Chapter LXXXXIV: Goin' onto the Groovin Empire Part VIII

Walking up the bridge and to the door flaps of the restaurant Pete pushed both flats open in moments as he called out loudly, "Pete's here! All righty then! Let's get down for a little chow!"

Yzma still sitting in her seat turned and looked up to see Pete annoyed as she said, "you're late."

Blinking breaking out of his smiling episode as he heard her then quietly became annoyed himself slightly but keeping up positive appearances he told her as he sat down, "ah yeah, sorry bout that there Yzma, I had problems findin a place to park the heartless and well," he then opened his eyes and saw that she was still bitterly annoyed and decided to hush it up quickly, "yeah…" as he then shuffled his hands quietly feeling the awkwardness fall into the atmosphere.

Meanwhile back in their own awkward situation Nozomi and Pacha were still in a rush to get themselves along with Cait sith and Kuzco out of that closet room.

However it was blocked by one wooden panel that refused to budge no matter how much Nozomi and Pacha tried, seeing this gritting her teeth Nozomi spoke out quietly, "man! Why won't this stupid thing move!"

Hearing her Cait sith called out, "lass shhh! Don't speak out too loud! He'll hear ya!"

Kuzco in the meantime seeing this desperate and anxious situation didn't get it and so just continued to stare on bitterly annoyed as inside his stomach was still growling wanting to be fed.

Back outside the kitchen in the meantime Pete watched as Yzma became more and more annoyed as she tapped her fingernails against the wood of the table, he didn't know what to say and so just looked from side to side as he did a small whistling tune he'd learned when he was still the captain of his steam boat.

Having enough Yzma spoke up, "what is Kronk doing in there!"

Blinking as he heard this Pete then noticed finally Kronk was vacant from Yzma's side and so then asked, "what Kronk? Where is he anyway?"

Hearing him Yzma told him, "he's in the kitchen! He was supposed to ask the chef if he'd do any special orders without gravy."

Thinking to himself oddly, 'without gravy?' But then snapping back to reality the angered look on Yzma's face was still there so wanting to have a break from this awful atmosphere he told her, "well uh, why don't I go and have a check on him then? Maybe that'll help to hurry him up huh?"

Not responding Yzma just continued with her bitter mood as Pete got up and away from the table with inner relief as he headed for the kitchen.

Back inside the closet room Nozomi and Pacha had finally succeeded in opening the window panel, seeing this Pacha spoke out, "great c'mon! Let's get out of here!"

Nozomi responded in moments, "right! C'mon Cait sith!" As she waved for him to come.

Seeing her do this he replied in moments, "right lass!" With that he ran forwards and jumped up onto her shoulder.

However, "in a minute I'm still hungry," with that Kuzco turned on his heel as he headed back to the kitchen to get his over due meal.

Seeing him leave in horror Nozomi spoke up, "no you dumb animal!" However it was too late as Kuzco went through the door.

Rushing to it Nozomi watched as Kuzco walked passed Kronk who had his back turned as he continued to cook. Thinking that it was the same chef Kuzco instructed him without looking, "all right I'll make it simple for you, I'll have a spinach omelette with wheat toast, you've got it?"

Hearing him but not recognising his voice as he continued to cook away Kronk responded, "can do."

Feeling her heart racing Nozomi sighed with relief, " Racing over quickly Pacha asked making her jump slightly, "has he found him?"

Nozomi shook her head and responded, "no, that big guy's got his back turned! We better sneak past and get Kuzco while we've got the chance right now."

Hearing this quickly thought up plan Pacha responded, "I agree but we got to do it fast!"

Listening to this discussion Cait sith then added in, "right then! Let's move out!"

Nodding at this Nozomi then quietly followed behind by Pacha began to sneak out of closet room as they tried to do the same as what Kuzco did.

But suddenly from the other side of the room as Kuzco walked out from one of the double doors, Pete walked in!

Seeing this in a mere moment Nozomi quickly acted instinctively as she dashed and ran and hid behind the table as Pacha quickly without thinking hid himself underneath the table as he pulled over the tablecloth, under there he then asked quickly, "hey what's going on?"

Seeing him Nozomi spoke with anguish quietly, "It's Pete! He's here! He's the one who gave these two guys the power to control the heartless!" Listening to this Pacha only gulped with fear, as this was not a good situation at all!

Pete however unaware of his targets presence saw Kronk as he asked him, "Hey Kronk! What do ya think yer-"

"You are doing!" Came from Yzma as she interrupted him and had now gotten up and had marched over herself now bringing her moody atmosphere with her again, making Pete go down with dread in moments.

However the naïve as ever Kronk was now preoccupied with serving as he put a plate on the order bar with some kind of roasted orange lizard as he called out, "pick up."

Seeing this Pete then asked, "hey why're ya playin chef?"

Hearing him as he walked back to stir a thick soup Kronk told him, "the other chef quit and… well here I go."

Pete wondered why that had happened, however Yzma not surprised in the slightest responded slightly exasperated," why am I not surprised?"

Watching cautiously from the corner of the table Nozomi could see Yzma and Pete standing together, looking at the woman she could see now that she was creepily hideous and spindly compared to Pete. However while looking at them she made sure not to be seen and to look out in case they both came in their direction.

She took a small in take of breath as she saw Kronk reach over down and under as he went to get a bowl, however quickly Pacha reached out with the item as he took it and with that the cohort walked back on over to the order bar and poured his green soup into it. He then called out, "yo orders up!"

Cait sith on Nozomi's shoulder then whispered, "Whoa that was a close one!" As Nozomi was relieved slightly herself as much as Pacha was too.

Yzma still annoyed growled angrily making Pete himself shiver slightly as she clenched her hands irritated, but then sighing she said, "oh well! While you're at it make me the special! And hold the gravy!" She cried as she walked out of the room.

Kronk responded in moments, "check!"

Pete seeing her leave once again allowed himself to relax slightly as he watched Yzma leave he then said, "oh boy, that lady's like a living volcano!" Looking then to Kronk he told him his choice of order, "all right then! While I'm here too Kronk! Just make me a steak! With a whole load of BBQ sauce."

Kronk still in his happy serving mood replied in moments, "will do!" With that Pete exited the kitchens as the doors swung back and forth.

Glad to see that he'd left now Nozomi sighed again, Pacha still under the table then asked, "hey? Why haven't they used the heartless on anyone here?"

Nozomi told him then still quietly, "I dunno? But I guess it's obvious, they wanna eat and for that they need living people to do it so, I guess that's the one thing that's saved everyone here, I mean I haven't seen a heartless that can cook."

But then mentioning that one thing, suddenly arriving back was the same as ever clueless Kuzco as he walked in through the doors again, "hey on second thought, make my omelette a meat pie."

Kronk hearing him replied in moments, "meat pie check!"

Seeing that Kuzco had come back inside again and seeing that Kronk still had his back turned it was then Cait sith announced, "all right! Come on lads! Now while the times right!"

Nodding at this Pacha and Nozomi quickly moved as they tried to get to Kuzco and warn him, but then as soon as he'd walked through the doors suddenly Yzma walked back through! She called out, "Kronk?"

Acting quickly in shock Pacha suddenly pulled Nozomi by the scruff of her neck as he then held her in place making an odd bizarre like smile on his face to imitate the logo outside. Nozomi on the other hand tried her best to make a similar expression though she looked more awkward than she did happy. Cait sith meanwhile made his lodgings on Pacha's left hand as he imitated an odd dish of some kind as he made an 'X' like pose.

Yzma not noticing the odd figure that was only some feet away to her right hand side as she calmly ordered looking bored again, "can I order the potatoes as a side dish?"

Chopping up some carrots as he was preparing Pete's meal he then replied, "I'll have to charge you full price."

Yzma growled furiously at this as she then pushed the door open and walked on out, but almost on queue Kuzco walked in again as he said, "hey how about a side of potatoes good buddy?"

Hearing him Kronk replied, "can do, " he then picked up some cheese off of the table as he then asked, "Do you want cheese on those potatoes?"

Yzma walking in as Kuzco walked out and told him looking pleased for that brief moment, "thank you Kronk cheddar will be fine."

Happy himself Kronk then made to pour the cheese in as he said, "cheesy spuds comin up!"

However Kuzco walked in again as Yzma walked out and said, "spudsy yes, cheese no."

Kronk replied taking the cheese away, "hold the cheese."

But then Yzma, "no I want the cheese."

Kronk again, "cheese it is."

Everyone watching as this crazy merry go round continued as their eyes darted left and right Nozomi was finding it more and more difficult to keep face and bottle her temper as she thought to herself mad, 'when are these fussy idiots gonna make up their mind!"

However it continued, as Kuzco then spoke, "cheese me no likey." As he walked out AGAIN.

Catching the cheese on his glove before it could make it to the pot he spoke again, "cheese out."

But then Yzma once more did the merry go round, as she demanded "cheese in!"

Kronk getting tired of this himself spoke out as he held his slimy cooking glove, "oh come on! Make up your mind!"

Then at once suddenly both irritating advisor and llama emperor who popped out first said, "Okay, okay! On second thought," then together they both said simultaneously, "make my potatoes a salad." As they spoke from either side of the swinging doors.

Now nervous at this sight as they both spoke aloud Nozomi and the others then watched fortunately as Kuzco disappeared from the doors as Yzma looked around confused at the sound of doubleness as she cleared one of ears to see if she had a hearing problem.

Staring at her as she did this the sides of Nozomi's face were beginning to ache as her face was struggling to keep the expression she had. But then as she was beginning to relax and feel that she and the others could move suddenly Pete walked back into the kitchen again, he called out, "hey Kronk? Have ya done my steak yet? I was wonderin if ya could-"

But at this point it was then finally that Pacha and Nozomi along with Cait sith who had climbed back up onto her shoulder again walked passed quietly and quickly as Pete began to talk about his order. As they arrived outside the swinging doors Nozomi hid quickly behind Pacha again as Yzma was there still sitting at her table.

Relaxing her jaw from the stiffening ache she had to put her mouth through Nozomi whispered annoyed, "man that was annoying! I'm aching all over! When I get my hands on that dumb animal I'll-"

However she was interrupted as Cait sith whispered just as bitterly, "lass we get the message! My tail is just as stiff!" As he proved the point as he started to stroke the stiffness out of it gently as he could.

Pacha acting as their shield still then whispered to them as gently as he could while trying to remain natural, "listen I don't think that that's the thing we should be concerned about!"

Remembering again the matter at hand Nozomi stopped massaging her face as she instead looked from around the corner of Pacha's back and saw that Yzma and Kuzco were on opposite sides of each other at their different tables as they now and again looked around and away from their menus. Seeing the rather simple but still precarious camouflage Nozomi and Cait sith knew that this wouldn't last for long, so speaking up Cait sith said, "this ain't good at all! We gotta do somethin fast."

Hearing him as Nozomi looked on still as tense she replied, "yeah! But we got to do it in a way that doesn't draw attention! We can't let them know we're here! But… how do we do it though?"

For they couldn't just walk on over and get Kuzco without Yzma seeing them all, so what could they? But then suddenly the waitress who had served them their food only mere minutes earlier walked by carrying a dish with a steaming fish with an apple in its mouth. At once Pacha had an idea of what to do, so quickly he whispered to her, "hey miss? You see that lady…" he then whispered something to her which Nozomi and Cait sith couldn't hear properly.

At the end of the suggestion the waitress still in her bored tone answered him with thumbs up and then a wave of her hand, "no problem hun we do that all the time."

As the woman walked away Nozomi asked Pacha, "hey what did you ask her to do?"

Adding in Cait sith said, "yeah, what did ya-"

But then Pacha told them both, "don't worry it'll be a real surprise! That I can promise you."

Still looking at her menu Yzma was fully absorbed but then ahead of her she noticed an odd… woman? Who too was reading a menu, but what was-?

Suddenly though all at once, "one! Two! Three! Four!"

Yzma was sent jumping out of her skin as she cried out in fear suddenly as a couple of waiters and a few waitresses carried out a cake with numerous candles as they all celebrated with confetti raining down, "Happy! Happy Birthday! Our warmest salute to you! We hope-"

Kuzco hearing the song looked up from his menu suspiciously but then before he could register any details he was suddenly swooped from his chair by Pacha as Nozomi clapped her hand over his mouth to stop any protest.

Sitting in her chair with a huge sombrero with dangling bobbles on he head Yzma was severely displeased as the cake was now on her table as the waitresses and waiters continued to sing on.

Arriving from the kitchen both puzzled Kronk still had his chef hat on as he came out stirring a blue pot as he asked delighted, "It's your birthday!"

Pete walking out eating a steak in one hand and a fork in another as he asked confused, "huh a birthday?"

Dashing out quickly Pacha and Nozomi took the quarrelling and protesting Kuzco out of the restaurant as they all then jumped over the bridge and quickly made it to the underway.

Nozomi letting go of him finally Kuzco spluttered and coughed, as he demanded, "hey what the heck are you guys doing! Why have you-"

Looking at him mad Nozomi told him, "look just be quiet okay! We're in a real dangerous situation right now!"

Confused by all their urgency Kuzco asked baffled, "what're you talking about?"
Pacha then went onto explain as he continued to hold Kuzco by the chest, "there are three people here looking for you!"

At this Kuzco asked surprised, "what?"

Cait sith then added as well, "yeah lad! One guy we know, Pete and this big bloke and this skinny old woman!"

Hearing these last two descriptions Kuzco asked, "wait, was this woman scary beyond all reason?"

Listening to this description Cait sith answered, "oh yeah lad! She was a right scary lookin' old hag!"

At this description Kuzco shockingly became delighted as he spoke out as he wiped away the make up he had on, "that's Yzma and Kronk! I'm saved!"

Looking at him in disbelief Nozomi told him, "look you don't understand Pete is with them both he'll-"

But she was interrupted as Kuzco talked on in his enthusiastic manner, "they'll take me back to the palace! You guys have been a great help thanks! I can take it from here!"

However Pacha stopped him as he told him in a demanding tone taking his green poncho in his hand from behind, "listen they are not here to save you!"

He looked at him confused as he asked, "what do you mean!"

Angered Nozomi told him, "They're with Pete! They're with the heartless! They want you dead!"

At this Kuzco just couldn't believe this nonsense as he told her, "want me dead? They throw water balls around me!"

Pouncing on him Cait sith growled mad as he dug his nails into Kuzco's back making the llama emperor cry out, "ow!" Cait sith then told him mad, "Now ya listen here ya daft! We ain't lettin ya go back!"

Dumbfounded at this information Kuzco asked, "Not let me go back? What? Why…" but then he became silent as he realised something, "oh! Oh I get it!"

Nozomi baffled by this asked him, "get what?"

Kuzco then went straight into his accusations; "you guys don't want to take me back to the palace! You all want me stranded out here forever!"

Shocked and confused at how on earth he'd come to that conclusion Cait sith then spoke out, "what! What're ya talkin about ya daft Looney!"

Kuzco continued on with his agitated speech, "you guys! You don't wanna take me back! Since you know what I've really got planned for when we get back!"

At this Pacha then became alarmed as he asked, "what? What do you mean what you've got planned?"

Hearing this info Nozomi realised with dread what he was going to say next as she spoke urgently, "Kuzco don't say it! You'll-"

But it was too late as he then let his mouth go, "that when I got back I was going to destroy your village still! Then lock you guys all away!"

Becoming wide eyed as the words came out Nozomi looked back to Pacha who too was shocked badly, but then he spoke again as he said, "you mean you're planning to-"

Kuzco finished it for him, "yeah that's right! I'm gonna destroy your village still! For what you, no actually what both of you have done to me! And your little act is not going to work anymore!"

Cait sith was in shock himself and then he started to tell off Kuzco himself, "How dare ya say that! Ya have no right to-"

But then Pacha turned and started to quickly walk away from them, Nozomi seeing this hurriedly ran after him and tried to stop him as she grabbed his arm and spoke quickly, "Pacha please don't go! He doesn't mean what he's saying! He's-"

However Nozomi was cut off as Pacha turned and looked at her with serious and angered eyes, she looked up at him silently as he then said, "you knew? You knew the whole time what he was going to do didn't you?"

Hearing this Nozomi didn't know how to respond at first under this strong and imposing gaze but then she found her voice again as she spoke," well… we didn't know to start with! It was, we only discovered at the bridge and… I felt it wouldn't be right to tell you! Cause… I knew you wouldn't trust him again and-"

Pacha then turned again as he spoke bitterly, "so even you were lying to me."

Realising that this was getting worse and worse Nozomi tried again, "no! That's not it Pacha! Me and Cait sith were hoping that he'd change as we went along in the journey! Believe me! We both had you at our core interest at heart! We-"

Pacha started then to walk away again as he said bitterly, "please don't say anything to me anymore…" with that he then walked away into the distance clearly badly hurt within his heart as he vanished into the jungle.

Appalled sadly Nozomi felt horrible, what had she done? But then again more importantly what had Kuzco done? Turning back around she looked at the llama emperor angrily as he continued to quarrel with Cait sith.

Kuzco was busy trying to make him let go as he bucked and jumped back and forth as he cried out, " let go of me! Get your claws off!"

However Cait sith was not relenting in the slightest, "I ain't lettin' go! Ya've just done the very thing to get a-" but then suddenly he was pulled off of the llama emperor's behind.

Kuzco feeling this and turning to see Nozomi looked at her quietly, Cait sith then spoke out, "hey lass what do ya think yer-" but he was cut off as Nozomi covered his mouth.

Watching her Kuzco saw that her head was down and then she lifted it up as she looked at him with saddened and angered eyes; Kuzco was almost taken aback and almost felt bad from this fierce gaze until she said, "How could you do this!"

His retorting nature returned in moments as he asked, " do what?"

Nozomi then replied in moments, "hurt Pacha! We thought you could change! That you did! We-"

At this Kuzco then just argued back as he was fed up with this, "don't get started with that again! It's always got to be about what you guys want! You don't care about me! None of you do! So why don't just all get out of here! I'm sick of you!"

Nozomi couldn't believe what she was hearing! How could he say this when they'd all done so much for him! She then spoke again, "how can you say that! We've tried so hard for you to keep you safe and-"

But once again Kuzco replied viciously, "just get out of here both of you! I don't wanna see either of you ever again!"

This was the final straw as Nozomi saw now that he definitely would never change and so spoke angrily to him, "fine then! Go and get your heart taken for all I care! I don't give a damn about you anymore!" With that she stormed away from Kuzco as she then released Cait sith from her arms, looking at her enraged and upset mood he then turned back to Kuzco as he told him bitterly himself now, "ya've made a grave mistake lad!" With that he then ran off after Nozomi who too had disappeared into the jungle.

Running back now to the restaurant glad to be gone of his unwanted extra baggage Kuzco eagerly went to greet Yzma and Kronk along with this Pete guy, he saw them all coming out of the place as they climbed down the wooden stairs.

As he ran he then heard Yzma as she continued to wear her sombrero, she spoke to her two cohorts as he ran under the stairs, "urgh! This is entire mess is all your fault Kronk!"

Not getting it as he carried Yzma's cake he asked, "what'd I do?"

Kuzco's excitement racing over him he turned to surprise Yzma when suddenly she spoke out the truth, "if you hadn't mixed up those poisons! Kuzco would be dead now!" His happy face then turned to devastation and shock, as his mouth was wide open and agape.

Pete behind Kronk spoke on himself too as he continued to eat away at his steak, "yeah exactly ya dumb clod! If it weren't for ya we would have taken that guys heart and taken over this whole kingdom already! Then me and me accomplice could get done findin our target!"

With that both he and Yzma walked passed the bumbling big guy as Kuzco quickly ducked down and hid behind the log as Kronk spoke up again trying to apologise as best he could, " I said I was sorry, can't you guys just let it go? Not even on a birthday?"

At this Pete just sighed as he shook his head in exhaustion as he then rounded up the rabid dog heartless, they were reared to go as Kronk passed Yzma her cake, she then spoke again, "Kuzco must be eliminated! The empire will finally be mine and I'll be rid of that useless slug!"

With that all three villains then stormed away together as the heartless all carried them away into the darkened distance as their rumbling footsteps echoed into the ground.

Kuzco breathless and panicked at finally seeing the truth for himself was now deeply anxious as he turned around and started to head back to the distance where Nozomi, Cait sith and Pacha had vanished to.

He called out for them desperately, "Cait sith! Nozomi! Pacha!" However they were nowhere to be seen, running further into the distance he called out again, "guys where are you!"

But it was no use as they were nowhere to be seen, his regret and then sorrow began to take over him as he raced through the jungle he then realised he'd driven away the few people that probably had ever cared about him.

As he continued to walk into the gloomy darkness of the jungle he then arrived at a cliff face where he could see his shining golden palace in the distance, before it had always been so radiant and warm. But now it was unwelcoming and desolate as he could feel the darkness from it.

His sadness seeping into his heart he bowed his head down as he abandoned Pacha's Poncho and hat, for he realised as the rain began to fall as he walked away into the darkness of the jungle that he didn't deserve the help that they'd given him so generously and now because of his arrogance… he was alone. All alone.