Zatch Bell: Kolulu Story
By:CleruSonofShintetsu
[Chapter 17: Whiplash]
Day two began with nothing out of the ordinary, everyone was simply enjoying themselves in the wee morning hours and taking part in the various activities. Kolulu and Lori were at the pool, but neither had a swimsuit with them. In fairness, not many of the guests actually did, though of course Kiyo's classmates sure did.
Megumi whistled to Lori from the shadows of a nearby doorway to another section of the ship, and motioned both her and Kolulu inside. Lori and Kolulu answer the call, looking back at Kiyo, who was having a rather comedic conversation with his classmates, before heading inside.
"Come on, man! You can't expect to go on a cruise ship and NOT prepare for a swim!" said Kane who was play-wrestling with Hayashi in the water. "STAY DOWN LOSER!"
"Nah!" Yamanaka said, "I'll chuck you over one of the water level barriers!", shoving Kane and causing him to twirl into a pool donut with a thud.
"Oh yeah? I'll feed you to the sharks, and by the sharks, I MEAN ME!" he said, before swimming over to him while making exaggerated OMNOMNOM noises.
Kiyo simply turned around and walked away.
Megumi leaned against a wall and Lori did so too, right across from Megumi.
"Didn't have a swimsuit either?" Megumi asked, tilting her head.
Lori nodded, "Yeah...though I don't really own one. I never really decided on one..."
"Well, I feel like shorts and some sort of top would suit you well. You already rock shorts to begin with, so maybe try something like that?" Megumi suggested.
"Of course! I just don't want to get anything too flashy...but anyway, how are you holding up, Megumi?" Lori asked while Tia and Kolulu made smalltalk farther down the hall.
"Oh you know...the usual. Teen idol life gives and takes from you, sometimes literally." Megumi started to explain, "I'm having joys and annoyances, the same old same old...but it's honestly pretty fun and fulfilling, and seeing the smiles on my fans' faces does make up for much of the negatives on its own."
Lori smiled, "You're very talented, and honestly? I can't wait for your special performance tomorrow night! I believe tonight is the karaoke night, will Tia be partaking?" she asked.
Megumi shook her head, "No, I tried to encourage her, but she's a bit...uneasy about performing on stage herself. I dunno why, she just seems off...actually, she's been tense again recently, just like back at the concert hall."
Lori looked over at the two Mamodo, taking a deep breath and looking back at Megumi with concern. "Do you think she's still stressing about that boy...?"
Megumi's face went pale. "No...he can't possibly have...followed us here...oh shoot..." she said, containing her concern at the possible chaos he could start. If Maruss was willing to attack people at a concert, she knew he'd be willing to do damage on a boat as well.
Lori took another deep breath, before calmly stating, "I just wanted one break...one break from the madness...and this had to come to mind...I'm sorry, I shouldn't have opened my mouth..."
Megumi shook her head rapidly. "No, shush, stop that, it's good that you told me. I promise you, if this boat trip goes south, I'll make it up to you one day. I know Tia wants Kolulu to be happy just as much as we do."
Lori nodded, "Alright...well, we better get going. Stay safe, Megumi!"
The two groups parted ways for now...
[Several hours later, after sunset...]
Robnos and Ruku were sneaking around. Ruku had already separated Robnos into his two weaker halves, and several knocked out employees and guards were strewn about in their wake.
Entering the room where Dartagnan oversaw the steering and control of the ship, Ruku pulled out a stun gun and aimed it at Dartagnan's back while opening the spellbook.
"Alright, nobody move or make a peep! You even twitch a finger wrong, and I blast you. This ship is going to be under our control now, and there will be no compromise!" Ruku stated as the two Robnoses marched up to either side of Dartagnan, staring at him with a creepy expression and watching for any wrong movements.
"Oh good...this is happening now. Okay...what do you want from me?" Dartagnan asked with annoyance.
"Good question, it's none of your business, fat man. Besides, why do you sound like you're- nevermind." Ruku said, shaking his head and returning to focus. "Now if you don't mind, I'd like you to stall the boat, and make ready your private lifeboat while you're at it." Ruku ordered.
Dartagnan sighed, "Listen to every single word he says, everyone..." he said, following orders while formulating a possible plan of escape.
Elsewhere on the boat, Rembrant and Maruss were looking out a window at the water, making sure the boat stopped before making their way to their own positions. On their way there, they received a call from Robnos on their walkie talkies.
"What is it now, tin can?" Maruss asked impatiently.
Ruku would be the one to answer, "Passing this on to you for Robnos, he's busy right now..." he explained, before continuing. "We have time before the big finale. I want you to enjoy yourself a little. Go to the main hall, find out which book owners besides Megumi and Folgore are on this ship, and report to me when you find them. That will be crucial to our timing on the big finale. That is what he wanted me to say, so..."
Maruss nodded, "Alright, I think it would be nice to savor the torment of that scarlet-haired weakling and that pink-haired freak a little anyway..." he said, clicking off the walkie talkie and moving on.
[Meanwhile, back at the main hall...]
Backstage, the karaoke participants were gathered in the semi-cozy if a bit ramshackle backstage area, with people of all ages getting ready to perform. Kolulu was at the machine and picking out a song from the extensive list of over 75 tracks.
Hyde sat down nearby, not sure about performing onstage. However, he did agree, so he wasn't gonna flake now.
"Okay...aaaaaaaaaaaand...done!" Kolulu said, selecting their song and registering their names under it. "Shooby Dibby Doh, the theme song to Inky and Friends!" she told Hyde, who then looked over in confusion.
"What? You mean that goofy show I saw like, twice ever in Eido's junk apartment?" he asked.
"Yeah, the one with the black and white cartoon characters with whacky movements and everything! They're super bouncy too!" Kolulu explained.
"Ohhhh..." Hydo uttered, as the announcement came and everyone made ready for the performance.
"Ladies and gentlemen! The karaoke performances are about to start! Please settle down for some home-grown sing-song goodness, and give your friends an encouraging cheer while you're at it!" the announcer said as the crowd clapped and cheered.
The first few performances would pass by seemingly in a blink, the crowd and the people back stage were both jamming along to the performances as they played out. Eventually, it came time for Kolulu and Hyde to perform, and they took their place on the stage behind the curtains.
Kolulu took Hyde's hand and squeezed gently, looking him in the eye and causing his heart to go from pounding to relaxed. "Don't worry...we'll be fine." she said, letting go of his hand and looking forward.
Hyde simply nodded as the curtains rose. Lori and the others waved and gave silent encouragement from the crowd.
Then...the music began, an upbeat and light-hearted tune with a decently fast tempo played, and so the two read their lyrics on a display in the distance, far behind the crowd, and sang aloud.
Kolulu: Shooby dooby doo, me and you! We got a tune to sing now! Shooby dooby doo, sing it loud! Without a care in the world now!
Hyde (Nervously): Scabba yabba doo, I hear you. I'll sing that ditty with you. Scabba yabba doo, as we do. We need no fancy words now.
Both: You need no fancy schmancy words or sounds to sing a tune like this don't you see? Sing it free! And if a couple folks can sing it here without a care then so can you! Shooby doo!
Kolulu: Skibby deeba dee, shabba doh! Let every smile grow-grow! Zippy zappy dop, woah-oh-oh! Them fancy words just gotta go!
Hyde (More Confident): Skoppy doppy pop, bop doo wop! Sometimes mere noises beat words! Dodo dododo, skippa roh! Just let that ditty flow-flow!
Both (In great harmony): Dinga danga doh, fah lolo lo, fah shooby dooby dooby! Fala yala yack, a-thwack ack ack! Just keep them sounds-a coming!
Both (In great harmony): Shooby dooby doo, me and you! You know the sounds and flow, oh! Shooby dooby doo, me and you! Thank you for hearing our show, oh!
And with the end of their brief performance, the crowd cheered loudly, perhaps more than they did for most of the others who showed up on stage so far. Suddenly, as the curtains lowered, Hyde took a deep breath and fell back, getting up swiftly afterward and looking at Kolulu, panting.
"I...dont know why I did that...It's not like me to perform, let alone such a mushy song like that..." he explained as they walked backstage again.
"Hey, it's okay...besides, nothing says cool dude much like breaking out of your comfort zone." Kolulu replied with a wink. "You're cool Hyde, and let nobody doubt that!"
This made him blush yet again, flattered by the praise. "T-thank you, I'm glad you're one of my friends, Kolulu. Truth be told, you've been one of the only people I can confide in, one of my only comforts so far. Between dealing with that skirt-chasing nutter-bar and the battle for king..." he started, before Kolulu put a finger on his lips.
"H u s h, just relax, we've done our part, let's go back to our book owners and-" she likewise started, before the announcer made a very...concerning announcement on who was up last for that night.
"Moms and dads! Dudes and dudettes! Feast your eyes on a rising start of the back-streets of Mochinoki City! A rapper of robotic proportions, and one to shake the boat up really nicely tonight! Feast your eyes, on, Robo-Rapper 1337, woop wooooooop!" he announced, the curtain rising on...one of Robnos' weaker copies!
Robnos still had his two copies upstairs...unbeknownst to the others, it appears he's improved upon his Buruk spell considerably.
Kolulu's eyes widened with concern. "W-wait..." she said, turning around swiftly. "I-I know that presence...it's him!" she continued.
Her evil side immediately jolted in her mind, "Let me at em, let me at em, let me at em, LET ME AT EM! I'll snap his neck for the cheap shot last time! Also, I'm sensing another butt-hole on-board the ship. We need to find him also! Come oooooooooooon!"
Hyde grit his teeth, "Of course, just as things were getting fun THIS had to happen...I'll go find Eido." he said, running off immediately. Kolulu, likewise, ran off in her own direction.
Kolulu approached the table and Lori already had her spellbook out, albeit kept under the table.
"You did great, Kolulu, we enjoyed every second of your performance. And yes, we know..." said Lori with a reassuring smile.
Kiyo got up and looked around the room. "Crap...if he's here, then this boat is in serious danger. I'll go scout around the ship, Lori, keep an eye on the cyborg on stage." he advised.
Suzy got up, "Oh oh oh! Let me come too, Kiyo! I dunno what you're so worried about but I wanna help out whatever it is!"
Sighing in annoyance, Kiyo motioned for Suzy to follow, not bothering to get trapped in an argument while the ship was in danger. The two ran off into the halls of the ship, and Lori stared at the stage as Robnos began to rap.
Robnos: Now this is a story all about how my world got flip-turned upside-down and I'd like to take a minute just to let you know, about the future fresh king of the Mamodo! Woo!
The smooth, bouncing rap beat caused the crowd to jive along with it.
Robnos: Iiiiin a rocky landscape born and raised, in a desert is where I spent most of my days! Chilling out training my body and mind, cruising on through my daily grind! When a couple of thugs who were up to no good, started making trouble in my neighborhood! And after one little fight they were all alert, because no matter what they did I just couldn't be hurt!
Robnos: I whistled for my dad and when he came near, he had graffiti on his back and he had dice on his ears, if anything he was an antique freak, but those bandits ran off with a nasty shriek!
So on and so forth, and as he continued into the second verse, Kolulu's evil side admitted but one single thing.
"Damn it he's actually decent at it..." in regards to his rapping.
[Meanwhile, elsewhere on the ship...]
Megumi kept a hand on Tia's spellbook just in case as the two roamed the halls of the ship, tension filling the air as they patrolled around.
Folgore and Kanchome were with them too, if only as reassurance in case they ran into a foe that would require more than one Mamodo with them.
"Great...just when we thought we had a break, this has to happen. I really hope its just paranoia from...the silver boy..." Megumi mused out loud, thinking back to the evil presence of Zeno and how he beat the ever loving hell out of the group despite toying with them.
Tia, hearing this, grit her teeth and said, "Who cares about that disgusting excuse of a brother anyway? Zatch is an outcast, sure, but he never hurt anybody! He must have been treated horribly if THAT'S supposed to be his brother!" venting a bit about Zeno.
Folgore nodded, "I have to agree...while I never met Zatch myself I can only imagine having such an awful sibling. Though I suppose I..." he immediately cut himself off, not wanting to divulge anything further.
As they continued to walk seemingly aimlessly, they eventually stumble upon the unconscious bleeding body of one of the bigger and buffer guards in the hallway leading downstairs to the lowest level of the ship.
"W-waaahh! Folgore, that man is bleeding out!" Kanchome said, shivering like mad.
Megumi knelt down and shook him gently. "H-hey! Are you okay sir? Please, answer me!"
The man slowly woke up, and looked up at Megumi. "C-crap...don't go down there...terrorists...pirates...I dunno what it is but it's not safe...tell the captain...turn back..." he said before passing out again.
It was at this moment when Tia saw something that made her blood run cold. On the back of the man's neck was a wound near identical, if not worse than the one she received from Maruss during the last boat she met him on. The hole was deeper, it even pierced the skin entirely, leaving a small but nasty wound. Flashing back to the betrayal she suffered on the boat, she started to hyperventilate as it ran through her mind.
Tia clenched her fists and shook her head in disbelief, eyes shut in desperation. "No, no, no! If it's really who I fear it is, I...I'm so sick of it! I'm tired of him haunting me! He's a filthy stinking traitor and I just wish I could actually knock that stupid grin off his stupid face! Stupid Maruss, stupid Maruss, why did you pick this stupid battle over me!?" she said, clutching her hair as her spellbook glowed with a bright light.
Megumi gasped lightly as she opened the book to find a new spell...Gigano Saisu!
Kanchome stepped forward, trying to calm her down. "T-Tia, don't worry, p-please don't c-c-cry!"
Tia slapped Kanchome in frustration, "Don't tell me to relax during a time like this!"
Folgore caught Kanchome and looked down at him with concern. "W-why did you-a have-a to slap him though?" he asked confused.
Megumi gently grabbed Tia by the shoulder. "Take it easy...we're not going to get anywhere with blind anger. Let's take it one step at a time and deal with the situation accordingly, okay?" she asked with a smile.
Tia calmed down a bit, and nodded. "Alright...let's just...see what's down these steps then."
The group, after taking a breather and finding their bearings, descends down the steps and into the lower halls. Throughout, several wounded guards were strewn about, all of them either unconscious or barely conscious, none of them willing to talk much right now.
In the engine room, Maruss felt the four approaching, and a wild grin grew on his face. "Rembrant, let Robnos know...the fun is about to begin."
Rembrant nodded and clicked on his walkie talkie. "Ruku, Robnos, make ready for the grand finale of the boat plan. On your orders, we'll break the engine and sink this vessel for good."
Back at his own station, Ruku sniffed and looked back at Robnos and his copy. "Boy, it's time."
Dartagnan sighed, "Dare I ask what it is you people are going to do? Or perhaps...do to my vessel?" in truth, he was furious and in fear, but he tried to collect himself in any case.
Robnos grinned, "Oh...just wait a little longer. We made sure to stop the boat near rowing distance of Mochinoki's docks. It'll be a very...explosive finale." he explained.
Dartagnan grit his teeth and growled. "You...maniacs...!"
Ruku said, "Robnos says do it now!" over the radio.
Down in the engine room again, Maruss held his hands out to the volatile old engine and Rembrant opened the book.
"Ganzu Garon!" said Rembrant as Maruss unleashed a flurry of metal balls with spikes out, pummeling the engine and causing it to burst, sending flames out and crawling along the walls as the ship's alarm system blared out.
To defend themselves from the flames, Rembrant followed up with, "Gashield!", a wall of iron pillars rising up and blocking and redirecting much of the flames into the hall behind them.
Megumi, Folgore, Tia and Kanchome's eyes widened with collective fear as they ran forward. In the light of the flames, and the blaring alarm, Maruss and Rembrant stepped forward menacingly.
"Tia...it's time to send you home now~" taunted Maruss with a sinister laugh, half of his face covered in shadow.
The battle for the sinking ship had just begun...