CHAPTER 7-1
-Subterranean Vacation-
When the whole background began to get drawn, it started to look familiar. The colors, the ground, everything around this world looked pretty familiar! It actually looked like a world that Chopper was previously in. One that he didn't like because of having to see a certain someone… A place called…The Underwhere.
As the hero and villain made their way out of the purple door, they began to look at their surroundings. "It's so dark here…" Tippi trailed, looking around at this world. "I wonder what sort of world this is…"
Chopper and Tipral instantly remembered this place, though they didn't seem thrilled.
"Wait... We're back here?" Chopper gawked.
"What are you talking about, Chopper?" Tippi raised an eyebrow.
"We were already here before," Tipral explained. "This is the world that Dimentio sent us."
"Oh? So this is that place you told me about?" Tippi asked, receiving a nod from the duo. "Hmm. Then I wonder why the Pure Heart led us here… Surely there must be some sort of reason… But, I can't shake the feeling that this place feels familiar as well…"
"How could the Pure Heart be in this world?" Chopper wondered. "I mean, we've looked EVERYWHERE in this world! And I'm not sure if I want to go see the queen again."
"It appears that we don't have much of a choice," Tipral groaned. "I'm feeling the same way about this, but does this mean that I'm going to complain about it?! That would be a waste of time."
"Fine, we'll go see the queen. But if we see Luvbi, then I'm going to need to hide." Chopper groaned, jumping into the fountain to replenish his HP. Tipral did the same thing as well.
"WELL, HI!" the Shayde that Chopper met previously walked over to them. "Hey there, new face! So tell me… First time down here in The Underwhere? …HA! Just a little joke. People don't arrive HERE twice! Hahahahahaha!"
"You already said that to me..." Chopper trailed. "And actually, this isn't my first time down here."
"Ha ha ha! Good one, kid! You're… Wait a second… You DO look familiar… Did you suddenly come to life and get another game over again?"
"We just came through the door…" Tippi confirmed.
"Well, that's weird… How can one come here…when their game isn't over? Eh, I'm not gonna let it bug me. You gotta go somewhere, right? If you're looking for Queen Jaydes, go to her palace right away."
"Well, that's what we plan on doing…" Chopper trailed.
While they walked by, two Shaydes were looking at the two characters and almost felt like they had to make some comments about them.
"Man, I gotta admit… Those two definitely look alike!" the first Shayde commented. "Except one looks a bit dark and rather fake. I think he looks weird, don't you think so, buddy?"
"Yeah, I gotta agree with you on that one!" his Shayde friend agreed. "But I swear that I've seen them here before… Is it possible for someone to come back to life and have their game end again?"
Tipral turned to the two Shaydes that were speaking. "Oh, hey there, little guy! So how'd your game end up? Did you fall into a bottomless pit like me? Or were you…"
"None of your business," Tipral snapped his finger and both Shaydes were disintegrated. "Hmmmmm… Now I'm starting to wonder what happens when someone's aftergame ends…"
Upon reaching the next area, they saw all the pipes and the spikes around the maze. Chopper, remembering that this is the place where he met Luvbi, began to shiver in fear in this area.
"Chopper… You seem scared… Why?" Tippi asked.
"This… This is the place where I met her!" Chopper gulped. "…But, I shouldn't be freaking out right now. We're nowhere near her at this moment. Plus, she's probably somewhere else! Yeah! I think so!"
Tipral groaned in annoyance as he helped Chopper get past the pipe with his teleportation powers. They then jumped over the spikes and found a pile of Dry Bones lying on the ground.
"I'll take care of this," Tipral said as he swung his arm. He instantly took out the Dry Bones with a Star Spear.
"I thought that they can only be defeated with fire…" Tippi trailed surprisingly.
"Well they don't seem to be immune to my Star powers…" Tipral trailed. "Considering what I was made for, I'm bound to have some pretty strong attacks. Ones that are stronger than Chopper…"
"Well how come I've always beat you before?" Chopper questioned. "I'm pretty sure that means I'm the stronger one…"
"That's because you weren't alone when we fought! I was actually close to winning when we fought in that one area past those waterways. If we were to fight right now, you wouldn't be the winner."
"Well, your plans still fail to work that well… They all have flaws! Even summoning The Void has flaws in its plans too! You've got the Pure Hearts that can stop the Chaos Heart! …By the way, how did you even summon the Chaos Heart?"
Tipral crossed his arms. "I took your friends' dreams. It was said in the Dark Prognosticus that those were needed to summon The Void. …However, there WAS another thing I could have done, but I think that would've been tougher to do."
"And what is that, exactly?"
"It's best for you not to know," Tipral replied bluntly as he teleported him past the next pipe, where they found a bottomless pit before them. A flaming being called a Lava Bubble appeared to rise from the pit.
"I got this one!" Chopper pulled his hammer out and smashed the Lava Bubble with one hit to defeat it. "Hmmmmmm… Maybe I could've inhaled it to get some sort of ability… MAYBE."
They jumped over the bottomless pit and came across another one. This time, Tipral took the Lava Bubble that rose from the ground with a snap of his fingers, striking it with some Star Magic. He then teleported Chopper and himself past the next pipe up ahead.
"This is the last pipe we need to get past," Tipral stated as he did his little teleport dash over the bottomless pit. "It shouldn't be too hard to get to the palace now."
"Yeah, I know," Chopper nodded as he smashed the Lava Bubble and jumped over the spikes and the bottomless pit. "Spikes and a bottomless pit… Those are never fun."
He managed to get past the pipe with Tipral's help yet again and then he took out some Dry Bones with a couple of fireballs. "Now burning more Dry Bones is enjoyable! That's all I gotta say!"
They reached the next area through the red door to find Charold standing right next to his little boat, which was floating on the River Twygz. He was surprised to see the two back here again.
"Hmmmmmm? That'sss ssstrange… I thought that you guysss were back at Queen Jaydesss'sss Palace?" Charold gawked.
"And who might you be?" Tippi asked.
"I am Charold. I am the one who will ferry you acrossssss thisss river. I'll only do it for four coinsss…" he explained.
"Well, I don't think we need to go across," Chopper jumped on top of Carrie. "We can simply ferry ourselves across! Hopefully, Kirby doesn't mind me using Carrie to get over here…"
"Very well then… Sssee you…" Charold stepped out of Chopper's way as he began to move across the waters with Carrie.
"I don't need to worry about using that thing," Tipral jumped on top of the canoe and then began to move over the water using the purple "flames" underneath his feet. "I can go over the water easily with my air shoes!"
After making their way across the river, they headed on to the next area through the door. They were now right in front of Jaydes's Palace.
"Man… Coming back here reminds me of when I saw Maquano strangling one of those weird demon guys to death. He tried to destroy me, but apparently he was powerless down here." Chopper pondered. "Serves him right!"
"I'd like to give him the finger after what happened," Tipral grumbled as he followed Chopper up the stairs and over to Queen Jaydes.
"It's Queen Jaydes…" Tippi trailed. "Now I remember seeing her!"
As soon as Chopper walked up to her, she greeted them. "Greetings. Welcome to the… Wait, why have you returned?! Have you all had your games end once again? If that's the case, I cannot bring you back to life."
Chopper and Tipral shook their heads at her while Tippi fluttered up to her. "You're Queen Jaydes, right? You might remember me from three months ago… My name is Tippi… I'm a friend of Chopper's… We… We've come to find the Pure Heart that is hidden in this world…"
The queen was struck with surprise. "What?! You are collecting Pure Hearts?!"
"Uh huh!" Chopper nodded. "...Wait, it would be obvious if I was carrying a Pure Heart before!"
"Oh, yes... I do remember you held one. I apologize for asking." the queen replied. "But, now that I think about it, I realize you just might be the hero mentioned in the Prognosticus, Chopper… But could you really be…the one?"
"Does this mean you have the Pure Heart?"
Queen Jaydes frowned and slowly turned away. "Unfortunately, the location of the Pure Heart is a matter of utmost secrecy. There is nothing I can tell you… If you really must know, you will have to speak to Grambi, king of The Overthere."
"MOTHER!"
At this moment, Chopper was struck with fear when he saw Luvbi flutter up to her mother.
"Great… Her again." Tipral groaned.
"My things are packed and checked thrice! I am ready to return to The Overthere!" As soon as she noticed Chopper, she gasped while hearts fluttered over her head. "…Oh, me! Thou returnest?! Did… Did thy game truly end this time, my sweet prince?"
"No… My game did not end…" Chopper replied. "And stop calling me...that!"
Suddenly, an idea filled Queen Jaydes's mind. "An idea strikes… Could you fine heroes take Luvbi back to The Overthere for me?"
"Take her back? Why ever would you need us to do a thing like that?" Tippi questioned.
"After you returned to this world, my D-Men have been telling me about an intruder who has been roaming Underwhere Prison, freeing all the monsters kept in that place. It seems that this evil being might be looking for something. You never know… That person could be anywhere with that army… I'm not sure who it is, but I know I could never send my daughter alone with something evil lurking around. If you would take her back, I would gladly open the way to The Overthere for you two. I will also alert Grambi that you are coming to ask him about the Pure Heart. What say you? This is a fair bargain…"
"Wait... So we have to go to The Overthere...with her?" Chopper asked, taking a look at the Nimbi girl. Just the sweet smile she was giving him was enough to terrify him. "I don't know..."
"She'll just get in the way," Tipral stated. "So the answer is no."
"Hold on," Tippi intervened. "We need the Pure Heart, and I don't think you'd be willing to leave someone who cannot defend herself to go to The Overthere on her own, right?"
"...I wouldn't," Chopper sighed in defeat. "OK, we'll do it."
"…I thank you," Queen Jaydes sighed in relief. "With this unknown evil person about, my D-Men and I are busy trying to contain the damage…"
The queen and Luvbi backed away, and using her powers once again, her collar becoming larger than before, the queen summoned a large, purple door with a glowing white outline. Chopper was impressed by this, while Tipral didn't seem to care.
"Just go through this door and keep heading upward to The Overthere. And make sure Luvbi arrives safely in the care of Grams… I mean Grambi…"
"We can do it," Chopper assured. "I mean, I've fought a lot of things before, so this shouldn't be anything new."
Luvbi fluttered over to Chopper and giggled, making him shriek in fear. "Hee hee… But avert thine eyes whilst we climb, lest thou succumbeth to my cuteness!"
"Wh-What do you mean?" Chopper asked, receiving another giggle from her.
"Oh, Chopper, my sweet prince! I can't stop swooning over thee!"
It was at that moment she planted a kiss on his cheek, leaving Chopper's eyes widened in fear.
"Hee hee! That was for luck, my hero!" Luvbi giggled, giving him a wink.
"EEEEEEEK!" Chopper cried, trying to wipe off the kiss while his face flushed red. "GROSS! I've got cooties!"
"Oh, Chopper… Thou and I art going to be traveling together! Mine travels to The Overthere will finally be filled with romance!" Luvbi sighed sweetly.
"Oh, please… I don't think Chopper has much interest in you…" Tippi commented. Luvbi looked up at Tippi with an unimpressed look.
"Hmmmmm? Art thou jealous?"
"Why would I be jealous?"
"Thy manner doth surely be defensive... I canst easily tell thou art jealous! Mayhap thou wishes to findest thine true love like me?"
"What are you talking about?" Tippi stammered. "I already have..."
"Well, let's not get carried away. We should movest on."
"I'm not going to enjoy this..." Chopper whimpered.
"I'm not going to enjoy hearing you whine," Tipral stated bluntly.
With that, Chopper immediately rushed to the door, trying his best to get away from Luvbi. Luckily, they were in a room where a Star Block was up ahead.
"There it is!" Chopper rushed toward the Star Block and smashed it with one punch, trying his best to get as far away from Luvbi as possible.
…But it didn't look like he was succeeding.
END OF CHAPTER
"I hath been waiting many years to findeth my true love. And I hath found him at last! Thou look so adorable and cuddly!" Luvbi kept up this refrain as she traveled with Chopper and Tipral. She seemed to be a lot happier than last time she was escorted to The Overthere… Plus, she DID have a lot of energy in her, which made Chopper have even less. "Hasten thy small feet! Time waits not for those who slack!" "Wait… I'm a lot faster! Why am I walking?" Chopper asked out loud to himself. Tipral, on the other hand, was not so pleased to be going with Chopper…and also dealing with Luvbi. But, he had no other choice but to work with him. Kirby, Sonic, and Blade were still nowhere to be found… Were they safe? …So thought our heroes as they made their way slowly to Underwhere Road.
Yeah, more of Luvbi falling in love with Chopper again...and pretty much for this entire chapter. Of course, there's always her mocking people too!
Next up: Chopper and Tipral explore Underwhere Road, while having to deal with Luvbi.