Author's Notes: It's a bit more introduction, but hopefully it will do a decent job at keeping the reader interested. The next chapter ought to delve into the Japan aspect of the plot.

Chapter 42: You stupid dog!

"Oooooh!"

An old, portly woman cooed, dressed in a yellow dress and black boots, and thick round glasses. She looked about the lively streets of Tokyo, surrounded by tall exotic buildings. Colorful lights gleamed around her, people walking nearby and about as often as they would in a city. Distant pop music could be heard from a store across the street, and the various chats spoken in a very different language rung out.

"Honestly woman, are ya going to do this every time we step outside?" growled her less then enthusiastic husband.

"Eustace, have no sense of inspiration?" his wife asked in somewhat of a scottish accent.

"Nope!" he replied flatly.

At their feet, tethered to the elderly couple, was an unusual sight. A dog, fuchsia in color, stood by their side. What was most usual about these particular dog however, was that it was standing on it's hind legs, with no trouble or discomfort. It also had a surprisingly expressive face: wide eyed and attentive. One could even say that this dog was smiling. This dog took a few steps and leaned against the old woman's side affectionately.

"See, Courage agrees with me!" the old woman said with a laugh. "Tokyo is a lovely city!"

"Eh, you're full of it Muriel." replied Eustace.

"But look Eustace!" replied Muriel, waving her arms into the air towards the skies. "Isn't it just magnificent? What a lively and festive street this is!"

"You've seen one street, you've seen them all!" proclaimed Eustace, throwing his own arms up into the air.

"Why can't you just enjoy life for once?"

"Because, Muriel, I'm HUNGRY."

Muriel gasped, then pouted. "W-what? That's all you can think about even on the other side of the globe?"

"H-U-N-G-R-Y!" Eustace repeated, like an impatient child.

"Then just buy yourself something to eat!"

"Maybe I will!"

"Fine!"

Courage, their dog, looked on all the while, cowering a bit behind Muriel. This wasn't uncommon for this family however. Courage was named rather ironically: he is very often easily frightened. He slowly sat down behind Muriel as the argument continued.

"Look over there!" Muriel stated, pointing towards a small restaurant. "I bet you can find the food you want right over there!"

"Meh, I don't like Japanese food."

"What else did you expect to find here?" Muriel asked, somewhat bewildered.

"Alright, alright, geez!" surrendered Eustace. "Come on."

"Oh no, I don't need food, I am full from breakfast still." Muriel replied. "If you want company though, why not bring Courage?"

Eustace looked down and made a grumpy expression towards his dog, which replied with a sheepish, toothy grin and a wave of the hand.

The old man grumbled, then snatched the leash out of his wife's hand.

"Ok, stupid dog, want to go for a walk?" Eustace asked, getting close to the dog's face as if to taunt it.

Courage whined a little, eyes widened, and nodded his head furiously.

"Let's go then, stupid!"

Eustace began marching towards the small restaurant, dragging Courage behind him like a rag. Worriedly, the dog looked back towards Muriel, who merely smiled and waved.

"I'll be right here when you get back!" called the old woman.

The interior of the restaurant was relatively more quiet and reserved, people within keeping themselves reserved and peaceful, the smells of fresh food lingering subtly around-

"Barkeep, get me food, I'm hungry!" shouted Eustace, shattering the silence as he slammed his old fist onto the countertop.

The staff members looked amongst themselves at first, then back at the old man, perplexed. One of them, a lady walked up, and bowed towards him. Then, in her native Japanese speech, began to talk with Eustace.

"Yeah, great." replied the old man. "I'm hungry, make me food!"

The lady paused, bewildered, then took a breath.

"No espanol-"

"Not ispanel, HUNGRY!" shouted the old man, even angrier.

"NO ESPANOL!"

"H-U-N-G-R-Y!"

Courage moaned and performed a face-palm, sinking guiltily into a sitting position on the polished floor of the restaurant while his ignorant owner continued to make a scene. Other patrons had either turned away out of shame or started laughing quietly to themselves.

The lady behind the counter turned around, frustrated, and walked away.

"Does anyone here talk normal?" shouted Eustace in a rage.

"I believe I do a good job at it."

Eustace and Courage turned around and saw a jester-esque fellow standing directly behind them. The two exchanged brief glances of surprise before looking back at the jester.

"Who the heck are you?" asked Eustace.

"I'm Dimentio of course!" stated the jester, giving a theatrical bow. "I'm here about the job offer."

Double D stood, poised at the podium in the cafeteria of the hotel. With a group of 25 other members all watching him, he couldn't help but feel a bit nervous. Regardless, moments later, Double D picks up his papers, and continued his announcement.

"Team Alpha will have 6 members. The first member is myself, as the leader. The second member for Team Alpha will be... Eduardo Jr!"

"YES!" Eduardo Jr. shouted, leaping of his chair and flutter kicking his way up to the front, where he performed a victory dance. Some members of the group laughed, others applauded, others looked away in minor disgust.

"Eduardo Jr. has spent over three years in the Glitz Pit." Double D stated. "Naturally he is very experienced with fighting, and as such he is very necessary. His strength and speed will prove useful."

"I won't let you down dad!" proclaimed Eduardo Jr.

Double D nodded, and gestured for the little yoshi to stand up next to him next to the podium.

"Team member number 3..." Double D continued. "Roronoa Zoro."

Everyone in the room turned to see the swordsman, lying down in his chair. He tilted his head up and smirked. "Me, eh?"

Zoro turned to Luffy. "Hey, is this alright with you?"

Luffy nodded. "No problem."

The green-haired swordsman got up from his chair, walked towards the front and stood next to Eduardo Jr, before facing the audience again.

"You've made the right choice." proclaimed Zoro confidently. Double D nodded and looked back to his paper.

"Yes, Zoro is a very accomplished swordsman and fighter. Having him would increase our offensive abilities." With that, he continued.

"Our fourth member shall be our other swordsman: Link."

Link got up from his chair slowly, a happy expression drawn on his face.

"Thank you." he said humbly. "I'll do my best to make amends for my doings while under the witch's control."

Link proceeded up towards the podium, and stood beside Zoro. The two swordsmen glanced at one another, for a brief moment challengingly, then looked back into the audience.

"Link has a large arsenal of weaponry and a unique ability that allows him extraordinary aptitude when it comes to simple or complex items."

Double D paused for a moment. He looked a little reluctant to continue.

"Our fifth member will be... Doopliss."

"Me?!" Doopliss asked.

"HIM?" shouted back the rest of the group.

"D... Does this mean... that you've forgiven me about that whole... identity theft thing back in Twilight Town, Slick?"

Double D paused. Then, looking down, and raising a hand, sighed. "I'll overlook it for the sake of the team. Your shape-shifting abilities makes you extremely formidable and capable."

Doopliss flew up from his chair, and shook Double D's hand profusely.

"Thanks, yeah thanks!"

"Ok, ok, you're welcome!" Double D shouted, somewhat uncomfortable.

Doopliss floated next to Link, where he, Zoro, and Eduardo Jr. all glanced back, somewhat uncomfortable themselves.

"And... finally, the last member of our team will be Koops."

Koops got up, surprised. "Um, me?"

Double D nodded. "Yeah, you're pretty good at general fighting and you have impressive defense abilities that could protect our group."

Koops sighed. "But... what about Koopie Koo? Does this mean we'll-"

"Actually, I don't mind." said Koopie. She got up as well and smiled, standing next to her boyfriend. "You got to do what you need to do. And they'll need you."

"Koopie... aw, Koopie, you really mean you'll be ok?"

Koopie responded with a long hug. He hugged back as the rest of the group looked on.

"Just do your best and return safely, ok?" Koopie asked.

Koops nodded, a confident expression on his face for once. With that, the koopa proceeds up towards the front with the rest of the team.

"Alright, that concludes Team Alpha-"

"HEY, wait a minute!"

Double D was very surprised to see Midna get up from her seat.

"Midna? What's wrong?" he asked.

"I'm going on your team as well!" she proclaimed.

"Midna, I-"

"Link needs me to do a lot of the things he is able to do, trust me." she said. Midna shifted into his shadow form and flew upwards, right beside Link. "Don't you Link?"

"Probably, Midna." he replied.

"Plus..." began Midna. "I take up no space, see?" Midna turned herself back into a complete shadow and merged herself with Link's shadow, vanished as a result.

"I'm not coming out of here." Midna's voice echoed. "I'm going whether you like it or not."

Double D sighed, then looked back at his papers. "Fine."

He faced his team members, then held out a hand towards them.

"This, everyone, is Team Alpha! Eduardo Jr, Zoro, Link, Doopliss, Koops, and myself... and Midna. We'll be the ones to get the Crystal Star back!"

"So, this King guy..." Eustace began. "He's rich, right?"

"Oh, abundantly!" proclaimed Dimentio proudly.

The two stood within the restaurant whilst Courage looked out of the window, across the street where Muriel was. He didn't want to be here with this frightening fellow.

"Great!" Eustace shouted. "When can I start?"

Dimentio laughed. "Well, I am quite glad indeed that you feel so motivated! Welcome to UPCO, my friend."

Eustace laughed and leaped for joy. "Whoopie!"

"Awwooo!" Courage protested, tugging at his leash for the possibility of freedom.

Dimentio looked down towards the pooch, leaning his face right into the dog's.

"Oh indeed, what a charming little mutt!"

"Eh, he ain't so charmin'." Eustace muttered.

"Oh, don't be modest now." replied Dimentio. "Why, I think this little one would be perfect for UPCO as well!"

"Awwwwwoo!" cried the dog, still trying to free himself from the leash.

"Oh, hush now, I wouldn't dare to anything to you. But, gentlemen, time's marching forth. And thus as it is, so shall we. My boss will be quite impatient if we make him wait."

"Sounds like my kind of guy! Let's go!" Eustace shouted, blinded by the prospect of making a fortune.

"Oh no." Courage muttered in a strangely realistic voice.

"Pardon me, did that do just say something?" asked Dimentio.

"I don't know." Eustace said. "I never pay attention to nothin' that mutt does."

Courage covered his mouth, still wide-eyed, ears shivering in fear. What about Muriel? Were they about to leave her behind?

Before he could ponder about it anymore, Dimentio rose one hand upwards. To everyone's surprise, a loud ring could be heard throughout the restaurant. A large, flat silver square materialized in front of the group. Onlookers beheld and gasped at the spectacle, some ducking away from it as it grew.

Dimentio glances at the square, then motioned towards Eustace and Courage, giving them a nod. He then leaped up and hovered in the air, before drifting into the square and vanishing into it.

Eustace stared, bewildered, then laughed and turned to his dog.

"Great special effects, eh mutt?" asked the old man.

Courage shook his head, equally mystified.

Well, enough of this then! C'mon, I'm gonna make me a million bucks!"

The old man skipped forward, throwing himself into the floating square, with the leash in hand, he dragged his dog along with him, Courage fell to the ground, scratching at the textureless tiles of the restaurant in a feeble attempt to keep himself from going. Another moment later, Courage lifted of the ground and flew backwards into the square. A moment later it closed behind them, and all went silent again.

Double D flipped to a new sheet of paper on the podium. He looked back into the audience, and resumed.

"Ok, I will now call off Team Beta. If I call your name, move towards the right section of the room. Your right, that is. Heh, let's see now..."

He paused for a moment, then resumed.

"Goombella."

Goombella got up from her seat, a serious expression on her face, and proceeded towards the right side of the room.

"Goombirro."

The other goomba excitedly got up from his chair, elated that he would be on the same team as his girlfriend. He waddles up next to her and leaned his head against his. She smiled awkwardly, a small grin on her face.

"Sarah. Jimmy."

The two got up together, and exchanged a brief hug before skipping up alongside the goombas.

"Usopp."

The marksman got up, one foot posed gallantly on a chair in a pose. "Don't you mean captain Usopp?"

Double D shrugged passively. "Ok, captain."

Usopp proudly marched upwards and towards the other five, without realizing he had stepped between Jimmy and Sarah, the two seething at him silently.

"Ahem..." Double D continued, amused. "Ms. Mowz."

The mouse launched from her chair, upwards towards a pipe hanging on the ceiling, and acrobatically jumped towards the right of the room. She landed atop Usopp's head, raising her hands upwards in a finishing pose, while the sniper looked up at her, wide-eyed, somewhat surprised. Applause rang out from the members of the room.

"Look at that Usopp, you have a mouse on your head!" Luffy chortled.

"Looks like she one-upped your dramatic entrance." Sanji joined in.

"I... could have done that too!" Usopp protested, sweating a bit. "Yeah, yeah!"

Double D, laughing as well, gathered his composure and faced the audience again.

"Sanji."

The cook got back up, proceeded next to Usopp. He gestures his hand toward her.

"Allow me, miss." he said, motioning towards Ms. Mowz, who was still atop his head, holding out his hands to catch her in.

"Oh, such a gentleman. Don't mind if I do." she replied.

Ms. Mowz lept forth. Instead of landing in the cook's hands, the mouse bounced off his head before twirling in the air and landing back on the ground.

"Ow!" Sanji exclaimed, grabbing his head, her heels having hit his head directly as opposed to Usopp who had been wearing a helmet.

"Hah!" Usopp replied, pointing.

The group let out another laugh.

"Yes, yes..." Double D sighed. "Last but not least for Team Beta, we will have Petuni."

The little Puni leapt from her comparatively giant seat. "M-me?" she asked.

Double D nodded. "Yes. You're small, nimble, and fast. I think you would be a good, resourceful member of the team."

Petuni gasped. "Erm, well I'm thankful, but..."

She looked over to her brother Punio, with whom she was sharing the seat.

"Punio. It looks like we're going to be separated..." she began.

"Looks like it sis..."

The two looked at one another, then got close to one another and rubbed their heads together, a puni's way of hugging.

"I'm gonna miss you sis!"

"Me too, bro!"

Double D frowned at first. "Maybe it wasn't a good idea to decide her."

Petuni however, confident in herself, proceeded towards the right of the room. And there she stood, completing Team Beta.

"There is Team Beta." Double D stated. "Goombella will be the team leader. Goombirro, Sarah, Jimmy, Usopp, Ms. Mowz, Sanji, Petuni, remember to listen to her."

The group collectively nodded.

"Team Beta, you have a very important job. You are going to locate UPCO's headquarters, and rescue Eddy, Eddy's Brother, and Robin."

Sanji roared, holding a fist in the air. "I'll definitely save you, ROBIIIIIN!!"

"...and the other captives too." Usopp chimed in.

Eustace and Courage tumbled out of another square-shaped portal, landing on their faces as they hit the marble floor.

"Ouch!" Eustace shouted, stars twirling around his head. The old man shook his noggin for a moment, before looking around. He was within the interior of the temple of time, the grand foyer room which stood multiple stories high. By now many of the original goddess of time statues we gone, either replaced with statues of King or tarps of King's flag, a picture of a white clock reading midnight, with a solid red backdrop and a large silver X behind the clock to symbolize his allegiance with the X-naut army.

"You two aren't very coordinated, are you?" asked Dimentio, who was hovering in front of the two.

Eustace got back up, grumbling to himself. "Yeah yeah. Say, nice homestead you have here!"

Dimentio chuckled. "Why thanks, but I'm not the one who owns it."

"Then who does?"

"That would be me." proclaimed a booming voice.

Eustace and Courage turned around. Atop a balcony above the meeting table stood King, poses with his hand over his mask. To either side of himself was Bremen and Keaton, two having recovered from their previous battle.

"Uh, hey there!" Eustace shouted. "Who the heck are you?"

King frowned under his mask. "Don't address me like that again."

All paused for a moment. King rose his hand upwards, towards a set of doors at the far end of the room.

"Welcome, Eustace Bagg. I am King. This is my time-traveling stronghold, the temple of time."

"...wah?" asked Eustace, continuously confused.

"I am the head of UPCO, and the new leader of the secret society of X-nauts." King committed.

"...huh?" asked Eustace again, scratching the top of his head.

"Look, you want to make money, right?" King asked.

"Yes yes yes!!" the old man chanted, flailing his arms while grasping the leash still, unintentionally flailing Courage along with him.

King snapped his fingers. At that moment, the door at the far end of the room opened up. From it, a marching legion of 50 X-Nauts marched in, in 5 rows of ten each. They proceeded down the center of the room, before dividing themselves into two halves, splitting across either side of the room, making two lines of 25 soldiers, looking into the center of the chamber.

Eustace and Courage watched as three new figures proceeded down the hallway towards them. To the left was the Fisherman, dressed in a new X-Naut uniform. To the right was Lord Crump, proceeding in a march. In the center was Beldam, causally striding towards the center.

The 50 X-Nauts bowed in their presence. The three approached the front of the room.

"Heh, that's Eustace Bagg?" asked the fisherman. "You're much older and balder then we though you were going to be."

Eustace blushed in anger and clutched his fists. "Why YOU-"

"Buh, huh huh huh huh huh huh!" chortled Lord Crump. "Wow, he IS bald!"

"You should talk, you X man, or whatever you are!"

"Now now, no need to argue." Beldam stated, in Robin's voice, trying to simulate a kind nature. "Welcome to UPCO."

Eustace nodded. "Yes yes, I heard. Now when do I get paid?!"

Beldam laughed. "Right, well Dimentio will help you get started."

The dark jester approached Eustace, and bowed.

"Follow me, if you will."

Eustace smirked and took a step forward.

"Oh, wait sir." Beldam said. "I'm sorry, but no dogs are allowed where you are going."

Eustace shrugged. "Oh, I'm still carrying that thing?"

Courage whined, sitting on the floor with a concerned expression.

"He's all yours, lady." Eustace said, tossing the leash. Beldam reached over and caught it in her cold palm.

"Thank you for your compliance." she replied, smiling.

With that, Dimentio proceeded towards the doors. Eustace followed, rubbing his hands together. "Rich Rich Rich..." he chanted as he was lead out of the chamber. Courage watched, shivering, as the two proceeded into the dark room beyond the doors, which shut automatically behind them.

"Now then..." Beldam said with a smile. "It seems your owner has abandoned you."

Courage whined, and tried following Eustace, only to be held back by the confines of his leash.

Beldam frowned an innocent frown. "Oh, poor dog. Don't worry about Eustace. He will be ok. But you..."

Courage turned around slowly and saw Beldam looming over him. The dog let out a terrible yipe, and attempted to run. The woman began to reach down, an icy hand moving towards him.

The next thing Courage knew, the hand reached his head. However, Beldam, instead of hurting Courage, gave him a pet instead. Courage was surprised, and stopping running for a moment. Then, he looked back up at her.

He found Beldam smiling politely, laughing in Robin's sweet voice.

"You look like you could use some company." She said. "Care to be my pet?"

Double D looked at his papers one final time, before looking up into the room. Next to him on the podium stood Team Alpha, his team. To the far right of the room stood Team Beta.

"Those of you remaining in your seats are Team Gamma." Double D stated. "Princess Peach."

The princess looked up while calmly drinking her cup of tea. "Yes?"

"I would like you to be Team Gamma's leader. If this ok for me to ask of you, your highness."

The princess smiled. "Of course. And please just call me Peach. All of you."

Double D smiled back and nodded. "Ok." He looked back down to his papers again. "The other members of Team Gamma should be Mac, Bloo, Luffy, Nami, Marie, Koopie Koo, TEC, Chopper, and... Vivian."

The others looked around themselves. While Chopper and Vivian were currently not there, it was well known by now that this would be the case.

"Does anyone have any objections?" asked Double D.

No responses from the audience provided the answers.

Double D smiled. "Then this meeting of our party is hereby adjourned! Everyone prepare yourselves and get a good night's sleep. At first light tomorrow we'll depart and travel our separate ways!"

With that, everyone in the room turned away and began chatting to one another. Double D got back off the podium and started walking away. He proceeded out of the room to the left, and back into the hallway. It was quiet and empty at first, save for the echos from the cafeteria from the members of his group, sounding like a recently dismissed classroom. He adjusted his sock hat and proceeded down the hallway. Double D managed to make it to the end of the corridor, and took a left. After a few more steps, he made to a silent hall, broken only by chirping of crickets and the sounds of London's traffic in the distance.

He knocked on a nearby door three times.

"Who is it?" called out Chopper's voice.

"It's me, Chopper."

The door opened a second later, and Chopper, in his small form, was on the other side. "Come in."

The two proceeded inside and sat beside the medical bed. Vivian still lay there, her hat resting on a night table next to her. She was breathing slowly, though otherwise her injures seemed to slowly be fading.

"She looks better." Double D noted with a small smile.

"Certainly, she does." Chopper said. "But..."

Double D looked over to him. "But?"

Chopper groaned and grabbed the edges of his own pink hat. "Er, this is harder then I thought it would be."

"How so?" asked the sock-hat.

"Vivian's species are very unique. With my medical science and experience alone I am having a hard time understanding how to treat her. Her body is uniquely built. In fact I'm not exactly sure about many of her attributes. And there is nobody else of her species that I can compare her to. She's remarkably built and dangerously alone."

Double D paused for a moment, looking at the doctor calmly before returning to look at her again.

"I trust you, Chopper. I know you can do it." Double D stated, encouraging him.

Chopper looked up, surprised for a moment.

"Hey! I don't need you or your pitiable encouraging, idiot!" he said with a bashful expression, twirling a bit where he sat.

Double D laughed. "Ok, ok, never-mind then!"

The two continued laughing for a moment, until they both finished and fell back into a silence. By now new sounds could be heard in the corridors, the sounds of his comrades leaving the cafeteria and returning to their own rooms.

"Vivian..." Double D began. "I'll be leaving tomorrow, first thing in the morning. We'll be going our own separate ways."

Chopper looked on as Double D leaned towards her and touched her hand.

"You'll be alright. Chopper and Team Gamma will treat you nicely until you wake up again."

Double D looked down. He felt sad, and yet no tears formed in his face. Instead, he was smiling gently at her.

"I'll stay strong and continue fighting. Promise me that you'll also continue to be strong as well."

He leaned in further and gave her a hug. A gentle hug, so as not to upset her condition any more. Chopper rose his hand up in minor protest at first, but then paused himself. Double D arose a few moments later, then faced the other way and adjusted his hat. Without saying another word, he walked towards the door, opened it up, and shut it behind himself.

Beldam proceeded down the corridors of the Temple of Time, Courage in tow. They proceeded past giant arched windows with ornate designs, casting beautiful patterns of light into the corridor. They passed a few X-nauts who were busy erecting monuments towards King, placing down red carpets with UPCO's insignia.

The two passed into another, large chamber. It was a giant one, much like the foyer, with a second floor where a set of stairs led towards. In the far end of the room appeared to be a golden scale, however it was broken to pieces. Furthermore, a considerable amount of rubble and broken stone was left all around the room. Courage eyed it with curiosity, somewhat nervous about what he was witnessing.

"It's nothing." Beldam stated. "There was an accident in here, but our men will have it repaired soon enough."

Courage was led out of the room and up the stairs, towards some of the higher chambers. A long hallway, brightly lit by the bizarre light from outside, illuminated the while area, revealing the true ancient wonder of the temple. It was about halfway down the corridor that Beldam stopped, reaching a wooden door. It looked unlike the other doors in the temple which were we made of stone.

"My newly renovated room." Beldam stated. She withdrew a key from her pocket and opened up the room, walking inside. Courage followed as well.

It was a magnificent bedroom. It was very unusual for the temple, due to the fact that it appeared more modern, like a hotel room one would find. A queen-sized bed rested at the left side of the room, a dresser on the right, and mirror nearby. The walls were made of wood and plaster and painted with unusual star patterns, not unlike the wall decorations found inside of the Palace of Shadow. At the far end of the room was a small arched window, currently open to the white, featureless light that seemed to come from all over the time warp that the temple seemed to be in.

"Well Courage, you and I will be staying in here for now." Beldam said with a smile. How does that sound?

Courage walked in slowly, examining the interior. He approached the bed, then took a leap on top of it. He bounced as he landed on top of it, a fact that amused Beldam quite a bit. The dog then got on his fours, walking in a couple of circles on top of it before lying down.

"Good, good, you'll get used to it in no time." Beldam state. "Oh, and you won't need this anymore."

She reached down, and took off his collar and leash. He watched as she held them both in her hands.

"Solidify."

On her command, the two items she held were magically incased in ice, becoming totally solid. Then, with one strong grip, she clutched the leash very tightly, it's brittle cold structure shattering to little pieces in her grasp.

"Oooooooh!!" Courage yipped in fear, shivering where he lay.

Beldam frowned, and walked over to Courage. Softly she placed her hand on Courage's head to pet him. She hadn't realized it, though her hand was still cold, leaving the poor dog feeling terribly uncomfortable.

"Oh Courage..." she began. "You needn't worry. Your owner will be fine and achieve great things. And so will you, while you are here."

Courage lifted his head up.

"Oh yes, great things. You are a dog of many talents, so I have heard. What better way to use those talents then to put them to good use towards helping the world?"

Courage sat up at the sound of this, somewhat perplexed.

"Heh, well maybe I'm rushing into things too fast. For now, you should just relax. Just pretend you are right at home. Pretty soon we will be family. And then..."

She paused, her smile disappearing. "And then..."

She paused entirely. Her eyes slowly widened, as if surprised by something.

Courage, now alerted, got up and onto his hind legs again. Something felt amiss. Beldam started shivering.

"C-c-..... Courage..." Beldam choked out, shivering harder.

It was at that point, to Courage's terror, that an arm had sprouted from Beldam's back! It was the same skin color as Beldam's, and same shape. It had managed to grab on the back of Beldam's collar. It was slowly chocking her!

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!" Courage shouted, in perhaps the most implausibly loud, big-mouth scream muttered by a dog.

"C-c-c-courage!!!" she choked again. "H-h-h-h-help me!!"

The dog gasped, and ran towards the arched window. There, he picked up a flower pot, and carried it wards Beldam. Then, with a strong thrust, Courage hurled it at the arm. It shattered on the limb, the arm instantly releasing Beldam's collar. It writhed in pain for a second, only to explode into a a mass of pink flower pedals which vanished.

Beldam, now free, fell forward, using her own hands to break the fall when he fell face first into her bed. She was panting heavily now, sweating a bit from the experience. She turned to her left to see Courage, shocked by the whole event, shivering at the far end of the room.

"Thank you... Courage." She said between pants. "Thank you... very... much..."

Courage let out a howl at her, still terrified, sitting and shivering.

"...Courage..." she sighed, slowly returning to normal. "I need to tell you something about myself."

She sat down on her bed. Poised for a moment, she sighed, and then lay back, her black hair catching her head as she lay down.

"I... suffer from a curse." Beldam sighed. "A terrible, horrible curse."

Courage, getting a hold of himself, slowly approached the bed, and peeked his head over the top with curiosity.

"Yes, a curse." Beldam said in a whisper. "The curse of Nico Robin."

Author's Notes: That should handle the introduction towards the current situation. Next up, the trip to Japan! Please review should you feel motivated to! And of course, Courage the Cowardly Dog is owned by Cartoon Network, those characters are not mine. You know the shpeil.