The quagmire in the Isle O' Hags had always been rather grimy since the factory had shut down all those years ago, and many of its pathways and tunnels had either closed down or been covered over with wet moss. The train tracks, for example, were in disarray and could not be traveled upon by any means, certainly not by Chuffy. An odd silence filled the empty void.

A silence that was soon filled with the chattering of the Blue Egg, Yellow Egg, and Ice Key, relentless in their travels.

"Are you sure Mingella's spellbook is around this way?" asked Yellow. "You really should check into it more."

"I'm sure it's over there," responded Blue. "Honey B said that Grunty's sisters got squashed under some weights in her castle. The book must still be with them."

"It better be," added Key. "I mean, we walked all this way, and I'd hate to walk all the way back empty-handed."

On that note, the three examined the secret exit. "That's high! How are we supposed to get up to that?"

"WILL you stop yellin' over there?"

All three turned to the angry voice. There stood a sign near a service elevator reading NOT IN USE. The paint on the letters was apparently still wet, with a paintbrush and can beside it.

"Yeah, I'm talkin' to you!" spoke the paint can. "Who are you to be yellin' like ya own the place?"

"Well, I'm sorry mister," said Yellow. "We were just wondering how we could get up to that door over there."

"Maybe you can stick a rocket up your ass and launch ya'self up there!" retorted the can.

"Heh heh, launch ya'self..." added the paintbrush.

"Hey now!" said Key. "Watch your language!"

"Or what – you gonna kick my ass?" said the can. "Imagine that: a piece o' ice kickin' my ass! That'd be the day!"

"Heh heh, imagine..." said the paintbrush.

"What did I tell you about repeating me?" said the can.

"Sorry."

"The Ice Key could not stand for this. "I dare you to say that again. I dare you!"

But the paint can just chortled. "Heheheh... What is your PROBLEM, boy? Lookit you, two eggs and a key! No wonder you three are together. Ya look like a big flang with to monkeys! Heheheh!"

"Heh heh, flang..."

"Why you–" and the Key dashed for the lippy can. The eggs tried to hold him back, but it was no use: Key knocked down the paint can, spilling red paint onto the ground.

"Aw no!" moaned the can. "My one weakness! Noooo! I just KNOW that ------- pitchfork put you up to this! Damn ---- ! I'M NOT DONE, DAMN YOU! I'M...not..." his voice faded as the paint slowly drizzled into a storm drain.

The two eggs stared in disbelief. "You... you just killed a complete stranger!" they said.

"COOL!"

The paintbrush hopped away. "Heh heh, cool..."

------

At the inn, Kazooie poked her head out the window in order to see clearly. The ships loomed overhead in the night sky, as a movement took place in them.

Captain Blackeye climbed out of the lower deck. "Well, well, well," he began, "ye think I wouldn't be lookin' for ye, didn't ye?"

Kazooie looked confused. "Um... who are you again?" she asked.

"ARRRGH!" yelled the captain. "Don't act dumb with me, ye mangy pile of feathers! You know what you and the bear did to me."

The Breegull thought for a moment. "Er...OH," she realized, "I know what he's referring to..."

"Ye darn right ye do!" said Blackeye. "It wasn't the concept of a bear runnin' around collecting Jiggys, it was the idea of a Bear n' Bird joined at the hip that enticed those people ta create Banjo-Kazooie!"

"This is just too surreal..."

"Mumbo not part of idea to make game," said the witch doctor. "So shaman not get blasted..."

"Hey!" said the bird. "Yeah, like you're really gonna get us in a game called Banjo-Threeie!"

"Urrgh... Yer all gonna get what ye rightfully deserve, said Blackeye, "and I've got all but 3 crewmen with me..." He waved his arm over, and a few of the shipmates appeared on each vessel.

Dozens of hippos appeared on the wooden ship.

"Ready the missiles, men!" said Blubber, who was in charge of the weaponry on the Salty Hippo.

"Did I GIVE that order?" said Captain Ungry, a fellow hippo. "Ye know, you really haven't been ship-worthy since you blew all of the ship's gold away on somma that luxury craft..."

"Sorry, Captain..." said blubber with a few burps.

Back at the Rusty Bucket, Blackeye spoke once again, "ye can surrender now, or be blasted and squished under the remains of the inn."

"We have no choice!" said Bottles. "Either way, we'll die!"

"Bottles, when will you learn?" said the bird. "There is always a way out of these things. We just have to stall them until we have a plan."

"Mumbo unsure of Breegull's idea," said he. "They not wait much long to zap bird."

"Says you," said Kazooie. "Now Bottles, let's wake up the others, and maybe we'll survive."