Jaune and Courage the Cowardly Dog
Chap 59: Aqua Farmer
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Wet World." The announcer stated over the speakers.
"Couldn't they have come up with a better name?" Blake asked annoyed.
"Oh, Eustace. Isn't this exciting?" Muriel asked as she ate some of her popcorn.
Currently, we were in a water park called Wet World. After helping Ghira and Kali fix their relations, and find out that it was a ghost that was trying to destroy Eustace and Muriel's marriage, we all came to the decision to celebrate. And after a bit of discussing, and slight arguing, we decided to visit a water park for the day. But, needless to say, Blake was not too thrilled at this. Mainly because she did not like getting wet. But after Muriel saying that she is also planning on buying some fish from a nearby store, she agreed to come.
"Ah, big deal." Eustace complained as he ate his hot dog.
"And now, Nowhere Wet World is proud to present the world famous, one and only... Jojo. The amazing performing dolphin." The announcer declared as a dolphin flew into the air from the water. Where it started to show off a bit before laughing and going back into the water.
"Blah, blah, blah." Eustace complained again.
"What doesn't he complain about?" Ghira asked.
"Money. Himself and his truck." I answered.
"I still say we shouldn't have gotten front row seats." Blake complained as she finished her Taiyaki ice cream.
'Hate water?' Courage asked with a mischievous smile. Blake snarled a bit but before she could say anything, the dolphin swam past us and splashed Eustace and Blake with water.
"Yes." She answered trying to keep calm and wipe the water from her face.
"How do they manage to teach dolphin to do all those tricks?" Kali asked eating some popcorn. Looking over to the dolphin, we saw that he was playing a variety of instruments.
"Or how does it manage to stay that long out of water?" Ghira asked suspiciously. Already thinking that something was not right.
"Lots of training and patience." I answered.
"Shoe-off know-nothing guppy." Eustace complained soaked before throwing his hotdog at the dolphin. It somehow reaching the dolphin and landing in its blowhole.
"He shouldn't have done that." Kali said as the dolphin managed to get the hotdog out of its blow and was understandably upset. He then swam over to us.
"Oh, ha, ha." Muriel laughed as the dolphin went over the railing and allowed Muriel and Kali to pet it. It then stuck its head into Muriel's popcorn bag and ate everything. But instead of swallowing the popcorn, it spat it at Eustace.
"That's what you get." Ghira remarked while Blake, Kali, Courage and I laughed at seeing Eustace completely covered in popcorn.
"OH!" Eustace growled while everyone else cheered the dolphin who continued to perform.
"I hate getting wet." Blake said as the dolphin this time splashed everyone again.
"YOU CALL THAT SWIMMING!? HAH! THAT AIN'T SWIMMING! HECK, I COULD SWIM BETTER AND FASTER THAN THAT!" Eustace foolishly challenged the dolphin.
"IS THAT A CHALLENGE I HEAR?" The announcer asked. "Ladies and gentleman. This man claims he can outswim Jojo."
"Ha, ha, ha." Th entire audience laughed.
"At this point, I am wondering if his semblance is making a fool of himself." Ghira said annoyed while pinching the bridge of his nose.
"WITH ONE HAND TIED BEHIND MY BACK!" Eustace added turning to the audience.
"But Eustace, you haven't swum in years." Muriel reminded him.
"I'm surprised to learn that he even could swim at one point in his life." Blake whispered.
"Challenge accepted." The announcer suddenly said next to us. He then turned to the dolphin. "What do you say Jojo?"
"This isn't going to end well." I said seeing the dolphin seemingly agree to the challenge.
"You two will race to tend of the tank. I tell you what. I'll let you use both of your hands." The announcer declared before mocking Eustace.
"AH!" Eustace grumbled before tearing his clothes off to reveal that he was wearing swimming wear underneath. For some reason.
"Really mom." Blake suddenly said irritated. Looking over, we saw Kali had covered Blake eyes again. With her cat ears flattening in annoyance.
"Really." Kali replied glaring at Eustace.
'OOF! Really!' Courage complained when Eustace threw his torn clothes at him.
"I'm going to show that smart-aleck dolphin that a fish ain't no match for a man." Eustace declared as he began to climb the ladder to get to a diving board.
"Can we really call him that?" Blake asked. Her eyes still being covered from her mother's hands.
"No." I answered.
"Oh, dear." Muriel gasped when Eustace got onto the diving board.
"On your marks... get set... GO!" The announcer declared before beginning the race.
"That's gotta hurt." I said with a wince when Eustace dove into the water. Only to hit the water hard and slowly sink to the bottom of the pool.
The dolphin started laughing at Eustace before starting the race. It swum over to where the announcer was holding a hula hoop. The dolphin than managed to go up into the air and enter through the hoop and go back down into the water. It then came back up with Eustace on its beak.
"What's huh?" He asked confused while still moving his arms and legs as if he was swimming. The dolphin then spun him around before throwing him through the hoop the announcer was still holding. And as if to spite him, the dolphin swam to the other side of the pool before using his tail fin to launch Eustace back into his seat. All the while the crowd was laughing.
"How is his spine not broken?" Ghira asked seeing Eustace now basically a human knot.
"It's okay. It's no shame to lose a swimming race to a dolphin." Muriel told Eustace in an attempt to get him to stop. But as usual, his ego prevented him from doing so.
"Oh, yeah. Well, I ain't getting beat by some stinking fish." Eustace declared to the smug looking dolphin.
"You just did." I told him which caused him to growl.
"I'll show you all. I want a rematch!" He declared. "Tomorrow! Same time. Same place."
"Great. Looks like we have to come back here again tomorrow. At least we can watch you get embarrassed again." Blake remarked before adding. "Mom. Can you please let go?"
"No." Was all she said in response.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN! WE HAVE A REMATCH" The announcer declared with the crowd cheering.
"Well, I guess this little trip is ruined. Let's get out of here." I said as we got up from our seats and exited the stadium.
Ten Minutes Later
"Eustace what took you so long?" Muriel asked. We were at the gate to Wet World and were about to leave. We just need to wait for Eustace,
"We had to work out a deal for the rematch." He answered.
"What kind of deal?" Ghira asked.
"If I lose, your gonna have to pack up your things and move in with the dolphin and be his sidekick." He answered.
"WHAT!" We all shouted in shock and anger. Kali and Blake having to hold back Ghira.
"Oh, dear." Muriel gasped in horror.
'NO!' Courage gasped as well.
"OF ALL THE THINGS YOU COULD HAVE OFFERED! YOU CHOSE MURIEL!' I shouted angrily.
"Blah, blah, blah." Was all Eustace say before walking away. Turing to the others, we all nodded with Kali and Blake letting go of Ghira.
"Why don't we have a talk?" Ghira asked as he easily picked up Eustace and dragged him off to another spot.
"Will he be, okay?" Muriel asked worried.
"He'll be fine. But let's head home and focus on what we can do about this deal that Eustace made." I answered as we exited the water park while ignoring Eustace's pained screams.
Five P.M.
"You can do it Eustace. Come on, Eustace. Swim. I don't want to be sidekick to Jojo dolphin." Muriel said as she held a stopwatch. We were in the upstairs bathroom training Eustace for his race tomorrow. We would have started earlier but he had to recover from the injuries Ghira inflicted on him.
"Shut up, will ya." Eustace complained nearly out of breath.
"We wouldn't be in this situation of you kept your big mouth shut." I argued as Courage and I mopped the floor.
"I said shut up. I'm concentrating." He complained. Only for his concentration to go out the window when he accidently released the drain plug which caused all the water, and him, to go down the drain.
'In hindsight, we should have seen that coming.' Courage said as we moved in to try and get Eustace out of the drain.
"Oh, my. What now?" Muriel asked.
"I got an idea." Eustace said as we finally pulled him from the drain.
Two Hours Later
"This does not look safe." Kali said worried. For our safety and not Eustace. We were in the basement trying something new to help Eustace win his race. This time being a contraption that Eustace just build from random stuff around the house. It was supposed to help him swim better but seemed more like a death trap.
"We better stay back when something happens." Ghira added as Eustace finished building the thing before throwing his wrench away.
"Okay dog. Let her rip." Eustace ordered as he jumped into the machine.
'This is not going to end well.' Courage whined as he turned a dial which activated the machine. Seeing Eustace 'swimming,' Courage then pulled the lever which made the machine move around the basement.
"Hey, look at me. I'm swimming." Eustace cheered as he continued to swim.
"Oh, lovely." Muriel said happy.
"Still doubt he is going to beat the dolphin." Blake commented. Still annoyed that her mom was covering her eyes.
"I can go way faster than this. Speed it up, dog." Eustace cockily ordered.
'How exactly?' Courage wondered. He then began pressing random buttons in an attempt to speed it up. Which it did but soon a warning sound came from the console.
"Huh?" Eustace exclaimed confused as the machine began to pick up even more speed. Soon going at dangerous speeds even Ruby wouldn't dare to try.
"Quick, shut it off." Kali said as she Blake and Ghira moved further back. Running over to the console, I the power switch and turned it so the machine would turn off. Unfortunately, it was too late as the machine crashed Eustace into a wall.
"WOAH!" Eustace exclaimed as the machine slowly brought him back to where he began. But his time with his limbs detached from his body.
"Now what?" Blake asked knowing what happened even though her eyes were still covered.
One Hour Later
"Here, everyone have a biscuit. And a wee cup of sassafras tea." Muriel said walking into the living room holding a tray full of biscuits and tea.
"Thank you." Kali said as she grabbed a cup and a biscuit.
"Thanks." Ghira said as well as he only took some tea.
"Thank you, Muriel." Blake said as she took some tea and a biscuit.
"It's no use trying to cheer me up Muriel. I'm a failure. I can't do it." Eustace complained before crying as I finished wrapping the last of his injuries from the machine in bandages.
"We've got to do something. Otherwise, I'm going to have to grow gills." Muriel said worried.
"I got an idea." I said remembering something that could potentially help.
"What Jaune?" Blake asked.
"It's a long shot. But it's all we got." I answered as I began to whisper them the idea.
Half Hour Later
*Knock Knock*
"Yes." I asked opening the door. Seeing Courage in full disguise and ready to go along with the plan. Which was to try and hypnotize Eustace into being a better swimmer. A long shot but we were running out of time.
'Ready.' Courage said as he entered the house.
"This can't possibly work." Blake remarked.
"Oh, look Eustace. It's Dr. Von Bubenmyer. The world-famous psychiatrist." Muriel told him as Courage placed a suitcase in front of Eustace.
'What seems to be the problem?' Courage faked asked Eustace.
"I'm just a great big nothing doc." Eustace answered.
'I got just the thing then.' Courage said as he opened the suitcase and pulled out an old pocket watch attached to a string. 'Watch the clock.'
"Oh." Eustace exclaimed as he looked at the pocket watch. His eyes turning to swirls indicating that he was under the trance.
"He says you need to crack open your hard, awful self and let out your better parts." Muriel told Eustace who began to repeat what she just told him.
"Out with my old self. In with myself." He repeated a few times before falling asleep.
"I sure hope this works." Muriel said as Courage removed the disguise.
"How long is this supposed to take? Ghira asked.
"Not sure. Could take a few minutes, could take a few hours. We'll just have to wait and see." I answered.
"In the meantime, I would like to know how did Courage learn to hypnotize people." Kali asked.
"That is a long story." I answered as I began to tell them how he learned hypnotism.
Three Hours Later
'Still saying the same thing.' I thought fighting through a yawn as I watched Eustace continue to repeat the same phrase. Looking over to the others, I saw that everyone was sleeping soundly. Courage was on Muriel's lap. Both fast asleep. Blake and her parents were asleep on the couch as well. Ghira in the center holding his daughter and wife in a loving and protective embrace as they slept. Seeing this made me smile.
'Huh?' I wondered when I heard Eustace. Looking over, I saw a strange sight. Eustace was standing in what seemed to be an old suit/skin of his while looking like a brand-new man.
"Ha, ha, ha." He laughed as he stepped out of the "suit" before tossing it away.
"What?" I asked confused as I stood up. Eustace then jumped towards where I was just at before easily picking up Muriel and Courage by the chair, they were sleeping in. Waking them up along with the Belladonna family.
"What's happening?" Blake asked as she woke up. Only to grow irritated when Kali covered her eyes again.
"Eustace, is that you?" Muriel asked shocked. "You look grand."
"It's my new self woman." He explained as he set them back down.
"Think you can take on the dolphin now?" I asked him.
"Let me at the fish. I'll make chopped herring out of him." He proudly declared.
"That sounds good right about now." Blake commented licking her lips.
Next Day
"Get out of here." I said as I pushed the dolphin back into the water after it leaned into the crowd and cockily laughed at us.
"Think he can beat the dolphin Jaune?" Blake asked. Yes, Kali was covering her eyes again. Despite the fact that Blake was a teenager.
"Honestly, I have no idea." I answered.
"Starting off our show today. Aa race. The rematch between Jojo and farmer Bagge." The announcer declared while motioning over to them. Eustace was doing squats while the dolphin swim across the surface of the water using only his tail fin. "This should be over quickly."
"I never thought I would ever cheer for someone like him." Ghira commented which we agreed on.
"Contestants. Take your places." The announcer said as the dolphin swam back to the starting line. Splashing Eustace who wasn't fazed at all.
"Go, Eustace! Go, Eustace!" Muriel cheered as she waved a flag with Eustace's face on it.
"Whoever can get through Wet World's wacky waterway's first will be the winner." The announced explained the rules.
'OOH!' Courage exclaimed in horror when he saw the course had a fire pit obstacle.
"How is fire above water?" Kali asked confused.
"On your marks. Get set." The announcer said before using a duck to start the race.
Eustace and the dolphin immediately began to swim through the obstacle course. First through three rings which they went through flawlessly. After that they jumped into the air from the water onto a slide that will launch them to the next part of the course which is to climb up and over a net. Next was the fire pit which they had to climb over using the rings above it. Yet, through all of this, Eustace and the Dolphin were still neck and neck.
'Come on Eustace.' I thought as I didn't want to lose Muriel. Luckily, the next part was to score baskets on a small basketball court which Eustace managed to take the lead in. But that was quickly taken away in the next part. They had to jump of a diving board to catch the fish the announcer was holding. Yet, as Eustace was about to do so, the announcer hit him with a bucket. Sending him crashing to the waters below dazed.
"HEY!" Ghira exclaimed when he saw that.
"That's not fair," Kali added.
"He's cheating." Muriel exclaimed upset. Looking over to Eustace, we saw that the hit reverted him back to his old self. Seeing this, Courage and I immediately went over to him.
"I'm just a great big nothing." Eusatce said as we approached him.
"Try it again Courage." I told him. He nodded and took out the pocket watch to try and hypnotize Eustace again.
"What's huh? Get away from me." Eustace said bitterly before splashing us with water before Courage could fully hypnotize him. "Stupid dog and kid."
"Damn it." I said as I wiped the water from my face. But as I did so, I heard something strange. Looking up, we saw that while we failed to hypnotize Eustace, we did succeed in hypnotizing the dolphin and the announcer.
'Huh?' Courage asked confused. But our confusion grew to extremes when the dolphin suddenly exploded leaving behind a tiny fish. Looking to the trainer, we saw his head explode with a tiny reptile jumping out.
"Go, Jojo, go." The reptile shouted. The fish nodded before quickly swimming as fast as it could. Only to be defeated when Eustace managed to cross the finish line first. With the fish hitting face first the concrete of the basketball court since it could it jump high enough.
"He did it." Muriel exclaimed happy that she was safe now. "Eustace beat the fishy."
'That was too close.' Courage said letting out a sigh of relief.
"I don't know about you. But I am done with water parks for the time being." I said as we headed back to the others.
'You said it.' Courage agreed.
Eight P.M.
"Come on. Who wants to race me?" Eustace asked as he swam around the giant tank filled with water.
"Not me." Blake, Courage and I said at the same time.
We were at the house again. But with a giant tank of water in the living room as Eustace wanted to keep on swimming. As his ego somehow managed to get even larger after defeating the fish. And now, on his high of winning, Eustace was pestering us into racing him so he could win again. But we all knew we would beat him in a swimming race.
"Oh, my." Muriel exclaimed happily as Eustace jumped through some hoops. "Isn't this cozy?"
"Sort of." Kali answered before getting splashed with some water.
"Everything is back to normal. Now that Eustace has his self-esteem back." Muriel said as we continued to watch Eustace.
"Is that even a good thing?" Ghira asked.
"Come on. Who wants to race me?" Eustace asked as he started to bang against the side of the tank in frustration and impatience. But as he did so, I noticed that cracks started to appear.
"Um, we better move." I said as some water started to leak out from the cracks. The others nodded before we all exited the house just in time as the tank broke releasing all the water into the living room just as we closed the door. Opening the door again, and letting the water out, we looked inside and saw Eustace laying on the ground in pain.
"Win." He weakly said before passing out.
"Great." I thought as we headed inside to clean up after his mess.
"Oh, well. It gives us more reason to clean up seeing that tomorrow is our sea food Sunday tradition." Muriel said as she took out the broom from the closet.
"Sea food Sunday?" Blake asked curious. I gave a light chuckle before explaining it to them. And needless to say, after wards, they were all looking forward to tomorrow.
Note:
(1) Food of the dragon with Blake, Kali and Ghira (2) Journey to the center of Nowhere with Peach (3) Heads of Beef with Sun and Neptune. (4) Forbidden Hat of Gold with Oobleck and Port.