Reunited

Chapter 10: A Scorpion and a Mouse

Peasley leaps forward, slashing at the bizarre creature that now inhabites the ship that once belonged to Johnny Jones. Gojira rolls backwards, then springs forward, kicking the Beanbean prince in his stomach. The creature's legs land behind him, and he immediatly raises- backwards- into a standing position.

"You two are foolish," Gojira says to Popple and Peasley, "Before you come charging into an area, do your research on what all is there. Useless advice though, I suppose, as this shall be your last memory."

And with that he launches forward at Popple, who ducks and takes a stab at the jester-like being as he passes over. Gojira lands on his feet, holding him stomach.

"Nice to see at least one of you has some knowledge of battle, it is. So, do you want to fight me one at a time or shall I call in a reinforcement to make this even?"

"Reinforcement?" Peasley asks, confused, "I know for a fact that the spirits on board this ship will obey no man. And I doubt that the King Kalimari would be any more willing than they."

"You are Prince Peasley, correct? Heh heh. You don't think that I would move into here without a few bodyguards, do you? Because if so then you have no business being the future ruler of the Beanbean Kingdom. Of course, a country so horrible is deserving of such a slow-witted prince. Now then, come, Black Scorpion #5!"

Just after Gojira says this, a tall, somewhat disproportionate figure walks into the room. He wears a black hood and a robe to match, and no part of him besides his hands are visible. His hands indicate that he is either human or very close to it.

"This is it?" Popple asks, chuckling, "No sweat. We'll take care of you both easily enough, you cocky clown-thing."

The creature responds by merely tackling Popple to ground. Black Scorpion #5 meanwhile begins punching Peasley in a frenzy, hitting numerous times in the Bean's jaw. Peasley repeatedly attempts to use his weapon to attack in response, but the Scorpion is moving much too fast to keep up with.

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Goombella, Koops, Vivian, and Eggo stand up, having just finished their meal.

"That was good," states Goombella, "Bit dry, but alright. Well, anyway, shall we be heading out?"

"Not quite yet," answers the Yoshi. "I say we need to stop by the prison here first."

"Did you just say the prison?" Goombella asks, trying to make sure she heard correctly.

"Oh yeah, how could I forget?" Vivian asks herself out loud. She then turns to Goombella and says, "Goombella, the prison here is where they are keeping Ms. Mowz!"

"Where they WERE keeping Ms. Mowz you mean."

The four turn to see a small white Little Mouser standing on a crate above them wearing a red mask. Her tail is shaped like a heart which, though quite odd, actually looks fairly normal if you don't look at it hard enough to tell it's a heart.

"I escaped," the mouse says to the four, who are looking confusedly at her, "So nice to see you all again!" she then shouts, jumping down and whipping out a green robe, which she then tosses around herself quickly to keep herself hiddren from any locals who may recognize her. The four heroes run up and commence in a group hug with the thief, then turn to serious matters.

"Are you sure that you'll be safe just because of the robe?" asks Goombella of Ms. Mowz, sounding a bit nervous.

"Relax. They don't even know I'm gone; all of the police within the Mushroom Kingdom have been called by Ludwig to go find Cackletta. Everyone escaped and trust me, they'll be looking for murderers and such first of all, not people who didn't pay taxes. It'll be years before they even bother to come looking for me and by then I'll be out of the country. I've got plans to start a new badge shop in the Beanbean Kingdom anyway. Plus, they've been so intent on catching the Pirate Hunter that they're've been days when we weren't even given dinner due to them being busy with investigating it."

"What was that about Cackletta? I thought she was dead!" Vivian replies, shocked.

"She is. Her hand was the one that was stolen. I overhead some guards talking this morning, and then a bunch of us got together and put together an escape plan. I take it that you all are working to stop her apprentice then?"

"Of course. That would explain the bat in Glitzville, and that fifth person," Koops responds.

"Who's Cackletta?" asks Eggo. Goombella turns to the Yoshi.

"Five years ago, Mario and Luigi went to the Beanbean Kingdom to get back Peach's voice, which had been stolen by Cackletta, who was a Beanbean witch, and her bizarre-speaking apprentice Fawful. They defeated her in the Woohoo Hooniversity, but as she was approaching death Fawful sucked her energy into a special helmet he invented, which was also the helmet that had been used to steal Peach's voice. The ghost of the witch was put into Bowser's body, creating the monster Bowletta, who kidnapped Peach, who as it turned out hadn't had her voice stolen after all- it was actually a Birdo in disguise. The Marios got her back then went into Bowser's castle, and defeated all seven Koopalings, who were tricked into working for Bowletta, beliving he... she... um, it to be their father. They then went on to defeat Fawful just outside of Bowser's throne room. After a timely assist from Prince Peasley, who killed the Bean by knocking him out of the castle and into the ocean, the two continued. They fought Bowletta and were eaten, but they retained enough stamina to survive. Inside of the creature, they fought and destroyed Cackletta's ghost, which left Bowser's body and this realm."

"Now we know what we're up against, at least," Koops says about the Cackletta subject, "But from what I understand she isn't exactly a light-weight. Cackletta's the real deal."

"Well then," says Vivian, "Shall we be heading out?"

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The Bean walks into the Twilight Woods slowly, dragging himself through the canyon which, at the rate he is going, would take weeks, rather than using the trail. As soon as he gets into the woods, he collapses, lying on the ground suffering of hunger, thirst, and fatigue. His hair and beard's silver color reflects the moonlight off of them as his eyes close.