fidgety right now."
"Sure thing." he smiled walking over beside her and held her hand before they began walking towards a different tunnel. "If you need me to carry you, just give the word sis."
She nodded. She kept her ears open while they followed the root and tried listening closely.
"Heh, you know with all the mazes we've gone through today it's starting to feel like we're in that old video games where you eat fits and ghosts." smiled Yang trying to stay optimistic. "What's next? We attack some grass and chickens pop out? Heh heh heh!"
"Or we just kill some healthy grass." remarked Yin dryly.
"Aw come on Yin, buck up. We'll get a break soon, even if I have to tie up all our enemies and lock them in a closet."
"I'll believe it when I see it." she grumbled.
'Mental note brain, lock bad guys in closet.' thought Yang. "How about this? When we get done and go back home, we can watch a drama romantic comedy movie with ice cream. Maybe even snuggle." He shrugged.
"Well, that does sound kinda nice." Yin cracked a grin.
"And maybe, just maybe, we can…" Yang gulped and shuddered. "Go and….shop for new clothes. Oh man that was physically painful to say."
"Well, there has been this one dress at the mall I've had my eye on for a while." she replied widening her grin.
"And, maybe we can...go see….a play." spoke Yang who looked green and was covering his mouth.
"Ok Romeo, no need to keep torturing yourself on my account." remarked Yin giving his hand a squeeze as he groaned.
"Oh thank foo." he said before she kissed his cheek.
"We'll talk about shopping and the movie after we get out of here though." she said. "Let's go."
"I just hope we don't have to walk too far." Yang huffed.
"Oh relax, a little walking won't kill you."
(In the forest)
"YIN! YANG!" yelled out Yo walking out the tunnel that led to the bridge outside the village and crossed it. "I know you two are in here! So come on out! I'm getting too old for this."
"Hello there." called out a rabbit walking over. "I take it you got lost too?"
"More or less. I'm looking for my kids, a boy and a girl, twins, one blue the other pink. You seen 'em?"
"Wait, those were YOUR kids? Oooh…. yeah, they were here. Said they were looking for Violet."
"Oh man." groaned Yo rubbing his nose. "Please tell me they didn't see her."
"They did, but… she says she never had any kids, must have been a mix up."
"Wait, what?" he raised an eyebrow. "That doesn't sound right, take me to her."
"That's gonna be hard. She's kinda...busy, like bow chicka wow wow. If you catch my drift."
"Believe me, I do." sighed Yo. "Just tell me where she is and I'll wait." he finished and crossed his arms.
"Let me guess, old customer?" the rabbit said leading Yo past the ivy.
"You could say that." The panda spoke dryly. "Let's just say I gotta get a few things cleared up."
They walked through the small village before the rabbit pointed to a house. "That one."
Yo took a deep breath as the rabbit walked away and cracked his arms. "Well Yo, time to face one of your demons, even if it is a fine looking demon." just before he got to the door it burst open and a male rabbit was literally kicked out screaming
"I told you not to do that! You know I hate head pushers!" Violet shouted after the rabbit landed near Yo with a groan who shook his head. "Don't let me catch at my door until you get that through your thick head!"
"Sorry." he mumbled before running off while Yo shook his head.
"Still the same as always Violet." he said walking up to her.
"I'm sorry, do I know you?" she raised an eyebrow. "Wait, let me guess, you came in here and got lost, right?"
"Yeah, but hey looks like time was kinder to you than me over the last decade." he looked her over and chuckled. "Other than a few inches added on, you still look as good as ever."
"I'm only in my early thirties, guy I never met before."
Yo raised an eyebrow. "How long have you been here? Last time I saw you was the day Yin and Yang were born."
"Yin and Yang? Those two kids who said they were... Wakfoo warriors?"
"Woo Foo." he clarified before going wide eyed. "Wait, you already met them? They talked to you?"
"Yeah and they were talking about all this crazy nonsense about how I had my memory erased." she giggled while tapping her head. "Like that's even possible." she spoke.
"Well that explains a few things." Yo said before his hands were enveloped in energy.
"Wait, what are you doing?"
"Trust me, you're gonna feel a slight rush." he remarked before covering her in his magic. Her body shook as Yo reached to unlock long sealed memories. "Hmm, alright, ignoring all the real graphic stuff, highschool looked better than what I remember….wait, that's the day they were b...what?! Chai ad Ti? What are they….oh heck no! I should have figured."
Violet twitched and spasmed before Yo set her down and let go of the magic making her shake her head and blink. "Ugh, my head."
"How you feeling Vi?"
"Yo?" She let out before gasping. "Yo!"
"Sounds like you're back to your old self." he smiled. "That's nice and and all, but where the Foo are those kids!?"
Violet's expression changed to horror. "Oh no, the kids! They went in the Grand Tree, they're going to get themselves killed!" She screeched and ran off.
"Wait for me! I can't run like I use to!" He hollered.
Back in the tree, Yang was starting to get irritated by all the twists and turns of the labyrinthian root system.
"Ugh! How many roots are in here?"
"It's a big tree so there are bound to be a lot."
"Well can't this geezer one trim a few down to make things easier?" he questioned.
"He needs all these roots to get nutrients from the soil." replied Yin. "If not, he'd slowly end up dying."
"Then how does Dave survive without roots?"
"One of the many great mysteries for another day." she replied before her ears twitched. "Wait, I hear something."
*SCREEEAAAACH*
"Don't need big ears to know that ain't good." remarked Yang. "So I take it we're going that way?"
"It'll probably lead to the queen."
"So that's a yes, cool." He said and pulled out his sword.
"Just remember, it'll be swarming with bugs who will do whatever they can to keep the queen safe, even die for her."
"So just smash anything that moves, got it." he nodded. "Anything else I should know?" He asked as they approached the end of the tunnel.
"Yeah, try not to let any venom get inside you, if she has any, get to you. it'll liquify your insides." she whispered as they stepped out and approached a ledge.
"Good to know." He knocked before they peeked down from the ledge. They saw a huge web filled room with all kinds of bugs walking around. "Looks like we found the nest."
"Yeah, but….I don't see the queen." Yin said looking around. "She should be huge, bigger than the others."
"How big we talking?" he asked before feeling something drip on his head and he blinked. "I think I found it." He deadpanned and pointed up.
Yin slowly looked up and paled. "Oh sweet Foo."
It was a huge spider that was colored black with red legs and mandibles, along with yellow antennae and blue eyes that glared down at them with a purple substance dripping from the fangs.
"Move!" Yin tackled Yang before one of the legs swung and nearly took his head off.
"I'm definitely gonna need a bigger sword."
"Provided she doesn't eat you first." Yin replied.
"Oh please, she may look big and ugly, but she-" he was cut off as the other bugs surrounded them in seconds. "Has a huge bug army, right."
One of the spiders hissed before lunging at Yin.
"Foo field!" she held her hands out and formed a barrier which knocked the arachnid back while a large rhinoceros beetle charged Yang.
"Paws of Pain!" his paws enlarged before grabbing onto the horn and braced himself before tossing it over him and into a ladybug. "Any ideas Yin?"
"Yeah, stay alive! And do what you do best, hit stuff really hard!" she replied while chucking foo orbs all around them.
"You had me at hit!" Yang smiled. He let out a battle cry and ran at the bugs and started punching and smashing any near him. "Ohohoho yeah I like this plan!"
"Just remember what I said about the venom." she said sending a bolt of lightning at a wasp.
"Relax, as long as it doesn't get inside me, I'll be fine, right?" he asked punching a moth in the head.
"Unless it's acidic." she pointed out.
"Kinda making it hard for me NOT to feel scared sis." he remarked before getting tackled by a stink bug. "Get off!" He shouted and punched the insect into the queen.
The queen roared and knocked the bug aside with said bug expelling out a rancid gas.
"Oh gross!" Yang grimaced and started gagging..
"Ewwww!" Yin covered her nose while turning green.
The other insects were even more disgusted and ran away, except for the queen. She just hissed and lashed out before knocking the rabbits off into the webbing.
"Oh for foo sake!" cried out Yang tugging at the stuff which felt like glue as he tried to pull himself free but with no success. "I'm stuck!"
"The tensile strength of spider webs are stronger than steel Yang." frowned Yin tugging herself, but it barely worked. "And that's with normal spiders!"
"Can we burn it then?"
"Fire? Inside a living tree?"
"Oooh….nevermind." he said as the queen loomed over them. "Um, nice buggy? Good buggy? We're dead!"
"I never thought this is how we'd meet our end." Yin closed her eyes to await the inevitable. "At least it'll be together as family and as boyfriend and girlfriend."
"Yin, if this is how we're gonna go, I just want you to know that all those times you let out a snort while laughing? I found it annoying but also pretty cute." he spoke as fast as he could before they screamed.
The queen hissed before screeching out in pain and reeled back.
"Leave my babies alone!" called Violet stabbing the queen with a piece of wood fashioned into a sword.
"Mom?!"
"Kids!" Yo called and jumped down to them.
"Master Yo?"
"You know you two are in big trouble right?" He asked before using his magic to disitigrate the webs holding them.
"Yeah, but more importantly, did mom just stab a giant spider queen?" asked Yang rubbing his ears.
"Yes, yes she did." Yo smiled.
"And...did she call us her babies?" asked Yin with hope.
"Had to help her a little bit, but she remembers you now." he smiled while Violet herself jumped off the spider which sill screamed in pain.
"Okay," she said popping her neck. "Let see if I remember how to do this." She held out her makeshift sword before enveloping it in blue flames then swiped, sending an arc of energy that struck the queen.
It screamed and spasmed while trying to rush at them with the venom oozing out making Violet back flip to avoid the attacks.
"Come on you overgrown bug! I'm right here!"
"Dang! Mom's got some moves!" Yang stated.
"Wait, she can use woo foo too?!" spoke Yin in shock.
"Darn right she can, even better that you two pains in my butt."
"And you never told us until now because?" Yang gave him a deadpan expression.
"Her career. Don't ask." he replied quickly while the spider queen let out a hiss before dropping down while Violet let out a sigh of relief and panted.
"Well...I think that counts…. as my workout….for the day." she sat down while wiping her forehead. "I could go...for a LONG shower." she chuckled and walked up to them.
"Mom?" spoke Yin with a gulp. "Do….Do you remember who we are?"
"Well I do now," she said before looking irritated. "just wait until I get my hands on Ti and Chai."
"Not gonna happen, those two are long gone." remarked Yang.
"Oh….well that's one upside, now let's get out of here."
"Wait, you mean we gotta CLIMB? Can't we just make an exit?" groaned Yang plopping on the ground.
"I don't think the great tree would appreciate that." remarked Violet looking up and let out her own groan. "But I get what you mean kiddo, coming down is so much easier. Yo, mind Foo-Portating us out?"
He sighed and rubbed his nose. "You've got strength for work, but not climbing? Really?"
"Hey, I'm just trying to keep from passing out." she shrugged with an innocent smile. "Isn't it rude to let a girl push herself?"
"Wow, mom's definitely got game." whispered Yang. "I feel like I should try that one out later."
"Already she's a bad influence on you." frowned Yo before sighing. "Fine, I'll get us out of here, but it ain't gonna be easy since I had to cancel my afternoon nap just to come all the way here. Foo-Portate!"
All four of them glowed before vanishing from the spot and reappeared back on outside of the large tree, catching it off guard and making Yo let out a tired groan.
"YOU HAVE RETURNED."
"Yeah, and let me tell you, you're gonna want some extra strong perfume down there." remarked Yang. "We killed the queen, but the others are still in your roots."
"Will you be alright, or is that gonna be even worse?" asked Yin.
"WITHOUT THE QUEEN THE OFFSPRING ARE NOW IN A DORMANT STATE, WAITING FOR INSTRUCTION. IN TIME THEY WILL DIE OUT WHILE I GATHER MY STRENGTH."
"So we're done here, right?" asked Yang. "You can let us out?"
"YES. NOW I CAN RELEASE THOSE TRAPPED HERE, THEY WILL BE ABLE TO LEAVE AND RETURN TO THEIR LIVES, OR STAY IF THEY SO CHOOSE."
"Well me and these two are out of here." spoke Yo.
"Not without me you're not." Violet spoke.
"Wait, you're coming with us?" asked Yin with a smile.
"You're coming with us?" asked Yang with surprise.
"I lost eleven years of my children's lives, I'll be damned before I miss anymore." She spoke softly. She crouched down and pulled both rabbits into a tight hug making them groan from surprise. "Oh I can't wait to catch up with you two, you have to tell me every single thing that's been going on." she chuckled before letting go of them.
"Uh...everything?" asked Yang while looking away.
"Everything." she smiled and rubbed their heads.
"Um...that sounds...great." smiled Yin awkwardly. 'And by great I mean terrible!'
'Why do I feel like my butt is gonna be sore later?' wondered Yang feeling worried more than he ever had before.
'As Yang would say, 'aw pellets'.' thought Yo.