Characters I wanted to include in the pre-story plus more but didn't due to thematic reasons. All dreams are of dubious canon, and may or may not have been dreamed or happened for that matter. In no particular order. Rated S for containing Schezo-ism that may or may not be innocent.
Chapter Dream: In non-italics vision
Panotty had been following Arle and Carbuncle ever since she defeated since they defeated his musical partner Harpy. The elf has been bugging her and her next three opponents with his beautiful music. And they ignored him, and he knew.
So he played louder.
And louder…
And louder.
And louder!
And louder!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!
AND LOUDER!!!!!!!!
"Okay, enough ya li'l twerp!" Arle expressed. Panotty snickered hysterically.
At the local romantic restaurant. One happy demon finally got his wish. A date. A date in which the girl and her pet are just scarfing down on the curry the man provided for. The man just poured some exotic, several years old lemonade in his glass from the glass bottle. "So, baby." He tried breaking the ice as he twirled the liquid in his glass. "Why the sudden interest in my advances?" *Sip* "You usually put more of an resistance when I try to ask you out, beautiful."
Still enjoying the curry, Arle replied. "Because I was hungry." She spoke with her food in her mouth.
"C'mon, honey, that can't be the only reason."
"I'm trying to lure Dark Prince here he's got a book he gotta return." She just admitted, not really caring how Incubus thought about it.
"Ah, so honest. Yet I'm here, so jealous." He swooned. Though he did do a double take. "The Dark Prince? Holy *Bleep*!" He gained some eyes eyeballs as his usual mannerisms faltered somewhat. Arle didn't mind.
*Chewing noises* "Yup." *Chew Chew, incoming train*
"Please tell your fiancé to go easy on me."
"He's not my fiancé!" Arle stood up and pointed at Incubus.
A lot of eyeballs were looking at her. Arle decided it was wise to slowly and nervously sit back down.
"Here is your Owlbear [insert something you wouldn't eat, but probably not that] and Mermaid boiled in the finest teal Puyo juices, sir." The waiter placed Incubus' meal in front of him. "Enjoy."
"Thank you."
Arle looked at it with a wrinkly mouth. 'That doesn't look appetizing. Umgrg. Smells worse.'
"Hm. Want some of this, honey?" He pushed it closer Arle's face.
Arle gagged and fell unconscious. Carbuncle fought Incubus but not before they were kicked out.
"Oh, Mino. Been a while."
"Moo?"
"Rulue been treating you well lately?" "That's none of yer business. But she's gotten strong."
"Like how strong?" Minotauros handed over his axe.
Arle, surprised, held it diagonally. And fell over backwards from the weight. "Whoawhoawhoawhoa-WAH!"
"M'lady can lift my axe with ease now. Makes me proud 'n sad. One day she won't need my help anymore. Or what if she suddenly decided to fire me? Or doesn't need my protection anymore, or needs me to spar or learned how to cook. The job pool for Minotaurs are surprisingly small, ya know. And I love my job, I don't work a day in my life. I prefer to protect Rulue, beats pushing a wheel in endless circles fer sure. Or fighting angry greeks. Blech. Those are the worst. Not to go onna tangent but I've been thinkin' about gettin' a huge hammer. Apparently handles about the same as my axe. I'd be known as Rulue's Hammerin' Herald; Minotauros! Probably could take up carpentry too, like my niece. Her furniture break's a li'l too often for my taste. Not always my fault. I'd be very careful. It's like my Ma always said: 'You'll do it eventually'. Like I did with a marble statue of Rulue and… The Dark Prince. I had to do it several times over, she was never quite satisfied. I did my best on his nose, but I kept lookin' like a wicked witch's. And I'm not talking about that Witch, I'm talkin' 'bout a huuuge schnoz here. I'm not that good at male human-like noses is all. And fer my failures M'lady rewards me by breaking the marble. Then I redid it and let her do his nose. And she broke it! She was content with just another marble statue of herself 'n send it to the Prince. She really wants him to have art pieces of himself. Speaking of the Prince, Rulue's been worryin' me. Seems to me she's getting loonier 'n loonier to me every time. Suggested a hobby, but she kept turned that back 'round to the Prince. Suggested reading some non-fiction books, but started her own novel, clearly projectin' whut she wants. Suggested in a covert manner to see a therapist. Went back to that durned Prince. Nice guy 'n all, but Rulue deserves someone who loves 'er back, yanno? Or somethin' or someone that would make her happier than that guy? Like a martial art tournament. I feel I like had a point at some point."
Arle wasn't so sure. But she had a hunch that Minotauros wasn't completely happy. "I think Rulue will always need a lackey around somewhere."
"You think so?" The bulky creature sounded happy again.
"Yeah."
"Thanks, Arle. I hope you and Rulue will get along again. 'N sorry for torturing with my ramblin'. Something I can do fer you?"
"I need air! Quick, get this axe off of me! I also wanna battle you for leaving me like this for so long."
Arle and Carbuncle took a break in the sitting on a playground's swing sets. Arle didn't get to enjoy swinging, Carbuncle did. "Guuuuuuuuuuuu!" She pushed him. They had a great time.
Unlike the grumpy loser kid over there with the sword and the armor too big for him. "Langus! Didn't recognize you there. Want me to push you too?" Arle asked innocently, jiggling the swing next to Carbuncle's.
"Nnnrgh." The cursed warrior was on the verge of a tantrum as he pointed his blade at the magician. It's almost precious.
"Oh sorry. Heh heh. I forgot. Just to let you know, I would share my EXP with you if I could."
"Thanks, Arle. I just wanna get rid of this dumb curse already."
Arle jiggled the set again. "Wanna sit down, maybe chat a little?"
"Fine." Langus sadly set down. He didn't feel like swinging, and resisted pushing.
"'Kay, fine. Have it your way… Say, some real talk. And please try not to get angry, 'kay?"
He already didn't like where this is going.
"You're stuck being a kid sometimes. Why not embrace it sometimes? After all the time I wasted I'd like to relive my childhood again."
"Guu?"
"No, not you." She rubbed Carbuncle's head playfully.
"I JUST DON'T LIKE IT! I'M AN ADULT DAMMIT! I WANT IT NOW! GO EASY ON ME SO I CAN GAIN AS MUCH EXP AS POSSIBLE! I CAN'T AFFORD MORE SETBACKS!"
"C'mon Carby. Looks like we need to pacify him." Arle made Carbuncle laugh.
"So why're you blocking my path?…" Arle sighed like she's starting to get sick of it. "I would ask who you are but I'm kinda in a hurry here."
"Guu."
The person she's talking to was give or take just as tall as the Dark Prince, but fat, wore glasses, an oversized hoodi…
I accidentally described myself there… I was gonna write the narrator of life… Should I? Do I want to ruin my credibility? As long as I don't make my-*coughing* self look cool I should be fi-*Aaaahh-CHO!* fine… I'm gritting my teeth here. I'll blame the cold.
The… thing she's talking to seemed slightly taller than the Dark Prince, horns notwithstanding. It was some Knight Armor coloured dark blue, clashing against anything. It also had red glowy eyes, a sword and a visible dark misty aura where his body should be. I'm planning to use this design for something else. So all the context you're gonna get that it's a body of a creation of mine for original fiction, and I'm borrowing its body. It sounds like I'm shilling this, but I'm trying not to. (Don't get your hopes up I'll ever commit enough time to it. You'll sooner see it in my sister's Skylanders fanfiction before I ever get to use it.)
"Are you *Sniff* Arle?" I feigned politeness. I tend to care less when I'm sick. "Yeah." "Good, I'm Darknightmare, name pending, for I-*Hacking, as in cough* I'm more like a dark mage." I didn't pay much attention to my delivery. I basically said them. I politely covered my non-mouth with my wrist of my gauntlet and my atmosphere is cold, by the way.
"You related to Schazu?" I sneezed and I seriously misspelled it like that… And darn… It's a lot like Schezo now I think about it. It's supposed to cast the lvl 1 black mage spells too. Also, it's like Ecolo to an extent…
What am I doing? Why must I embarrass myself? I don't wanna give my section too much attention. C'mon. Don't like the pressure, let's move it along.
"Ach-choo!" *Sniffle* *Cough cough hacking* "Urng."
"Gesundheit. You okay?"
"Just a cold. Don't worry. In Chapter 23 I'll make Sig sick again." Not to make me feel better it was already planned. Don't you just love retreading old ground? Oh. Sorry, probably shouldn't break that wall that bad. I don't like winching either.
"Sig?"
"Guu?"
"If I do-*Couch* don't switch things aro-*cough* around." My head feels like aching. I rubbed my eyes, my mist ghost eyes. Of course, that's possible. "Leh-leh-LEH-CHOOOO!"
"Gesundheit."
"Fhank you." *Sniff* "Let's battle where *A dozen coughs* I keep battling you until my patience runs out."
"While I don't mind playing Puyo with complete and hostile strangers. I think you should go home and rest." She showed some concern for me. Probably fake.
"Ah-choooooooo!"
"Gu Guu Gu."
*A series of coughs with a "thanks" barely make outable*
"Choo!" Arle sneezed. "Gezondheid." I said out of courtesy. "And *Sniff* sorry. Tell you what, maybe faker 'cept not don't kill me. How 'bout just one match *sniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiff* and you win, and assuming you're better than your AI, you will win, I'll cure you. I'm not good at Pu-*Hack cough*yo." I'll always be honest about that until I do get good. The 'yo' part of Puyo was a bit raspy.
And so we battled. And while usually don't bother with the outcomes: She won. I swear! I don't wanna be labeled as a Mary Sue or any other label.
I've should've just written in NiGHTS, Scratch and Grounder, Bayonetta, a Street of Rage rep, Panel de Pon, or that Kirby crossover I cancelled for being too out of place. Or whatever my original idea for this segment was…
Huh? 4 in the morning? *Sniffle*
"Heeeello there, li'l girl." A grown pink-haired woman with long horns curled at the top, wings and a layer of make-up in a fancy dress told Arle in a slightly inappropriate way with a little condescension sprinkled in. Arle only picked that up 'cause the demon stared at her breastplate with a smirk.
"Hmmm." The winged moaned. "I've been looking for a handsome wizard with a looong sword named Schezo. Have you seen him?"
"Not lately. Sorry, lady." 'Willing to bet 5 Credits this is who get it from.'
*Crack*
"Ah!" 'How did I not notice that whip on her hip?'
"Tut tut. You're lying. Your pet has his smell on him. You can't hide him from Succubus." She winked straightened her whip.
"I really don't know where he is! He always finds me. I don't think he deserves whatever you're gonna do to him."
"Oh well." The demon giggled. "If that's what you think, how about you and me go for a round, baby?" She flirted?! Though the baby part sounded condescending again.
"M-Me? I-I don't wanna date!"
Succubus chuckled, happy her teasing worked. "I'm not talking about that, silly. I doubt you could satisfy that way. I entertain children with Puyo Puyo."
"Okay, that's it! I'm not a kid!"
*Crack*
"Yes, I am!"
"Ouch."
"Guu! Guugu-gugugu. Gu, gu-gu!"
"I'll walk it off Carby. It's just a little wound, you know I've had worse."
"Gu-gu. Gu gu gugu!"
"Well, I guess we're low on medical supplies."
"Gu."
"Okay, I'll stay here until you come back with bandages. Then we'll get a potion in town."
"Gu!"
Carbuncle nodded as headed off.
It didn't him very long to find some bandages. There were some laying on that rock right there. Carbuncle took it. Oblivious to what it was attached to.
"Wowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowow-"
Can he do it? Can Mamono kick that cute, little, innocent Baromett eating the grass? Kick it good?
"Meeeh." Folks, it appears the thing does not suspect a thing. Let's see.
Oh look, he's preparing for the run. "Growokhok." The demon silently chuckled to himself rubbing his frontal talons together. And there he goes, waddling with his bird legs, bless his li'l heart.
"Meeeh?" Oh! What's that? The unsuspecting Baromett suspects something, the tomato sheep turned around.
Oh, but what's that? Mamono is not there. He teleported behind the planimal. Its butt is primed for a bruisin'. Oh, there he goes, he's kicking!
"Gro-whaaawk!" And he failed folks! Flat on his back! He quickly got up again. Which Baromett observed.
"Meeeh." Seems like it's not intimidated, and casually just floated away, not even worried.
And it shouldn't. Mamono ran up and failed to kick. Teleported in front of the Tomato Sheep, and failed. Teleported from above into an action pose divekick! And failed. Teleported so fast that three of him appeared at the same time surrounding the poor planimal to all fail to kick this slow creature. The more he tried, the more he got frustrated.
"Grok… Grok… Grok…" Mamono panted heavily. He gave up. He fell on his back. Bawling to himself as his prey left him.
"Meeeh."
"Groooohkhoooooohoooooowk!"
"Wow. Fallen on hard times have you?" A voice from above said like she's done with laughing. Cleaning up his tears he saw it was Arle and Carbuncle. All Mamono could muster was a shy nod. "Well, sad to say it's not my job to cheer you up. And since I hate your guts." Arle played it off dismissively until she kicked him while he's still down, and kept kicking him. Taking great enjoyment out of it. Carbuncle bounced on his feathery belly.
"Gro-awk?" He asked himself. He was once an evil co-owner of a monster infested tower used to graduate magic kindergarteners… And now he was reduced to kickin' innocent animals to gain some street cred.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrok." He had it up to here with this.
"GWRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAWK!" Mamono's bursting with so much magic, it pushed Arle and Carbuncle off of him. Jumping himself back onto his feet. He made sure Arle was in the fight for her life with the reinvigorated Mamono.
"Hm? Carby! Look up!"
"Gu?"
"Yeah. A suspicious mirror floating in the sky." Its shape was that of a vertical oval with big angelic wings, a modest crown and was plated in gold. Nicely complementing the blue sky.
Lightning struck. And the air around the sky seemed less beautiful. Out of the mirror flew a bat-winged creature. It landed on his feet, tucking himself in his cape. He was barely taller than Carbuncle.
It was a blue orb, wearing a mask with a wide V through it, showing only glowing yellow eyes. He has a weird aura of composure. "I am Meta Knight. State your business." Its voice was ludicrously deep for his size, along with the arrogant tone made it hard for Arle to take seriously.
"My business? You come out that mirror into my world. You tell me your business."
"Very well. I come in peace. Dar-"
"Ha!"
"Pardon?"
"I don't trust anything coming out of a mirror. You coming in peace? Likely story." Arle crossed her arms.
"Hmph. Well no foolin' this dimension. Let's cut you down to the chase." Meta Knight turned grey, a pulled his sword with his left hand. He seemed a lot less dignified now. Ready to attacking already!
"Wow there, buddy. Here we fight with these." Arle picked a nearby Puyo.
"Ah Ghost Trapalance! I don't care about your world's customs, Giantess. But you're lucky I do enjoy Ghost Trapalance." Arle could feel him grin underneath the mask.
"But I'll be using the Mirror's link to this world to achieve ultimate power. Henshin!" The orb-shaped knight transformed. He's now smaller, his mask became a paper plate with the same eyehole, a red sheet as a cape and a grey lollipop in his left hand. "I am the herald of Dark Mind! Die!"
Arle snorted into laughter. His voice was still comically deep.
"-wowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowow-"
Their quest continued. And what good quest to bring back a library book from an evil lord doesn't have a bridge to cross?
"Wow, that's a well-kept bridge considering its place over a giant cliff."
"Guu Guu."
"Yup, shiny and sturdy too!"
"Guuuuuu!"
"You couldn't be more right, Carby, look at that craftsmanship."
"Guuuu-huuuuu!"
"I'm way more psyched to cross this bridge then I should be. Let's stop wasting time and cross it!"
"Gu Gu!"
"Hee hee. Not if I get there first!"
But their fun was interrupted by the spear-carrying bridge troll buzzing underneath. "Good afternoon." She politely greeted. "I'm afraid I'm not allowed to let you cross unless you pay the toll."
"Um… Okay, Honey Bee." Arle opened up her money bag. "How much?"
"Teehee, a good sting. Pretty please, stay put." The bee girl charged with a giggle fit.
Arle got a free sprint across the bridge for free and a Puyo battle for her troubles.
'Do not disturb me. I'm meditating.
Zoh Daimaoh'
Arle looked up from the sign to see it didn't lie. The pachyderm powerhouse was sitting on a rock. Looking as peaceful as he ever will be.
"C'mon Carby, let's take advantage of this. Let's not say hi and just walk by." Arle whispered. Carbuncle nodded. And they sneaked past him.
"Psst. You hear that?"
"Gu?"
"Listen closely."
"Zzzzzzzzzzz."
"Sounds like Zzzzzzzzzoh's taking a break from all that meditating."
Carbuncle had a light bulb. "No Carby, don't!" Arle whisper yelled.
Carbuncle pulled out a permanent marker and scribbled all over the elephant's face.
"Haha. Good one. But don't do that again, 'kay?"
"Gu." The rabbit-y thing nodded, walking to their next obstacle, hoping it'll be as easy as this was.
Then the sleeping Zoh Daimaoh then rolled over the duo.
"Carby! You're back. Um… You sure that's a bandage?"
"-wowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowowow-wow!" And Mummy twirled into Carbuncle fully bandaged once again, no worse for wear.
Carbuncle ate dirt.
"Sorry." Mummy apologized.
They missed Nasu Grave. How sad, Potato-Head.
"Wah-hey there, miss. I've been searching for ages but I just can't find darn my job." This woman asked, in a jokey demeanor. Even if it's clear she's serious.
"Sorry I haven't seen any posters around. No clue where the whole thing went." Arle grinned and shrugged to this… stranger.
"Ah fiddlesticks. I swear you step outta bed with the wrong leg and an hour later a strangjah sneaks up from b'hind knocks ya out cold, hides me in da woods, steals everything I own including da real thing of da costume I'm wearing. I mean, the least he could'da done was take me with him, I mean come on."
Arle chuckled at her the delivery. "Sorry! Heh-heh. I don't mean to laugh."
"Eh, it's okay. Shoulda said it more serious-like. Buh-bye, don't slip onna banana peel." She walked past Arle and Carbuncle.
Arle felt like she had to cheer her up a little. "Can ask you something?"
"Sure, kid. Shoot. But not at me, I like having air in my lungs." Arle cracked up again, her body language sold it.
"I wanted to hear a joke, fufufuhah. But you already gave me one."
"Then you get another one on da house! Why izzit called Coulrophobia? Because they don't think I don't read a dictionary to know what it means."
Neither Arle and Carbuncle laughed.
"Can't winum all, 'suppose. Coulrophobia actually means you're scared of stilt walkers."
"What?"
"Beats me. Least it's one fight stilt walkahs can win."
"Fufufufeh." Arle lightly chuckled again. "Um… Sorry about your situation. I'd help you but I'm busy. Wanna pop Puyos? I can even go a little easy on you. It's the least I could do."
"Um… Ah, what da heck. I could use some entertainment. And don't hold back. I lika challenge."
"Okay. I'm Arle by the way. And this here is Carbuncle."
"Gugu."
"He's cute, I feel like going rabbit over 'im. I'm Pierrot, pleased to meet'cha, and don't worry 'bout me. I'll make it on my own without da Circus if I need to. Let's shake hands."
"Ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai-ai."
"Sorry! Forgot to remove my buzz'r. Really!"
There was a picnic table with several dishes of curry placed on it… With a giant cage dangling overneath. "So, 'Rulue'. Why did call me again?" Arle asked.
"Because we, Witch and me, are your best friends. Right, Witch?"
"Uh… What was I supposed to say again, Scratch?" 'Witch' asked holding the rope connected to the cage.
"Grounder, you dumbbot. You're gonna blow our cover saying things like that."
Arle and Carbuncle exchanged 'I don't believe they actually think it's working' looks with each other.
"And because we're best friends we thought you deserved some curry." 'Witch' replied.
"Yeah. Bon appetit, Alle."
"My name's Arle."
"Isn't that what I just said?"
"No you didn't, 'Rurue'. Carby."
"Gu?"
"Lick."
"Gu!" Carbuncle cheered. As licked up all the plates of curry of the picnic. 'Witch' made the cage drop cause of the movement.
"What!?"
"Dr. R said this was Scratch proof."
"Well, clearly it's not Grounder proof."
"It's not my fault your plan didn't work!"
"Yes, it is! Now we don't have a wizard to catch Soni-"
"Ahem." Arle fake coughed. Scratch and Grounder turn to look at her.
"Looks like she didn't run away, Scratch."
"That's means we got another chance! Ba-ha Ha-HAAAAAA!" Scratch screamed with joy.
"Let's ditch our clever disguises!" They threw off their crayon coloured paper masks.
"Oh no, how did see this not coming. How dumb do you think I am!"
Author's Notes:
For no one who's curious, here's my spell set:
1: Valour up, Vigour up, A high chain? Why? Meant to do that!
2: Tulpen, Klompen, Frikandel, Delfts Blauw, Windmolen!
3: Fire 1, Ice 1, Bolt 1, Cure 1, Ultima!
I wanted to include Kuu from [oh no, transmission break-up. Aaaaaah…]. But I just started playing it.
Nasu Grave was so hard to work with, he called me harsh names and gave me so little to work with. Why was he in 15th?
One more break and then'll be back for the main story.
All characters in the Arle vs Whoever besides Darknightmare (needs better name), Mamono, Baromett, Dark Meta Knight and Scratch and Grounder. Have something in common. Can you tell what it is?
And I may Mamono's section its own fan fiction, and expand on it, because I made me feel sorry for him.
Scratch and Grounder need to become Puyo characters.
Next up: Will and Testament
