Zatch Bell: Kolulu Story
By:CleruSonofShintetsu
[Chapter 13: The Silver Prince]
The party slowly made their way up the steps, each one filling the group with a bigger and bigger sense of dread at what was to come, and then they heard a wail of pain from above.
In the room where Zeno resided, Zeno was holding Baltro by the neck and had already bloodied his nose with a fist. He throws him in a heap with Steng and spits on the ground.
"Pitiful...I helped you rally an entire army of England's worst, and you let a few weaklings topple it all to the ground in only a single day. This is just sad...so let's end this charade once and for all." he said, raising a hand out to the two quivering servants of his.
Dufort opened the spell book, and said emotionlessly; "Zaker!"
Zeno unleashed a stream of electricity and pinned Steng and Baltro to the wall and keeps shocking them raw, the book instantly catching fire but not saving Baltro from the agony of this moment. Not quickly anyway...
"That's right, suffer, SUFFER FOR YOUR FAILURE!" Zeno said with utmost sadism in his tone.
After a brief moment longer, he drops them, Baltro vanishing after shakily reaching out to Steng.
"B-Baltro, BALTRO!" Steng yelled out, whimpering in fear and sorrow. "I...I actually kinda liked the blighter..."
Zeno would scoff and grab him by the wrists and yanking him to his knees. "As for you...you were a boxer, right?"
"Y-y-yeeeeeeees?" Steng answered nervously.
"Well, I like punishing people with long-term suffering, I don't let you off with a burn that heals in a week, I make you FEEL it!" he said, tightening his grip on Steng's wrists to a painful degree.
"I'm going to take your hands, force them into a little puddle that formed on that old parapet, and thoroughly scorch your hands BLACK with electricity! You'll never get to box again, you'll have to find work elsewhere! I think that's a fitting punishment for letting me down like that!" He said with a wicked grin.
Baltro tried to run away, but Zeno yanked him back and threw him across the room, sending him crashing into the table and tumbling out to the parapet. The puddle had formed fairly well, in a broken chunk near the center of the parapet platform. It was likely damaged in a siege battle long ago, but none can say for certain.
Zeno speed walked over to him and stood in front of him, holding his hands down into the water with unnatural strength. "Dufort!" he yelled.
"Zaker!" Dufort casted, the water conducting and electrocuting Steng's hands in brutal fashion, causing him to cry out in seething pain. Zeno felt some of his own skin tingling from the rain pouring down so heavily during this close-quarters attack, but he quickly disregarded the feeling and moved on, letting go of Steng and looking down at the man's hands.
Steng rose to his knees, shaking and whimpering as he looked at his badly burned hands, bolting out the door in a crying panic.
As Steng ran, he would stop dead in his tracks as he saw the entire party staring daggers at him, silently. He barely stifled a scream and stumbled back. "W-wait! Please, I've already been punished! J-just don't hurt me!"
Kory growled, "Give us even ONE good reason, and we'll consider it after all you've done!"
"W-well...I...I have good advice! Yeah! You're getting killed if you go up there to confront my boss! I see some of you have spell books, he burned mine in an instant I tell you what! Your book, your book, YOUR book! You'll all get your books and bodies charred black by that awful child and his creepy book owner if you go in there!" Steng explained, rambling and rushing through it as he started to break down.
Lori sighed, "Let him go, he's not worth it right now..." she said, stepping aside as the rest of the group reluctantly did so in turn.
As Steng ran down the steps, Kory and Djem tripped him, causing him one last round of pain before he left their sight for good.
Djem nodded to Kory in approval, and the group continued their journey up the steps.
"So uhh...does anyone else have even a LITTLE concern about what he said or-" Eido tried to ask, but was cut off as the group entered the room.
Kiyo pointed at the book owner and yelled out, "You're cornered and outnumbered! Don't you DARE try to...try...to..."
Kiyo struggled to finish as he slowly looked down at Zeno. His voice was shaky, his body trembled slightly, and he wasn't the only one in awe at the sight.
His father stared, slowly removing his glasses in disbelief.
Lori, Kolulu and Tia all looked at the boy with various looks of shock, and the rest of the group was generally uncomfortable in his imposing presence.
Tia stammered out, slowly pointing at him. "Z-Z-Zatch...?"
Zeno frowned, annoyed, "Zatch? Perhaps the darkness of the room confuses you, girl, let me step closer so you can get a better look." he said, stepping forward and illuminating himself with nearby torchlight and a scarily well-timed bolt of natural lightning outside.
"I...am Zeno...Zeno Bell, and I want to know which INSECT thought it was a good idea to burn Zatch's book? Well, answer me!" he demanded.
Kolulu's face went pale, this was a shock to the system, her heart quivered, this boy was completely opposite to how Zatch was in every way. Yet, she tried to rationalize it in her mind, maybe he's just concerned for Zatch she thought. Gulping down any feelings of fear for a moment, she slowly stepped forward and raised a hand slightly.
"I-I...I...I was the one who burned it...it...it was me." she said with a sad look in her eye.
Zeno slowly turned to look at her, dead in the eye. "I see...and by chance...what was the spell you used to burn his book?"
Kolulu's breath was shaky, but she answered again, "Z-Zeruk...that awful spell, it...turns me into a monster who only cares for battle. I-I didn't mean to fight him...I didn't WANT to fight him...b-but-"
Zeno suddenly gut punched Kolulu and gave her a death glare. "You LOSER! I wasn't done torturing him! Do you have ANY idea how long I've wanted vengeance on that childhood-stealing WRETCH!?" he asked in a brief rage.
Kolulu couldn't answer, she doubled over and could barely breathe. The group panicked as Lori knelt down close to Kolulu and held her in her arms.
"KOLULU!" Lori yelled, "W-why!? Why would you say such things to her? Why would you say such things about Zatch for that matter!?" She asked Zeno desperately.
Zeno held a hand out to them both. "You two get to stay a while, because I have special plans for you! Dufort, give me a weaker charge." he ordered.
Dufort sighed, "...Zaker." he said with little heart, jolting Kolulu and Lori into a corner nearby.
Kiyo pointed at him, "STOP IT! Leave them alone already will you!?" he demanded.
Seitaro's heart sank, "Zatch...had his book burned...? Kiyo, is that what-"
Kiyo's face went pale, and he simply said, "Yes, just...don't talk about it right now, we gotta focus on surviving." he said, barely keeping his composure.
Folgore saw Djem getting ready to cast a spell, but he knelt down and pulled her back. "Psst, senorina, I have a plan...but you have-a to listen close, because we'll only get to say it-a once!" he said, motioning for Kanchome and Yopopo to huddle together with him.
Hyde, meanwhile, was stunned by everything going on at once. However, both he and Eido managed to overcome the momentary shock, and ran into the room and stood on the other end of the entrance. While Kolulu and Lori were on the left side, Hyde and Eido were on the right side. Both sides and the door stood facing the parapet outside.
Eido noticed that there were a few more doors around the room, gulping as he suspected that there were still guards inside the castle.
Zeno jumped back and chuckled, "Oh this is going to be a fun bunch to torture...who to zap first? Who to break, who to hear scream? But, I'm no brute...I'll let any single one of you volunteer, the first one to do so will get off easier than the rest! Get to it, weaklings." he instructed, another flash of lightning emphasizing his point outside.
The group was at a loss for what to do. Kiyo clutched his hands into fists, and felt useless. Seitaro was heartbroken at the sight of such a far-cry from Zatch, and dared to ask, "Pardon me, young man...but are you by chance related to Zatch...say by blood? Are you a twin brother?"
Kiyo made a hand motion for him to cut of off and stop talking, but Zeno answered regardless.
"Yes...I am. What is it to you anyway, human?" Zeno asked.
"You see..." Seitaro began, putting his glasses back on, "I found Zatch in a forest not far from this very castle, laying down unconscious in a crater."
Kolulu listened intently, as did everyone else for that matter.
Zeno blinked twice and chuckled, before outright laughing. "Oh, so YOU'RE the poor fool that found the weakling knocked out in a crater! Were you also his destined book owner?"
Seitaro shook his head and motioned to Kiyo, "Not at all, that would be Kiyo. Tell me, did you have anything to do with the condition I found him in?" he asked Zeno.
With a malicious grin, Zeno nodded. "Oh, and I would have loved to prolong his suffering. I didn't get to have a childhood because of him! Sure, I have plenty of younger years in me still, but it just so happens a certain battle for king is taking place, and I gotta take on the responsibility of running a kingdom at some point."
Kolulu slowly rose to her feet, staring at Zeno as he continued to speak.
"Not only did I blast him with my spells, but I made sure the brat was thoroughly put in his place. You ever notice something off with him? Something up in the old dome?" he asked, tapping his forehead.
Seitaro and Kiyo's eyes widened, Kolulu went pale, and Lori clutched her spell book close to her chest. All were dreading the conclusion to what he was saying.
"No...!" Kiyo said, "That's- what the HELL dude!?" he said, his words coming out somewhere in a nebulous void between rage, fear, and sadness.
Zeno laughed again, "Oh I wanted to do SO much to him before he went home, but he had to go and get his stupid book burned before I was satisfied! I wanted him to feel pain, get knocked around and barely survive every fight, to learn how cruel and heartless this universe truly is! But nooooooooo!" he said, throwing an arm into the air and pointing at Kolulu.
"THAT ONE has to go and burn his book, and frankly...I'm rather insulted that she took away my little side activity in this battle."
Kolulu zoned out, this was a breaking point for her, one of the moments that would snap a thread of emotional stability in her heart. Her vision narrowed, her hearing muffled, it's...cold. Then her body felt...warmth, uncomfortable heat. Her face went from dull, to outraged, to seething in rage. Her teeth grinding, her eyes widening, she tensed up and clutched her hands.
"G-ghhh...you...you monster...!" She said, half the room looking at her as she said this.
Lori crawled over to her, "K-Kolulu!"
"Oh?" Zeno said, rolling his eyes, "Would you mind speaking up? I don't speak whimper, that language is best fit for the horse people..." he taunted.
"You..." Kolulu began again, "you are so...deeply cruel. How, how could you be so cruel...!?" she said, her hair standing up, a hot pink aura burning around her. "This whole battle...this cruel disgusting battle...I hate it. I...never thought I could hate...but this battle taught me to do so!" she continued.
Lori could feel the spell book starting to pulse with energy, and she looked down as it slowly started to glow.
"You are the living icon of EVERYTHING I've been through so far! Everything I'll continue to suffer through! Zeno...ZENO!" she yelled out.
"I'll make you pay...I'LL MAKE YOU PAY FOR WHAT YOU DID TO HIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIM!" she screamed out, as her very energy burst out and caused everyone in the room, barring Zeno and Dufort, to stagger back.
Lori was about to cry in shock at the rage Kolulu showed, but she pulled herself together and looked at the brand new spell for Evil Kolulu...Raja Zerusen.
Zeno was about to make another wise crack, but Kolulu was already nearly upon him, and about to hit him square in the mouth. Realizing this, Zeno grabbed her by the arm, spun her around, and threw her back, only for Kolulu to deftly catch herself and land in front of Lori.
"Holy craaaaap..." Eido said, intimidated by what just happened.
Hyde was just as scared and concerned, but moreso for Kolulu herself.
Folgore, seeing his chance to join in, whistles loudly. "Thats quite enough Kolulu! I believe it is our-a turn to take a stab at it."
Djem nodded firmly. "You fought your heart out tonight, don't keep hurting yourself over it Kolulu, let us take the reigns." she said with a smile in her direction.
Kolulu huffed and puffed, but stood back, glaring at Zeno as she let them execute their strategy.
Djem opened her spell book and yelled out, "REI BURUK!"
At the same time as she said the BURUK part of the spell, Folgore sneakily cast Poruk, turning Kanchome into a near-exact copy of Yopopo, standing at Yopopo's side and choreograph dancing the boy's signature dance. Instead of saying his name, the two only uttered "hup hup hup" sounds, akin to exercise routines.
Zeno blinked twice at the utter clown show that was this dance. "I...don't need a court jester right now, but sure, pop off." he said, rolling his eyes.
The two would then make a break for Zeno, shuffling around each other and passing a lit match between each other carefully.
Djem would smirk, "Pick a Yopopo and hope you hit the clone! Otherwise that book of yours is going bye bye, Zeno!" she said with confidence.
Eventually, the two deftly moving Yopopos would reach their destination, and Zeno, speeding forth to intercept them, picks the real Yopopo.
"Simple tricks don't work on me!" he declared, grabbing the hand that held the match, or rather...one of the matches. He blows it out and lifts Yopopo by the throat with his other hand, letting go of his hand.
Kanchome would pull out another lit match, lighting it on a nearby torch, and getting ready to throw it at Zeno's book. "GOTCHA!" he yelled out.
Zeno would glare back at Kanchome, and Dufort, seeing the match flying straight for the book, would catch the lit match out of the air, smoke leaking out of his hand as he crushes the match in spite of the burn he suffered.
Djem and the rest of the group gasped, not expecting Dufort to catch it and let his hand burn like that.
Dufort would say, "I've had enough of this, may I cast a spell so we can be rid of yet another miscreant?"
Zeno nodded, and tightened his grip on Yopopo's neck. "This one will make a fine example."
Kanchome, stunned with fear, ran up to him, desperately trying to come to Yopopo's aid.
Djem's heart would pound in a panic, and as she tried to cast a spell...
"Doremike-!"
Dufort would cast, "ZAKER!"
Yopopo would be electrocuted violently by Zeno, screaming and being absolutely fried by the spell. Zeno would toss his barely-conscious body to the ground as Yopopo's book would catch fire, just like that...
Djem's eyes began to water, "...ru...! Yo...Yopopo...YOPOPOOOOOOOOOO!" she cried out, running to his side and dropping to her knees beside him.
Zeno would scoff, "Now then, who will be the next on my-"
Dufort would glare down at Zeno, "Zeno, move it!" he warned, as Yopopo was able to unleash the spell as a last hurrah.
Zeno, eyes widened, barely jumped out of the way as the spell grazed his cloak and barely missed Dufort in the process.
Yopopo would giggle weakly, looking up at Djem and saying, "Thank...you...Djem...Djem..." before vanishing entirely along with his book. The last expression on his face? A pained smile at his dear friend.
Lori would close her eyes and and choke back tears. "N-no...!"
Folgore's knees were practically jelly at this point, Kanchome running back to him and crying loudly.
"Dios mio...I...I...I am-a so sorry...!" is all he could say.
Zeno would look down at the ever-so-slightly ripped thread of the edge of his cloak. "You...how dare you do this...!? To be even grazed by weaklings such as yourself is an insult I'll never forget! ALL REMAINING GUARDS IN THE CASTLE, TEAR THEM TO SHREDS!"
Then, bursting out of four different doors the biggest and toughest guards of them all would file in and block the exit while also generally surrounding the group.
Zeno pointed at Kolulu, "THAT ONE LIVES, HOWEVER! If I find so much as a single HAIR on her head being touched or clipped by you idiots, I'll throw your body off the castle wall!"
Lori and Kolulu would get up and move out of the ring of guards as they closed in, despite Kiyo's protests.
Tia would try to grab Kolulu's hand, but Kolulu yanked her hand away.
"Tia, no! I...can't let you risk yourself like this..." Kolulu said firmly.
Tia grit her teeth, "YOU'RE the one who's been beat to heck and back, Kolulu! Stop trying to martyr yourself! I...don't want him to hurt you like he hurt Zatch! I might not have had the best friendship with him but he didn't deserve to be tortured like that. This is just as much my catharsis as it is yours!" she said, pointing at Kolulu.
Kolulu recalled that she and Maruss were friends, before he betrayed Tia. With a heavy sigh, she looked up at Lori.
Lori nodded, and Megumi would shove a guard aside and join the three at the front, ready to face down Zeno and Dufort.
Zeno groaned, "Fine, don't touch that one either, the rest are fair game!" he ordered, before looking at the two girls with disgust.
"You're nothing to me, you're just common rats with no power! One of you is operating on a crutch, and the other REEKS of protection magic! Hardly useless, but you can't even throw a basic attack spell without it being pitifully weak, if the books I read on combat have anything to suggest about it." Zeno ranted, Dufort preparing another spell.
"Fine! I'll allow you to amuse me a while longer, do what you can before I send you back to your families in a heap!" he said, holding out a hand.
Meanwhile, The remaining members of the party were desperately trying to fend off the 20 or so elite guards, with little success so far. Just as things were looking tight, Eido and Hyde jumped in the middle of the ring of guards.
"Alright, thugs, you wanna know what happens to dummies on the street?" Eido asked with a grin.
Hyde smirked, "They get blown away by my awesome power!"
"Hell yeah! Knock em dead, Hyde, JIKIRGA!" Eido yelled out, Hide unleashing a large blast of concentrated wind on half of the guards and knocking them unconscious.
Folgore was blown aside and the back of pants were ripped, specifically the area around his rear. "Mama-mia..."
Back with Zeno, Kolulu, Tia, and their respective book owners, after an intense stand-off, Zeno made the first move.
"I am going to make you my ragdoll, Kolulu!" Zeno declared viciously.
Kolulu responded with, "I'm going to avenge Zatch and everyone you hurt, Zeno!"
Zeno jumped back, near the puddle, and unleashed a Zaker spell at Dufort's call.
Lori would yell out, "GINISHIELD!", unleashing the barrier of pure light and diverting the spell back at Zeno, although the shield would suffer heavy recoil and Kolulu's arms would vibrate slightly on impact.
The electricity would fly behind Dufort and smash part of the stone protection rails clean off.
Megumi would cast, "SAISU!" and send a spell at Zeno's book.
Once more, the spell failed to connect with the book, instead slicing into Dufort's sleeve.
Dufort huffed, casting a new spell. "ZAKERGA!"
Zeno would unleash a powerful beam of electricity, Tia and Kolulu banding together and unleashing their shield spells.
Lori casts Ginishield, and Megumi casts Ma Seishield, one in front of the other. As the first shield began to break, the beam would hit the second. Try as she might, Tia could not uphold the integrity of her shield, even with aid from Kolulu, and it broke, causing her to be zapped by the remaining electricity and screaming as she crashed into a wall with a thud.
Zeno didn't waste any time in dragging Kolulu his way, throwing her into one of the parapet guard rails and pinning her there. "Now to enjoy myself! I'll show you what happens to those who defy me!" he said, before punching Kolulu repeatedly in the face, again and again and again, drawing blood from her now busted nose.
Lori tried desperately to cast a spell, but Dufort was already zoning in on her, and striking at her with punches and kicks. Several landed, and Lori was on her knees in pain.
Zeno would order Dufort to his side, to which Dufort complied immediately.
Kolulu coughed up a little blood and stared in terror at Zeno, staring into his purple eyes.
"Enjoying this pain, Kolulu!?" he said, clutching her head with his fingers and keeping his thumbs pressed just below her eyes. "All I need is to electrocute your little skull, perhaps I'll even shove you face first into the puddle there." He said, grabbing her by the hair and dragging her over to the water.
Kolulu stared weakly into her reflection, seeing Zeno behind her as blood and tears dripped into the puddle.
Zeno then noticed that the puddle had gotten larger, and he was stepping in it. "Sheesh, this entire parapet is gonna flood at this rate, but no matter...even a king has to dirty his attire sometimes for the sake of the realm. Say goodbye Kolulu." He said, kneeling down and lowering her into the shallow water.
However, before he could finish this action, Kolulu called out, "W-wait...!"
Lori, having felt truly defeated witnessing this play out, was at least relieved to hear her speak. Sighing in relief, she prayed that Kolulu had a plan.
Zeno stared at her. 'What? Are you going to beg for your life now?"
Kolulu smiled slightly, "Actually...I was going to tell you that...you'll hurt yourself doing this..."
Confused, he asked her, "How so? It's not like I'll blow up the castle or anything."
Kolulu weakly giggled, "Well...water conducts electricity fairly well...and if you want to take away my memories, surely you have to be precise. You can't be precise without clutching me like this, you can't be precise if you aren't practically breathing on me...you're trapped." she said, the last two words echoing the voice of Evil Kolulu as Lori's spell book pulsed with power.
Lori took this as a sign to get her hide moving, and she powered to her feet, one leg at a time. "You underestimate my sister, Zeno! Now...now it's OUR turn!" she declared, turning the page to the newest spell.
Zeno's eyes widened, he tightened his grip, and he threw her back to Lori. "INSUFFERABLE LITTLE-"
Kolulu rolled to her knees, slowly stood up, and her eyes glowed red as Lori prepared to cast the spell.
"THIS IS FOR ZATCH, FOR KOLULU, YOPOPO AND EVERYONE ELSE, OUR STRONGEST SPELL! RAJA ZERUSEN!" Lori said, dropping to her knees as Kolulu rapidly warped into her evil form, her fists enlarging to gigantic size, and shocking everyone in the castle.
Evil Kolulu would say but one thing, "DROP DEAD, GAS BAG!", as the gigantic fists fired out at Zeno at shockingly close range.
Zeno, not having enough time to dodge, would jump up and block it with his body, arms crossed as he growled in exertion. "You...you really think a mere Raja spell is enough to stop me!? Dufort, tell me our next move and fast!"
Dufort nodded, closing his eyes and foreseeing the correct course of action. "Your cloak, now!"
Zeno nodded, letting the fists push him back. He grabbed Dufort and teleported away as the fists flew off before bursting with mighty force, shrinking down and returning to Evil Kolulu, who promptly began to breathe heavily.
"Heh...I know it didn't get him...but damn did that...feel good." She said, dropping to her knees.
Zeno and Dufort would reappear in front of the group, glaring at them.
"I commend you for your efforts tonight. It's clear that your suffering will only be complete when I am thoroughly prepared to enact such torture. Though I have toyed with you this night, I shall do so no longer, consider this your one and only mercy, ingrates! The next time we meet, I am going to personally burn your books on sight. You hear me? On, sight!" he warned, before grinning madly at Kolulu and Lori.
"Oh, and you two...make sure you grow nice and strong, so your fall will be all the sweeter and more hellish in the long run!"
With that being said, Zeno and Dufort would warp away, leaving the party beaten and exhausted, even injured in several ways. Still, the last of the criminals were knocked out, and they were finally, finally at peace.
The rain began to let up, though it still poured somewhat. Kolulu reverted back to normal, and with a final look over to Lori, smiled sweetly before passing out.
Lori would reach out, trying to cuddle her close, but she too would faint on the spot. The two laid there, passed out next to each other, practically in each others arms. The last thing they would hear for a good while...?
"Sleep well, guys...you earned it..." said Kiyo.
[Some time later, in Kolulu's mind...]
Kolulu would slowly wake up, sitting back to back with her evil half.
"You know..." started her evil half, "I always wondered how it would feel to actually sleep."
Kolulu said nothing to her, folding her knees close to her chest and pouting.
Evil Kolulu shrugged, "Sorry, sorry...but...thanks for fulfilling my wish for a good fight at least."
Before the conversation could continue, Kolulu willed herself back to sleep, continuing her well-earned rest that night.
They may have survived the castle encounter...but at what cost?