Hey, everyone! 8D
Antauri: It's time for chapter 19!
Otto: Why is Antauri sitting on Reza's shoulder?
Gibson: After their hug in the last chapter, Antauri refused to leave her side and apparently grew much fonder of her presence than before.
SPRX: Now it's almost impossible to separate them.
Mandarin: How cute.
Otto: Let' see what our words are!
Okay!
Antauri: … Interesting how the first word you received can go in any way you choose. Just our presence in it makes it work.
Like a baws! Aw yeah!
Nova: Thanks to Jasper Dragonfly for the review/request! We love you!
Mandarin: And to Skaternova for the wonderful review! We're glad you like our stories!
And for EvilAntauri, I want to give a big thanks personally. I must say, when Antauri asked for a hug, I almost died of happiness right there. 8D
Antauri: And to pikurosonai00, I'm glad you find this cute. Almost everything Reza writes is either cute or funny. –Hugs Reza-
8D
Chiro: Seriously, Antauri, is there any way you'll get off her shoulder?
Antauri: … if we're attacked.
I FEEL SO SPECIAL!
Simian:
"Why monkeys?"
"Simians have a higher capability than most other animals to attain knowledge. I carefully studied and observed the creatures in the surrounding area to discern which creature would be best to-"
"Why monkeys?" Clayton interrupted.
The Alchemist sighed and turned around, "Because they're smarter. They're the only smart things around here besides me."
"Hey, what about me?"
The Alchemist chuckled and walked off, pulling his hood down, "Besides, they're rather affectionate."
The door to the lab hadn't been open for ten seconds before Antauri and Nova jumped on them.
"Whoa!" Clayton yelped, "Monkey in my face! Monkey in my face!"
The Alchemist chuckled, holding Nova in his arms, "He's not going to hurt you, Captain. He is only curious as to who you are. Antauri, give him some space, please."
The black monkey looked up at the Alchemist and jumped up, taking his place on his shoulder. Clayton stood up from where Antauri had pushed him over and chuckled, "Affectionate… right."
"And Antauri is the calmest."
Nova and Antauri looked at each other and ran off, turning and motioning for the pair to follow them. They did so quickly, jogging to keep up with the excited simians. They were lead into the back, where the monkeys slept, and found Otto and Mandarin.
"Is something wrong?" the Alchemist asked, kneeling down.
Mandarin took Otto's hand and held it up for the Alchemist to see. A small cut lay across the green monkey's hand, and tears filled his eyes.
"You've been messing with my equipment again." The monkey was lifted up and taken out to the main room, a bandage wrapped around his palm and a kiss placed to it.
"You really like these little guys, don't you?" Clayton laughed, "They are kinda cute." He carefully held a hand out to Otto, who sniffed him curiously, "Maybe they'll get to like me."
"Otto seems to." The Alchemist chuckled as the green monkey forced Clayton to pet him, smiling.
Unbelievable:
Otto grinned, presenting his Christmas gifts for each of the team with pride. "Ta-da!" He exclaimed joyfully.
"Otto…" Antauri stared at the giant gifts, "Did you make all of this?"
"Yep! They're all made with my own hands, just for you! Here, Antauri, this one's yours!"
The black monkey blinked as a present was shoved into his hands. Well, more that forced in front of him… it was about three and a half feet tall, coming up just below his eyes. He pulled the decorative greed and red wrapping off and paused.
"Otto…"
The green monkey grinned, "Do you like it!"
"This is wonderful." Antauri grinned, "Thank you!"
"A cotton candy machine?" SPRX chuckled, "Look, he even drew all of us on the side."
Otto chuckled, "Pfft, right. As if I would put decorations on something. We're all interactive. Each one of us, when you tap our tummy's, makes a different flavor. SPRX is the regular pink stuff, Gibby's blue raspberry, Nova's lemon, I'm green apple, and Chiro's orange. You, Antauri, start the machine up and make it work. Try it!"
Antauri paused, poking SPRX and then himself. The machine whirled to life, a cone popping up and a robotic arm grabbing it as sugar strings formed. The cone was spun around the center, and then a second hand cleaned every bit off the edges, adding it to the cone.
"Wow!" Antauri grinned, taking the snack, "Marvelous!"
"Your turn, Nova!" Otto beamed and handed hers to her.
She ripped it open, pausing.
"Oh my gosh, Otto!" She laughed, "This is perfect!"
"A Skeleton King punching bag." Gibson chuckled, "Wonderful."
"Wait, this is Otto we're talking about. What special stuff does it to?" Chiro smiled.
Otto winked, "Someone's learning. On the top, I have some buttons you can push to make it look like a bunch of different people, depending on who you're mad at. They're all labeled, too."
"Hey, there's one that looks like you, SPRX." She smirked.
"Well, you have to have something to practice on for when you finally realize you're madly in love with me and kiss me."
She stared at him blankly, "Not gonna happen."
"Gibby's turn!" Otto handed the blue simian his present, which was unwrapped in record time.
"Oh my goodness, Otto!" Gibson grinned, "Is this-"
"I made you a customized version of that book thingy you wanted. It was easier for me to build one than go out and find it for you. Besides, this one can change sizes, for if you need to carry it." He pushed a small button on the top and it shrunk to a fourth of its size. He pressed it once more and it regrew.
"Astonishing, Otto!" Gibson smiled.
"SPRX!" Otto gave the red monkey his present.
SPRX absolutely destroyed the wrapping paper.
"Oh, this is cool, buddy!" SPRX paused, "What is it?" He held the disk up, curious.
Otto laughed and took it, holding it flat and showing him a small screen on it, "Push it."
SPRX tapped the screen and paused. He looked at it for a second and grinned, "Dude!" he pushed a button and a small cylinder rose from the platform, flashing with light and sliding open. SPRX grabbed what was inside and pulled it on, showing everyone the aviator jacket.
"I was inspired by the clothes replicators off that show Gibby watches sometimes, Star Trek. I have a few cool things in here. Here you go."
SPRX smiled, "Thank you so much, man!"
"And last, but certainly my favorite, Chiro's gift!"
The boy ripped the paper off excitedly, "Whoa! Otto!"
On front of Chiro stood a Super Robot replica, taller than he was, and perfect in every detail. Small replicas of the Monkey team stood on the Super Robot's shoulder, their eyes colored in with the perfect hue.
"Ah, what's the usual thing with Otto-made-machines?" Otto smiled, "They do something special. He walked over, pushing the points on each of the monkeys' heads, and pulling Chiro's scarf. He then reached up and pushed a small button on the back of the Super Robot's antennae.
Each one of the figures slowly came to life and looked up at Chiro, their eyes now bright.
"They each have been installed with our personalities. They have attacks and can speak and the Super Robot even splits apart like ours does."
Everyone watched as the mini-Monkey Team started moving around, going into the Super Robot. Otto flipped a small switch on the torso and it went translucent, showing the team heading to their battle stations. They stepped back as the Super Robot broke apart, forming each of the individual vehicles.
"You won't believe how hard it was to make this without you guys noticing. I was sure you'd found me out a bunch of times, but apparently I was just seeming like normal weird me." He grinned.
"Otto, this is unbelievable!" Chiro hugged the monkey, "Thank you so much!"
"I'm just glad you like them!" Otto laughed.
Organized Crime:
"Sorry, this word doesn't fit this fic." Mandarin groaned, "There's no way this group of freaks will ever be organized."
Valeena paused, "Who are you talking to?"
"The people in my head." Mandarin smiled, "Jealous?"
"Of your insanity? Hardly."
"Mandarin!"
Sakko ran over and jumped onto the orange monkey's back, scrambling for defense, "TV monster's bullying me!"
Mandarin rolled his eyes, looking at the droid.
"Why am I the only one here with a shred of sanity?"
Valeena paused, "I'm sane."
"Woman, I saw you eat a highly poisonous spider the other day. You said it was delectable and suffered no ill effects." He rolled his eyes.
"As if you're sane, though." Sakko scoffed.
"I am."
An image of Chiro was put in front of him. Mandarin quickly took and shredded it, then burnt the shredded pieces.
"That's totally sane." Sakko rolled his eyes.
Valeena paused, "Where did you get fire?"
Grovel:
"Uh… what are you guys doing?"
"Groveling." Otto smirked, "Shhh."
Chiro paused, but stayed quiet. He looked around at the cage he'd been locked in, the one that didn't seem to want to break. He'd been locked away by the king of the planet they'd received a distress call from, and now his team was groveling to said king.
"Stand." The king commanded, "This is how I am supposed to be treated! YOU, strange rainbow team, you will be my new guards."
"Hey!" Chiro shouted, "That's my team!"
"Silence, prisoner!" The cage was electrocuted, Chiro receiving almost all of it.
The Monkey Team made no move to help him.
Chiro looked at the team, fear in his eyes, "Monkey Team! Come on! Antauri! SPRX!"
"Sorry, kid…" SPRX smirked, "We no longer follow you."
Chiro stared in horror, "Nova! Otto! Gibson! Please!"
"Bye, Chinko." Otto waved and walked off with the rest of the team.
"You've got to be kidding me." Chiro groaned. He stepped back, attacking the bars of his cage with everything he had with no results.
That next day, the Monkey team stood around the king's throne, Nova given a special place on his arm rest. They sat silent, never spoke, and never moved. Each wore a smaller version of the armor of the normal guards, but were not armed. They had their own weapons, anyways.
Chiro groaned and sat down in his cage, glaring at the group.
Antauri looked at Chiro and smiled. He lifted his hands to his head and closed his eyes, "Sir… I'm sensing something is wrong…"
The rest of the team smiled.
"What is it?" the king asked.
Nova grabbed him by the back of his shirt, Gibson and SPRX grabbing his feet, and Otto and Antauri holding his wrists.
"It seems our leader has been locked away…" SPRX smiled, "And you're the only one with a key."
Chiro grinned, "Monkey Team!"
"Don't hurt me, please!" He looked down at his waist, "The key, take it! Just leave me alone!"
Nova grabbed it and released Chiro, hugging him.
"We'd never abandon you, Chiro!" She smiled, "We love you too much."
The rest of the team ran over and joined the hug. Chiro smiled, letting Nova and Otto rest on his shoulders. He paused and Gibson and SPRX yelped in surprise. He looked down and saw the king on his knees, face to the ground, groveling.
"Uh… what?"
"To command such a strong team, you must be a god! I will always pray to the god, Chiko!"
"My name's Chiro." He shot a glare at Otto, who chuckled.
"ALL PRAISE CHINKO!"
"It's Chiro! Cheer-oh."
Tempting:
Pairing warning! Minor hint at Chiro/Jinmay…
Imagine everything you could ever need or want in your lifetime is presented to you on a golden plate with your own fancy name tag on it. You know, the kind with the beautiful swirly writing? You know what I mean. You could have the best clothes, toys, and books. You could finally win over the person who has been tugging at your heart since you met them. You could smite your enemies and punish those who betray you. You would never be hungry, never overweight, and always look your absolute best without the aid of make up or even having to try.
Now, imagine, that all you had to do for everything ever was take four steps. You didn't have to speak or abandon anyone. Just take four steps and it's all yours. Everything.
Tempting, no? Anyone would take it.
Chiro was pressed with this decision. He didn't have to obey Skeleton King, he didn't have to abandon the Monkey Team, he didn't have to leave Suggazoom… he didn't have to do anything but take four small steps.
Three steps… two steps… one more step and it was all his.
He hesitated.
"Hey, Chiro! Wanna go play some basketball with me, Otto, and Antauri?" SPRX called.
The boy turned, smiling, "I'll be right there!"
'Everything I could ever want. I could finally have my parents back… Skeleton King would be gone for good… Mandarin could return to the Monkey Team, completely clean. I could finally have Jinmay for my girl… forever. I could control the Power Primate!'
He reached out his hand.
"But… if I do that… then what's the point? If I have parents… and Skeleton King is gone… Mandarin is good… I won't need the Power Primate. The Monkey Team would become useless… I wouldn't have the thrill of knowing Jinmay's affections are sincere… it would be pointless to live if I had everything." He stepped back and turned, smiling, "Besides, why have everything, when I can play basketball?"
"Hey, kid!" SPRX smiled, "You and Otto against me and Antauri."
Gibson and Nova stood on the side of the court, pompoms in their hands, all four different colors. Nova had red and orange, and Gibson white and green.
"Come on, SPRX!" Nova cheered.
"Go Antauri!" Gibson grinned, "Go Otto!"
"Beat 'em down, Chiro!"
Klutz:
"Chiro, are you okay?" Antauri asked.
Chiro groaned, "What tripped me?"
Otto paused, "Your foot."
Chiro slowly stood up and wiped the dirt off of his clothes, "Jeez. I seem to be kinda klutzy today." he smiled, "I hope I don't break something."
"You're merely suffering a bit fatigue, probably due to your recent lack of sleep." Gibson smiled, "You just need a nap, Chiro."
"I can't sleep, we're still patrolling." Chiro smiled, "I'll be fine, really."
That lasted about twenty minutes. Then Chiro tripped over a bump in the road, accidentally stepped on Antauri's tail, and squished SPRX under him.
"GET OFF ME, KID!" SPRX shouted.
"Are you alright, Antauri?" Gibson asked.
The black monkey bit his lip and nodded, wiping away the tears that had formed from the pain, "I will be alright."
"Sorry, guys…" Chiro stood again, "Maybe… maybe I should take a nap."
"Please spare yourself and all of us the pain." Antauri agreed.
"I'll take him back." Nova chuckled, "Come on, Chiro."
As soon as Chiro was gone, Antauri let out a shriek of pain he'd suppressed.
"You okay, man? I know how that hurts." SPRX put a hand on Antauri's shoulder.
"Son of a frangle-munching, three-headed blognarf!" Antauri hissed and took a deep breath, closing his eyes, "I'm alright…"
Gibson used his scanner make sure that statement was true.
"You'll be slightly bruised, but you should be alright." he smiled.
"Thank you." Antauri took a few more breaths, "Let's finish our patrol."
Simian- Awww! Just so you know, Clayton is Captain Suggazoom. It's his alias. The first time he meets the Monkey Team… aww…
Unbelievable- Gotta love Otto's inventions. How cute! I like Chiro's best… and Antauri's. 8D
Organized Crime- It's everything they're not. 8D
Grovel- Falsely traitorous Monkey Team, anyone? I'd never write about anyone betraying the team for good. Or would I? Dun dun dun!
Tempting- Why take everything easily? Why skip the journey, for it is the most exciting part. I wanted to get the serious part over with, so I added Nova and Gibson as cheerleaders. XD Cheering for both sides!
Klutz- Request from Jasper Dragonfly. XD Poor Antauri! That must hurt!