Author's Notes: Alright, the next chapter is here! A lot less action then I had intended for this chapter to have, but I think it's still got it's share of it. Not much else left to say, other then: enjoy!

Chapter 15: Battle! Foster's Fate!

Slowly yet ominously, the sun arose at the eastern horizon. The trees blew in the calm easterly breezes, the leaves performing their routine dances in the calm air winds. The atmosphere joined with the sound of birds tweeting and the distant humming of cars.

Double D and Mac stood outside, on the front porch.

"…Hey, Double D… do you really think we have a chance against these guys?" Mac asked.

"I believe so." Double D said confidently. "So far, I have yet to see Masque or Terrance use any special ability or fighting style. In terrorize that a few fire spells might do the trick."

Double D reached into the deepest corners of his own pockets, to reveal the same shiny relic he had with him. This time, however, it seemed to attached to another item. It looked like a piece of blue cloth, long and looped to form a ring.

"Double D, why do you have the Eye of Wisdom on that headband?" Mac asked.

"I'm used to fighting like this." Double D stated, placing the headband on his head so that the Eye of Wisdom was on his forehead, over his trademark sock hat.

He stood in a fighting position, with his right arm outstretched ahead and his left gripping his right arm. "I'm ready for them." He looked down to Mac. "And are you ready?"

Mac nodded. "Ready as I'll ever be."

Vivian was in a similar position, standing directly in front of the cage. Goo was directly behind her. She had brought the 16mm along with her.

"You all set?" Goo asked.

"I suppose so." Vivian said.

Goo looked up into the sunrise. "They'll be here any second now."

"Well, if Bloo was right." Vivian said.

Eduardo jr gave a slightly annoyed face. He looked back up at Bloo, who was poised atop him. "What's the point of this?"

"Trust me." Bloo said. "It's all a part of the big plan I made."

Eduardo jr growled. "Well, this plan of yours better work, or I'm going to-"

Bloo got off Eduardo jr. He reached a nearby trashcan and flipped it upside down directly in front of the back door. "Stand on it."

Eduardo jr hopped onto the top of the can, and watched as Bloo stood on top of the questioning Yoshi.

"What are you trying to do?" Eduardo jr asked.

Bloo looked around for a few seconds. "Ok, we got just enough time to get ready."

Bloo reached down and quickly grabbed what appeared to be a top hat.

"Bloo, what are you doing?"

Bloo finished adjusting the top of his hat and looked back down at Eduardo jr. "Eduardo jr, you're so naïve. Why don't you just sit back and let me handle it? Trust me."

He grabbed a big brown coat. "And Frankie said she was going to burn these before. Good thing she forgot."

"Wow, you were right." Terrance said, looking over at Masque. Both of them were still in the woods, peering back at the house. Mac and Double D were visibly standing on the porch. Double D still had the same fighting pose while Mac remained still with both fists at his sides.

"Do those guys think I didn't realize they found out?" Masque asked. "I knew Bloo overheard us yesterday."

"You did? I mean…. of course, yeah!" Terrance shouted. "Er, yeah…"

"So I gave them…" Masque gave a snicker. "I gave them the wrong plan!"

"No way, you mean we're not going to attack them?" Terrance asked.

"No, we are." Masque said. He peered toward the cages in the back. "…just at a different angle."

He turned toward Terrance. "Now before we start, are you sure you took care of the old hare?"

"Yeah, he ain't goin' anywhere for a while." Terrance said.

"Good." Masque said. "Terrance, the weakest defense they have is at the back door. You know how to fight Bloo, and that yoshi creature can't be that hard. I don't care how or what you do, I just want them gone. From there, the backside of the house will be exposed. I'll automatically release the extremosaurus and have it ready at that point. From that exposed area, it can break into the house and we'll be all set."

"You got it." Terrance said.

"Well, get going!" Masque said.

Terrance gave an excited look. "Ok, I'm going!"

With that, Terrance gave his usual wicked laugh and rushed right toward the house with his hands outstretched forward.

Masque watched with his evil grin. "Just think."

He rose his hand and grabbed the edge of his mask. "Any minute, I'll finally be able to take this thing off. Then they'll all be sorry for what they did… especially Frankie!"

Masque held a small remote control in his hand, with a series of buttons on it. He reached the top one first, with a simple number marked "1". Slowly, he pushed the button, which responded with a green glow from the remote.

Vivian and Goo were both surprised by the sudden sound of a series of mechanical beeping sounds. They turned back and watched the door of the cage, with a green light on it's side. With the sound of internal locks being undone one by one, the door began to shake.

"The cage is opening by itself!" Goo shouted.

The door suddenly exploded open, as a bit of dust and smoke shot from the interior. Shards of metal flew everywhere, making sounds like nails as they struck the earth.

From the interior, a pair of red, glaring, glowing eyes were starring back at them. There was a loud growing from the interior of the cage, followed by a series of loud thuds.

"It's getting out!" Goo shouted.

Vivian rushed in front of Goo and held out both hands in defense. Both began to glow red, as she prepared for an opening attack.

From within the chamber, an enormous monster began to crawl out, shaped like an enormous cannonball that loomed overhead. On either of it's sides, black beaded legs began to walk, similar in fashion to an ant. With each step came a metallic clang. It reached closer and closer. Goo was at this point, keeping a distance while Vivian remained still.

The creature walked closer and closer to them.

Goo pointed at the leviathan, jabbering a series of incoherent words. She was also shaking, and looked absolutely terrified at what stood before her.

As the great beast got closer to them, it revealed it's great mouth, adorn with fangs and with as tall as Goo was.

Vivian twirled around, her hands creating cascading streams of red light as she did. She stopped abruptly and punched her hands out forward.

"Flar-"

"NO!"

Vivian gasped and lowered her hands, which suddenly stopped glowing. She turned around and spotted Goo, who still looked horrified.

"What is it?" Vivian asked.

"That thing!" Goo shouted. "The extremosaurus is also known as the Cannonball monster! Each and everyone one of those black beads of it's legs are filled with gunpowder! If you attack it with fire, you'll clear out the whole area!"

Vivian gasped. "Then how do we fight if I can't use my spells?"

"Gimme a sec, let me try to think of something." Goo said. "Just make sure this thing doesn't get past you!"

"Right." Vivian said. "But I-"

She was suddenly interrupted as one of it's great swinging metallic legs struck her at full force. Vivian gave out a loud cry as she spiraled in the air. She hit a nearby tree, causing it to snap and break down on the spot as she also crashed into the ground.

Vivian hadn't realized it at the time, but her red and white hat flew off her head and into the breeze. Her long pink hair now flowed freely in the wind, but her front curls remained still, keeping her eyes concealed at all times.

Vivian sighed and slowly placed her hands on the ground in an attempt to get back upright.

"VIVIAN!"

Vivian could hear Goo screaming for her. Vivian watched helplessly as the massive monster held Goo in one of it's arms, raising her high above the field.

Vivian gave a frown. "Oh perfect." She watched as Goo was being thrown and tossed about in the air.

"What do I do?" Vivian asked. "If I hit it with one of my spells, I'll just blow up the area, and without my powers I'm not that strong."

"Just do something!" Goo shouted, before continuing her screaming.

Vivian slowly approached the monster. "Think. How do you disable a living walking time bomb?" she asked herself.

Bloo looked up, listening to the increasing sound of Terrance's laughter. "Hurry, hurry, he's almost here!"

"Bloo, it's so obvious this won't work!" Eduardo jr shouted.

"Hey, unless you want to come up with the plans, then trust me."

Terrance came to a stop right in front of the back door. "What the…"

Standing before the back door was a tall figure wearing a brown overcoat. This one must have been as tall as a story and a half in total length, from the bottom of the overcoat which reached the floor and the top of the high black top hat. This one also had a moustache, and his face was blue.

"This isn't going to work." Eduardo jr whispered from within the coat.

"It hasn't failed me yet." Bloo said, looking back down from the top of this disguise.

"Who the heck are you?" Terrance asked.

The top of this man was awkwardly tilting to and fro, whereas the feet stayed perfectly in place.

"Hello." Bloo said in a manufactured lower voice. "My name is Orlando. Nice to meet you."

Eduardo jr groaned. "Of all the stupid-"

"Uh, hey Orlando." Terrance said.

"See, Eduardo jr?" Bloo asked. "Pure genius."

"What are you doing here?" Terrance asked.

"I am here to see my darling, Frankie." Orlando said. "So I'm waiting here at the door… for Frankie."

"Have you seen a short Blue blob or an ugly dinosaur thing anywhere?" Terrance asked.

Eduardo jr growled. "Why that-"

"Hey Orlando." Terrance interrupted. "Your stomach is talking."

Bloo glared back. "Uh, yeah. I have a… uh… medical condition… and my stomach talks to me when I'm… hungry."

"Uh, oh yes." Eduardo jr said. "So hungry."

Terrance could only look back with a raised eyebrow. "You're weird, Orlando."

"You're no prize either." Bloo replied, accidentally dropping the accent.

"What was that?" Terrance asked.

"Oh!" Bloo gasped. He lowered his voice again, but replied sheepishly: "What I mean… is, uh… you're not a…"

Terrance walked toward Orlando, stomping on the ground as he did, until he was right in Bloo's face. "You look familiar."

Orlando bent backwards strangely, where he was leaning about 45 degrees back, but his feet still remained perfectly still.

"I can't bend like this." Eduardo jr commented.

"You know what, I think I know who you are." Terrance said.

"Uh oh." Bloo said softly.

"You're Bloo's uncle or something!" Terrance said.

Bloo starred back for a second, before resuming his usual disguise voice. "Why yes, I am Bloo's uncle. And wow, how great an upstanding Bloo is. He's a fine and wonderful kid."

Eduardo jr stuck his tongue out and let out a small groan.

"Wow, you must be hungrier then I thought." Terrance said.

"Well, standing for Frankie right here… for two years works up an appetite." Bloo said, trying desperately to search for more excuses.

"…wow, two years?" Terrance asked.

"Yup." Bloo responded. "I am… famished!"

It was about then that Bloo noticed that his faux moustache was beginning to slip away.

"Psst." he whispered quietly. "PSST!"

"What?" Eduardo jr asked.

"Fix my mustache." Bloo responded.

"Argh." Eduardo jr replied. He rose one of his noticeably small and green colored arm (as opposed to Bloo's blue face) and quickly adjusted the moustache.

"…dude, you're pretty weird." Terrance said. "Where are you from?"

"Orlando." Bloo said simply. "You know, that… place?"

"Orlando from Orlando?" Terrance asked.

"Bloo, why don't we just fight the guy?" Eduardo jr whispered.

"Shut up!" Bloo exclaimed. He kicked Eduardo jr on the head.

"OW!" Eduardo jr shouted back.

"Uh dude… are you ok?" Terrance asked.

"Yeah, just a stomach ache." Bloo said.

"I'll give you an ache alright." Eduardo jr said quietly.

"Look, pal!" Terrance said. "I'm supposed to have a fight between Bloo and Eduardo jr. If neither of them are here, then I'm just gonna have to fight you."

"Bring it on, pimple-face!" Bloo shouted.

"I thought the point was not to fight." Eduardo jr said.

"And we're not fighting." Bloo said. "Orlando is."

"How can Orlando if he's stuck in place?" Eduardo jr said, mentioning the fact that the two of them were standing on top of a trash can.

"With this…" Bloo said, stuffing a skateboard into the overcoat behind his back.

Eduardo jr quickly placed the skateboard under the can. Instantly, "Orlando" began to sway to and forth.

"You better know what you're doing." Eduardo jr said. He made fists, though his strangely short hands wobbled about from the tall figure.

Terrance went in for the first strike, giving out a loud growl as he did.

Eddy awoke to the sound of footsteps. He opened his eyes slowly. He had spent all night sleeping beside Jib's door. "Aha, I got you now." Eddy said.

But before he could even get up, the door flung open, until it slammed into Eddy and forced him behind the wall. Eddy gave a weak and tired groan from behind the wall. "…bro, I think your cologne made me black out again…" he groaned from behind the door.

Eddy could hear the sound of hurried footsteps rushing down the hall. The shortest of the Eds gave snicker and forced the door out of his face. "I gotcha at last!"

He ran down the hallways, giving off his usual maniacal laughter.

"I got you now!" he called out.

Eddy reached the end of the hallway, were a series of stairs greeted him. He rushed up the stairs, stomping up them as he did. At the top, he kicked the door open, revealing the roof. Of course, he saw nobody but the empty, high-perched balcony that he stood on.

Eddy looked around. "I know you're here, Jib! Come on out!"

"AHHHHH!" he heard the scream from the distance.

Eddy walked over to the roof's edge, and peered down. Behind the house, he spotted the enormous cannonball monster holding Goo with Vivian nearby, and closer to the house, a strange tall blue man in an overcoat battling with Terrance.

"What the…"

Eddy suddenly felt a strong punch against his face. He gave a shout of his own, spiraling in the air, which came to an end at the railing. He slid down the sides and came to a halt on the ground, with his face now a bit red from the attack.

"Ok Jib, you want to fight? Bring it on!" Eddy called out.

His feet suddenly flew to the left, and he quickly lost balance. Eddy was thrown onto the floor, landing headfirst on the stone tiles.

"Hey!" Eddy called out, getting back on his feet. "I can't even see you! You're cheating!"

Again, he felt himself tossed into the air, giving another scream as he did. He landed on the roof, slamming his head against the railing, resulting in a loud ringing noise. Eddy reached for his face, which now had a few scratches.

"What's your problem?" Eddy asked, slowly getting back up. "What do you want from me?"

Eddy was suddenly lifted off the ground by his collar, making him look as if he were levitating in the air. His feet were flailing, but his arms were both restrained by something.

"Can't we just work this out?" Eddy asked.

He was risen a bit higher in the air now.

"I'll take that as a no." Eddy said. Eddy quickly kicked in front of him. Though there was no sound, he felt the grip on him release suddenly, giving eddy enough time to land on the floor safely.

"So, you're not invincible." Eddy said. "Alright, get ready, Jib! You're goin' down!"

"So, you decided to show at last." Masque said.

He now stood directly in front of both Double D and Mac.

"Mac, behind me." Double D said. Mac nodded and walked behind Double D.

"You may already know, but I have already released the Extremosaurus beast. After it takes care of two annoyances, it's going to break right into the house. And as you already know, Bloo and Eduardo jr are probably already been defeated by Terrance."

"Well, I suppose everyone need to believe in their little fantasies." Double D said. "Why are you here?"

"I thought it was obvious by now." Masque said. "Your reputation isn't asgreat as I heard it."

"My reputation?" Double D asked. "You mean you've heard of me?"

"Well of course. You are, after all, a legend on another world." Masque said, walking a bit closer to the stairs.

"…how can he know me?" Double D thought. "I never revealed my past adventure until yesterday… but how can he know?"

Double D glanced at Masque once again. "Is it possible he actually came from the same world as Mario and the others?"

"Well, I'm glad I have your attention at least." Masque commented.

"One thing's for sure." Double D thought. "If I am ever going to get the answers, I'll have to get that mask off him!"

Double D held out both of his hands as he took a few steps forth. Masque was at this point, at the foot of the stairs to the balcony, while Double D was at the top. Any closer and they would have been in physical contact.

"…kid… you don't know what you're getting into." Masque said.

"I don't care what is either." Double D said. "But I won't allow it."

"Let's see how you like it when the entire house comes crashing down on you!" Masque shouted.

Double D had finally had enough. He pushed with both of his hands: "Fire!"

Masque watched as small sparks appeared at Double D's hands, which quickly erupted into a large flame. It shot outwards, headed right for Masque.

Masque dodged to the right, letting the fire fly past, headed upward and over the street, and continuing it's flight over some of the houses until it vanished into the horizon.

"Oh wow." Double D said. "I never realized what range that attack had."

Masque continued to stand there, not the least bit hurt or surprised.

Double D quickly ran down the stairs and stopped at the feet, leaving Mac behind. Double D pointed one of his fingers. "Perhaps a stronger attack with less range."

"Fireball!"

A smaller ball of fire flew from his right hand. Masque didn't say anything, more then simply dodging to the right. The ball flew away and proceeded further and further past Masque.

Double D replied with a grin, before giving a quick 360, repositioning his right arm to an angle in the process. It replied by glowing stronger then before.

The ball of fire he shot was now making a turn in the air, to the complete surprise of Mac. It spun in the air, until it made a perfect U turn, headed back toward Masque yet again.

Masque seemed to already known it was going to occur. He laughed and again dodged to the right. The ball of fire missed Masque again, and was now flying back toward Double D. He wasn't able to stop the attack in time.

The ball of fire hit Double D, sending him off and into the air. He passed Mac and slammed into the front door, thankfully not opening it as he struck the door.

Mac rushed toward Double D. "Are you alright?"

Double D nodded and quickly got back up. "How did you know how to do that?"

Masque began to walk up the steps of the patio. "I am familiar with all your attacks. I have learned them all."

"How did you learn them?" Double D asked.

"I learned them after I was taught these techniques from the very best." Masque said. "For example, you tend to fight with both arms outwards."

Masque imitated Double D by putting out both arms. "This seems to be your main fighting position, because it gives you ample positioning for both attack and defense. You also tent to use this whenever you conjure a shield or a close range attack."

He withdrew his left arm and pointed with his right.

"And that's your stance for a long range attack, such as your main spell." Masque said.

"Tell me:" Double D demanded. "Who do you call the best? How can they know my style of fighting?"

Masque reached the stop step, with his right index finger pointed at Double D. "I'll tell you after I burn down the building!"

A few sparks began to form at his fingertip, with a strange red glow which lit up the area.

"Fire!"

A suddenly eruption of blaze shot from his fingertip, to the complete surprise of both Double D and Mac. Double D rushed and held up both hands.

"Flame Shield!"

Double D's circular disk made of fire appeared before him, just in time for the fire that Masque shot to become absorbed into the shield. There was a loud fizzing noise as the two fire attacks struck one another, until both were quickly gone.

"Double D!" Mac shouted in worry. "How did he do that?"

"We seem to have the same powers!" Double D shouted. "But how?"

Masque was oddly missing as the fire vanished. Where he once stood, nothing remained.

"Where'd he go?" Mac asked, looking both left and right.

"I don't know." Double D said.

"Hyah!" came Masque's call.

Edd looked upward and spotted Masque performing a drop kick right on him, with his foot lit aflame.

Double D knew if he landed, he'd torch the entire porch. Double D didn't even try to dodge or deflect for the sake of the house. He spread his arms out and prepared himself for the kick.

It was a quick attack. Double D was thrown backward, down the stairs and into the main yard.

"Easy prey." Masque said. He turned back to face Mac. "…Hello Mac. Oh wow, it's been a while. Look how tall you've grown."

"What do you mean?" Mac asked, blocking the door to the house. Masque's dark figure loomed over Mac, casting a shadow over the small, 8 year old boy.

"I seem to recall you from a while ago. How's your mom?" Masque asked. "Your brother at least seems to be doing fine."

Mac found Masque to be too personal. "What do you want?"

"Just to catch up on old times, Mac." Masque said.

"I don't know who you are." Mac said. "But don't bring my family into this."

"Mac, your family in the reason I'm here in the first place. I don't think I'd be how I am today without them." Masque said.

"If it's my family, then why are you here at Foster's?" Mac asked.

"It's also about them." Masque said. "I'll explain more…" he rose both of his hands, and placed them both on Mac's head. They both began to give ominous red glows as Mac struggled to break free. "… at your funeral."

"Fireball!" Double D called out in the distance.

Masque turned in time to see a fireball come into contact with his face. Masque gave a shout in surprise and let go of Mac. Double D dismissed the fire attack from afar.

Masque looked back at Double D with a now singed mask. "…alright, it's more then apparent I won't get anywhere until I deal with you."

Masque jumped from the top of the stairs, with a boost of fire from his feet in crease his jump. He landed a few years away from the house, right beside Double D.

"You've crossed the line, Masque." Double D said. "And I plan on solving all of your mysteries before this battle is over."

"Well then, kid." Masque said, getting in a battle stance. "Our powers are equal. Let's just see who's plans are better… yours… or mine!"

Author's Notes: That's it for about now. I got this chapter done a little faster then I thought I was going to make it done. I hope you've enjoyed reading it.

By the way, for those of you who don't get the whole "Orlando" thing, it's a disguise that Bloo tends to use a lot, so I figured, why not? I plan to have more action scenes in the future. Until then, please review!