Hello, my little dragonlets! Who's ready for a hearty kick to the nostalgia? That's right, we're going all the way back to the demo level, so get your goggles on and let's get on with the show! :)
You found a disclaimer!
Spyro the Dragon, both the game and all related characters (c) Insomniac. They own the Spyro that's in this story, so nyeh.
Spyro 2: Ripto's Rage / Gateway to Glimmer, as well as all related characters (c) blah-blah, same copyright.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN: Turtle Soup
Todd gave a little whistle as the waterworks builders continued their orders to box up all of the turtles roaming around the beach. Wrestling the creatures into their cages was difficult, but now that they were trapped in fireproof boxes (though he wasn't sure why Ripto specified the boxes be FIREPROOF on the beach - most of them were being held underwater anyway), the transport job became much easier.
ZAAAP! "YEOWCH!" Until you back into a shock-stick. "Mike, watch where you're sticking that thing!" he snapped, barely noticing the box that had flown off the platform's edge.
Mike looked down at his exposed shock-stick, which he had forgotten to turn off. "...Whoops. Sorry, man."
Todd then looked down to the ground, where he had dropped the box. He saw coworker Ted lying unconscious in a pile of box debris, releasing a swarm of baby turtles that brayed with excitement as they scattered loose from their prison. "Uhm...I think we killed Ted."
"Forget Ted! You let the turtles loose!" Jack snapped, activating his shock-stick and running after the baby turtles.
...And then immediately running back screaming as one of the turtles stole his shock-stick and chased him down with it.
oo00oo00oo
When Spyro heard that one of the six Summer worlds was a place called 'Sunny Beach', he was reasonably excited. (Especially after dealing with the cold rains of Hurricos. Bleh.) Finally, a chance to lay out on the beach and soak up some sun, just like he and Sparx planned to do in the first place.
However, when he landed and found a trio of baby turtles stuck behind a barn door, he realized the vacation would have to wait. Assuming the elder turtle in the cozy chair was in charge, Spyro approached him first. "Y'know, there are probably better ways to babysit your kids than to stick them in a wooden jail."
"The turtle heirs are in here for their own good, Spyro," the elder, Prince Tortiss, sighed. "It's all we can do to keep the royal triplets from being captured by the Water Workers."
"Water Workers?"
"Ripto's sent his men into Sunny Beach and boxed up all of the turtles! He plans on turning the beach into a water park and turning the turtles into soup to feed the guests!"
The water park sounded nice. The turtle soup? Not so much. "Don't worry, your highness - I'll get your turtles to safety, and try to bust out everyone else while I'm at it!"
oo00oo00oo
In his one short dragon age, Spyro had never met a box he couldn't destroy. Ever since the terrible day he realized it impossible to set metal vases on fire, it had been the Artisan's mission to perfect the art of charging and headbashing everything. He had been cracking boxes and vases with his horns since he was old enough to run. It was part of his Peacekeeper temper, the thirst to smash everything that breaks.
So Spyro was highly confounded by the boxes of turtles that scattered Sunny Beach. Since the Water Workers had abandoned their transport mission to deal with the dragon threat, boxes were left about everywhere. But Spyro couldn't manage to break them open and free the turtle captives like he promised.
He tried everything. His horns couldn't crack the siding, and his flames simply bounced off. They were too big to push around, and most of them were trapped in the various pools of water. Normally, the mischievous Artisan didn't have a problem with breaking promises (especially stupid ones to the dragon elders, like "don't go running off" or "don't do something crazy and get yourself killed"), but this one was different: these turtles needed help, and he was going to get it for them.
That's where the Professor came to the rescue.
"So...what does this contraption do?"
"It's a superflame power-up," royal advisor Gromit explained. "It's a new creation of the Professor's that should enhance your flame-breath and give you the ability to shatter those boxes that are locking up our poor baby turtles!"
As usual when receiving important information, Spyro latched onto one word: superflame. He was already well-familiar with the supercharges, both in the Dragon Realms and Avalar. Similar to the supercharge he saw in Idol Springs, this power-up was shoddy-looking, with a whirlwind of magic hovering between two rickety poles. However, where the supercharge felt like a blast of wind, this power-up felt hot, like the whirlwind was a small wall of fire. Would the superflame be just as amazing as his beloved supercharges?
Only one way to find out, right?
Spyro took a deep breath and rushed through the makeshift gate, immediately sliding to a stop once he passed. Every scale on his body suddenly felt like it was red-hot, and the Artisan choked as his lungs filled with a burning smoke. He quavered slightly as the sudden rush of sheer heat dizzied him, and it took him a few minutes to shake his senses back.
Sparx gave a worried buzz, noting how Spyro's violet coat suddenly took on a crimson glow. "Uh...Spyro? You alright?"
Spyro tried to answer, but upon opening his mouth, he coughed yet again. This time, he spit out a massive fireball, one that rocketed across the beach plaza so quickly, it left a bright yellow tail in its wake. The Artisans both cringed as they heard a loud cracking sound across the beach, and looked to find one of the boxes reduced to fiery debris after feeling the wrath of the superflame. All of the baby turtles, although a bit shaken, all gave weak nods and coos to thank Spyro for freeing them.
Yeah, that would work just fine.
oo00oo00oo
Master Chef gave a mighty yawn as he stretched his tiring back. Ripto had demanded quite a spectacle for the Sunny Beach water park opening dinner, and anyone could tell you that you'd better do your best not to upset Ripto if you could avoid it.
The main course? Le piece de resistance? Turtle soup.
Master Chef bashed his triangle with his trusty spoon. "COME ON, LITTLE TURTLES! TIME TO COME OUT!"
He laughed as the baby turtles began their slow walk towards his boiling water pot. These Sunny Beach turtles were so stupid; all he had to do was ring the bell, and they'd come out for food! Splash. They'd just jump into the pot, expecting to find a fresh-cooked meal, then get scorched by the boiling hot water. Splash. Of course, this was the easy part - after this came digging them out of the pot, (splash), throwing out the shells and claws, (splash), tenderizing the meat (splash), seasoning the broth (splash)...
The old chef looked up when he heard the coo of one of his baby turtles. "HEY! You be quiet over there, you stinkin'-"
Splash. It took him a few moments to realize that all of his baby turtles were not actually in the pot, but swimming to safety through the delivery tubes. "HEY!" With a snarl, the chef smashed his triangle once again. "GET BACK HERE, YOU TURTLES!"
He gave a tired growl. How hard was this? He rings the bell, they jump in the pot. Splash. Not a difficult concept, right? The pot's right there. Splash. It's not like there's this bodyguard standing by the pot and-
Thunk! SPLASH! When Master Chef looked up again, he found yet another shipment of perfectly good turtles in the pool. Alongside them, though, he spied a scaly purple tail poking out from behind the pot. "HEY, YOU! LEAVE MY TURTLES ALONE!"
Hearing that they had been caught, Spyro burst into a mad dash, flying straight past the chef before diving to safety in the pools below. "Sorry, old man, but your turtles are gone! Tell Ripto he'll need a new menu!"
oo00oo00oo
With a flock of baby turtles freed, the Water Workers defeated, and three "sacred thingamajigs" in hand, Sunny Beach was on the path to recovery, which left Spyro free to take care of his last to-do - returning the royal triplets to King Fromit inside Sunny Palace.
"Oh, I'm so glad to see you three home and safe!" the old king cooed, watching his beloved children play and laugh as they were re-welcomed to their home.
"It's not just them, Your Majesty," Spyro pointed out. "ALL of the baby turtles are safe now. Hopefully, those Water Workers'll think twice before they mess with the beach again!"
"Young dragon, I don't know how we can possibly thank you enough." King Fromit reached back and returned with a large golden medallion, emblazoned with the royal turtle insignia. "The most we could do is offer you our talisman. Please, take it and continue doing good things throughout Avalar. And of course, you will always be welcome to our beaches!"
"The talisman's enough for me, thanks." Spyro loved sunny weather, but there was only one beach on his mind: Dragon Shores.
oo00oo00oo
With their homeland free from Ripto's threat, the royal triplets went back to doing what they do best - playing in their private oasis! The laughs and screams of baby turtles filled the royal playground...especially since they had a new toy.
The shovel ducks that once worked for the Water Workers were mostly wiped out, but the rambunctious kids discovered one still wandering around. Flotsie was next in line for the new ride, so he hopped onto the shovel duck's infamous weapon.
ZAAAAP! Jetsie shoved the spare shock-stick they found (one of the other turtles had it) into their new plaything, and the shock to its system forced it to jerk his shovel, sending little Flotsie flying into the pool.
Yep; just another beautiful sunny day in Sunny Beach.
SAVE THE TURTLES! Oh, and uh, join us next time! Thanks for reading, guys; hope you enjoyed! :)
§ Tucker's Mayflower, signing off! §