"You're done. You may leave now."

"H-huh?"

"First off, you're too short," The queen explained in a rather bored tone, gesturing toward the small size chart to her left. "At least by an inch."

"But… I passed all the tests-"

"Okay, fine," Queen Vivianne sighed impatiently. She snapped her fingers, and one of the Ningyo gave him a brown paper bag. "Here's your goody bag. Congrats, you made it this far. Take him back with the others."

Fuyuki gazed at them curiously, but decided against arguing with her decision. Besides, the upside to this was that he didn't have to marry the queen! Thank goodness.

Two Ningyo with very threatening looking spears marched toward the young boy and forced him along to the second door next to the entrance. Fuyuki opened up his bag and was surprised to find out it was empty.

Now here comes one of the more attractive, different looking ones, Queen Vivianne thought joyously. When the door slid open, the excited smile on her lips slipped onto a more repulsed, confused frown. "What? Who are you?"

"I'm Dororo," The blue frog said before her. Just the sound of his voice indicated a clever smirk. "And I passed all your activities, isn't that correct?"

"Wh-where's the pink-haired boy? A-and the blonde one?!"

Dororo shrugged mysteriously. "I don't know what you're talking about."

The queen's face flushed to an angry, red color. "Where are they?!"

"Queen… Vivianne, was it?" Dororo said politely, yet sternly, gazing into her eyes thoughtfully. "I wanted to talk to you about what you're doing to all these boys- taking them away from their families and loved ones, and forcing them into the awkward position into accepting the role of playing your husband. I speak on behalf of those boys, with justice, and-"

"Oh, boy," She interrupted, leaning back against her chair. She sighed deeply. "Not another one." She stood up from her throne and began to walk toward Dororo, making him uneasy. He strode back a step, placing his small hand on the handle of his blade. "You haven't read my pamphlet, have you? Oh, you have? Good. Here's the thing, little frog. Do you remember the brief history lesson with my father? Don't you? No? Okay, then. My father never intended for me to have the Ningyo's flesh to eat."

At this, Dororo noticed her guards wince slightly, the subject that their valuable, most beloved queen had eaten an ancestor's flesh still completely sensitive and nauseating to them.

"Never. In fact, I think he even tried to talk me out of it. But what happened?" She paused for dramatic effect, looking down at Dororo. "I managed to get him to give it to me. And I ate it. A little… note, if you will, about me, Dorien-"

"It's Dororo-"

"Whatever." She stopped again, and lowered, leaning down toward him, their eyes at an even, almost frightening level. "I always get what I want. And I want a handsome, brave, perceptive, intelligent, and determined husband. And you know what? I will have him."

"You won't get away with this," Dororo said, squeezing the hilt now. "I won't let you."

"You're too late, little frog. I already have two picked out for me; when one of them comes out through that door-"

"They won't go through that door," Dororo challenged. "I know. The pink haired and blonde boys aren't real. See, the next person to go through that door will be-"

At that moment, the door slid open and Giroro stepped in, to the ninja Keronian's shock, still clad in his Pekoponian disguise. The same surprised expression was mirrored in Giroro's face. "Dororo?"

"What?!" Dororo turned to him. "What happened?! Why aren't you-?"

"Hello," Queen Vivianne said, smiling at him charmingly. She rose to her full height and pulled a stray strand of hair to the back of her ear. Her eyes sparkled under the light. "I was expecting you."

Giroro shuddered involuntarily, but he stood his ground. "I'm here to reject this marriage proposal."

"You do not have a choice," She said in a mock, sorrowful tone of voice. "The best thing for you to do is just accept it. What is your name?"

"Gi- … Rio. My name's Rio."

"Rio. Hm. Brazilian? How queer. They tend to have darker skin, darker hair." She tilted her head slightly, trying to project a certain air of cuteness. "But no matter. I don't mind how you look."

Giroro exhaled loudly. "Listen, lady, I don't know what you're trying to pull here, but this is just wrong-"

"Oh, god, not another one." Queen Vivianne slumped back on her throne.

"Giroro," Dororo whispered, rather urgently. "Why aren't you back to your Keronian form!?"

"Why?" The soldier replied, startled. "Should I?"

Dororo was about to explain when he felt some disturbing, sudden presence behind him. He jumped to the side and turned, unsheathing the thin katana and swinging it to counterattack the heavy chains that were thrust upon him. It swung around his weapon, and the Ningyo holding the shackle tugged at it forcefully, making the blue frog grunt and pull back.

Giroro felt a gun materialize deliciously in his hands, the feeling marvelous and familiar. He directed it toward the chain and squeezed the trigger, severing it to two pieces.

Dororo, free from the trap, streaked toward Giroro and stood by him, the two holding their weapons with a sense of dignity. At this point, the Ningyo had surrounded them, creating a threatening ring that refused to go unnoticed. The fish men's bleak eyes stared rather pointlessly at them, their lips pursing with determination. Finally, after an apprehensive, nerve-wrecking silence that made sweat trickle their foreheads, the Ningyo attacked.

Two guns were manifested on the blonde man's shoulders, and immediately bullets began to ring out toward the queen's guards. Dororo continued to use his ninja abilities to confuse and ultimately defeat them amidst their sudden confusion. It was painfully obvious that some were new recruits. The ones with the battle war cries ("DIE!" or, "YOUR DEATH IS IMMINENT!" or even, Dororo's personal favorite, "BEWARE THE WRATH OF CHEESEBREATH!") were easily beaten and tossed aside. The older ones, however, were skilled and terrifying fighters. They dodged with incredible accuracy, at incredible speeds. Their own weapons were not unordinary, either. They ranged from clasping steely chains to machetes to guns to swords. Each had their own technique, and since they all looked the same, it was hard to read and predict their attacks.

As Giroro and Dororo fought, they realized that more and more Ningyo huddled between them, slowly separating them, pulling them apart. Unfortunately, they noticed a little too late.

There was a sickening 'thump' - different from the noiseless collapses of their fish-like enemies. Giroro slugged the one nearest to him and evidently gazed over his shoulder, for just a brief moment, and saw a little blur of blue quickly being overcome by a mass of Ningyo soldiers.

Distraction.

First it was a sudden, piercing pain; then a stench that emitted from his neck. The world around him dissipated from one of reality to one of dizziness and delusion.

And then: darkness.

"Fuyuki!"

Natsumi nearly squeezed the life out of him.

"Sis…!" He gasped. "Choking… not… breathing…"

"Good!" She released him and then knocked her fist over his head. "Cuz after I save you I'm gonna kill you. Okay?"

"Okay," Fuyuki coughed, rubbing his scalp with a free hand. He looked up at the two girls shyly and smiled. "It's great to see you guys."

"It's great to see you too."

"Have you seen Devon and Rio?" Koyuki asked him.

"No." Fuyuki paused after a thought, and then changed his answer. "I mean, yes, but not recently."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean- you know, the tests? We were together until they took us away and separated us." Fuyuki cupped one of his hands under his chin. "You know what? They probably went as far as I did, seeing as they hadn't come back yet." He gazed at them expectantly. "I passed the tests- all of them. And I could tell you what I did so that you guys could maybe even find them."

Blood… rushing… head…

Dororo looked up, finding himself looking down. He reached for the hilt of his weapon to break free from the chains that were hanging him, but was aghast to feel only air.

They took my katana?! Those JERKS! Okay, okay. No need to panic. Think, Dororo. Think.

The blood that rushed in his head wasn't exactly in his favor. It made it pound and sink and throb.

Ugh…

Suddenly, the walls- stone bricks piled on each other- began to make a sort of cracking noise. The stones wobbled, until one of them just fell onto the dusty floor. Dororo strained his eyes in the dark cell, wondering what could possibly be going on.

"Aw, SHOOT! It's just another room!"

Keroro?!

Dororo felt tears welling up in his eyes. Are they here to… save me?!

"Keroro!" He called down eagerly. "I'm up here!"

"Kero?" The sergeant poked his head through the gaping hole. "Who's there?"

"It's me! Dororo!"

"Dororo…?" Keroro repeated, confused. The name did sound familiar…"Dororo… Dororo… Dororo…"

"I'm up here!"

"Oh! Dororo!" Keroro laughed, gently hitting his own forehead with his palm. "Okay! I remember now. Yeah, we're totally here to save you!"

The ninja sighed. At least they didn't question why he was there in the first place. That was one of the few plus sides of forgetting him, he supposed. Though, seeing how everyone else was here, he could make the excuse it was all a coincidence, if he was ever asked. Although he greatly doubted it.

"We'll get you down from there, buddy!" Keroro called up to him. He glanced at Tamama. "Hey. Cut his ropes."

"Wait. How exactly do you intend to-?"

"Tamama…"

"Wait-wait isn't there some better idea-?!"

"….IMPACT!"

Giroro groaned, stirred on the soft, crisp sheets of the be-

…Hold on a sec.

He quickly sat up and stared down, absolutely confused. He felt the fabrics with his hand, only to see that somehow he was wearing a long, silky sleeve that covered it. He stared down at his attire, even more perplexed to find himself wearing a- what did they call it? Montsuki? It was black and red, striped.

Traditional garb for men who intended to get married.

He stood up and balanced unevenly, only managing to fall back on the bed. Oi. He didn't know that this… kimono was so heavy. So many layers. No surprise there.

Although he didn't anticipate the fact that it felt so cool, and not hot against his Pekoponian skin…

…Do I want to know how she got these clothes on me?

"Hello, my dearest husband-to-be!"

Giroro jumped, crawling back nervously on the mattress.

"Don't be afraid," The queen's lips curved to a sweet smile. It made his insides crawl. Her eyes slid to his clothes, and she nodded approvingly. "Good! And here I thought it wasn't going to fit you."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Hm? Doing what?"

"Don't act stupid. You know exactly what I'm talking about!"

"Hey!" One of the Ningyo, her bodyguard, snapped. "Don't talk to her that way-!"

"Hush." She gave the one who burst out a strict glare, and he calmed immediately. She turned back to Giroro. "I need a husband. I don't know why everyone keeps asking me the same question-"

"Listen," Giroro interrupted, looking down, embarrassed. "There's a reason why I want to decline your offer."

"Oh? More important than leading the Ningyo?"

Giroro shuddered.

Being king over a smelly, ugly, fishy nation.

That's a scary thought.

"I'm.. uh… my heart… love…" If I couldn't confess to Natsumi, how in Keron could I expect to say it in front of a total stranger?

"Don't worry. You'll grow to love me, if that's what you're talking about."

"Th-that's not what I-" Giroro started, but was quickly intercepted by one of Ningyo, who had entered rather loudly, excited to present news.

"My queen!" He exclaimed. "There are two more young men who are exceeding your challenges!"

"What?" Queen Vivianne questioned, frowning. "So there is more than two potential bridegrooms?" She smirked at Giroro. "I suppose we'll speak of engagement plans later, my love. If you happen to still be my love, that is."

She left the room eagerly, leaving Giroro alone.

Giroro hoped that she would pick someone else. He couldn't bare to think of how Natsumi would feel if she saw him married to a fish girl.

Talk about self esteem issues.

Finally deciding to react before the queen came back, Giroro began strip the outer, thicker layers of this traditional kimono, leaving the thinner fabrics on him so that it was easier for him to move. When he was able to walk again, he ran to the door, only to curse when he found that it had been locked.

"We have to save Giroro," Dororo told them, rubbing the huge bump on his forehead. "He's in danger!"

"What kind of danger?" Tamama asked.

"Is he going to get eaten?"

"You could say, 'torture'?"

"Death?"

"Worse," Dororo replied solemnly. "Marriage."

They inwardly winced.

"We have to save him!" Keroro said heroically. "We can'tsubject Giroro to this kind of horror!" He stopped slightly, turned to Dororo. "…Just who is he marrying, anyway?"

"The queen of the Ningyo."

"A… queen?! Like, the rich kind?!' Keroro's eyes began to sparkle.

"…I don't like the look you're making-"

"Oh, this is more opportunity than I could ask for!" The leader said, rolling his hands together greedily. "Can't you see it?! All the money and power you could ask for! Kero, kero, kero!"

"Keroro, this is no time to be thinking like that!" Dororo snapped, irritated that his so-called friend could think more about the potential goodies than his actual companion's sake. "We have to save Giroro from this fate! What about Natsumi?"

"Who?"

Dororo had the urge to slap him, but held it in. "Natsumi."

"Oh yeah. What about her?"

"Can't you think of how hurt she'll be when Giroro gets married off just like that? And not to mention Giroro!"

"Huh? Oh sorry, I was just thinking about throwing gold and diamonds in the air."

Dororo huffed, folding his arms. "What about 'Operation: Dating the Enemy'?"

Realization set on Keroro's face.

"Armpit platoon," The sergeant sighed, his excitement dying down considerably. "Dororo is right. In order to complete the mission we must set our priorities straight."

..Wow. Not even I saw that coming.

So now this invasion plan has more priority over… wealth?

Although Dororo was relieved beyond relief, he couldn't help but gaze at Keroro suspiciously for his sudden change in moral and behavior. Just what are you planning, Keroro?

The first one was a little hard, especially since it was set in a dark, airy, mysterious room.

Not to mention the growls. That scared the crap out of her.

Natsumi had held her breath, mentally repeating Fuyuki's instruction: Just stay there. Tell yourself that it's nothing. It'll be scary at first- I know- but after it makes noises a few times, it'll go away. It's nothing but noise- that's all it is. Just noise. It's supposed to represent courage.

When Koyuki saw the water, Fuyuki's words flowed steadily in her mind: When you see the creek in the middle of the wall, and they tell you to drink, cup your hands toward your mouth. Look around. Don't lean against the water and drink- this is suppose to test perception.

Natsumi was relieved when she saw the test, and she smiled knowingly. Her eyes gliding past all the difficult equations to the simple direction at the end. This test is supposed to represent if you follow instructions clearly. Read everything- don't even hesitate into doing the questions. The last one will tell you, 'turn it in'- and that's all that you have to do.

It had taken a while, getting lost in that maze, but Koyuki finally found the door that Fuyuki was talking about. This test is really easy- it's supposed to test your wit. They tell you to perform a specific action, and there will be toys on the floor, probably prompting you to grab it and do something with it, but the hint comes at the end: 'you can't do anything to solve this puzzle'. So you do nothing.

Natsumi walked into a glorious looking room, its walls made of carved gold and precious metals. Koyuki waved victoriously to her, in which she responded by waving shyly back.

Giroro decided that there was no other choice.

"I'm going to blast open the door!"

His warning came more as a jest to the Ningyo guards, who chortled softly at his threat.

Giroro stepped back. Oh, well, I warned them.

He felt the familiar shape solidify against his fingers.

And then he directed it toward the door.

"Where's Rio and Devon?"

The queen was not amused when she learned that her two suitors were, in fact, women. And the fact that they were no doubt the lovers of the men she had so rightfully chose as her husbands-to-be irritated her further.

"They're not here."

"Clearly."

The pink haired girl was fiery and vicious, no doubt Rio's significant other.

Queen Vivianne frowned, folding her arms. "Why does everyone make such a big deal out of this? Maybe a hundred years ago I wouldn't have had such a problem!"

"It gets worse every generation, your highness," One of her guards acknowledged, nodding importantly.

"That's not important!" Natsumi retorted, bringing the matter back at hand. "The thing is, you can't just kidnap every guy around you and force them to marry you! That's just… wrong!"

The bored expression that was so clear on her face showed that she was given the same speech too many times. "I know, I know. But you know what? I'm queen. I can."

She snapped her fingers, and the Ningyo began a formation to attack, when suddenly an injured guard entered the scene, blackened and bruised. "My queen!" He wheezed. "There was an explosion!"

"An explosion?" She stared at him, annoyed at yet another convenience. She exhaled noisily. "Where?"

"In your fiancé's chambers."

"What?!"

"It's true!" The guard said, shaking his head quickly. "And the others are passed out. He escaped!"

"Ooh!" The queen pouted. She turned to her Ningyo, who gawked inquisitively. "Find him! Find him now!"

Just at the sound of her rage had them scrambling, bumping into each other and practically assaulting each other in the process of their hurry to find the runaway groom.

Queen Vivianne gazed back at the girls and glowered at them. "I'll deal with you later."

"Like, what was that?"

Keroro, Tamama, Kururu and Dororo stopped digging, pausing only to hear an explosion erupt from a nearby room.

"Giroro," Dororo said softly. He was unable to stop the smirk from coming to his face.

"Typical he'd use violence to get away," Keroro muttered. "It seems even if we wanted him to marry the fish queen, he'd find away to murder her or something."

"Yeah," Tamama agreed. "It's the queen we should've felt sorry for; not Giroro."

Dororo laughed.

Quick breaths jetted out as he ran, an assortment of guns and grenades to his advantage.

He knew he shouldn't be thinking about it at a time like this, but he could not get his mind off of the fact that he hadn't turned back yet. No tingle, no burning, no shrinking, no turning that aging tomato color- nothing. And the way Dororo reacted to his not changing back worried him considerably, too.

Giroro stopped momentarily to rest his speeding heartbeat and aching chest. He slid down against the wall, catching his breath. Droplets of sweat had formed on his forehead, rolled down his cheeks, caught on to his blond hair. It made him shiver.

"Find him! The queen is already angry enough as it is!"

Aw frog.

Giroro stood up weakly and continued jogging down the annoyingly white hallway, desperate to find a means of escape.

He smiled to himself wearily. He had heard of runaway brides, never runaway grooms- and the thought of that made him laugh. Not to mention what would happen if she realized that her beloved "husband-to-be" was a little red space frog. Can't you imagine the wedding? Maybe they could have it at a swamp, with the bride holding the tiny flowers from a lily pad. And she would wear green. Oh what the kids would look like…

Stupid Pekoponian body.

The endorphins from this strenuous exercise was beginning to make him feel loopy.

Hehehe~ Loopy's such a funny word….

Someone has lost it~

Commercial Break~

Author's Note: Since Giroro can't get drunk off of alcohol, I'm making him high on Endorphins XD I hope you enjoyed.