Author's note: Oh boy…this chapter was long overdue. The fault of such a delay stems from surprisingly vital college studies (to all upcoming college students: do not take your studies lightly) and work on other stories. If you are a reader from back when this story was fairly new, I thank you tremendously for waiting it out this long. Well, your patience has been rewarded! Voilà!
Recovery
At the corner of Lime Street and Rick Blvd.
Nezzer's Souvenir Store
11:30 PM
Raindrops fell to the streets and poured into the gutter as the hectic night carried on. While this particular side of Bumblyburg wasn't hit as hard as many other areas of the town, the evident vandalism, scattered debris, and littering in the area testified to what chaos had passed through. Even now, two super villains stood in the middle of the crossroads of Lime Street and Rick Boulevard contributing to the chaos that reigned all over Bumblyburg.
BLZZZTTT!
A supercharged laser shot out and hit a mailbox. The poor mailbox quickly overheated and melted, burning up all the letters and packages inside. Meanwhile the shooter of said laser took a moment to admire his handiwork.
"Impressive." the super villain beside him, Magneta, remarked. L-Ray listened to the raindrops sizzle as they landed on the smoldering pool of metal before aiming both his ray gun and laser pistol at another target.
"Gracias," L-Ray replied, "Uh…Magneta, right?"
The plum telekinetically toppled over a stoplight before turning to the jalapeño.
"Yes, why do you ask?"
"Cause I've heard people call you 'Magenta' before and I was wondering..."
"My full name is 'Magneta Magenta'," the vain plum scoffed with a roll of her eyes, "So, what part of Mexico are you from anyways?" L-Ray scorched the side of a parked van with a volley of lasers before he gave Magneta a furrowed expression.
"Senorita, I'm from Chile."
Magneta reached out and wrenched the four tires off the scorched van and sent each one sailing down the direction of each crossroad and crashing into who knows what. A credulous smirk crept onto her lips.
"So you're a laser-gunslinger jalapeño named L-Ray from Chile?"
"Si, Magneta Magenta, si." L-Ray grumbled as he started heading down Lime Street, firing lasers at whatever he felt like.
Magneta cackled with laughter at the pun as she followed after him, leaving behind the rainy street corner and the smoldering puddle of a once mailbox. Thankfully, none of them paid any mind to the Nezzer's Souviner Store and left the boarded up corner store untouched.
Across the street in a pitch dark alley, a pair of eyes peered out into the barely illuminated street. The eyes checked both ways before they locked onto Nezzer's Souvenir Store across the street.
"All clear, let's go!" the figure whispered before darting out of the alley. An outline of a very large crow whisked through the shadows, avoiding the illuminating glow of the street lamps. Trailing not as fast but hovering slightly above the ground came a tomato. The two of them quickly crossed the street to Nezzer's Souvenir Store. Checking to make sure nobody could see them, they fled down another darkened alley behind the store.
INSIDE NEZZER'S SOUVINER STORE…
Knock Knock Clunk Knock Knock
Supper Hero immediately recognized the signal and unbolted the heavy door. No sooner had he opened it did Dark Crow and Scarlet Tomato rushed past the threshold and into the barely lit store.
"How's it looking out there?" Supper Hero asked as he shut the door and bolted it up again.
"Not good mi amigo," Dark Crow breathed, "not good." Approaching from the dimness of the store came a tall and dark figure. It took Dark Crow and Scarlet Tomato to recognize the figure's outfit that blended in with the dimness. Masked Zucchini let out a sigh of relief at the sight of them.
"Thank goodness you boys made it," he told them softly, "I'll let the others know you're here. Please make yourselves at home."
Masked Zucchini turned around and moved through the clusters of super heroes recuperating throughout his building. He had practically turned his private room upstairs into a clinic, his store into a resting area, and the basement lair into a makeshift headquarters for all the super heroes in Bumblyburg. No doubtingly the place had passed its maximum persons capacity limit. Entering into the crowded basement lair, the Masked Zucchini made his way over to the gathering area near the old super computer. Sprawled out on a table just before the computer was a map of Bumblyburg an assembly of super heroes surrounding it.
Several of the super heroes moved aside for Masked Zucchini's approach.
"Scarlet Tomato and Dark Crow made it, everyone's accounted for." he announced. Relief washed over everyone's faces at the sound of the news.
Thingamabob mentally checked off the names of the last super heroes in Bumblyburg. Everyone was accounted for, including S-Cape and LarryBoy. Everyone but Ricochet because his parents wisely forbid him from leaving the house at night. The tomato inaudibly exhaled and stared down at the map of Bumblyburg in front of him. Even now his mind was still reeling from all that happened today.
Complete chaos had seized Bumblyburg within minutes of the election ceremony and had drawled on into the rainy night. Bandits and criminals vandalized and raised havoc on the streets of Bumblyburg, powerful super villains had begun carving out territories and claiming areas as their own while others simply ran about causing mischief and terrorized any citizen not in hiding. Of course, they were initially faced with resistance from the superheroes in Bumblyburg, but it was only a matter of time before the sheer amount of opponents overwhelmed them. A mere hour passed before all super heroes in Bumblyburg were forced to retreat. Now here they all were, holed up in a shop to recuperate, hoping that their little safe house wasn't going to be discovered by every single criminal let loose out there. It was absolute anarchy.
"Thank you very much for letting us set up here, Masked Zucchini." Thingamabob stated. Everyone around him joined in with their appreciations. Masked Zucchini glanced around with a warm smile.
"Of course. Anytime for you guys."
Thingamabob nodded and shifted his attention to the old super computer behind him.
"Alfred, damage assessment." Thingamabob requested. Seated at the computers, the asparagus butler pulled up a readings chart. Alfred fought back the wince on his face before he prepared himself to tell the news.
"It's looking dreadful out there," Alfred reported, "Fish Taco's mercenaries and helicopters patrol the outskirts of the city, super villains and bandits are tearing up the city and searching for us, and Bumblyburg central has gone dark."
"Gone dark?" Thingamabob repeated.
"As in, all the street lamps and lights have been toppled over or taken out," Alfred gulped, "there's no electrical lighting anywhere there."
"Such evil…" S-Cape quipped with a shake of his head.
"Have you managed to contact anyone on the outside?" Thingamabob asked. Alfred's expression brightened at the mention of that.
"Yes, indeed I have," Alfred reported with tone of excitement, "Captain Bumble is gathering all the super heroes in the Global Super League to retake Bumblyburg." All sights suddenly landed on Alfred. Alfred shifted uncomfortably in his seat all while trying to show his best outlook of optimism.
"All of them?" Lemon Twist asked.
"Yes, every single super hero in the Global Super Society." Alfred proclaimed. Everyone's solemn expressions lit up with astonishment; there was hope after all. The Global Super League consisted of at least a thousand super heroes, not including the ones present in the room right then. They had gone through all the scenarios and agreed that the only way they could take back Bumblyburg was with the backing of the Global Super Society. Their best case scenario was becoming real.
Alfred watched the haze of gloom and despair in the super heroes' faces slowly burn away as the spark of heroism reignited within them.
It was the same sort of spark that Alfred remembered seeing in his master's eyes the day the concept of a super hero came into fruition ever so long ago. Speaking of which, his eyes scanned the faces of the assembled super heroes and failed to see whom he was searching for. He craned his head over the assembled superheroes to widen his search and luckily found LarryBoy on the other side of the room. The asparagus sighed as he excused himself from the assembly as he went to go assist his master.
ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BASEMENT LAIR…
LarryBoy took aim with his super suction ear and fired at the monster truck tire at the other end of the room. It latched on with a plop before he started to reel it in, slowly dragging the giant tire across the floor. He ignored the silently cries of strain coming from his bruised body from every heave and pull. His strength was rapidly draining but his frustrated mind fueled him on. Or at least that was what he thought would happen before the tire ceased moving twenty feet away. LarryBoy just stood their taking in ragged breaths.
"A-hem."
LarryBoy glanced over and found Alfred standing off to the side watching. He had been so frustrated and focused on moving the tire that he hadn't noticed his butler's approach.
"Busy with the tire, I see." Alfred began. LarryBoy nodded before he summoned all of his remaining strength and continued to pull the tire towards him. Alfred waited a few moments for him to carry on before he decided to address the concerning matter.
"Master LarryBoy, you've been pulling this tire for an hour now; I think it is time for you to take a break." the asparagus pleaded.
"No way Alfred," LarryBoy grunted between tugs, "I need to get stronger."
"You're running on two hours of sleep and your body is still badly beaten from earlier today," Alfred reasoned, "I'm no doctor but I do believe you are doing more damage to yourself than improvement and are likely to pass out any second now."
LarryBoy let out a final grunt as he closed the last few feet of distance between him and the monster truck tire with a yank.
"Not as much damage as Fish Taco is doing to Bumblyburg." the cucumber muttered under his panting breath. Catching what he said, Alfred took a concerned step closer. LarryBoy silently tugged his super suction ear free and let it reel in before turning to face Alfred. Worry was plastered all over his butler's face. LarryBoy figured he must have looked like a complete mess.
"I know the details about what went down, but what happen between you two?" Alfred asked with sincerity. LarryBoy took a long breath before he recapped.
"Fish Taco was way stronger than me and tougher than I thought," LarryBoy explained, thinking back at all the handstands, flips, and spinning kicks that the giant fish threw at him, "and he masterminded this entire plan to take over Bumblyburg all because…"
LarryBoy hesitated as he came across the source of his frustration.
"Because he claims that God allowed him to do so."
LarryBoy watched as Alfred's eyes went wide and his jaw dropped open. He even repeated that words that had struck him hard as Fish Taco stood over his beaten body.
'I am evil, because that is what I am. Surely, if God wanted me not to do evil, He would have made it that way; He would have made me good.'
"I mean…is what he said true?" LarryBoy asked, his eyes blankly staring off into space. "Is it God's fault that he is evil? Is this all this evil and anarchy going on out there because God wants it to happen?"
Alfred observed LarryBoy as he lost himself in his own thoughts. The butler asparagus inhaled deeply and pressed his lips together; he needed to choose his next words carefully to get his point across.
"Well, yes and no." Alfred said, quickly getting LarryBoy's shocked attention.
"When Fish Taco attacked the LarryManor, I asked God why all of this was happening, and frankly I don't know and don't think I ever will. But I do know that it wasn't God who attacked the LarryManor, it was Fish Taco who attacked; it was Fish Taco who led the jailbreak; and it was Fish Taco who beat you up. Nobody told him to and God certainly did not make him."
"Then why is he evil?"
"That is consequence of free will. God gave us free will – the freedom of choice – because He loves us so very much. Otherwise, we would be forced to do what He wants. So yes, God is responsible for giving Fish Taco free will, but not for Fish Taco's decisions. With free will we are giving the full responsibility of our actions. It is ultimately up to us whether we choose to do good or to do evil. You chose the path of a superhero, a path of good, and we both definitely know which path Fish Taco chose."
"But was it God's intentional plan that he do evil though?"
Alfred sighed.
"No, it was not. You and I both know that God has a plan for everyone and His plans are not evil. If fact, I bet God's plan for Fish Taco was for good, as with any other villain. Fish Taco was the founding C.E.O of Land-Air Security Industries that brought protection to hundreds of innocents everywhere and had talents and etiquette made him a remarkable fish out of water. Instead of using all of this for good, he decided to bring about harm and misery. Just like the other villains; they use their talents for crime instead of helping others. When all that happens, that is where we the good-doers come in to stop it. Does every good-doer choose to do something about it? No and some of them are incapable of doing so, but that is why all of us are here, to do good for others who need it."
Alfred finished his monologue with his head held high and his chest beaming proudly. LarryBoy took in all that Alfred had said, his frustration and confusion quickly evaporating. His bleak mood slowly dispersed from his eyes and was replaced with grit. Grit and willpower that of heroism.
"Thanks Alfred." LarryBoy said with a grin.
"Oh anytime, Master LarryBoy," Alfred replied with a nod.
Just as the two finished speaking, Vogue came rushing over to them. Contrasting their brightened expressions was a very concerned one on her face.
"You guys need to come see this." she said with worry.
LarryBoy instantly put on his serious hero face and the two of them followed her back to the other side of the room where the superheroes had gathered. Murmurs and whispers were already bouncing around the individuals present. The other superheroes parted to the side to give the duo a view of the computer screen. Thingamabob was manning the computer seat and greeted them with grave acknowledgement.
"It's all over Channel One News." Thingamabob stated and brought up the news website. The video of Fish Taco's takeover declaration during the election ceremony from earlier was still up and viral, but a new video had been posted on the news blog titled "WARNING". The tomato clicked on the video, brought it up to full screen so all the other superheroes could see the footage, and turned up the volume. The screen remained black for a second before an all too familiar menacing rebreather mask emerged from the darkness followed by a cold pair of eyes. LarryBoy internally flinched at the sight, the memories of the earlier fight still fresh in his mind and on his body. With his raspy, watery, and coherent deep voice, the villain spoke.
"This is a message to the Global Super League…or Global Hero Society, whatever you call yourselves nowadays. Bumblyburg is under our control. All attempts of retaking the city will result in harm of Mayor Blueberry whom is in our custody. If you try to send aid to the citizens of Bumblyburg, I will see to it that this city is reduced to ashes. Bumblyburg now stands as a truly free city, let it do whatever it wants. This is your first and last warning."
Murmurs and whispers circulated amongst the superheroes again.
"We need a plan of action, LB." Thingamabob uttered quietly. LarryBoy looked his best friend in the eyes and gave him an understanding look. Through all hardships and trouble, the two of them found themselves in the middle of it all once again.
LarryBoy gave a reassuring nod before turning around and addressing the assembled superheroes.
"Alright everyone," LarryBoy spoke up, quieting everyone, "it's up to us to save Bumblyburg."
"But how?" asked S-Cape, "You heard the fish, if we try anything then he'll off the mayor!"
"Then we gotta save her before that happens so the Global Super League can get through and help us." LarryBoy pointed out. A plan was starting to formulate.
"She'll probably be heavily guarded and hidden somewhere." Masked Zucchini added.
"My guess she's being held at the L.A.S.I Headquarters building," HydroBerry spoke, "I mean, that's where Fish Taco was operating from as Mr. Taco Fish, right?"
"Yes but that might be where he'd want us to look," Dark Crow countered, "those villanos were hiding out in the sewers."
"Then that gives us two possible locations." LarryBoy affirmed.
Words of Japanese were spoken aloud and tersely, but everyone's eyes casted uncomprehensive looks at the speaker.
"Sorry," Ninja Orange apologized, "we must protect the people, too."
"Right," LarryBoy agreed, "protect the people, rescue Mayor Blueberry and the Phosphate Knight, and save Bumblyburg. Let's do this."
The cucumber of steel was ready.
Or at least he was until a moment later his eyes slowly closed and his limp body toppled sideways. Standing next to him, Vogue acted instinctively and caught the cucumber before he hit the ground.
"LarryBoy!" everyone exclaimed and rushed to the passed out cucumber's side. Vogue had laid him gently in her lap and was already shaking him awake.
"LarryBoy! Wake up!" she exclaimed in panic. LarryBoy slowly regained consciousness and opened his eyes. The first thing he saw was the worried look on Vogue's face. It was like an almost angelic vision until he realized the faces of everyone else around him also bearing very worried looks.
"Hey guys," LarryBoy said hazily, "why am I on the floor?"
"You passed out I'm afraid," Alfred stated, "your worn out body could not keep itself standing."
"Oh…I guess you were right earlier." LarryBoy sighed, "Okay guys, go ahead and get ready, I'll catch up."
And with that the Super Heroes started to plan.
ELSEWHERE…
Bumblyburg Sewers
12:03 AM
Bad Apple gracefully scaled along her webbings with her metal spider legs. Her eyes dotingly stared at the Phosphate Knight restrained in the middle of the dim room, the tempting mirage portals from her webbings lighting up the place. Bad Apple grimaced as she strode around the prisoner. For a cucumber so bent on hunting her down after all these years, 'the Fighter against Temptation' had barely acknowledged her this entire span of his interrogation, which had been going on for a full day and night now. He was so eager to track her down before but now that she was right in front of him he said nothing.
"Awe, what's wrong handsome?" Bad Apple sneered and leaned in close to his helmet's eye slits, "Tired? Afraid?"
She then gestured to her temptation illusions around them, "Can't find what you're looking for?"
One of the portals showed a room filled with enough gold and jewels to keep someone wealthy for generations, another showed a grand dining hall with a table displaying every single delicious food imaginable and the savory aroma of it all leaking out of the portal, and another showing a crystal throne with a crown placed on the seat waiting for someone to claim it. There were a dozen portals around them, but the Phosphate Knight remained unwavering.
"Do it," whispered a voice from nowhere, "you've suffered enough. Take what is rightfully yours."
"All you need to do is tell us everything you know." Bad Apple drawled, "Does that sound like a fair bargain for everything you ever wanted?"
"Tell her, tell her everything. We can't hold out forever. We will spill eventually. We can't take it anymore. Tell her all that we know. Tell her NOW."
The Phosphate Knight merely hung his head in defiance. The Bad Apple drew her head back in disgust.
"Pathetic." she scoffed as she went about undoing her temptation webs. Standing beside the Phosphate Knight a cauliflower uncloaked himself and stared down at the cucumber.
"What will it take to make you give in, pickle?" the cauliflower muttered before backing off. The Bad Apple finished taking down her webs and glanced back at the other super villains and few mercenaries standing in the room. The mercenaries kept silent as they held their paintball guns, Ominous merely returned to his corner, Dr. Flurry was still scanning the Phosphate Knight with his Fear-Dar from a safe distance, and the Alchemist was fidgeting in his place. Speaking of which…
"I thought you said your gas would work." Bad Apple reprimanded.
"I said it MIGHT work," the Alchemist defended, "my truth gas was supposed to make him more inclined to tell us what we want!"
"Apparently it didn't work because he's not talking." Bad Apple snapped.
"Well maybe your temptation webs aren't all that effective!" the Alchemist shot back, putting his robotic clamps on his hips. The Bad Apple's mouth opened before it turned into an angry snarl. The Alchemist put on his best confidence face, but the red apple's look slowly started to unravel him. Ominous exchanged looks between the two.
"This will be interesting." Ominous chuckled.
"All of us need to do better if we want to find what he wants." Bad Apple growled, looking at the three other super villains. Equally, they all held back a flinch from her seething gaze.
"You can never give me what I want." a deep and tired voice croaked. The Bad Apple's expression immediately went blank as she turned to look at the speaker: the Phosphate Knight. Hastily, she made her way around to the front of him and stared him down.
"And what might that be?" she questioned edgily. Before anything else could be said, the door flew open behind her. Bad Apple spun around and almost jumped at the menacing sight of Fish Taco's dark figure in the doorway. She mentally cooled her nerves down before she turned to face the walking fish and his mercenary following standing behind him.
"Good evening," Fish Taco breathed as he stepped into the dim light, "has there been any progress?"
"No," Bad Apple admitted reluctantly and casted an evil eye back at the Phosphate Knight, "no there hasn't."
"It's only a matter of time before he talks," Ominous hissed, "either from us or from something far more…effective."
The apple watched Fish Taco's stoic face. She was unsure on whether he agreed with the cauliflower with the power of invisibility. A lapse of silence followed only to be interrupted by the sounds of the sewer.
"Doctor," Fish Taco finally spoke, "what does he fear?"
Dr. Flurry immediately scanned the Phosphate Knight again and checked the scans. The display screen, like many times before, flashed the same words again.
"Nozhing," Dr. Flurry groaned in frustration, "he fears abzolutely nozhing."
"Well then," Fish Taco muttered, earning the attention of the Phosphate Knight, "let's see if we can change that."
Fish Taco lashed out and grabbed the Phosphate Knight's helmet. He stood up and dragged the still tied up cucumber against the brick floor and out of the room.
The other super villains and mercenaries exited behind him and followed down the hallway. As they followed, they could hear the sounds of pained grunts coming from the Phosphate Knight and the vicious blows from Fish Taco as he beat up the cucumber. As the sounds became more and more harsh, a strange gut feeling grew inside the Bad Apple. It grew up to the point where her face twisted in annoyance.
"I don't time for this." she muttered harshly and left the group, pondering over this strange feeling she felt inside of her. The Bad Apple thought over what she was feeling as she made her way to the surface. She figured it was somehow tied to Fish Taco's brutality and Phosphate Knight's pain, but what exactly was this feeling?
Anger?
Fear?
Aggression?
Remorse.
It was remorse.
Remorse that she immediately shoved to the back of her mind. No super villain needed the feeling of remorse in their heads. Unbeknownst to her, she wasn't the only super villain feeling remorse.
To be continued...
Author's note: Happy New Year everybody! 2016! Woo! I would like give a seriously deserved thank you to "Book girl fan" for looking over Archibald's speech. Big thanks to them for making the speech as impactful and meaningful as it is (go check out her works if you're interested!)
To "iheartgod175", I apologize for posting this chapter without you going over the speech too. It had past long-since January, and I know you are terribly busy, and I didn't want to make it seem like the pressure of posting this chapter rested on you alone. (go check our her works too everybody!)
So yea. I apologize for this chapter taking…over a year to make. As I mentioned in the beginning, I have been busy. Hopefully I'll be able to make another chapter soon, but I promise you I will not leave this story incomplete. It will be finished.
As always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Feel free to leave a review if you wish to do so, I enjoy all of your feedbacks and I actually read your reviews! Thanks for all that you guys do.