[Author's Notes] Hey guys, Lord Darkrai here! Now, we get to begin our adventures in the Labyrinth! It's gonna be fun :) So, what did you guys think of what happened last chapter, especially towards the end, eh? Yeah, I'm a dick :P I've decided to deviate hugely from the original path of the game. I felt that, while great for gaming, the story didn't translate well into an emotional story. Especially where you need to know how Hero is feeling throughout the story, I had to spice it up. So, get ready for some hair-pulling cliff hangers! At least it isn't as bad as most anime, only releasing an episode a week. Have a good one, enjoy the story, and tell me what you think about my changes!
[End Note]
Cave Story - The Written Tale
Written by Lord Darkrai
Original Story by Daisuke "Pixel" Amaya
I own nothing except the words written here
Chapter 5: Part 1- Maze of Torment
"Did you know that the witch-woman Jenka once had a brother? His name was Ballos. Like his sister, he wielded powers far beyond those of mortals... He used his magical powers to help and guide people, and the people loved and trusted him in return. Even more than they did their own king... The jealous king had Ballos apprehended and thrown into prison, where his punishment was brutal and cruel. Humans can be terrible creatures indeed... Under the extreme cruelty of the torture, Ballos' magical abilities finally ran wild. The king was engulfed in the swirl of magic and destroyed in an instant. In a single night, the kingdom that Ballos so loved was reduced to ashen ruins. Jenka, seeing her brother's madness, confined him to this floating island. That was the most she could do. Even as he was, she could not bring herself to kill her own brother... It was the witch Misery who made Ballos create the Demon Crown. She was subsequently cursed by the crown, forced to do the bidding of all who wear it. If the crown is destroyed, the curse is lifted. However... Even if the crown is destroyed, it will only rise again every time, so long as Ballos yet lives. Such is the strength of his soul that permeates the Crown."
I quickly got up and ran over to Curly. I turned her over, and held her head in my hands, trying to see if she was awake. Her machine gun was nowhere to be seen. I shook her.
"Curly! CURLY! Wake up, please!" I leaned down to her mouth to see if she was breathing. I knew robots had no reason to breath, but it seemed that we did anyways. I'd have to ask Booster next time I saw him if he knew why. If I ever see him... her body shuddered, and her eyes opened.
"Ugh... Hero? Are you okay?" I nodded.
"Yeah, I'm fine. But you... you're legs..." She looked down at where her legs used to be. Her eyes opened in shock, and she screamed, just now noticing the lack of limbs beneath her waist. She eventually grew silent, and looked at me. Her face was streaked with tears.
"Hero... what... what can we do? We're trapped. The Doctor has the seeds... And I don't have my machine gun... We've failed. Oh god, Hero, we've failed..." She started crying again. I lifted her up and held her, letting her cry on my shoulder. I patted her back, not really knowing what to do.
"Curly..." She stopped crying after ten or so minutes. She leaned back slightly, and turned her tear-stained face towards me.
"What can we do?" I put my forehead to hers and spoke.
"We can figure out how to get the hell out of here, for one." She stared into my eyes.
"Do you think we can?" I smiled.
"Of course. You found that secret passageway into the second area of the Sand Zone didn't you? And I still have both of my legs. I swear, Curly, I'll do everything I can to get you out of here, and get your legs back. Unless... Oh, my god." Curly frowned.
"What is it, Hero?" I slung my bag to my side, and opened it. Curly looked inside.
"Jenka. She gave me a Life Pot, and said it could restore the body parts of robots, remember?" Curly's face lit up.
"Oh! So, I can get my legs back!" I nodded. I felt the cool glass on my fingertips. I pulled the jar out of the bag, and my hopes dropped instantly.
The bottom of the jar was gone, leaving behind an empty jar. My face fell, along with my hopes of getting her legs. Curly frowned, trying to hold back tears once more. I hugged her closely, trying to make her feel better so she wouldn't cry. I couldn't stand seeing her cry. But while I tried to comfort her, I felt myself trying to hold back tears. Not only had I failed King, not only had I failed Toroko, Sue, Kazuma, Jack, Booster, and all the others, but now, I had failed Curly. And there wasn't a damn thing I could do. So I cried. I cried, and cried, and cried. I cried for those who have been lost, those who have died, and those who lost something, or someone, near and dear to them. Curly and I sat together for a long time, each crying our fears out to each other. It must have been a long time, because when we finally stopped crying, my shoulder was soaked, and so was hers. I looked around. Now that we had succumbed to our hopelessness, I decided I may as well go ahead and look for a door. I saw one, and picking Curly up and instructing her to hold on to my back so I could carry her, I walked over to the door, and tried to open it. It remained firmly closed. I looked up and realized that the room was insanely high, and that there may be something of note up top. I looked around for something to stand on. There was a pile of junk in the corner. I leaped on it, and continued upwards, dodging purple creatures that fired projectiles at me along the way. Occasionally, I used the Blade and some timing to scale up walls; since they were made mostly of loose rubble, the sword stuck and held fast, so all I had to do was jab it in the wall, leap in the air, and jab it again in a higher place. Towards the top, there was a computer terminal. I stared at the words, but had no idea what they said. Curly looked over my shoulder.
"Can you read it, Hero?" I shook my head.
"No idea. Never had to read, as far as I know." Curly pointed, with some difficulty, at one of the two words, the one that was blinking.
"Click that." I did, and I heard a rumbling far below. I turned to Curly and smiled.
"Hold on." I leaped off of the edge, careening to the ground. Curly tightened her grip on my neck and screamed. By now we had made it close to the wall. I waited until we were about thirty feet from the ground, and jabbed the Blade in the wall, using it to pivot myself to the wall and bracing my feet on it, slowing us down so that by the time we hit the floor, we were at a complete stop. I jumped off of the wall, and sat down, smiling. Curly whacked me over the head.
"WHAT THE HELL?!" I laughed.
"Thought it'd be fun."
"FUN?! WE ALMOST DIED!"
"No, we didn't. I knew what I was doing." Curly pouted and turned her head away from me. I put my hand on hers. "Listen, Curly. I'm sorry. I was only trying to lighten the mood a bit." She still looked away from me, but I couldn't help but notice that she started smiling. I smiled too, and stood up. Facing the door, I entered, and made sure Curly had a firm grip on me. Past the door, there was a long, twisting corridor that led in one direction. At the end, there was another door, leading to another corridor. There were many small tunnels leading away here and there, and small holes where purple creatures hid. I dodged them, and maneuvered until I was faced with some beetles. The beetles looked at me strangely, especially towards Curly and her lack of legs. I entered the small building they were standing around in. Inside, there were maybe five of these beetles, and they seemed peaceful. One stepped towards Curly and I and seemed to sniff. It said, with a hint of contempt,
"Nyah! You smell like Mimiga! I want some Mimiga..." I nodded and turned, not really sure what to make of the creature. I walked in further, and saw a beetle standing behind a counter. I nodded a welcome. It nodded as well.
"Welcome, traveler. I wish I could offer you something to sell, but we were robbed recently, so I have nothing to sell." He passed a glance at my Polar Star and Fireball. "You know, if you were to let me have those guns, I could make a new, better weapon out of them. Would you like me to?" I shook my head.
"No thank you. But, if you could..." I turned so he could see Curly. He nodded.
"I understand. But, I need the materials. Do you think you could get them for me?" I nodded.
"What do you need?"
"There's a creature here in the labyrinth called Monster X. It's a cat, but it pilots a huge machine car. If it runs you over, it can kill you, so be very careful. Just bring me some scrap metal from the car and that should be enough to work with." I nodded.
"Do you have any beds?" He nodded.
"Up stairs." I nodded my thanks and took Curly to a bed. I laid her down on it, and sat next to her.
"Curly." She looked at me.
"Yeah?"
"These beetles..." apparently one of them heard me.
"WE'RE NOT BEETLES! WE'RE GAUDI!" I nodded.
"Thank you! Now could you please let us talk in peace?" They fell quiet.
"Anyways, those Gaudi... do you trust them?" Curly nodded.
"Why wouldn't I? I mean, that one behind the counter, he's going to give me new legs! I'll finally be able to help you!" I smiled.
"You already help me, Curly, more than you know." I leaned over and hugged her then, trying to convey my thanks to her. She hugged me back, and we sat there for a while, just enjoying the relative silence and each others company. She hugged me tightly, and leaned back, smiling. I smiled too, and she pat the spot next to her on the bed.
"Lay with me, just for a little bit?" I nodded, and laid down with her. She hugged me again, laying her head on my arm. I hugged her too, and she relaxed. Soon, she fell asleep, and wiggled closer to me. I smiled and held her, enjoying the peace, and that I was hugging Curly. I fell asleep myself, and the world drifted away.
"WATCH OUT!" I dived to the side, making sure my partner was okay. She leaped backwards, using her gun for further momentum. The Doctor raised his hand, and a lightning bolt struck the ground, creating a hole. The sand we were on started falling into the hole, and I started to slide into it as well. I tossed my gun up to her, and noticed it was the Nemesis. She grabbed it, and reached for me, but I was already falling. I heard myself call out, "CURLY!" She screamed,
"QUOTE! HANG ON!" I grabbed at the sand uselessly, and fell, landing on a small platform in a cave. The hole sealed above me, and I looked around the room. It was small, with water dripping down the stalactites. I closed my eyes, and drifted into a deep sleep.
I woke with a gasp. I guess Curly must have been awake already, because she stared into my eyes with a worried expression.
"Hero? Are you okay?" I nodded, still mulling over what I had seen. I saw Curly. I heard her call out something... my name...
"Quote..." I muttered it softly to myself. Curly raised an eyebrow.
"Quote?" I nodded, and smiled.
"Quote! It's my name! My name is Quote!" She smiled, and laughed, hugging me around my neck.
"You remembered! Yay!" I hugged her tightly, smiling all the while. We sat for a while, just enjoying our company, since i'd have to leave soon. She pat my back and leaned back. "I guess you should go ahead, then, eh?" I nodded.
"Yeah, I guess." She nodded and laid down on the bed.
"Alright. Come back soon, Quote the hero." I smiled and pat her shoulder.
"Don't worry, I'll come back in one piece, with a bit more metal." I frowned and turned my head down, thinking about who did this to her. Misery, that bitch, broke one of her legs. But, Curly was missing two... no matter. Balrog may have broken the other one. As I thought, however, I realized that they may have been terrible, but they were under the orders of the Doctor. I muttered softly, "That bastard will die..." Curly turned over and looked at me. Her face turned to one of worry.
"Quote? Are you okay?" I nodded, clearing my face and smiling.
"I'm fine." She nodded.
"If you say so." I jumped down to the ground, and walked out the door. I walked past the Gaudi outside the door, and walked through some areas of thick junk. There was an area with a bit of space, and a door. I walked over to it, and jumped inside. There were two small green creatures, both wearing white outfits and standing next to two beds. I jumped down, and noticed some Gaudi in the beds. One of the creatures trotted over to me.
"Hello. Are you hurt?" He started jumping, reaching for my forehead. I crouched down, and he placed a small hand on my forehead. "You are extremely cold. Need warm rag." I shook my head.
"No, it's okay. My forehead is made of metal, so it's going to be very different than normal. But I'm perfectly fine." He shrugged his shoulders. I had a sudden thought that Curly would find him and whom I assumed to be his assistant adorable. He trotted back over to his assistant and talked in hushed whispers. He came back.
"We need item, called Cure All. Can you get?" I shrugged.
"Does it work on bots?" He shook his head (which was most of his body) back and forth.
"Only organic things." I nodded.
"Sure. Where is it?"
"Up the junk, there is a door; old hospital. Inside, haunted but Cure All." I nodded.
"Gotcha." He turned back to his work, and I went back outside. I jumped up the junk piles, and entered the door. I looked around the purple-themed room, and found a cabinet, with a bottle inside it. The bottle had a label on it that said Cure All, and what I presumed to be Cure All in several different languages, included the one on the island. I heard a thud, and turned to see a black ghost. I stood still, and tossed the pill bottle in my pack, drawing the Blade in my left hand and the Polar Star in my right. The ghost dissolved and shot towards the ceiling. I bolted towards the center of the room, as to catch it when it fell back. I noticed purple spheres falling from the ceiling, and I jumped out of the way while turning, preparing an attack with the Blade. It landed where I was, and I slashed downwards, cutting it in the center. I flicked my wrist to the left and cut to the right, then right to left. I stabbed, and it dissolved again, disappearing. I crouched in a corner, preparing another spin to land some strikes with the Blade. I saw the spheres, and jumped, pivoting and slashing upwards as it fell down, causing the Blade going through with more force. I slashed right to left, left to right, and top to bottom. I somersaulted over it and stabbed downwards as it retreated to the ceiling. I shot with the Polar Star after it, and I heard a great rumbling as it disappeared. I breathed deeply, and sheathed the Blade and holstered the Polar Star. Exiting the room, I made sure the Cure All was secured, and jumped down to the room. Inside, the green creature trotted over to me.
"Did you get the Cure All?" I nodded.
"Yes. The old room has been cleared of ghosts as well. So enjoy." He grabbed the Cure All and ran over to his assistant happily. I smiled, and turned to leave, when the creature called me back.
"Person!" I turned.
"Yes?" He handed me a tube.
"Here! Put in green gun!" I drew the Bubbler.
"You mean this?" He nodded. He pushed a button, and a slide opened out, and it seemed the tube would fit. I placed it in, and nothing happened. He took it back out, turned it around, and put it back in. The gun vibrated for a minute or so, then stopped. He took it out.
"You have other auto gun?" I shook my head.
"No, sadly. My partner does, but, unfortunately, we don't have it with us." He nodded, and handed the tube to me.
"This is Turbocharge. Makes auto guns shoot faster! Keep it!" I nodded.
"Thank you." I left once more, prepared more than ever to fight Monster X. I jumped through more piles of junk, avoiding some crazed-looking Gaudi. They fired projectiles at me, or just tried to bite me in general. I few shots of the Nemesis or slashes with the Blade proved too much for them. I eventually found a vehicle of some kind, with four treads, two on the ground and two on the ceiling. I proceeded, quickly wiping out the Gaudi. I heard a rumbling behind me, and I saw the vehicle from earlier roll past me. I quickly jumped on one of the treads, and readied my Nemesis.
Enter: Monster X!
It rolled around, and I plunged the Blade into the tread cover to hold onto it and it's high speeds. We approached a shield of some kind. I jumped off, and shot the Nemesis at the shield, testing to see if it went through. The shot burst apart on the shield, so I knew I was trapped, especially if there was one on the other side. I heard the rumbling louder this time as X slowed and reversed, trying to run me over. I jumped on again and held for dear life. It slowed down, and the center of the vehicle opened, firing shots at me. I noticed four bulbs making a kind of force field around it. I cut two off with the Blade and shot at the third with the Nemesis, destroying it. It closed the doors before I could finish off the fourth. It rolled around and by now, I had built up a rhythm with it. It rolled around more and finally stopped, showing the last bulb. I threw the Blade and shot it with the Nemesis, propelling the Blade further to cut off the last bulb. It flew off in a random direction. I dove after it, dodging the treads. It rolled around much faster now, and seemed much more determined to run me over. I dodged it rather than jump on it, until it screeched to a halt. I jumped underneath it, determined to hit the large vulnerable part that was now open. However, X proceeded to fire streams of green snake-like missiles, that started circling and slowly coming closer to me. Shooting one experimentally and seeing that it was relatively weak, I drew the Bubbler and kept a steady stream of bubbles as a shield. It was surprisingly effective, and I managed to defeat them all by the time X opened again. This time, I held the Bubbler's trigger down and used the Blade to attach myself to the vulnerable black compartment. I drew the Missile Launcher and launched ten missiles into it (Missiles: 60/70) it closed before I could remove the Blade. I held on for dear life as it swung me back and forth, actively trying to throw me off. Whoever the hell this cat is that's piloting this thing, he's doing one hell of a job. It slowed down, and opened again. I held the Polar Star in my left hand, and my Nemesis in my right, using my scarf to tie myself to the Blade. I fired as many shots as I could into the thing as I could. It shuddered, and I drew the Blade, leaping backwards and replacing my scarf around my neck. It slammed into a wall, and the center blew up, and the cat inside flew back at the wall behind it, and fell to the ground. I could see it breathing, so I knew it was okay.
Monster X: Defeated!
I used the Blade to cut off a generous portion of metal, some strong and thick, some thin and flexible. I grabbed some of the axles used in the treads, and when I had decided that I had gathered enough metal to be used, I trudged back, making sure that I didn't drop or damage any. Back at the shop. I dumped the metal at the counter, and the Gaudi nodded appreciatively.
"Yes, this is good. Plenty of good metal here to work with, and I know these axles have some cables in them I can use for joints... I'm sorry, but do you think you could bring your friend here for me?" I nodded.
"Of course." I walked back to Curly's bed. She was sleeping softly. I gently shook her shoulder. "Hey, Curly. I'm back." She sat up, and smiled.
"Hey, Quote. Back from getting me some leg material?" I nodded.
"Yeah. It was quite difficult." She laughed. I didn't remember paying much attention to her laugh, but, I noticed now that it was a light, quiet laugh. I liked it, I thought.
"I can tell. You're clothes have more tears in them then usual." I looked down and laughed.
"Yeah, I guess I do. Oh, the Gaudi who's making your legs needs you." She held up her arms.
"Carry me?" I nodded.
"Of course." She wrapped her arms around my neck, and laid her head on my shoulders. Jumping downstairs carefully, so as not to hurt her, I carried her to the Gaudi merchant. It nodded, and led us downstairs. Inside, there were several tools for working with electronics, from Adam wrenches of various widths to screwdrivers of various sizes and heads. It pointed to a table.
"Put her there, please." I nodded and laid her on the table, making sure she was comfortable. She grabbed my hand and squeezed tightly.
"Don't leave, please." I tightened my grip on her hand.
"Of course not. I'll stay right here by your side." She nodded and smiled.
"Thanks, Quote." I sat in a chair, still holding her hand. The Gaudi moved the legs of her pants so her could see where the holes of her legs were at. He frowned.
"Is something wrong?" He nodded.
"I've never seen circuitry like this... Quote, right?" I nodded.
"Yes?"
I'm afraid I'm going to have to remove your legs."
[End of Chapter 5, Part 1]