CHAPTER 34: THE ART OF WAR
Since the beginning of his life, Skrawl was cursed to live as an unfinished drawing; an amalgamation of numerous unrelated ideas and concepts melded into one. Unable to stand the incomplete life he was cursed with, Skrawl sought revenge on the man that helped bring about the beginning of his existence: Rudy Tabootie. For many years, the two shared something of a game; where Skrawl would make some scheme to foil him once and for all, Rudy would come to stop it.
With the suggestion and influence of the Chalk King, Skrawl was driven to defeat Rudy once and for all, breaking his arms and taking away his ability to draw, albeit only temporarily. While he may have finally defeated his enemy, he had found himself without any direction, no longer having his game to play with Rudy. The Chalk King, furthering his promises to Skrawl, offered him a chance to have purpose as a Zoner, something that he was born without due to being unfinished. The only catch was to find and bring him the Golden Chalk, a mystic and ancient variety of chalk capable of making anything it draws real.
After 15 long years of searching and searching all of ChalkZone, moving across all 4 corners of the 'Zone, the Golden Chalk was never to be found. As such, Skrawl's desire to gain the chalk made him grow more and more restless, always eager and pining for the divine goal of acquiring his purpose. While he never managed to find the Golden Chalk, he did manage to come across two children, the children of Penelope, entering ChalkZone after many years of undiscovery, finding the presumed-dead Rudy Tabootie as well.
Gaining this new knowledge, his goal seemed to be more than clear. Find the children and Rudy and Penelope, and he finds the Golden Chalk. He finds the Golden Chalk, and he gains his purpose. However, along his new mission, he began to find himself rethinking his ways and his mission entirely. Although his partnership with the Chalk King was initially a strong one, it had found itself beginning to degrade ever so slightly, mostly due to his disapproval of the Chalk King's genocidal conquest of ChalkZone.
While his uncertainty was gaining its momentum already, a trial of his crimes against the Beanie Boys, held by Queenie Beanie herself, began sending it further to unclarity. With the strange and thought-provoking questions that Queenie Beanie was asking him, along with absolving him and letting him go free, made his mind go further into this strange train of thought, questioning every action he had ever taken up until this point in time.
Lastly, after a lengthy fight with Rudy Tabootie himself, both parties releasing years of accumulated hatred and disdain for one another, the strangest and most unexpected thing that could have happened to Skrawl had happened. During the fight, he was already bombarded enough with many questions regarding his need for purpose, leaving him further and more confused, all topped with the most strangest event of all.
Despite all his transgressions against Rudy, he had forgiven Skrawl. Furthermore, he had offered him a place in fighting back against the Chalk King. While he found himself nearly accepting his offer, the appearance of the Chalk King himself stole the confidence he had in making his choice, driving him to retreat with him back to Castle Chalkenstein.
After the Chalk King had taken away Penelope as a bartering chip to obtain the Golden Chalk, Skrawl took the opportunity to find further answers to his questions through her. Now, following long, mutual exchanges, Penelope had pried further into Skrawl's dedication for a purpose, starting by asking the most basic and most simplest of questions, but a question so powerful that it can find the greater meaning behind anything and everything:
'What is purpose?'
Alas, after his numerous years of searching and fighting, Skrawl realizes that he has no answer to this question. Spending his entire life bent on revenge for being denied something in his birth, he truly knows not what he has been denied. Now, no longer even sure what he was fighting for anymore, Skrawl answers Penelope's question accordingly:
"I... I don't know." Skrawl said.
"So, after all this time, looking for some kind of purpose, you don't even know what purpose is? Why you even want it?" Penelope asked.
"I... All this time, I assumed all living beings had some kind of purpose, had something to give them meaning to their existence, but... I guess I'm not sure what it even really is."
"So, then, don't you see how you've been looking at it all wrong? You say that people and Zoners all have some sort of purpose, but you never even bothered to understand what it is and why you wanted it?"
"Can't you see that I'm all wrong?! I was part of an artist's vision, but my form was perverted by those meddling little brats, stupid little animals with no talent! I'm disgusting and hideous!"
"I never thought you were hideous or disgusting, Skrawl."
Not expecting such a compliment to come out of the blue, Skrawl's feelings of anger and regret over himself suddenly began to feel a drop, not ever having heard such a phrase been said to him before. Starting to disbelieve that Penelope's statement was true, Skrawl asked her to repeat her last words.
"What did you say?" Skrawl asked.
"I said I never thought you were hideous or disgusting." Penelope said.
"You... You really mean that?"
"Of course I do. When I was a kid, I was always interested in anything scientific. Where I was looking at all sorts of bacteria and other microorganisms, the other kids would call me gross for liking that."
"Oh, so that's how it is? You're comparing me to bacteria?"
"I guess so, I thought that made you kind of cool."
"You... You thought I was... 'cool'?"
"Well, none of us were really fond of how you kept trying to beat Rudy or destroy ChalkZone, but we never thought of you as disgusting. Rudy thought that you were easily the most unique thing he's ever made, even if he didn't finish you. He'd talk about how neat you looked, how nothing about you was anything close to existing in real life, saying that he'd be proud to be your creator if you didn't hate him so much. You are a cool Zoner, Skrawl."
Never before today had Skrawl ever heard this combination of words, much less heard it directed towards him. Always had he thought of himself as some sort of mistake, as some sort of freak that should never exist, and that no one would love. To be described in such a manner was an ego boost that he never thought he would experience, leaving him even unsure how to react.
However, as uplifting as Penelope's words were, they did not sway him from the conversation topic at hand. With his mind still on said topic, Skrawl moved the conversation back with it, addressing his concerns regarding purpose. Beginning his journey back to the topic with a question, the journey back to his intended destination began.
"As much as that compliment is appreciated, it doesn't give me any answers now. I don't know what purpose is, I'll admit that, so at least tell me, since you appear to know. After all, you, a living being, having your own purpose, I suppose it'll be all to easy." Skrawl said.
"Skrawl, you go on and on about saying that every living being has a purpose, but you don't seem to get it at all. People and Zoners aren't born with a purpose." Penelope said.
"Rudy tried telling me that back at Barney's Impenetrable Forest. Out of all the things he told me then and there, that one was easily the biggest lie out of all of it. I know that you have a purpose, or else you wouldn't exist."
"That's not how it works, Skrawl. Humans aren't like Zoners; they don't just start to exist because someone wanted them to."
"No, they start to exist because two people wanted them to, after a 9-month waiting period, of course. I assume you understand that much from at least two experiences?"
"You're missing the point. People don't choose to have children because they want to create something with purpose. They have children because they want to share their love with someone else."
"But if that's what drove them to make that child, then isn't that the purpose the child exists?"
"Maybe, but it doesn't make the child who they are. My love for Carol and Carlos didn't make Carol a people person and Carlos an artist; they just grew up to be those things on their own. I never had either of those lives in mind for them."
"Then what drives them to do what they do? What is it that makes them who they are? The boy's an excellent drawer, doesn't he have a purpose which makes him draw? The girl likes to help people, isn't there something that makes her do that?"
"He draws because he likes to draw. She helps people because she wants other people to be happy. That's all."
"What do you mean, 'that's all'? That can't possibly be all there is! There has to be something, something that drives them to do what they do! Something that haunts them, that makes every breath they spend not doing what they're supposed to be doing a living hell until they do it!"
"That's not how it works. People do what they like because they like to do it. There's nothing more to it than that. People all have their preferences, things they like, things they like doing, things they want to be. We can't control these preferences or feelings any more than we can change our skin color. I'm starting to think that you're projecting what you feel onto what you think a purpose is. Is this all because you still think you're unfinished or incomplete?"
"Of course I'm incomplete. You know how I came to be in this world. Even if you and Rudy don't think I'm a monster, I certainly feel like one. Every time I look at others, they all look proper, form, complete, and beautiful. Every time I look in the mirror, I see only an ugly mess."
"But I told you already, you're not any of those things. This is ChalkZone, Skrawl. This is a home for all sorts of strange things. You think a Bubblegum Spider or Snake Clippers existing here mean that there's any sort of rules or form here?"
"Well... I suppose not. But, again, we're detracting from the conversation. If none of those things are purpose, then what is?"
"Purpose isn't about makes makes you do what you do or like what you like. It's about having a reason to live."
"So, then, being people persons or artists aren't reasons to live? They're just stupid little preferences?"
"No, Skrawl. Purpose comes from love."
"...'Love'? That's the best you can come up with?"
"When you took Rudy away and banished me from ChalkZone, I was eventually left with two kids and no one to support me, remember? Believe me, there were a lot of days that I just wanted to just give up and die, because I tried to run from it already. But I held on and I kept living. You know why? Because I had two beautiful lives growing in my body and had them right in front of me, and, every time I looked at them, I knew that I couldn't just leave them. I loved them. And because I loved them, I refused to leave them. Because if I left them, then who would be there to love them, and how could I be so selfish to throw away the love I had for them?"
Hearing Penelope's story being given a new perspective with her own sense of purpose, Skrawl, too, found a new perspective. This new perspective was towards his own attitude towards his need (or, rather, supposed need) for a purpose. To ensure that he had a better understanding of the concept of purpose, Skrawl concluded his analysis with one final inquiry, hoping to fully grasp this new concept.
"So, by having a love for something, and trying to support that love, I find purpose?" Skrawl asked.
"If you really want purpose, then, yes. My children and science are the things I love the most in my life, so they give me purpose. Rudy loves art and always has, so art gives him purpose. Find something that you love, Skrawl, and you'll have purpose." Penelope said.
With his mind now cleared on the issue of purpose, the concerns in his mind now finally found their absolution, reaching an understanding that he had longed for so many years, feeling a sense of release and serenity come over him. However, these emotions were only minute in their degree, as there still laid the question of his own allegiances and moral compass.
"So, then... How do I find what I love? I've been torn apart on so many sides that I don't know if I'm doing the right thing anymore." Skrawl asked.
"You can do the right thing now, Skrawl. Let me go, get me out of here, and we can find Rudy and let him get the Chalk King without having to worry about us." Penelope said.
Offered yet another chance of redeeming himself and betraying the evil Chalk King, Skrawl once again found himself just as conflicted with this new decision as he was with the first instance. While Penelope did manage to significantly reach him in a beneficial way, Skrawl could still not bring himself to make the right decision, not sure that if it was the best course of action to take.
Unable to reply, Skrawl only turned away, seeking to flee from his problems rather than confront them. Alone and unable to be helped by Skrawl, Penelope faced a strong sense of disappointment. Her disappointment does not stem from Skrawl refusing to help, as disheartening as that is, but from Skrawl not turning to the side of good, despite all her efforts and her beginning to believe that a change for good truly existed in him.
As Skrawl left the room, a brief moment of silence fell through the dungeon cell, with Penelope's thoughts silently racing across her mind as the only noise within her. However, this silence was found to be very short-lived as an unexpected and interesting sound of applause came from the corner of the room.
The sudden applause was solitary as its source, signalling that only one person was watching from the shadows. As the shadows began to dissipate from this silent voyeur, the figure was revealed to be the Chalk King himself, having watched the conversation unfold between the two. While his face was once again shrouded by the armor that he used to conceal his flesh-turned-chalk appearance, even a blind man could see that he was giving an entertained smile from behind his mask.
"That was a spectacular event, Penelope. Truly a wonder of linguistics and logic. I wonder, perhaps, if you should take a career change in being a philosopher or a therapist. Or, considering how much you've managed to entertain me, perhaps even an actor." The Chalk King said.
"What- How long were you listening?" Penelope asked.
"Since the beginning. I heard it all, starting from Skrawl's pitiful little journey of his own followed by your own. To be perfectly honest, I didn't think that I'd really send your life down such a path by convincing Skrawl to break Rudy. Given someone of your focus in science, I'd have thought you'd simply looked at it all logically and moved on. Oh, well, you will be soon enough."
"So, that's it, then? You're going to kill me because I told Skrawl who you were?"
"No. You're still my bargaining chip, I can't afford to lose you. You're my last hopes of getting the Golden Chalk out of them. It doesn't matter anyway, I'll be dealing with Skrawl soon enough once I get the Golden Chalk. I've tolerated his infantile babblings about 'purpose' for so long, and led him on long enough."
"So you lied to him to keep him on your side?"
"Of course I did. After all, having 15 years before I would get even close to that chalk, I had to entertain myself somehow. The main show might have been this little genocide I had going, but he was a nice side-show while it lasted."
"I still can't believe you. You committed genocide and manipulated Skrawl all out of boredom?"
"Well, you try living without any senses or mortality and you try not to grow bored. Once I get the Golden Chalk, that won't even matter."
"But why do you even want the Golden Chalk? Even if it made you real, would it even matter if you're going to take over the real world, too?"
"Even the fun I've had hasn't been that fulfilling. I want to know power and destruction as I did when I was real, basking in every bit of victory I can, making every waking moment of my life an event to behold."
Turning his attention to Penelope's body, the Chalk King began running his hand over her chest, leaving the uncomfortable breathing heavily from her lack of control over the situation. Gently but firmly groping her breast in his hand, the Chalk King gave another light smile under his mask, enjoying the demeaning and controlling situation that he had Penelope in.
"And as for you... Well, once I finish off your boyfriend and children, I'd like to see just how much... pleasure... I can get from being real again out of you. I've never tried such carnal knowledge with a real human before. Imagine how every part of your body must feel in my hands. Having borne two children, you might be a bit worn out, but I doubt that'll matter, especially after I kill them. Or... maybe not both of them. One of them is a girl, I could have myself another slave in the making. Or, better yet, why wait?" The Chalk King taunted.
Disgusted with the Chalk King's remarks towards Carol, driving her past her tolerance for his present actions, Penelope spit in his face, sending her saliva through the mask and into his eye. Unable to stand the pain of having his eye erased so violently, the Chalk King stepped back and covered his empty eye socket, wincing and yelling in pain.
When the pain ended, the Chalk King gave a sharp slap to Penelope's face, leaving a bright red mark across her cheek. Continuing her defiance against the Chalk King, Penelope held in her cries and held back her tears, refusing to allow the Chalk King the pleasure of watching her in pain.
"BITCH! Your petty little spit-tricks will not be enough to kill me, and you're not convincing me with your show of strength, holding back those tears of yours. When I kill your friends and family, I'll be showing you something to shed tears for, all the way until the day you finally die. In which case, you'll become my immortal little slave, doing whatever I tell you. Or else, I'll send you through a little dip in a kiddie pool, and there'll be nothing left of you." The Chalk King said.
After the he made his threat towards his victim, the Chalk King made his way elsewhere, seeking out privacy to tend to his erased eye. Left alone once again, Penelope continued to hang on her chains, not able to escape. However, now being alone, Penelope did allow herself to cry, needing to let out the pain she held in from the Chalk King's attack.
As she began to let out her cries, Penelope began to ponder if there truly was any hope for her here. While the safety of her children was her strongest priority, her staying alive was part of that priority. Furthermore, she began to ponder if she would ever see them again, or see Rudy. Thinking about how the Golden Chalk was destroyed before her eyes, she pondered how Rudy and the rest would come to save her.
Lightly stroking her hand against the bracelet that she had given him on his fabled 13th birthday, Penelope finds some solace within the metal, for she knows Rudy well, and therefore knows he will find a way.
Elsewhere, somewhere within Dayzone, the remaining members of Calcite, the escaped prisoners of Chalkshank prison, and the human trio of Rudy, Carol, and Carlos complete their reunion at their rendezvous point, preparing themselves for the final fight against the Chalk King.
With Toe Fu training the masses in a crude but expedient crash-course of basic martial arts and Barney the Encyclocentipedia and Biclops co-coordinating battle strategies, all seems to be well in order for the resistance, a status good enough for Rudy and the humans. Preparing themselves for the final battle to come, each member supplied themselves with more than enough chalk to make their way through Castle Chalkenstein, ready to save Penelope and defeat the Chalk King.
"I still don't think I'll be too comfortable with dealing with all this fighting. I already had enough trouble getting us away from the cops." Carol said.
"Did fine against the cops, did fine against the Chalk King. You'll do fine here." Carlos said.
"He's right, Carol. You had some pretty nifty ideas back when you first fought him. With all of us working together and having the Zoners on our side, this should be easy. Carlos, you still have the Golden Chalk?" Rudy asked.
Carlos gave a nod held up the Golden Chalk, ensuring not to hold it in a drawing position.
"Good. So far, you're the only one of us that can use that thing without going nuts. You're going to be the one who fights the Chalk King with it when the time comes." Rudy said.
"But how is it none of us could use it without going crazy like that? Why is it he figured it out so easy?" Carol asked.
"Said that Golden Chalk is all human thought. Humans don't think about a lot at once, but I do. My mind kept up with the chalk." Carlos explained.
"Okay, but how are we supposed to do that?"
"Does it matter?"
"Actually, yeah. If you drop the chalk or something, then one of us'll need to use it. How are we supposed to use it like you?"
"Don't know. I just went with it. Had Mommy focused, but let the thoughts go; didn't try to think too hard."
"Oh, just don't think to hard. Real simple when you put it that way."
"Don't complain, if it's the best explanation he can give, then I believe him." Rudy said.
"But it still won't be all that helpful if one of us needs to use the chalk."
"Hopefully, it won't come to that. For all we know, with all the help from the other Zoners, this all might be a cakewalk. I mean, we've already taken out so many Chalk Troopers along the way, what else is there for us to do?"
Although Rudy's words were confident in the battle to come, there were two approaching parties that did not share this confidence. Approaching the preparing humans were Biclops and Toe Fu, bringing with them bad news regarding the final battle at hand.
"Rudy Tabootie, I am afraid that I have some bad news regarding our final fight." Biclops said.
"What, what's the matter?" Rudy asked.
"It is I who is the cause of this news. I have done my best to educate the forces we have left in this hour of need, but, unfortunately, it seems that, despite my best efforts, I cannot prepare our forces in time to begin our attack." Toe Fu said.
"What?! Why not?!"
"From the specifications that you gave us regarding Castle Chalkenstein's location and its size, we estimate that there could be well into the thousands, considering that the Chalk King can draw as many troopers as he has chalk." Biclops explained.
"I am confident that I can turn our forces into strong and noble warriors, capable of defeating any opponent that stands before us, but it would require me months to get these Zoners into shape." Toe Fu said.
"Months?! We've only got a few hours before the deadline's up, and Penny could be dead if we don't do something!" Rudy shouted.
"I am sorry, Rudy Tabootie. You know that in all the years that we have known each other, we have been great friends and capable of overcoming many challenges together. However, this time, we simply do not have the manpower or force to save her. If we are to save her life, it seems that our only option is to surrender the Golden Chalk. I am sorry, Rudy Tabootie." Biclops said.
Unable to bear the news that he was hearing, Rudy sat in sheer, shocked silence, barely able to process the terrible news that he was hearing. With his plan to save Penelope unable to be accomplished, the only option was to surrender the Golden Chalk, thus resulting in the destruction of ChalkZone and who knows what else.
Beginning to contemplate this option, Rudy eyeballed the Golden Chalk on Carlos' bandolier, staring at it with extreme intensity and intent. With his thought process taking over for his common sense, Rudy began reaching out for the Golden Chalk, his consciousness leaving him for the unconscious to take over.
Taking notice of his intent, Carlos swatted his hand away, moving the Golden Chalk away from Rudy. While Rudy may have been snapped out of his trance of deep thought, his thoughts began to engulf his better judgement, his heart taking precedent over his mind. None of the surrounding onlookers, all having their history with Rudy, suspected that he would do such a thing, all watching his actions in surprise and shock.
"Carlos, give me the chalk." Rudy said.
"No." Carlos said.
"Carlos, please, I need the chalk. This is our only chance."
"What are you doing?! Are you crazy?!" Carol said.
"No." Carlos repeated.
"Carlos, please, I'm the adult here, please trust my judgement and give me the chalk." Rudy said.
"Rudy Tabootie, have you truly lost all your senses?!" Biclops asked.
"No." Carlos repeated.
"Carlos, please, I'm begging you, this is the only way we can save Penny! Don't you want to help your mother?! For god's sakes, Carlos, won't you let me save her?!"
Despite how painful the answer was to give to Rudy, Carlos nonetheless delivered it, knowing that he needed to hear solid reason to back down on his fear.
"I destroyed the first Golden Chalk to save ChalkZone. I knew Mommy would be captured, but there's more at risk. I love Mommy, but there are millions of Zoners and humans the Chalk King could harm with the Golden Chalk. I don't like this at all, but it's our only choice. We can't let the bad guys win." Carlos said.
Finally backing down on his desperate pleas for the Golden Chalk, Rudy lowered his head, letting with it a heavy, defeated sigh. Knowing that Carlos was right, Rudy found his last hopes of saving Penelope gone, leaving him without any more drive to go on.
"You're right. I'm sorry, Carlos. I'm so sorry, everyone. I don't know how I could be so selfish like that all of a sudden. But I love Penny. I really love her. And... now that I finally found myself with her, after all my peace was made with myself and her, I... I just can't stand not having her again. I... I..." Rudy stammered.
Unable to form any more sentences to express his defeat, Rudy began walking away, seeking out solitude to ward off his sorrows. Knowing that there was now no more way to save Penelope, Rudy felt no more motivation to continue on, having no reason to continue fighting.
Carlos, conversely, was not ready to give up yet. Consulting with Biclops and Toe Fu, the young boy aimed to seek out an alternate solution, thinking of some clever workaround to their problem of being short-handed.
"Say we don't have enough Zoners. Are you sure there's more Chalk Troopers?" Carlos asked.
"Barney the Encyclocentipedia has estimated a 68.43% chance that there might be several more reinforcements in place, as the Chalk King may have forseen this possibility." Biclops said.
"What about attacking from behind or below?"
"The Chalk King may have foreseen that possibility as well, and placed his own countermeasures against us."
As Rudy sat in his solitude and Carlos continued to plan with Biclops, Carol found herself being left as the odd one out, not having any way to contribute to the situation at hand. Where her brother was more than suited to the environment of a world where anything that can be drawn will come to life, she felt out of her comfort zone. Being more adjusted to social affairs rather than artistic ones, Carol found herself not knowing what to do in a time like this, when her mother was depending on her help.
Crap. I really hate this. Rudy's giving up, and Carlos can't come up with a solution. How are we supposed to save Mama? She's probably terrified and worried sick, and I don't know what to do. If only one of these two would just draw something to solve this problem. I wish we were in Hillwood or somewhere with superheroes. Then we could just ask them for- Carol thought.
With the last words of her train of thought sparking an idea in her to save her mother, Carol took one of her pieces of chalk in hand, having an idea on how to prepare themselves for the fight. Looking upon the surrounding Zoners for a test subject to her idea, Carol caught eye of Blocky, the first but unintelligent creation of Rudy Tabootie. Summoning the two-dimensional square towards her, Carol prepared to try her idea to see it in action.
"Hey, Blocky, right?" Carol asked.
"Yup, that's me! What can I do for you?" Blocky asked.
"Could you come here for a second? I really need your help with something real quick."
"Ooh, goody! I love helping with things! But... I'm not usually that good at them. This isn't going to be hard, is it?"
"Nope. All you gotta do is stand right there. I've got a few... 'improvements' to make to you."
"'Improvements'? What do you mean by-"
Before Blocky could question her plans any further, Carol began running her chalk across Blocky's flat body, drawing some simple but significant changes to test her idea. Unable to tolerate the feeling that the scribbling caused across his body, Blocky let out several giggles and laughs, as if he were being tickled by Carol's efforts.
"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee... Hee-ha-ha-ha... Stop... That tickles, I'm gonna... Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha!" Blocky laughed.
Where Carlos continued exhausting every possibility of attack that he could think of and Rudy continued his brooding over his failure to save Penelope, the two took notice of Blocky's persistent giggling, his laughter breaking their own concentration and internal and external dialogues. Upon seeing what was causing all the laughter, the two found themselves curious at Carol's actions.
"Uh, Carol... What are you doing?" Rudy asked.
With the last movements of her chalk running over Blocky, her alterations to the square Zoner had reached their completion, beginning to materialize and take form. When the materialization finished, Carol's alterations to Blocky were revealed to be a traditional superhero mask and cape, effectively making Blocky a superhero.
"What- Carol, what did you do to Blocky? You do know he was my first creation, and you went and drew on top of him? What's the big idea?" Rudy asked.
"Well, while you two were going off brooding and babbling, I got a 'big idea' to fight the Chalk King. We can't train the Zoners we have on our side to fight in time, but, what if we gave them all power-ups? Hillwood has all those superheros fighting crime, so why not make our own? Blocky, fly." Carol said.
"But, I don't know how to-" Blocky began to say.
Before the flat Zoner could put any more thought into the sentence, Blocky began flying into the air involuntarily, bringing out a surprised gasp out of the onlookers of the event. Never before had they seen a Zoner changed to be gifted with new superpowers before, and they were just as amazed with the idea as they were with the display it brought with it.
Blocky, however, was less than amazed with the sudden and unexpected superpower he was gifted with. Unable to gain a control upon the new power of flight that he possessed, Blocky found himself desperately wishing for a means to place himself back on the ground again, where gravity would hold him gingerly and safely in contrast to the sky's harsh and shaky hold.
"HELP! I DON'T LIKE THIS AT ALL! PUT ME BACK ON THE GROUND! I CAN'T CONTROL MYSELF!" Blocky shouted.
As Blocky continued his pleas and cries for help, the Zoner began to fly through several mountains and rock formations, blasting through them as if they were made of wallpaper. While he caused unmeasurable and inconceivable damage to large tracts of land, the Zoner seemed not to notice; no traces or mental registrations of the event marking themselves in Blocky's oblivious mind.
After a long and chaotic display of his newfound power of flight, Blocky finally collided with the ground, crashing down and leaving a large trail and crater in the ground. As Blocky took his time to conveniently rest where he laid, the rest of the Zoners took their time to register the events that they had just witnessed, fully realizing Carol's new idea.
"Well?" Carol asked.
"What do you mean, 'well'? You just sent Blocky crashing all over the place!" Rudy said.
"And it didn't even scratch him."
"Owie..." Blocky whimpered.
"Look, I just gave Blocky super strength and flight, two of the most popular superpowers. Imagine if everyone here had those powers. We could dance our way into Castle Chalkenstein and save Mama without a single issue. Those guys in Hillwood do stuff like this on their own, but imagine a whole army of Zoners with what they can do." Carol reasoned.
"So they can all crash out and burn like that? We'd barely make it a foot inside. Look at what happened to Blocky, that's what you want to happen to the rest of them?" Rudy retorted.
"Blocky's not that bright, let's be honest. But, even if he wasn't, we've still got a few hours until the deadline. We can figure it out among ourselves, work out some kind of training between each other, and learn it just in time to fight. With this, we have a chance. Plus, with you and Carlos drawing the Zoners some powers, we could come up with all kinds of ways to fight, making this even easier."
While Rudy was not quite sold on Carol's idea, Carlos found himself liking the proposal. Chipping in his approval of the idea, Carlos spoke his piece, adding his opinion in favor of the plan.
"I like that plan. We can save Mommy." Carlos said.
Adding to the favoritism of the proposal, Snap, Biclops, Toe Fu, Barney the Encyclocentipedia, and all the other Zoners spoke their approval of the idea, all eager to try out Carol's plan and defeat the Chalk King once and for all.
"I have been protector of the Chalk Mine for many years of my life, using my strength to ward off any evil seeking to exploit its contents. I will be proud to bear the title once again of protector, bearing now untold powers. I approve of this plan, Rudy Tabootie." Biclops said.
"I have the discipline to hone and master these new powers and use them for the good of Zonerkind. I would gladly take upon these new abilities." Toe Fu said.
"Yes, well, I am the most learned of the Zoners left of Calcite, perhaps I can come up with some practical ways to learn and apply these powers. I would gladly give the girl my vote of confidence." Barney the Encyclocentipedia said.
"Yeah, Bucko, I was made ta' be a superhero already, might as well get some cool powers to make it official. I'd be happy to chip in my vote." Snap said.
With many other Zoners all calling for Carol's plan to be put into effect, the forces of Calcite called in favor of the idea, all willing to put their existences on the line to save ChalkZone. Having nothing left to lose but their lives, the only logical step for the Zoners would be to obtain the powers promised by the children, having one final shot at freedom from the 15-year long war against the Chalk King.
Seeing all the Zoners call in their voices in favor of the plan, Rudy's attitude towards the idea began to turn more in favor, just as the Zoners themselves had. When he had previously tried 'improving' Zoners to benefit ChalkZone, he had learned of its consequences the hard way, not wanting to deface the creations as they were intended to be.
This instance, however, was an extremely different scenario than that one of past. Not only were the Zoners all willing and consented to be altered, but their very lives, their very freedom depended on it. After he his absence had caused this war to be raged across all four corners of ChalkZone, he now had a chance to stop it once and for all, acting once again as ChalkZone's protector.
Above all, however, their was still one more factor that changed his stance, the factor that mattered most of all. Remembering his love for Penelope and the hardships that he had put her through to help him regain his talent, he knew that not only had he a desire to help her out of love, but he owed his very life to her, needing, desperately yearning to pay that debt back.
Now, he has that chance.
Now, he chooses to make his voice heard.
Now, he chooses to save Penelope.
Now, he chooses to save ChalkZone.
Making his choice in the matter heard, Rudy held up his hand, bringing a silence among the crowd. Where the Zoners of Calcite were calling for themselves to be altered and enhanced with powers untold crafted from the imaginations of the human protectors that they had fought alongside for in their battle against the Chalk King, they now quietly wait and listen, opening their ears carefully to the words of Rudy Tabootie.
"Years ago, when I was just 8 years old, I had no idea what this place really was. I just happened to find a piece of magic chalk and dropped in here by pure accident. To me, this whole place was just my big playground. I thought I loved it then, but I didn't really know it. I kept that state of mind for years, not ever thinking about anything but what my next adventure would be here. Maybe I'd fight Skrawl again, maybe I'd fight off a purple haze eating everything in sight, maybe I'd help my favorite artist out of a snow-in at a cabin retreat, maybe I'd save Hanukkahmas by helping a squad of Santa Clauses, or maybe I'd just come here to spend time with my best friends. I was young and reckless, just like any kid that age would be. But, because of the Chalk King, my life took a whole turnaround for the worst. I was banished here in ChalkZone, unable to draw anymore, and without any way to get back home. More importantly, I thought that my best friends left me for dead and I was all alone. If I had a childhood back then, I had lost it, and I'd lost my entire sense of self. Then... Then came these two kids, trying to look for me, saying that they just wanted their mom to be happy again by having me back in her life. These two kids, who want nothing more than just to help, went out and they found me. When they did, I was so scared. I was scared that I'd be alone again if I'd let them in, and I'd just hurt again like I did so long ago. But, now, I'm glad that I finally did, and I'm glad I got my drawing back and found myself again. I lost my normal life, but I got something back in return. I came to realize what this place was. It's not just about drawing whatever I want and having some kind of adventure, it's not even about spending time with my friends. It's about art itself. Since the beginning of time, human beings have been drawing with rock and chalk to express their minds and hearts and feelings, showing what they have to contribute with their imaginations. This place is all of those ideas and thoughts all in one grand piece. This place is the human spirit. The Chalk King wants to destroy that, to take it away and make it again in his own image. But I won't let that happen. Years ago, I became the protector of ChalkZone..." Rudy began.
Giving a finish to his speech, Rudy held his stick of chalk in the air, the sparkle of the magic chalk glistening in the sun.
"...and, now, as long as I have the chalk, I am still the protector of ChalkZone! Today, we fight for Penny! Today, we fight for ChalkZone! Today... WE FIGHT FOR THE HUMAN SPIRIT!" Rudy shouted.
At the conclusion of Rudy's rousing speech, the Zoners of Calcite gave a loud, collective cheer, their spirits enlightened for battle by his strong words. While each Zoner was more than ready to accept their new powers before for none other than pure survival, they now eagerly await their powers for a chance to protect their land and their home, the place that the human spirit itself collected.
Carol and Carlos, most of all, found themselves moved by his speech. A moment ago, both held their fears and anxieties about whether or not they would succeed in saving their mother. Now, all their doubts were swept away, knowing that this is the day that they would make history within ChalkZone as heroes, fighting and winning the war to gain its salvation.
As the cheers began to subside, Rudy held his chalk forward, full of ideas for powers and more than ready to prepare the troops for battle.
"Now... who wants their powers first?" Rudy asked.
[Soundtrack Cue: Faith No More - Epic]
Beginning their work together as a team, Rudy, Carol, and Carlos held their sticks of chalk in hand, drawing up and down each Zoner in line to grant them their powers for the coming fight. Starting with the 'grunts' and other lesser-known Zoners within Calcite, the trio experimented their ideas on the troops, thinking of ways to improve on their creations and perfect their ideas for the high-ranking Zoners to give them the best powers.
After working their way through several artistic disagreements, Carol wanting flight where Carlos wanted speed, Carlos wanting laser vision where Rudy wanted X-Ray vision, Rudy wanting elasticity where Carol wanted strength, the debates were long and heated, but were eventually worked out in the end to gift the Zoners the powers needed to defeat the Chalk King. Where many of the low-rankers were given the most standard of powers such as strength, speed, and flight, the three made their way towards the higher-ranking Zoners, all having plenty of great ideas for each of them.
Starting with Barney the Encyclocentipedia, Carol gave the super-smart Zoner was given a stinger capable of firing lighting, and enhancing his wings to flap fast enough to cause tornadoes and hurricanes.
To Jacko, Carlos dropped a Carolina Reaper pepper in his head, giving him the ability to breath fire, as he already possessed many other powers of his own. Of course, Carlos found himself making another pepper for himself to eat.
To Biclops, Rudy had granted him further-enhanced strength atop his own strength of a giant, as well as a bagpipe capable of playing soundwaves that can cause entire earthquakes.
To Crainiac, Carol gave him the ability to shapeshift himself into any electronic or mechanical object of his choosing, allowing himself to turn from anything to a car or a tank or a gun and so on.
To Toe Fu, Carlos gifted him with the ability to use his martial arts to control the elements of water, earth, fire, and air, taking influence from his lessons on Asian culture.
Ending with Snap, Rudy's most famous creation and best friend, his creator granted him flight, super-strength, two miniature rifles with infinite ammunition, and blades that retracted out of his arms, finishing with making a '99' insignia on his chest, after his codename of 'Cobalt 99'.
"Oy caloy, Rudy, this is a pretty sweet setup." Snap said.
"Only the best for my best friend." Rudy said.
With the Zoners all now powered up, there now laid the issue of training the force to use their powers effectively. Using those already having many of their abilities naturally to lead the charge, the Zoners were split into groups to train in the most effective manner possible.
Generic Man, already having flight, taught his group how to fly. Biclops, having untold strength, taught his group how to use their strength more effectively. Jacko, having experience with blades, taught his group how to use their bladed weapons more efficiently, and so on with many other groups.
Finally, with all the Zoners prepared and ready to fight, there still laid three more members of the army to prepare themselves for battle: the humans. Giving themselves powers with their chalk, the group drew on themselves personalized suits and powers giving them abilities best suited to their needs.
For Carol, she drew herself a light armor, allowing herself more maneuverability, giving herself super-speed, flight, invulnerability, high-powered punches, and limited mind-control. While she may not have been the most feminine of young girls, she still found herself making her suit a shade of pink.
For Carlos, being the most familiar with comic characters and superpowers, spared no detail in his own powers. Gifting himself with as may powers as he could, Carlos had his suit grant him super-speed, flight, super-strength, weather control, laser vision and X-Ray vision, and other powers too long to mention.
For Rudy, while his own suit granted him flight, he had no need to give himself any powers, as he possessed that which gave him the greatest power of all: the magic chalk. With his imagination running on overtime and faster than any other's, the only ability was that which could draw with his chalk.
"I think that's everything. Anything else we need to handle before we go?" Carol asked.
"Ready when you are." Carlos said.
"Just one more thing. Don't use the Golden Chalk until it's absolutely necessary. We don't want any chance of it falling into the Chalk King's hands. Keep it tight on you." Rudy said.
"Right."
"Also, that trick of yours where you can shape the chalk into what you need without drawing it. How's it work?"
"Don't know. Just focus really hard on what you want."
"Just focus really hard, huh? Well... I guess I can work with that."
Turning to face his army of super-powered Zoners, Rudy delivered his last and only needed words for the fight to come. The Zoners of Calcite, all readied and prepared with all their new powers and training, there would never be a time more ready than now for them to fight eagerly and anxiously awaiting the final words to begin their attack.
Wasting no more of their time, Rudy let out his final orders.
"Calcite..." Rudy began.
The forces of Calcite all leaned in, listening carefully for the next part of Rudy's order. Keeping them waiting no longer, Rudy finished his sentence.
"...FOR CHALKZONE!" Rudy finished.
"FOR CHALKZONE!" The Zoners called.
As the Zoners all repeated his simple but strongly unifying call for action, Rudy began his flight into the air, with Carol and Carlos following his lead. With the humans now leading the charge against the Chalk King, the Zoners of Calcite began flying after them as well, carrying those without flight capabilities along for the ride.
Feeling themselves skirt across the bright, chalky sky, both the humans and the Zoners along felt a strong sense of levity in their flight. While some Zoners that could already fly knew this feeling all too well, the sensation of elation and freedom that it brought was new to them, a surprising but welcome emotion that made the experience all the more fulfilling.
Most of all, everyone in the sky felt a shared sense of glory and honor. While many of these Zoners were all different and separate from one another with all the creative differences and origins of each of themselves, they all felt a sense of unity and purpose here, their differences all cast aside and irrelevant in this one important hour of difference and change. If there truly was a peak in the society of ChalkZone, it was here and it was now, even if it were finite in this one moment and only brought about by a unified war for freedom.
[Soundtrack Cue End]
And, so, here and now, the final battle for ChalkZone begins.
