Chapter 15-The Chosen One

Kaller was bitter. He considered himself one of the best pirates ever. And yet, somehow, he had lost to a Yoshi. A Sky Yoshi. He couldn't believe it. As he looked off the balcony of his ship, he reflected on the battle. He had panicked, and retreated when it wasn't necessary. His crew members looked at him worryingly, and wondered if their captain would just stand there for the rest of his life. One of the sharks got pushed to the front, and was urged by the others to say something.

"Uh, Cap'n? What are we going to do?"

"Just leave me alone." Kaller said emotionlessly. "I need sometime 'ta think." Kaller departed for the Captain's quarters, leaving his crew members baffled. He closed the door and lay down on his bed, contemplating. Why had he retreated? It was something that would probably haunt him for the rest of his life. Kaller turned over. Doing so, he noticed a shaded figure standing in the corner, appearing to all huddled up, not moving an inch. Kaller stepped closer, preparing to turn whoever it was around and demand who he was and what he was doing here. As soon as Kaller made contact, however, an excruciating pain seared through his body. He tried to pull his hand back, but this proved futile. His mind felt like it was leaving him, and he slipped into a state of unconsciousness.

All of his shipmates heard the scream and came rushing into the room, only to find it empty when they arrived.

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Kaller slowly regained consciousness. First all he saw was a blur. Then as he gradually woke up, he could make out some shapes. He tried moving toward them, but was restrained by a cold, almost metallic hand. He had been chained to a board, and was looking into a drab, stone room. Kaller surveyed the situation. No doors, no windows, and he was immobile. Not too much to work with. The only thing of interest in the room was himself, the board he was strapped to, and a small console in one corner. A black hole appeared in the wall in front of him, and someone or something dressed in a pitch black cloak materialized out of it. His features were entirely hidden, except for two glaring red eyes. He looked as if he had a cloud trailing him.

Kaller eyed the figure. "Who are you?" he demanded.

It laughed diabolically. It approached Kaller, making him involuntarily wince. "My name is not important." His voice was deep and foreboding. "But I suppose I'll tell you seeing as how you're going to die." He laughed again. "My name is Koujin, but all you need to know is that you have something that I want."

Kaller shifted into defensive mode. "What? You've come to steal my treasure, haven't you? You're not getting it! Men, attack!" Kaller ordered at the top of his lungs. As expected by both parties, nothing happened, though Kaller was slow to accept that he might not be getting out of this one alive.

"Your men are miles away. Well, not exactly, but we can't expect your feeble mind to understand that, can we? All that's important is that you give me what I want. Cooperate, and I will kill you painlessly." Kaller gulped, wide eyed. "Now, hand it over. Give me the Essence Emerald!" Koujin yelled.

Kaller's fear dissolved away. As best as could, he reached behind him and pulled out the crescent-shaped wand. "You mean this?" he asked smugly.

Koujin chuckled. "That's it. And I'm afraid you must hand it over. Otherwise…" he didn't bother finishing his sentence. He walked over the console, and began typing in some commands. A large metal ring broke through the earthy ceiling, and descended to eye level. Steel plates covered the ring, turning it into a wrecking ball. Kaller rolled his eyes. Was this the best Koujin could do? Koujin typed in some more commands and spikes surrounded the ball. A freezing mist began to pour into the room, and Kaller could feel his body temperature dropping already. As if that weren't enough, the spiked wrecking ball began swinging slightly in Kaller's direction.

Koujin arrived at his ultimatum. "Now what Captain? Are you going to give me the Essence Emerald peacefully, or are you going to give me the satisfaction of prying it out of your cold, dead, crushed fin?" the wrecking ball was swinging faster and faster, and pretty soon, it would smash into Kaller. Despite the coldness of the room, Kaller was sweating. "You see," continued Koujin. "I searched Proarctica for many years, carving out all kinds of tunnels trying to extract the very magical artifact you now hold. You, fool, have no idea of its true power. Only I am the one destined to wield it. Along with the two other pieces of the Grand Treasure. I am the Chosen One." Koujin paused and looked triumphantly of the shark captain. What Koujin was really doing was stalling so that he could see his prisoner be crushed. The wrecking ball was so close now that it grazed a part of Kaller's skin. He winced and tried to flatten himself against the board. He closed one eye and stared Koujin down with the other.

"You…want it?" he rasped. "Go…get it!" with all his strength, he threw the Essence Emerald straight up. It spiraled through the air, embedding itself into the soft ceiling. Koujin eyed Kaller for a while, who already had much of the skin missing from his right hand. The wrecking ball was currently on its backswing. Koujin merely levitated toward the wand. The ball stopped and began its final descent towards Kaller. Koujin pulled the artifact from its resting point in the ceiling. He turned around just in time to see the wrecking ball crash directly into Kaller and the board, shattering them both into a million pieces. Even before the dust and smoke cleared, the familiar scent of blood filled the air.

Koujin left the room via another portal, but not before uttering a final "Fool." To his fallen victim.