The Bounty of Oz Chapter 9:

After rescuing the Horny Monk Miroku, our heroes finally made their way back to Planet Mars. They were awaited by the crude, but kind guard Dave Chapelle as he opened the gates to let in the army and the party. The whole city celebrated their return and their sucess in defeating the evil witch, Julia. Dave immediately led the party back to the chamber where the bounty was waiting. They all entered and waited paitently for him to arrive. As they stood near the contraption the cloud of smoke came back again and so did that booming voice.

"I see that you have succeded in overthrowing the witch and her army of Kuronekos, congratulations." he said.

"Thank you." Faye said.

"We are very pleased to hear such kind words from you." Jet said.

"Would you cut the crap already and help us?!" Spike asked impaitently.

"Spike, that's not a nice thing to say to the bounty." Ed scolded.

"It's quite alright I know I can be quite impaitent sometimes myself." The bounty replied.

"I hate to concur with Spike but you did say that you would help all of us." Faye said.

"I know Ms. Valentine but, I'm afraid I can't help you." The bounty said.

"WHAT?!" Everybody shouted.

"How could you say that?!" Jet asked.

"We risked our asses to get the damn Ruby Goggles back and I'm more than sure that all of us would like some compensation for the job." Spike shouted.

"I know you all risked your lives, but I'm simply afraid that I cannot help you." The bounty replied.

"Oh please Mr. Bounty sir, I wanted to help my friends and I feel that I have done what I could for them. I got the goggles back just like you wanted. Please Mr. Bounty, we came all the way here to ask for your help. All Ed and Ein want to do is go home and we were hoping if you could help us, please?" Ed pleaded as she cried. Ein whined alongside with her and everybody else.

"I sympatize with your situation Ed, but I don't have that kind of power." The Bounty replied.

Ed burst into tears as she heard those words. Spike and Jet bent down to comfort her while Faye noticed something strange about the Bounty.

Hmmmmm, his voice sounds exactly like Homer Simpson of the Simpsons, and from what I've heard the Bounty was never this cruel or this horribly honest, in my opinion anyway. Not to mention I see a curtain in a room where there shouldn't be one to begin with. She thought.

Faye walked over to the curtain and pulled it open.

"Aha! Just as I thought!" She shouted.

Everyone looked up at Faye then looked at the man in behind the curtain.

"Oh don't mind my friend that's hiding in the curtain he's just fixing my machine." The man said in his Homer Simpson voice.

"WHAT?!" Spike said.

"Vash The Stampede?! How, how did you, how could you do this to us?!" Jet shouted.

Vash couldn't take it anymore. He had grown tired of all of the lies he had created. He finally stood up and walked over to the group.

"I'm sorry about all of this, but I was actually testing you guys." He said.

"HUH?!" Everyone said in unison.

"I know it sounds strange but I knew Ed wasn't from around here, but I wanted to make sure, after all this isn't the first time Julia's tricked anyone. In order to see if you were really worthy I disguised myself as The Bounty and never revealed my true identity to any outsiders that were not from the city, you know security purposes." Vash explained.

"Oh, I see, that's understandable, I guess." Faye said.

"But I thought you said you couldn't help us." Ed said.

"Oh no, I was pulling your leg. I can't send you home Ed, but I know someone who can help you. First things first though, I have to help your friends with their problems, but I need something in return. " Vash said.

"What?" Faye asked.

"I would like a box of donuts if that wouldn't be too much of a problem." Vash said.

"But we don't have a box of donuts." Jet said.

Ed jumped up and smiled. She went through her bag looking for the box of donuts that Julia had given her. She took them out and handed them to Vash.

"Oh me oh my, where ever did get those delicious looking donuts?" He asked happily.

"Well when I first came here, Julia stopped me in my tracks and accidently gave me the box of donuts." Ed answered.

"Thank you very much, now that I have been paid, I can help out your friends." He said.

"Good, cause I'm in desperate need for a ciggarette." Spike said.