Chapter 3: Serena Meets Goku
Serena was still at home the next day, unaware of what happened to her father. She is also unaware of two figures peeking through a bush. Turles smirks, as he looks at Serena's house. He has a big surprise for her and when she sees the suit he has on, she has to accept his proposal.
Nappa: Boy, Serena is going to be very surprised.
Turles: Yes. Today is her lucky day.
He walks away, letting go of the branch he's holding. It hits Nappa in the face, leaving leaves in his mouth. Nearby are people Turles has invited for his wedding. He got a priest and almost everything.
Turles: I'd thank you all for coming to this great day. But I haven't proposed yet.
Everyone laughs. All except Chi-Chi, Bulma, and 18, who cried sadly, believing their chances to marry Turles are null now. As Nappa arrives, Turles turns to him.
Turles: OK. The moment Serena and I come through the door, you-
Nappa: Strike the band! I know!
He picks up a stick and starts the band up to play "Here comes the bride." at a fast pace. It soon stops, when Turles hits Nappa over the head with a tuba.
Turles: Not yet, stupid!
Nappa: Sorry.
Suddenly, Buster, Babs, and the rest of the Tiny Toons came on the scene. They saw what's happening.
Dizzy: What going on here?
Calamity: Looks like a wedding. Oh no! Don't tell me.
Furrball: Yep! Turles is trying to get Serena to marry him again.
Buster: 100 bucks say she won't go for it.
Plucky: You're on.
Serena is inside her home, unaware of the commotion outside, reading the book she got yesterday. When she hears a knock at the door, she goes over to it and looks through the peephole. She saw Turles at the door, making a smirking face. She cringes, then sighs, as she opens the door, letting Turles in.
Serena: Ahh, Turles. What a pleasant surprise.
Turles: Is it, right? You are very lucky. Any girl in town would wanna be you right now. Today's the day all your dreams come true, my dear.
Serena: What dreams? I mean, what do you know about them?
Turles: A lot.
He begins to sing.
Turles: You've been dreaming this one dream. Nearly all your life. Hoping, scheming. Just one theme. Will you be a wife? Will you be some he-man's property? Good news! That he-man's me!
With a smile, he puts his hands on her shoulders, making her nervous.
Turles: This equation. Girl plus man. Doesn't help just you. On occasion. Women can. Have their uses, too. Mainly to extend the family tree. Pumpkin, extend with me. We'll be raising sons galore.
Serena: Inconceivable!
Turles: Each built six-foot-four.
Serena got sick, so to speak.
Serena: Unbelievable!
Turles: Each one stuffed with every Turles gene!
Serena cringes, as she covers her ears.
Serena: I'm not hearing this!
Turles: You'll be keeping house with pride.
Serena:(Sarcasm)Just incredible!
Turles: Each day gratified.
Serena: So unweddable!
Turles: That you are part of this idyllic scene.
With the song, Turles sits at the table, while Serena puts her book down.
Turles: Think of this, Serena. A rustling hunting lodge. My biggest kill roasting over the fire. And my wife massaging my feet.
As Turles puts his feet on the table, Serena cringes thinking of the thought of massaging anyone's feet, let alone Turles.
Turles: And the little ones will be playing with your father and uncle. Why, I bet we can have 6 or 7!
Serena: Uhh, I don't think father or Luigi would want more dogs to play with.
Turles: Not dogs! Handsome boys like me!
Serena: Oh, I see.
Turles goes back into singing.
Turles: I can see that we will share. All that love implies. We shall be the perfect pair. Rather like my thighs.
Serena: Gross!
Turles: You are face-to-face with destiny. All roads lead to. The best things in life are. All's well that ends with me. Escape me, there's no way. Certain as do re. Serena, when you marry...
He soon have an uneasy Serena against the door.
Turles: So, how about it, Serena? Yes or no?
Serena: Well, to tell you the truth...
She manages to get to the doorknob
Serena: I don't really need you!
Turles: Hey, who does?
He smirks, as he ends the song.
Turles: Me!
Serena: Thanks for stopping by!
She quickly opens the door and got out of the way just in time, as Turles lost his balance. He fell out of the door and right into a mud puddle outside. Thinking this was the cue, the band begins to play, as Serena closed the door and locks it. The band stops playing, when they noticed Turles in the mud puddle. Nappa turns to his boss, who is very upset and covered in mud.
Nappa: Did it worked out?
Turles grabs Nappa angrily.
Turles: Serena will be my wife! And no one will stop me!
He threw Nappa into the mud puddle and storms off.
Nappa: Mr. Touchy.
Nearby...
Buster: Well, what do I know? Looks like I won the bet.
Plucky: Aww, darn it!
He hands Buster 100 bucks. Furrball and Calamity laughs in amusement. When the wedding is obviously not going to happen, everyone except the Tiny Toons went home. The Tiny Toons went over to the door. Buster knocks on it.
Serena: Who is it?
Babs: It's us, Serena. You can come out now. The loser's gone.
Serena opens the door and looks around.
Serena: Oh, hi, guys. Is he really gone?
Buster: Turles left in a storm when you rejected him.
Serena came out, sighing in relief.
Serena: But can you see what he tried to do? He tried to ask me to marry him! ME! The wife of that boorish, brainless...
Furrball: If you're looking for ferrets, we got the idea.
Serena nods, as she begins to sing, as she feeds the animals.
Serena: Madame Turles, can't you just see it?
She puts a towel over her head, making her look like a housewife.
Serena: Madame Turles, his little wife.
She took the towel off, as she kicks the bucket, upset.
Serena: No sir, not me, I guarantee it. I want much more than this provincial life...
She ran out into the fields.
Serena: I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. I want it more than I can tell.
She sat down on the ground and picks a dandelion, sighing sadly.
Serena: And for once it might be grand. To have someone understand.
She released the dandelion, as pieces of it flies in the air.
Serena: I want so much more than they've got planned.
Her friends caught up to her.
Shirley: Hey, Serena. Calm down. I'm sure you'll find what you're looking for.
Fifi: Oui. At least you did one good zhing today.
Serena: What's that?
Cosette: You made zhat jerk Turles fall into zhe mud puddle!
Everyone laughs along with her. Even Little Beeper beeps excitedly. Suddenly...
?: SERENA!
Everyone turns and saw a familiar horse with a familiar wagon running into the scene. It was Epona and Luigi, but no Mario.
Serena: Uncle Luigi?
Buster: What happened?
Plucky: Where's Mario?
Luigi: Mario disappeared in a the woods somewhere!
Very concerned, Serena and her friends unloaded the invention from the wagon.
Serena: We gotta find him! Take me where you last saw him!
Furrball: Let us on, Luigi! We're coming, too!
Calamity: Yeah! We'll search for your father together, Serena!
Later in the forest, Serena, Luigi, and the Tiny Toons rode through the forest, searching for Mario. They soon came across the same castle he stumbled into last night.
Dizzy: What is this place?
Luigi:(Whimpers)I'm a scared.
Buster: Calm down, Luigi.
Serena saw something beyond the gate and gasped. The gang got out of the wagon and went through the front gate of the castle. Babs, Shirley, Fifi, and Cosette held onto the arms of their boyfriends. Serena picks up what she saw.
Serena: It's father's hat!
Plucky: Then he must be here.
Gogo: It's decided. Let's go in.
The gang decides to enter the castle. Inside the castle, Boss and Giroro walks back and forth, very upset, as Charmander and Agumon watch.
Boss: You have to invite him in, didn't you? I mean, give him tea, let him sit in the master's chair, let him pet Pikachu and Skitty.
Charmander: Oh, blame us for being nice!
Suddenly, Serena and her friends minus Luigi came into the foyer. Buster, Plucky, Dizzy, Furrball, and Calamity got some weapons out.
Serena: Hello? Is anyone here?
In the kitchen, Spike, Applebloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo were cleaning. Suddenly, Hamtaro, Bijou, Keroro, and Pururu enters the kitchen.
Hamtaro: Spike, you won't believe this! We saw guests in the castle!
Suddenly, Twilight and the rest of the Mane Six just enters the room.
Twilight: Hamtaro, don't make stories up. Now is not the time for stories.
Keroro: But Hamtaro's right, Twilight. We saw them. Seriously!
Applejack: Yeah, right. And I'm the Queen of England.
Suddenly, Oshawott and Snivy excitedly came in the room.
Snivy: Guys, we just saw a girl in the castle!
Oshawott: And she brought some animal friends with her!
Hamtaro: Told ya so!
Back to Boss and Giroro, they are still scolding Charmander and Agumon.
Giroro: You irresponsible, idiotic, pea-brained...
Charmander and Agumon are making hand puppets, as they mock the Ham-Ham and Keronian, as they crossed their eyes.
?: Father?
The four stops arguing and turns to see Serena and her friends passed by.
Charmander: Did you see that?
The four then saw Serena and her friends going down a corridor.
Agumon: It's a girl!
Boss: I know it's a girl.
Charmander: That's it! The blonde one! She's the one! The one we have waited for all these years! She can break the spell!
Excited some more, Charmander ran after Serena and the group with Agumon, Boss, and Giroro running after them.
Giroro: Hey! Hold up, lizard boy!
The four goes to a door Serena's group has passed and opens it. It leads to the tower. Agumon, Boss, and Giroro hides behind the door, while Charmander begins running up the stairs. The commotion caught the group's attention.
Serena: Hello? Anyone there?
She then hears Charmander running up the stairs.
Babs: Hey, there's a bunch of stairs nearby.
Serena's group goes to the stairs and went up them.
Serena: Wait! We're looking for my father!
Agumon, Boss, and Giroro pokes their heads out from behind the door and saw Serena's group running up to where the prisoner is being kept. As they reached the top of the tower, they tried to find the person they heard. Of course, Charmander himself hid behind a pillar.
Buster: Weird. Where did he go?
Serena: Is anyone here?
?: Serena?
Serena looks shocked. It's her father's voice. She saw that it's coming from a prison door and ran over to it.
Serena: Father!
Mario pokes his head and smiles.
Mario: How a did you a find me?
Furrball feels Mario's hands.
Furrball: Gee, Mario. Your hands are as cold as ice!
Mario coughs a bit.
Calamity: And you're sick, man.
Plucky: We'd better get you outta here.
Little Beeper beeps in agreement.
Mario: No! Serena, I a want you to a take your a friends and get a outta here while you a can!
Serena: Who did this to you?
Mario: Please, there is a no time! You a gotta go, now!
Serena: We won't leave you!
Suddenly, a red furry arm came out of nowhere and pulls the group away from the door. It was Goku, the one who seized Mario last night.
Goku: What are you all doing here?
Serena: Who is it? Who are you?
She looks around, but there is nothing but darkness to be seen. The only light came from a hole in the roof.
Goku: I am Goku, the owner of this castle!
He is hiding in the darkness and from view.
Buster: We've come for Mario. You gotta let him go! He is very sick!
Goku: It's his fault for trespassing here!
Babs: He'll die! Let him go! We'll do anything!
Goku: There's nothing you all could do. He's my prisoner.
Dizzy: There must be something we could do.
Serena then thought of something. She knew she's going to regret it, but it's the only way her father can be saved.
Serena: Wait!
Goku stops and turns to look over his shoulder. Serena looks from her father, then comes into the light.
Serena: I want you to take me instead.
Goku: You?
He turns away. His expression however changes, as he rethinks this. He turns to Serena in a calm voice.
Goku: You wanna take his place?
Gogo: Serena, what are you doing?
Serena: What I'm doing for my father.
Mario: Serena, don't! Think about what you're a doing!
Serena: If I do, would you let him go?
Goku: Well...yes. But you must stay here and never leave.
Serena paused to think about it. Not leaving would mean she would never see her family and friends again. But it's for her father's sake. She then frowns.
Serena: Come to the light. I wanna see who I'm talking to.
At first, it looks like Goku won't do it. But eventually, he came out of the darkness and into the light, revealing himself to the group at last. The group gasped and Serena turns away.
Calamity: Geez! And I thought Turles was horrible looking. He almost looks alot like him.
Furrball: He's a monster! Serena, you sure you wanna do this?
Mario: Serena, please! I a won't let a you do a this!
With a sad sigh, Serena turns back to Goku with her eyes closed.
Serena: You have my word.
Goku: It's done!
He storms over to Mario's prison and opens the door. As Serena fell to her knees, feeling bad for what she done, Mario ran over to her.
Mario: Serena, please listen! I'm a old! I a lived my a life!
But then Goku grabs Mario and drags him off.
Plucky: Hey, wait!
Mario: Serena!
Serena: WAIT!
But Goku refused to listen, as he drags Mario out of the tower. Outside, he drags Mario into a prison carriage.
Mario: Come on! Spare my a daughter, please!
Goku ignores him however and throws him into the carriage.
Goku: Forget it! She isn't your concern anymore!
He then turns to the driver.
Goku: Take him to the village and leave him there!
As the carriage leaves with Mario inside, Serena and her friends watched from the tower window. Serena buries herself in her arms and cries heavily. Goku climbs back up to the tower's top. Charmander met him halfway.
Charmander: Hey, Master Goku?
Goku: What?
Charmander: Well, since this girl is going to be with us and all. Perhaps maybe you could offer her a comfortable room.
Goku gave a fierce snarl at the Pokemon and continues climbing up the stairs.
Charmander: OK, maybe not.
As Goku enters Serena's new "room," he saw Serena crying on the ground with her friends nearby. Goku glances at the others.
Goku: You're all still here? She's the prisoner, not you!
Buster: Well, can you blame us? You didn't even let Serena say good-bye to her father!
Furrball: So, we're going to stay here to make sure you don't even think of harming her!
Plucky: Man, you couldn't be more whacked!
Goku: Fine. You will stay, too. But I'll be watching you!
Babs: Fine with us!
Serena:(Crying)You didn't let me say good-bye. I'll never see him again and I didn't get the chance to say good-bye.
Hearing this, Goku felt guilty. He let his anger once again get the best of him. It happened the day the Enchantress enchanted him and turned him what he is today. He should at least allow Serena to say good-bye to Mario first.
Goku: Man, I am just a creep.
He then remembers Charmander's suggestion.
Goku: Aww, why not? It's the least I can do to make up for what I did.
As he is about to leave, he turns back to them.
Goku: Now, it's time to take you all to your room.
Serena: Our room? But I thought-
Goku: Would you rather stay in the tower?
Everyone: No!
Goku: Good. Then come on.
Later, Goku led Serena and her friends through a maze of corridors. The Pokemon, Digimon, Ham-Hams, and Keronians are with them, too. Serena looks around in amazement. She then looks back at Goku. Remembering what happened, she shed a tear.
Shirley: Well, at least it's better than that tower.
Howdy: Well, look at the bright side. At least that tower's not guarded by a dragon. Get it? You wouldn't want it to drag on!
Howdy, Gomamon, and Tamama laughs at the joke, while everyone else just sweatdrops.
Dexter: Sometimes, your jokes are just a drag, Howdy.
Charmander, who was walking next to his master, frowns. Throughout the whole walk, he was silent. He couldn't stand it anymore.
Charmander:(Whispers)Say something to her.
Goku: But what can I say?
Charmander: Anything.
Goku paused to think. He then spoke to Serena.
Goku: I, uhh, hope you like it here.
Buster: It would be nice without the spookiness and you're angry state, Goku, if that's your name.
Charmander made a "go on" gesture. Seeing this, Goku continues to Serena.
Goku: Although you are now my prisoner, I won't teach you like a warden. This castle will be your home now, as is your friends. You all are allowed to go anywhere, as long as it's on the castle premises. Oh, and you cannot go to the West Wing.
Serena: Huh? What's in the West-
Goku: IT'S FORBIDDEN!
He angrily turns around, cutting her short. He then clears his throat.
Goku: To anyone but me. Don't ask. I will not say.
Fifi: Zhere is something in zhe West Wing he doesn't want us to see?
Cosette: Whatever it is, he seems upset.
Soon, they all arrived at a guest room, which has eight beds that can fit two people each. Despite it not being used for years, since the castle hasn't received guests, it is very nice. Goku opens the door and lets them all in.
Plucky: Oh boy! We get our own beds!
Dizzy: YIPPEE! Dizzy love bed!
The gang enters the room. Suddenly, Maxwell gestures to Goku.
Maxwell:(Whispers)Ask the girl for a nicer room.
Goku nods and grabs Serena.
Goku: Wait! Would you like a better room?
Serena: OK. I don't see why not.
Goku leads Serena to another room. This one is a much fancier one and has a king-sized bed. Goku lets Serena enter the room.
Goku: Now, if you need anything, just ask my servants.
Suddenly, Dororo gestures to Goku.
Dororo:(Whispers)Dinner. Ask her to dinner.
Goku nods and turns to Serena.
Goku: Serena, is it?
He knew this is her name, since he heard it during the whole conversation about Mario. Serena nods sadly.
Goku: You will...join me for dinner. THAT IS NOT A REQUEST!
He slams the door shut. The whole group heard what happened.
Calamity: Gee, when I ask Cosette out for dinner, I don't yell like that.
Furrball: Tell me about it. He had some issues. But who is this Goku? He's almost human, but he's like a monster.
Back in Serena's room. Serena ran over to her bed, but did not sit on it. She took out a locket and opens it. Inside are Mario on one side and Serena on the other. She sniffs sadly, as she began to sing.
Serena: Yes, I mad the choice. For father, I will stay. But I don't deserve to lose my freedom in this way, you...
She turns towards the door.
Serena: YOU MONSTER!
She then continues singing.
Serena: You're a fool. Think again. Is this home? Is this where I should be happy? Never dreamed. That a home could be dark and cold. I was told. Everyday in my childhood. Even as we grow old. Home will be where the heart is. Never where words so true. My heart's far, far away. Home is, too. Is this home? Is this where I must learn to believe in? Try to find. Something good in this tragic place. Just in case. I should stay here forever. Held in this empty space. Oh, that won't be easy. I know the reason why. My heart's far, far away. Home's a lie. What I'd give to return. To the life I knew lately. But I know I can't. Solve my problems going back. Is this home? Am I here for a day or forever? Shut away. From a world, until who knows when. Oh, but then. As my life has been altered once. It can change again. Build higher walls around me. Change every lock and key. Nothing lasts. Nothing holds. All of me. My heart's far, far away. Home and free.
Once she is done singing, she buries her face in the bed and cries heavily. All her friends could do is look on sadly.
That's it for chapter 3. What will happen to Serena and her friends? Stay tuned next time?