Author's Note: Long story short, i had this chapter already prepared a while back, but then by mistake i erased it without backing up after factory reset to my tablet since it ran poorly, then i bit the bullet in rewriting it again, despite the extended delay. I'm so sorry but don't worry i haven't gave up on the story despite the real life business i'm dealing with.
TCB: Chapter 11: Got Any Feathers Left ?
Of all creatures or animals in this wasteland, some of them weren't THAT lucky to survive after a meteor blast, but this no good dangerous duck thief had to breathe again continuing to do what he was best at. Robbing people for values and eliminating whoever stood in his way. To Courage's friends he seemed like an ordinary stranger, but to the pink hound, he was known to be someone who would ruin his days until the duck gets what he desires.
LeQuack however was seen better days, once Courage took his gas mask off, he wish he didn't. His heart skipped a beat upon seeing LeQuack's face had a giant scar on his left side of the face with a missing eye along with a damaged beak exposing a scary permanent grin. He almost looked like Two-Face, but an eye-patch covered at least his missing eye.
The duck was dressed in a trench coat armed with different types of grenades used either for getaways such as smoke or sleep-gas, incinerating or fragmentation. How was he able to get such gear, would be without a doubt from wardog camps for self-defense, as he was smarter than wardogs. Shirley still griped his chest while growling for he destroyed her precious crystal ball, without relying on magic, she still had the canine instincts to rip his other half face apart. Feeling the urge to do so, she held back cause her friends were with her too and doesn't feel like making a bloody mess in the alleyway. Especially since they never seen her in a rage mood at all before the apocalypse.
"I don't know who are you, but you really crossed the line here, you filthy duck." Shirley growled showing her teeth in anger.
"Shirley, careful he's dangerous!" Courage warned her but at the same time LeQuack didn't stood longer for at the perfect timing, when her attention went to Courage, the duck slowly slipped his wing for a smoke grenade. Pulling the pin off, he dropped it between his and the medium's legs.
The entire alleyway was covered with smoke clouds making the brigade cough relentlessly, as LeQuack managed to escape from her grip and pushes the pink hound aside to get away. Scarecrow went out of the smoke to look around where did he go, but much to his annoyance, he lost him.
The smoke clouds from the grenade began to wear off eventually and the team could easily breathe again and see each other reunited once more.
"Who... was that?" Hunchback asked waving his hands to get a proper view of his surroundings.
"Trouble." Courage replied. He went immediately to pick up the gypsy dog from the ground even though he was scared to even look at her face.
"Y-y-you okay?" he extended a paw to help her up by her shoulders.
"I'm not..." Shirley dusts off her undercover robe before giving a good glimpse of her stuff now scattered around the alley. Before tear marks of agony were starting to form on her bright chihuahua eyes, she felt under Courage's arms for a hug. He did the same thing as their tails wagged.
"Still, i am so glad you are alive, dog." She muttered behind his ear remembering how bad was Courage's state before they got here. Courage couldn't help but smile that she had all her rights to be worried of his health.
At least LeQuack left the loot in a hurry for the brigade to return Viss's stuff back in her hut. But Courage obviously he hasn't settled down the score. LeQuack was out in the open, he'd have to stay alert whenever him or his friends would come in contact with him again.
"Should we go after him?" Scarecrow asked.
"No. We'll deal with him next time." Courage told breaking the hug. "Besides we don't even know where he's hiding or... " he starts snarling "...what scheme he's up to now."
"Let's get out of here." Shirley suggested in a broken tone.
They all nodded and helped the medium recollecting what's left from the loot and her stuff. Until Bigfoot finally came to join them, thanks to his super scent tracking. The big monster waves both of his small arms in joy to see his friends again, rather than what he saw back in the sewage complex.
"Oh Theodore! It's you-" Courage hasn't finished his excitement speech and his back bones were already hurting by Bigfoot's immense hugging strength. He carries Courage around like a plushie in happiness to see the dog breathing again.
As for Courage, he almost looked like he was about to "die" again by lack of air until he motioned Bigfoot to put him down. The monster just did that with a big smile printed on his face.
Some time later...
On the other side of the village where its less populated, at an old beetle car wreck having its windows bolted with planks and metal leaving only a door available with a sign to keep everyone out as private property, inside stood LeQuack with a candle lit on. The criminal was now lost in thoughts as he sits in the back seat next to his valuable objects he had stolen. There were also pictures hanging as history relics from before the apocalypse, other candles for light and a pinboard for planning attacks, as well as a weapon locker.
"This dog..." he scratches his beak. "Never thought i'd see this doggy survive to foil my plans... again."
LeQuack had to come up with a solution that would not let Courage interfere with his schemes again, but knowing now that he had more fearsome friends than the stupid Bagge couple as he thinks, things would get pretty intense.
"Merde... Just remembering le past memories, makes my head spinning." He facepalmed for a few seconds until... an idea sparks. LeQuack's expression slowly fades into an evillish giggling smile. "Oh-ho ho ho ho! Let's see how le villagers will judge your heroic deeds, little doggy. When they know that no dogs are allowed here. Ho-ho-ho-ho."
That didn't sound good at all.
Meanwhile, Viss's stuff were now restored, while the village nurse was still sleeping in bed this time helped by Courage, even though the sleeping-gas was no more. Talk about heavy-sleeping, he assumed she had enough for today by the exhaustion for curing other animals including Courage. So the brigade left her stuff in silence before closing the door.
The wild hog mechanic finished all the preparations with a new engine hardware and salvage for the brigade's vehicle as Courage was eager to hear Computer speaking again.
"Well, its definitely better now than how you guys brought it. I also added a mounted harpoon launcher on the back of it. Strange that you guys didn't had any weapons attached to defend your truck. Well now you'll be ready for fishing! It's on the house! Don't worry." the mechanic told as he washes off his hands.
"Although, i swear i heard that truck talking..." Mechanic spoke. That sentence made Courage's heart pounding fast in akwardness thinking the pig may have heard Computer talking... until he completed with "Ah, i must have been dreaming. Don't know how i felt sleeping, but i feel in a very good mood now! Hohoho!" the mechanic pig laughed.
"Yeah.. i suppose this covers up?" Scarecrow agrees with him before he handles a medium box of salvage for payment, but the mechanic waves his hand as if its not a problem. "Only half of what you've got in the box. Special discounts today, courtesy of the Guardian himself being your friend!"
Convenient somehow, however before all of them were setting back down on the road again, Bigfoot just remembered of something back in Vesha's torturing chambers.
That voice... The very familiar human voice that only Bigfoot would recognize.
Scarecrow was getting ready now to get on the wheel, Hunchback went back inside the van, followed by Shirley's sad expression of her loss, and the monster tapped Courage on his back to get his attention. "Hmm? What's wrong Theodore?" he asked.
Bigfoot motioned to follow him, and Courage did so. Mainly cause he doesn't want to go into the chamber alone. The other allies were looking confused now for where are they going this time. "Where are you two going?" Scarecrow asked.
"I don't know, but i think Theodore wants to show me something." The dog shrugged until Bigfoot picks him up on his lap to keep up with the monster. He knew the way back in the sewers, but for Courage it seemed to be just weird and weird what his big friend up to now.
They both were unaware of being watched by LeQuack just around the corner as he proceeds to follow them. The thief was very determined now more than ever to eliminate the pink dog with help of the exposure in front of the public. He assumed that Courage and his friends would be outnumbered if an entire angry mob would corner them once LeQuack would knock him down cold, and proclaims himself as a hero afterwards.
This plan of his sounded so sweet, he would make the entire Elsewhere village to let him live in luxury since the villagers had no idea they had a thief among them, as LeQuack proceeded stealthy this time in his robbing post-apocalyptic days. Rather than being the most wanted criminal of Nowhere.
Both Bigfoot and Courage arrived back at the underground dungeon as Bigfoot covered the dog's nose for it was unbearable stinky down here and only the big monster still had the gas mask on. It was quite easy to enter past the giant gates since the gate guard was still knocked down by her leader. The guards passing by Bigfoot let him wander around with ease, even with Courage on his lap as they both went deep into the complex. This was convenient when you're higher-ranking as "mighty guardian".
LeQuack however did his best to avoid the guards, even if it meant to strangle them one by one if he was spotted. He didn't care what this place was, all he cared for, was Courage's demise.
Still no sign of Vesha around, the duo expected a bright sinister smile on her beak as a welcome, but Bigfoot didn't returned back without a reason. The monster had been long gone and never came back to this hellhole, but the screaming voice in immense pain, triggered his senses to confirm it couldn't be true what he heard.
"I don't know what this place is, but i'm sure i'm not liking it already." Courage told as he shivered in fear. Of course when you're already living in a post-apocalyptic life, all of the places wherever you go aren't always safe and they tend to creep the hell out of you in a few seconds.
Bigfoot has finally arrived at front of a small dungeon door where the familiar noises came from. Placing Courage down, he heard painful groaning. Whoever was on the other side of the door sounded like he or she received a real beating out of its life to near death experience. Heart pounding at full speed, Bigfoot let out a small moan right by the door. And from that they got a response that got him and Courage into a state of shock.
" ...My boy... ?" The unlucky person called.
"Oh no.." Even Courage then realized judging by his friend's sudden change of expression from nervous to determined that the voice was no one other than...
"MMOOOOOOOMMYYYY!" Bigfoot shouted out loud, bursting through the door destroying its hinges as well. That's gonna alert a few guards nearby, but Courage didn't care. For all they cared was Theodore's mother.
Both Bigfoot and Courage let their jaws hit the floor with widen eyes seeing the horrible scene before them. What they just witnessed was an old lady still breathing and chained to walls like a tortured animal. Dehydrated, ripped clothes, skinned, filled with bruises, it didn't seem like she's was going to survive any longer, but how Bigfoot's mother was lucky enough to survive the apocalypse was the least of their worries.
Bigfoot greeted its sharp teeth rushing for his adoptive mother and destroyed those chains, causing the old lady to fall but Courage captured her. Finally laying her down she began to cough and breathes heavily. The monster rubs his furry cheeks against her cold skin to warm her up at least but it was in vain. Her mother was literally destroyed physically and mentally.
"..My son..." She tries to speak again in tears of joy and pain by seeing his son again. "...I'm... so.. happy.. to.." she coughs some more " ... see you. All grown up."
Bigfoot whimpers in tears seeing her in this state, Courage was right beside him. While they both were checking the situation in that room, LeQuack was laying low hidden and waiting for them to get out and get a chance of knocking Courage with his own mallet. What he didn't knew is Bigfoot hanging out with the dog. He considered the monster not a threat but boy was he so wrong.
The big monster lifts up her mother, but by the moment he tries to do so, her mother screams to leave her down as he felt sharp pain on her back. Her body was heavily damaged its no wonder her spine felt like it was broken in two. She breathes unsual as she was lacking air. "...please... leave me be..." But Courage protested that she cannot stand there and must require immediate assistance. Bigfoot agreed with the dog.
"...I can't go... " she gulps. Signs of blood was on her lips. "...I won't make it..." Courage gasped making Bigfoot to tremble in horror. His mother tried to let her tears fall on the behalf of his son while sobbing her last words. It was way too late for them to do anything extreme at this point.
"Run... child. Save... yourself... " By that, her hands touching Bigfoot's face slipped on the floor. Her mother was dead.
A few seconds of silence passed in the chamber room.
The only parent he relied on for delivering so much love and protecting him was no more.
All those times Theodore ran away from home wandering the world for food, trespassing properties and lay enough damage behind from devouring, his mother always looked after him to bring him back home.
Now it looks like he wasn't going to leave anything... or anybody standing still behind, save for his friends. They killed her. The Ravens took away his mother's life like animals.
...
Animals that Bigfoot was going to slaughter...
Courage seeing the change on Bigfoot's appearance felt like backing up for he knew this was not going to end well, especially since Bigfoot hasn't eaten well in the last few days his appetite would go insane. The immense pain and burning heart of fury were both boiling inside Bigfoot's chest as he turns around to face Courage, he had a furious looking killing machine expression.
Punching his own chest harder like a gorilla, Bigfoot let a vicious loud cry roar, loud enough for the entire sewage complex to hear. Courage plugged his own ears while crouching like a small pink fur ball.
With full-on fury and red blood eyes, Bigfoot went out of the room, by the moment he saw a raven bird he would eat them raw! Causing massive destruction behind even if it means to trash the entire prison just so he can hunt down Vesha. That very one bird responsible for this mess.
At first the Ravens thought he was screaming for help, but by the time the guards came to Bigfoot, their end hit inside Bigfoot's massive jaws. The alarms went off and even the screaming prisoners were scared to hear what's going on.
LeQuack stood behind walls to avoid the killing-spree produced by the monster, as soon as Courage came out of the room through the door scared and determined to calm down Bigfoot, his head was knocked out by the duck's mallet.
"I finally got you now, you pesky dog!" LeQuack laughed as he placed Courage in a sack, heading now to an exit.
Meanwhile Vesha's guards have been ripped apart one by one, Bigfoot took no mercy until every single bloody bird would die for what they have done to his mother. Screw being a mighty guardian, he would never protect a bunch of murderers! The only ones he would truly protect would be his friends and his mother. Thus that failed, he was making sure these birds won't do any harm to humans or animals anymore.
"What the hell is with this racket!?" Vesha shouted and pacing around at the other side of the complex. One of her guards rushed to her armed responding "It's the Guardian! He went berserk! Eating us!" he felt horror shaking his wings.
"The Mighty Guardian !? Why-... Why would he do that?" She questioned puzzling her thoughts.
"I don't know but if we don't do anything, we're next!" The guard ran away to where it was requested immediate assistance.
"How... how could this happen?" Vesha stood frozen. For how she was always stubborn it was obvious her judgement was poor until everything comes crashing down on her, just like how Viss predicted.
At long last, LeQuack was going to expose Courage in public as he walked through the sewage tunnels, he was eager to see his long gone nemesis facing the wrath of the villagers, all of his problems to shatter away, and starting to live like a crowned king.
"Don't worry little doggy, you'd make a very great price on your head. And i'll make a fortune out of you." he talked to his sack over his shoulder.
Upon reaching a ladder, he started to climb up and slides the manhole cover away to get to the surface not far from where they both initially entered the complex. Just as he popped his head out in the open...
"Qu'est que ce!?",
POW!
LeQuack was welcomed by heavy punch in the face. Courtesy of Scarecrow.
The duck fell back down in the sewers unconscious with Courage in the sack.
"Going somewhere?" He told cracking his knuckles. Scarecrow climbed down the ladder, followed by Hunchback. Interestingly the old man was used to stinky conditions so he didn't needed a gas mask. But the allies for sure felt something was wrong cause they heard the screams and alerts back on the surface due to ongoing destruction. Courage whimpered inside the sack meaning he was waking up.
"Courage?" Scarecrow took the dog out of the sack. "Wake up." he shook his shoulders.
The dog groaned a little as he rubbed his head "Uhh.. ow." Shaking his head off and opening his eyes he finally made contact with his friends again.
"You alright?" Hunchback asked.
The dog shakes off his head again one last time. "Guys we have a problem!" Courage alerted them in a panic way that even his fur went out like a poodle.
"What?" Hunchback alerted.
"It's Theodore! He's going to trash this place! But i'm scared he will get hurt too!" Courage told.
"Let's move then!" Scarecrow said. "Wait, what about him?" He pointed at LeQuack.
"Leave him." Courage had no time to face LeQuack's schemes, as his heroic instinct takes effect once more onto what was highly a priority to him: The safety of his monster friend.
The allies followed Courage back to the sewage nightmare where the imminent death was awaiting for the remaining Ravens and their leader. The sound of huge stomping feet in speed that shook off almost half of entire complex made the suffering prisoners scream in horror and fear as they heard loud roaring, eating and screams from the guards.
Bigfoot stands up to his name. The fearsome furry monster with large teeth and huge feet that would tear the floor out, hungry for not eating properly in the last few days, and heartbroken for losing the only family member he had ever loved. The Ravens never thought he would cause so much chaos such as eating them, blasting through walls in rage, and thankfully ignoring the chained prisoners that had nothing to do with his mother's death.
He was out for greater blood. The only lady bird responsible for tearing his heart apart. And even though the guards received their orders to shoot him on sight, they were too scared to react quickly as the big guy wasn't playing any games around. Bigfoot was an expert in dodging gunshots and avoiding hunters who were trying to capture him before the apocalypse. It seems the Ravens didn't take that into account when they spied him in the woods, as the apocalypse fried their brains. Not as much as Vesha's brain.
The sewage complex was already heavily damaged as the alarms still went off without stopping, the number of casualties was very high, some of the prisoners managed to escape their cells for their freedom thanks to Bigfoot's strength that weakened the walls. Even the Elsewhere villagers were shocked of their bursting presence.
Very soon it became a riot in Elsewhere. The Ravens in their outposts back on the surface were taking shots on the escaping prisoners, as the villagers were running in panic by the gunshot sounds and screaming.
"We must go after them." Shirley spoke calmly watching the population panicking.
"And risking of being shot at?" Computer replied.
"NOW!" She yelled prompting the Computer to put the van in gear and they both drove off out of the auto-repair to rescue their friends.
"You're going to be responsible if those bullets hit me again just when i was good as new." The machine told which the medium ignored.
Back in the devastated sewage complex, Bigfoot finally cornered Vesha in her own bunker like hideout. The mercenary bird knew she was dealing with a powerful monstrosity if he was able to eat half of her subordinates. Judging by Bigfoot gigantic teeth covered in black feathers and blood, granted it looked like he was having room for one more final meal of the day. He was down-right pissed and breathing uncontrollably, as he took steps slowly approaching Vesha.
"ST-St-STAY A-AWAY!" Vesha screamed holding her sniper rifle aiming for the monster. But Bigfoot was having none of it, because he forgot what was the meaning of fear of being shot at.
Just a few inches between him and her mother's killer, as he was about to chomp down her throat, suddenly he was called out by Courage.
"THEODORE!" The pink hound screamed on top of his lungs, he caught Bigfoot's attention. The monster turns around to face Courage behind him in the bunker as the dog stood there with Scarecrow and Hunchback.
Vesha remained frozen by the dog's presence. Courage however jumped in front of Bigfoot to reason with him. Now that was just a stupid thing to do because Bigfoot was emotionless by this point, still Courage tries to calm him down.
"Theodore! Killing her and everyone here won't bring your mother back!" The dog told in a determined tone. Bigfoot turns his attention back to Vesha, as Courage continues. "Please, don't do it! The world is crippled down enough as it is, we don't need another wipeout!"
Bigfoot turns his head back to Courage again and this time he gets shot by the shoulder by Vesha. Wincing in pain by the wound, Bigfoot backs off and Courage gasped. Growling Scarecrow attempts to reach out for Vesha to grab her rifle, prompting the bird to warn him.
"Don't move a muscle! Or the ex-guardian gets it again! This time by his head" she kept her rifle ready for another shot.
"Why are you... doing this !?" Hunchback screamed in fear.
"Isn't it obvious you, sack of potatoes?!" Vesha replied. "This is about a new world order!" Making everyone's eyes wide. "A world without filthy humans and flee infested K-9s! I used to think humans caused massive damage to this lovely planet. But now thanks to Mad Dog's goons, i am convinced now that dogs don't deserve to live either among these humans!"
"Are you crazy!?" Courage screamed as he removed his disguise cloak for it was pointless now.
"I may be crazy but i'm doing what its best for this village to keep it safe!" Vesha exclaimed. Hunchback ran towards the wounded Bigfoot as the monster was covering his bleeding with his paw.
"And don't even think of escaping out of this village alive, after what this big hunk of fur did to my prison! I gave you both a chance to rid this world of Mad Dog's tyranny, but i guess i was dead wrong letting you kiss the air again, you... stupid dog!" Vesha addressed to Courage with so much hatred matching to how Eustace was.
"You are like everyone else!" She yelled.
"What does this have to do with humans!?" Courage asked nervously.
"Men's best friend... Hah!" But then she took a moment to rethink the Elsewhere Massacre aftermath.
"After my papa was killed by Mad Dog, i... i came to an agreement with him that we will serve him human parts in exchange for our safety. Even if his stupid raids comes now and again quite rarely despite the deal we made, the wardog overlord kept his word and its been ages since we last seen the face of that iron-muzzle beast." Vesha explained still aiming for Bigfoot.
"YOU DID WHAT!?" Courage and Hunchback both gasped. The allies thought Bigfoot was a monster but it seems that Vesha is the cherry on top of what is the meaning of having no soul or heart. Or even the slightest idea of what she has done to cripple more of what's left of Earth's population.
"It was not an easy deal... hehehe... you should have seen how many humans perished that day after we were trying to rebuild Elsewhere." Vesha proceeds to head for the exit slowly keeping her eyes focused on the team. "I SAID DON'T MOVE!" She yelled after noticing Scarecrow moved a bit.
"Poor human bastards thinking they could live again and then destroy what The Old Man Upstairs created, well i don't think so." She muttered.
"Not all humans and dogs are evil!" Courage shouted. "Surely there was corruption, but that doesn't mean the entire humankind follows it!" He growled in frustration, but desperately trying to keep his inner anger in check.
"I had enough hearing nonsense for today and just by that, you annoying little pup are going to be first dog in a while that i haven't tested my new rifle upon. I'm going to enjoy seeing you-"
"Drop it." A calm voice came from behind her.
Vesha felt cold steel barrel touching the back of her head, as well as the sound of removing the safety off. But what she was amazed to hear was the voice she never thought that would lead into actual family betrayal.
The allies quickly looked behind Vesha, and there was standing Viss. She was really pissed with a glare that would send Courage chills.
Her sister aiming with a long barrel Magnum Revolver towards the monster she no longer considered a part of the family. Yet Courage was stunned she was finally awake again and well in his mind.
"Vesha.. i won't say again..." Viss pressed her gun harder on her sister's head.
Vesha gulped, but still holding her long rifle on her hands, the lady bird didn't bother to look behind and face her sister. The moment she would turn around, her head would be blown up. Vesha knew her sister would pull the trigger cause she was almost stubborn as she is, but not so psychotic as well. How Viss just came in the nick of time was no doubt by the ongoing alarms that set the whole village on high alert.
"DROP IT!" Viss screamed as everyone winced from that venomous tone. But Vesha wanted to talk with her first.
"You.. do realize.. this is treason, sis?" Vesha muttered.
"You shot the guardian, willing to kill the only dog that showed me the meaning of love, tortured humans for us to have peace with Mad Dog, and lastly you prevent Courage to achieve his goal in getting rid of the only monster WHO KILLED OUR FATHER!?" Viss yelled attempting to control her breath. She continued:
"I thought you were okay in letting him do his job, but it seems that this prison was more important to you than our family. Our pa would never let a scumbag like you do such a thing, and if he was still alive, he would've skinned you alive like a turkey dinner!" Viss told. Courage and the allies stood still waiting for Vesha to drop her rifle so that they could move.
Vesha however was very reluctant in dropping her weapon but she thought of something quick knowing that Viss is not such a skilled fighter as herself. With a smirk on a face she muttered. "Fair enough, sis."
She quickly dived down avoiding the gunshot and quickly grabs Viss's wing, rolling her over and pins her to the wall. Viss dropped her revolver from that. And now she was looking face to face with her sister. "Have you forgot who's got better training in combat, little sister!?" She pins her quite hard by Viss's neck. The nurse bird gasps for air by that intense pressure.
Scarecrow tries to approach slowly now in grabbing the revolver on the floor, but Bigfoot stood up again despite his bullet wound. He had an unfinished business to take care of. The monster limped but growling in fury, he pushed Scarecrow aside and sniffing uncontrollably.
"You were always a weak pathetic excuse of a sibling and always will be, Viss! Once this is all over you'll beg on your knees to me in here to let you go when this place is rebuilt!" Vesha growled with an evil smile on her. "Since the Guardian betrayed us, we'll just have a nice feast out of him and you'll not be taking part of- GGAAAAAARGHHHH!" Vesha screamed in intense pain by the barrage of vicious huge teeth provided by Bigfoot.
Everyone closed their eyes except for Scarecrow not even scared, by the meal Bigfoot was having to fill his belly for the day. After a few munch sounds and death screams coming from his inside, the monster burped out Vesha's rifle.
Bigfoot ate Vesha.
The only menace responsible was finally gone.
It was quiet now despite the alarms still going in the background. After a few seconds, Viss slowly opens her eyes, she gulped as she held tears knowing her sister was no more. The other allies did the same thing by opening their eyes noticing that Vesha was out of their sight.
The nurse bird however discovered something on Bigfoot's expression. Something she never thought she would ever witness on a dangerous monster. Let alone the sibling that was going to harm her. Vesha was more of a monster than Bigfoot. She discovered tears.
Actual legit tears.
It was all he needed after completing his vengeance, as soon the call for crying hit him like a bus. Bigfoot fell down on his knees letting down as much tears as he wants while hugging Viss. The nurse bird hardly ever finds pity on killers who murders her family. But Vesha was always a heartless bird on par with Mad Dog. Viss thought for a few seconds and said screw it, she hugs back Bigfoot as the allies watched them both hugging and crying.
Few minutes later...
The brigade and Viss finds themselves almost towards the exit back to the surface. The alarm was off, the prison was destroyed, the leader of the Ravens clan was gone, Bigfoot's adoptive mother was dead, and Courage was left in thoughts by the events of this day as he looked back on Bigfoot walking still wounded but the monster didn't bother it. He was holding her mother in her arms to give her a nice funeral once they're out of Elsewhere.
However the gates to the village were blocked by the very same old criminal they thought they would get away from. The entire team eyed straight to LeQuack who was holding a shotgun this time guarding the gates. "Now it's my line. Going somewhere? Ho-ho-ho."
"Not you again!" Courage shouted in anger, but he was aware it might trigger his inner demon again if he would not calm down immediately. The team had enough for today and didn't felt like dealing with him.
"Who is he?" Viss asked confused but prepared to fight.
"Not important." Scarecrow told.
"Ho-ho-ho! Soon i will be the most important duck you'll ever see in this village. And this doggy is mine." He walks a few inches to reach for Courage. Suddenly the ground starts to shake much to everyone's worries. An earthquake maybe? Very soon lights starts to grow larger behind the gates followed by a large blast that took everyone by surprise.
"Qu'est que ce!?" LeQuack asked in horror this time, before feeling his back hit by the cold grill that's going to leave him a mark as the vehicle pulled over, projecting LeQuack straight into a brick wall dropping his weapon too.
Everyone covered their eyes by the blow and dust that was formed. They coughed and waved away the clouds of dust to get glimpse of who busted the gates down. Courage was the first to eye out the vehicle that saved their lives.
It was their own van. Computer and Shirley were back!
"Did someone ordered a taxi?" Computer asked.
"YaaaY!" Courage wagging his tail, he ran fast to hug the front side of the van in so much happiness.
"Please no hugs, i'm hurt enough as it is." Computer replied.
Shirley lowered the window from the driver seat, as she spoke calmly. "Excuse us, traffic is truly rough." Said in a sarcastic tone knowing the ongoing war on the surface still hasn't stopped yet. But a part of her mind was singing joy for smacking the duck away.
Moments later...
As the team was about to get in their vehicle, Courage looked back at Viss thinking of what she'll do afterwards. "Aren't you coming?" The dog asked.
"No." Viss muttered.
"It's too dangerous.. to stay here.. come with us." Hunchback tried to convince.
"Only i can stop this war... and the hatred installed upon this place."
"Are you sure?" Courage asked.
"Don't exit the prison yet until i say so, as soon as i give the "Go" signal you may all leave." Viss said as she ran back into her sister's bunker.
Courage starred at her in worries until Scarecrow told him to get in the vehicle for them to be ready when she gives out the signal.
Viss ran back to Vesha's office where she found the old rusty transmission system, its wires connected to a big megaphone hanging on top of a pole to broadcast announcements on the surface for every Elsewhere villager to hear.
The Courageous Brigade started their engines again preparing to get back on the surface where they could still see outside ahead, innocent human, dogs, or random animal prisoners running for their lives across Elsewhere from Raven guards. Villagers feared the bulletstorm may hit them as well and unfortunately they didn't know what to do other than taking shelter or running in panic.
"Attention, Attention please!" Viss's voice echoed through the large megaphone outside. "VESHA'S DEAD!" The shootings came to a halt after hearing the breaking news. Some villagers felt relieved hearing that. On the contrary, they were happy about it. They only knew their leader was more of a stubborn oppressor.
"This is Viss, you probably don't know me well. But i am the nurse of Elsewhere, and i... i was... Vesha's sibling. I know what you're thinking. Where did these humans come from? Why are there dogs living among them? How long have we stood with the impression of living without dogs and humans? You may ask what you will but i am now giving you a heavy truth my sister hardly ever gave you after the Elsewhere Massacre... Not all dogs are evil."
Everyone in Elsewhere gasped with eyes widen, while Raven guards winced but stood and listened. Eventually villagers shouted back with lines such as:
"Liar! They destroyed our homes! Our families! Where's Vesha!? Got any proof!? Guardian was supposed to protect us!"
Hearing the shoutouts, Viss requested Bigfoot to come out in the open in front of the public and show them proof. The big guy was hesitant at first for he wanted nothing more but to leave already and start her mother's funeral preparations. He agreed and got out of the vehicle, as Courage gave him a worried expression, but Bigfoot looked at him back with confidence.
When the giant feet monster stepped out in the open, every peasant immediately bowed down as their main idol. Even though they have seen him wandering through the village, they always thought they felt much safer around him.
His stomach growled and Bigfoot burped out Vesha's cloak on the ground as well as taking out her weapon and throws it on her coat. Peasants's eyes widen, and the guards looked at each other shocked.
"Evidence, right there. I.. I was hugged.. by a dog." Viss continued, and that statement surely made Courage smile.
"Don't you all realize that the apocalypse itself is far more greater in losing lives rather than having a bunch of mutts trained by Mad Dog continuing to rule over this wasteland? The Guardian defeated Vesha. She betrayed us. Using prisoner meals to fend off the rallies we constantly get, it only stirs for more rallies. She killed the Guardian's loving mother. Thus this escalated into madness. We are going to end this once and for all." She calmly voiced through megaphone.
"As being the former leader's sister, I will urge now all Raven units to seize fire on the escaping prisoners, and turn your weapons against Mad Dog and his goons that bite first then ask questions later. Don't harm dogs or humans that don't present a threat. If they show sign of danger, they'll know where the prison is. They will be treated fairly without excessive use of torture, unless we have no other choice. If we all worship the Guardian so much, we should let him and his friends to pursue the dream of a new world in peace." That surely made the occupants looking at each other in thoughts.
"Clear the path for a vehicle that needs go hunting after Mad Dog. Dear, Elsewhere villagers, if i haven't made myself clear enough i hope you all can earn my trust as i take the position of leader. I- "
Viss felt like continuing more until she heard the sound of Elsewhere she never expected.
"Clear the path! Clear the path! Clear the path! CLEAR THE PATH! CLEAR THE PATH! CLEAR THE PATH!" Another random villager joined and another, until every survivor from Elsewhere shouted the demand.
Viss and The Courageous Brigade got the message. As soon as they shouted , the allies started to advance towards the exit, prompting Viss to say "Go."
The Raven guards having no longer to take orders from a stubborn leader, and hearing every survivor shouting they quickly went ahead and opened the village entrance gates for the brigade to leave. Finally the van went back on the surface, as the van drove through the village without disturbance. And soon Bigfoot joined them.
Raven guards came along in their own vehicles to escort them, making everyone to cheer despite some losses back there. But their own puppet tyrrany was over. And If there ever was going to be another wardog rally, they will not send them back home again with bellies full of survivor meat.
"I guess this is it huh?" Computer asked snapping Courage from thoughts. "No turning back."
"Yeah... im allergic to politics." The dog looked through the window and rubs his head, how the Ravens escorted them and the look on the villagers faces. The black birds made sure they were escorted safely out of the village avoiding their own traps set. The knowledge from Vesha about The Jaw and Bulletown was more than enough useful on where to go, even though Courage wished this madness never happened.
And so the entire team left Elsewhere. Up ahead they were expecting new challenges to overthrow Mad Dog's control.
Few hours later back in the destroyed prison, LeQuack woke up and managed to get out limping and coughing while rubbing his back leaving behind a trail of feathers. He'll definitely feel that one in the morning, or if there was going to a better morning...
"Pesky.. dog.. you haven't heard the last of... " he coughes again. "LeQuack."
"THAT'S HIM! THAT'S THE STINKY CAT WHO SCAMMED ME!" The merchant squirrel has returned with two Raven guards pointing at the thief.
"Wait, moi !?" LeQuack was caught off guard. He wasn't aware that his outfit was changed with Shirley's cloak. The medium set him up.
"GET HIM!" The squirrel shouted as the guards quickly grabbed him. Since the french duck was now defenseless and tired.
"How annoying..." The thief muttered.
THE END of Chapter 11.