Okage Densetsu – Lookit the Fancy Japanese
Chapter 12 – Big Losers in Big Trees
Our party had to backtrack through the tunnel, a few complaints rising here and there from mostly our heroine, who would get rude responses from everyone's favorite 'Great' Evil King. Corona managed to fill her bucket twice, once in the tunnel, and once across the plains, never saying a word in between. Rin hung off whoever was foolish enough to extend an arm. Kisling spent his time taking down notes and answering the occasional question spouted by Marlene. Lastly, our hero had to put up with being held onto (by Marlene) and hung off of (by Rin) and reminded himself as he passed through Madril that there had to be a silver lining somewhere. He didn't get the chance to look for Linda on the way through, but somehow knew they'd come back. The Big Tree Hole, Ari recalled when they got to the woods, was currently closed because of big monsters inhabiting it- it was just off the main trail, marked with a sign. Everyone followed him in, finding they were indeed inside a tree hole.
"Now I've played in here before when I was little, but don't tell my parents. We weren't suppose to. But I think I know the layout to this place."
"Not a word will escape my lips, but let us hurry before another stupid Evil King randomly appears."
"Sounds like a good idea. Stay close, everyone!"
Ari carefully began walking, leading everyone into a huge, relatively blank room. There was nothing in it but a broken chest. He looked around, thinking hard.
"It does not seem to have a way through…" Kisling looked around, "Wrong turn?"
"No, it was… oh!" Ari wandered to the area behind the broken chest, then actually stuck his hand straight through the wall. "Right through here. Just walk through it, like this-" He stepped through, disappearing entirely to the party's great surprise- "Don't ask me how it works but it does."
"Yay! Magic!" Rin bounced through, attaching to Ari on the other side.
The rest looked among themselves for a minute, then followed. Kisling took extensive notes during the short trip, managing to follow along as Ari led them off again. The rest was the usual: Ghost slaying. Winding through more invisible walls, he finally reached what he thought was the destination, where everyone found none other than the Big Bull Evil King.
"Ahaha! You came. I'm proud of you weaklings! Now, time for a beating!"
"You'll be the one getting beat!" Rosalyn's blade was pointed at the creature's nose, "Prepare to meet your fate, Evil King!"
"…" Corona suddenly stuck her face against the bucket, slowly walking up to the King.
"Oh yeah? Just wait, I'll pound you humans so hard you'll open your eyes and it will be next Tuesday! By that time I'll have already taken over the world with my unstoppable powers! Hah! Hey, what are you doing?" He turned to stare at Corona.
She suddenly removed her face from the bucket and simply splashed the contents against the critter, backing away slowly.
"HEY! WHAT WAS THAT- …ooh. Tingly. Now… it's burning. Burning. Burning. OH MY GOD HELP!" He suddenly threw himself to the floor and started rolling about on the floor, causing everyone to stare in amazement, "AAAAH! IT BURNS!"
Rosalyn suddenly conjured up a spell, causing the guy to freeze solid for a minute. When he thawed, he let out a relaxed sigh, then she ran over and gave him a sharp kick. "Defeated?"
"Ow! That was so totally cheap…" Big Bull Evil King tried to deflect the blows he was receiving from Rosalyn, "Nobody said you could use foreign substances!"
"Foreign? Corona's spit is all natural," Ari sheathed his blade he didn't get to use this time, "You never laid out any rules for combat anyhow. So, uh, fair match."
"NO!" He suddenly jumped up and kicked Rosalyn away, "We're starting over! No spit flinging! Got it!"
"Got it!" Everyone answered.
"Right! Now, time to kick your ass!"
It didn't last long- everyone in the room capable of doing so suddenly launched a spell at the guy. He was first frozen, hit by lightning, then roasted to a crisp with fire. Blinking a few times, he fell over. "Uh… on second thought…"
"Yes! Time to return my powers! Haha-"
"No wait! Tatic three: NO SPELLS!"
"Hey!" Rosalyn stomped her foot, "Don't change the rules!"
"Haha! I'm evil, so therefore I WILL change them!"
"…can you make a rule against… swords?"
"Yes! See, now you can't use swords!"
"Corona!" Rosalyn turned, yelling at her.
"No, Rosalyn! Wait!" Ari hid a smirk, "I think she has a plan."
"…can you make a rule against… tofu?"
"Uh… no tofu! Hah!"
"…how about… no rules?"
"Yes! From now on the rule is there are no rules!"
Everyone suddenly grew a smirk.
"…Uh-oh."
What happened next was brutal: the entire party leapt upon this disappointing Evil King, attacking all at once. At first he managed to fight back, but was eventually overpowered. By the time everyone jumped back, the Big Bull Evil King looked like he needed some serious first aid.
"Okay…" He wheezed, "You win…"
"Thank god… Thanks, Corona! Sorry for yelling!"
"Whatever! NOW!" Stan suddenly drew in the power, "Yes, yes! Even closer! Bwahaha!"
"…Yo! Can someone tell me what just happened? I'm sore, like after a really great workout!" The Former Big Bull Evil King was back on his feet, grinning from ear to ear, "I can't remember much of anything! Haha!"
"…Well you wanted to take over the world," Ari started.
"…And you called yourself the Big Bull Evil King," Added Rosalyn.
"So you wanted a challenger worthy enough to fight you," Mentioned Kisling.
"You instructed us to travel to 'Big Tree Hole' in Tenel, where we are currently located," Spoke Marlene.
"And we hadta beat you up cause you were bein' all bad 'n stuff!" Giggled Rin.
"…so we laid the smackdown," Drooled Corona.
"And now we're done with you, you stupid false Evil King," Laughed Stan.
"…Wow. Pretty awesome! So you were all strong enough to fight me, eh? Hmm. So now you've come and- I got it! Brothers, sisters, we can join together and train together!"
"Huh?" Ari blinked.
"Brother! Allow me to come with and train with you! We'll totally build our muscles and become super strong!"
"Who are you calling brother?" Rosalyn's eyebrow raised slightly.
"Why, him, Sister!"
"Who are you calling sister?" She was suddenly extremely upset, "I'm Rosalyn!"
"Right, Sister Rosalyn! Wow, and we have Little Sister, another Sister, Pretty One, Brother-of-Black, and the Doc! YO DOC!"
"Yo!" Kisling gave the Former Big Bull King a peace-sign.
"Totally awesome! I'm Big Bull, and I'll help you all build up your bodies! We'll all be so totally strong that we'll be able to take on any foe, right, Little Sis!"
"Yeah!"
"Big Sis?"
"…sure…"
"Brother in BLACK?"
"NO! MY NAME IS KING STAN!"
"Haha! Brother?"
"Uhh…"
"Pretty One, how about you?"
Marlene didn't respond, clearly not knowing she was 'Pretty One'.
"Yeah! And you, Sister Rosalyn?"
"I AM NOT YOUR SISTER!"
"A LITTLE LOVE, SISTER ROSALYN, YEAAAAH!"
"I AM NOT YOUR SISTER!"
Everyone laughed, causing Rosalyn to flush red with anger and stomp off. Slowly, laughing, everyone followed along, not even seemingly minding Big Bull was following along, but it was like he had always been there.
Upon exiting, Ari forced himself to calm down and went to try to calm Rosalyn down. Once again he was threatened with her sword, but Marlene scolded Rosalyn who then finally calmed down and sheathed her sword. After that mess was cleared up, Big Bull had started the 'sister' talk again, pissing off Rosalyn once again. This resulted in her screaming, then Stan taunting, then more screaming between the two.
"I swear…" Ari grumbled quietly under the screaming voices, "They're acting like two kids in love on a playground."
"There isn't much you can do about it," Kisling snapped his book shut, having filled it with enough information for the day, "Maybe it is time to suggest we stay at the local inn. It IS getting late."
"Good idea! HEY! ROSALYN!"
"You stupid one dimen- Yes, Ari?" She suddenly turned to him, incredibly angry.
"We should get off to bed!"
"Who gave you permission, Slave?"
"The setting sun."
"Leave Ari alone, you foul creature! Indeed, we should bed down for the night. Your Majesty, shall we-"
"We shall spend the night at Ari's house."
"…I guess Mom won't mind…" Ari sighed, leading the party that way. Heading up, he knocked on the door and was greeted by none other than Mom, "Hey Mom."
"Hello, Ari! Hello everyone! Oh, who's the new face in the crowd?"
"Ah! I'm Big Bull, ma'am! A pleasure to see such a radiant creature!"
Mom burst into giggles, "You flatterer! Are you guys here for a place to stay?"
Everyone (but Stan) nodded.
"Alright, come right on in! As I always say, friends of Ari are friends of ours! Come in, come in!"
The rest of the night was filled with a good dinner, lots of talking, and finally, some rest. They had to double up in rooms, and, of course, Marlene had taken over Ari's bed. Our hero had to therefore sleep on the floor.
"I hope you're comfy…" Ari grumbled, lying across the floor on a blanket, with another tossed over himself.
"I am."
"…" Ari sighed, "Good night, Marlene. Now we can't go chase down flowers this time."
"Alright. Good-night."
"Good." Ari turned over, trying his best to pretend the wooden floor was comfortable. He then noticed it was as silent as if he was the only one in the room, so he turned over again to glance at Marlene. She was rested in the bed, under the totally undisturbed covers, eyes closed. She looked like a child's doll having been put to it's bed, lying totally motionless except for very faint breathing. Somehow, this made her look more beautiful, yet artificial at the same time. "…She goes to sleep so fast… darn talent."
Before he lied back down, he noticed she still had her music box locked tightly in her hand. Reaching over, he gently took it from her (she simply released it when he gave a slight pull) then set it on the bedside right where she could see it when she woke up. He did one last thing: she still had on her dark, metal tiara. He carefully slipped it off her forehead and put it around the music box. "There. Sleep well."
Lying back down, he let out a sigh, and then tried to get some sleep.
"Good-morning."
Ari sighed, opened his eyes, and then sat upright. It was morning, a relatively decent hour. He yawned, stretched, and then looked over at Marlene who was sitting on the bed. "Good morning…"
She slipped her tiara on carefully, "I am not suppose to remove my tiara…"
"Oh… sorry… I just thought you'd be more comfortable sleeping with it off."
"…Indeed." She then took her music box, holding it tightly.
"You really like that, don't you?" Ari grinned when she nodded, "Good thing, too. I would've been upset if you didn't like it."
"It is enjoyable. Now, let us rise and discover our next destination. Help me awake the others."
"…Right." Ari lost his smile as he got up and made his rounds through the house, awaking his party without disturbing his family. After everyone got together and outside, they discussed as to where to go, and all finally decided it was time to use the Map O' Evil Kings. "Okay, it says… 'Songs that sound sweet, a singer so petite, though innocent she may seem… deep inside… is someone quite mean…'"
"Ari, what's wrong?" Rin looked up, "You look scared or somethin'!"
"Linda…" He whispered the name so quietly nobody could hear him.
