Screams reverberated through the air and flooded Taro's ears as he sat at the edge of a grassy cliff. "So many people suffering in one day." Said a transparent second Taro with a smile as he sat next to the first. "You're really shaping up to be a great villain."
"Shut. Up." Replied Taro between grit teeth and with clenched fists. "Whatever happens to everyone else is not my problem." Dark Taro chuckled upon hearing those words.
"So those three are part of that everyone now?" Asked Dark Taro with a smile as he put his arm over Taro's shoulders. "Does make sense. You ARE the main character, right? And EVERYTHING revolves around you!"
Thorns tore through the earth below Taro's feet if responding to his emotions before the peach boy turned to his doppelganger reared his arm for a punch. "STOP TWISTING MY THOUGHTS!!!" Taro's fist went right through the dark Taro, prompting the peach boy to stare at his arm impaling his doppelganger in shock and confusion. "What? WHAT ARE YOU?!"
The doppelganger chuckled gleefully at Taro's shock and confusion before approached him and looked him in eyes from an inch away from his face. "Maybe a weird consequence of your powers or a dark broken piece of of your mind or your subconscious or something just as overly philosophical." He replied with a sinister smile as he put his hands in his pockets. "Or maybe, just maybe, you're going crazy. One thing's for sure, though, I AM part of you."
Taro wanted to deny his relation to his doppelganger. He wanted to scream and try to get rid of him. A growing flame roared in his heart to struggle and prevail. And just as that flame became ready to be unleashed, it abruptly fizzled out into a small spark then nothing. Taro's arms went limp as he stared at the ground with his pink hair ruffling in the wind. He sighed under his breath before grabbing a lock of his hair for a peach.
Dark Taro looked down at the peach boy with a disgusted expression. "That's it? That's all you're gonna do? Sit here and get fat on your OWN HAIR?!" He asked angrily with grit teeth. "Your friends are in danger! You're just gonna laze around while they die?! They've risked their necks for you over and over and THIS is how you repay them?!"
"I can't keep doing this." Muttered Taro before his body began quivering as a chill went down his spine. Tears welled up in his eyes as his voice cracked. "I just- I just want- *sob" I don't know! I just wanna be happy, okay?!" Dark Taro didn't reply. He instead glared at the peach boy hatefully. The peach boy's eyes widened before he turned to the direction of the city. Where his friends were fighting without him. "No no no no NO!" The peach boy quickly picked up his river sword and rushed through the valleys towards the city with desperation in his eyes. "Please! Please!" He muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, the three Z's were fighting for their lives.
xxxxxXxxxxx
A while ago, in the city of Megapolis.
The three Z, standing on top of a building, stared at the once beautiful as a giant spider mech roamed around it menacingly with what seemed like an endless number of spider robots flooding the streets alongside the city's citizens brainwashed by the spider Queen's venom. "I have a bad feeling about this." Said Zao with a low growl as his eyes narrowed at the spider mech. "We shouldn't have come here. At least not without-"
Zuzu rolled his eyes at his canine friend's statement before cutting him off. "First Taro and now you? Where's the violence hungry maniac I know?" He said with a scoff, causing the fluffy silver furred dog to crack the earth below him as he growled aggressively. The monkey didn't even bat eye at the hostility thrown at him as he focused on the titanic spider mech. "With Taro not here, we need a new team leader to be in charge around these parts. I nominate-"
"ME!" Zi jumped in excitedly. His wings spreading out pridefully. The golden pheasant chuckled as the monkey stared at him silently in utter bafflement. "The forefront of our team must wise, powerful, reliable and pretty! And the only person among us who fits all of these illustrious qualities IIIIISSSSS...is...Taro." The pheasant paused before dejectedly laying back first on the ground. His usually elegant voice cracked as he spoke in a depressed tone. "I miss him already *sniff*."
The bronze-furred blue-skinned monkey blew a raspberry in response to his friend's depressing words. "Sorry to say this, egg brain, but Taro's as reliable as a brick right now." Deadpanned Zuzu crossing his arms, ignoring a furious bark from Zao. "Because of that, I'll be the one doing the leading today."
Zao rolled his eyes as Zi started sobbing miserably in the background. Tears fell out of the pheasant's eyes like waterfalls as Zao approached Zuzu with a menacing glare as if he was ready to bite him at any second. "What makes you think I'll take orders from you?" He growled aggressively as he looked down on the monkey.
"Then let's go in without a plan, shall we? Or maybe you or Zi could come up with some great plan that wouldn't get us killed?" Asked Zuzu with scathing sarcasm flooding each and every one of his words. Zao didn't reply as he turned to Zi who was crying miserably before he turned around and started walking away. "Hey! Where are you going?"
"I'll go deal with the enemy...alone. Better than dealing with you." Replied the silver dog before leaping off the building with a furious bark, leaving his friends alone and shocked by what just happened.
Zi, hurt by his companion's desertion, began ugly cryiing. His snot started leaking out of his nose. "Great. One ran in alone and the other is in tears. Just perfect. How does Taro handle these two airheads, I'll never know." Muttered Zuzu staring at his crying companion in frustration with a deep frown. "Alright, egg brain, let's infiltrate that mech and take down the spider boss without getting caught. Operation Liquid Snake is a go!"
"I hate snakes." Ignoring Zi's depressed remark, Zuzu telekinetically carried his avian companion as he snuck through the city and into the giant spider mech. Meanwhile, Zao rushed into to destroy said mech. And Zi simply cried his heart out.
xxxxxXxxxxx
With Zao.
The manic silver dog stared at the beast of a vehicle tearing its way through the city and bared his teeth against the enormous spider mech. Without even the slightest hesitation, Zao dashed towards one of the spider's legs and bit down on the metal. The dog chose the left middle leg and not for any reason other than it was simply the closest. His teeth sunk into the metal as his powerful jaws began crushing it flat. Once it was locked in his mouth, the dog's eyes started to glow pink as he started pulling on the leg and the mech abruptly halted.
At that precise moment, the Spider Queen and her servants inside were flung to the walls. Even her prisoners felt it. "What was THAT?!" She yelled angrily. One of her servants, a particularly smart one named Syntax opened up a green computer screen to peer into the area around the mech and when he saw it he went silent. "TALK! Who is it?! Is it monkey boy?!"
"No, my queen. It appears to be...a dog." Replied Syntax, utterly baffled by what he was seeing. The dog was singlehandedly holding the mech in place. Spider Queen, confused by her servant's statement, took a closer look at the screen to see a silver furred dog biting the one of the mech's legs.
"I can't have some MUTT ruining things." The spider queen growled before she ordered her mech to move with her powers. She tried to raised the leg held down by the mech only to be surprised when the leg didn't budge. The spider queen pulled harder before she heard a sudden snap and the mech shook violently. "That little-!"
Suddenly, a little human looking girl approached the spider queen. "My Queen." She said in a calm, almost too calm, tone. "Perhaps it would be wise to-" the girl was cut off by the Spider Queen rushing outside to meet the dog attacking her mech.
Outside; the moment the dog's eyes fell on the spider Queen's figure, Zao dashed towards her with a bark ready to take her down. But he was met with a web shot by the spider queen. The web pinned him down to the ground in a heartbeat. Zao immediately tried to break out of the webs only to be shocked, literally and figuratively when the webs started sapping power from his body rendering him harmless. Zao stared at the Spider Queen with a glare as he heard her say something along the lines of "dumb mutt" before he soon found himself in a room with many demons and two familiar figures. The monkey king and the demon bull king.
"What?! She got YOU?!" Asked DBK in shock only to receive a couple angry unintelligible barks from the dog. Wukong's eyes widened as he stared at his ex sworn brother's student's trapped with him. "What happened to that boy?" The moment DBK mentioned Taro, the dog maniacally tried to break through the webs chaining him to attack the monkey king.
"Oh, so you know this guy's owner." Remarked the Spider Queen as she entered the room, gaining the attention of the three.
"Impossible!" Exclaimed Wukong through grit teeth angrily. "Even with your stolen power you couldn't have beaten those four!" Before he could get an answer, his eyes widened. "Unless-"
Wukong's silent horror was cut short by a question from the spider queen. "Four? What do you mean four?" She asked before she felt an attack coming her way at the last possible moment. The spider queen dodged a pink beam of energy by hair thread before turning to her mysterious assailant. What she saw was a bronze furred monkey with blue skin and a golden pheasant. "Hey! This ain't a zoo! Get over here!" The spider queen fired a web at the spider and pheasant. The pheasant lifelessly stayed in place, getting hit by the web with a sad sniff as the monkey dodged with ease. "I've had it with you monkeys."
The Spider Queen fired her webs at the monkey over and over again only for them to be dodged or thrown back at her. It wasn't long before Spider Queen had enough and leaped towards the monkey with the intent of ending said monkey. With no allies standing and surrounded, Zuzu was caught easily under the feet of the spider queen. Spider Queen raised one of her pointy legs, ready to impale Zuzu with a grin.
But then, like a lightning strike from the sky, a pink blur crashed between Zuzu and Spider Queen, separating the two. Before the dust could settle, four arcs of pink energy from where the pink blur landed and flew through the air towards Zi and Zao, attacking their web prisons and freeing them. Everyone stared at the figure cloaked in dust that appeared to challenge the queen. When the dust disappeared, all there was left was a single pink haired boy wielding a magical sword. The boy's eyes were closed and roots and pink peach blossoms decorated his body with one particularly big flower covering his eye. The three Z's were on the verge of tears as they saw the boy.
In front of everyone's eyes, the roots and flowers disappeared into the wind as it brushed past the boy. And when not a single root or flower was left, the boy opened his eyes to reveal eyes glowing pink that slowly turned back to their normal color. Zi, Zao and Zuzu all rushed to their companion with teary eyes, tackling him in the process. "Oof! Hey."
"I missed you." Said Zao brushing his head against his friend.
"I'm never letting go of you again!" Added Zi, soaking the floor with tears as he wiped his nose in Taro's jacket.
"I'm sorry for leaving and leading us all to death!" Added Zuzu hugging Taro tightly before looking away with a sad expression and speaking. "Are you...back-back?"
"Well, not exactly." Replied Taro with a defeated sigh before flashing a soft smile as he ruffled Zuzu's head fur. "But I'm sure I can spare some energy to kick some fuzzy spider butt."
"Oh, ain't this sweet." Said Spider Queen with a grin as he approached the group, prompting them all to take fighting stances. "I'll have fun ripping apart your little reunion." The spider queen paused as she analyzed Taro and his friends. They reminded her of three certain demons. "Azure Lion, Golden Peng and Yellow Tusk. You're related to those fools, aren't you?" She asked with a smile. "Especially that bird. Never thought that dumb eagle would ever be a mentor."
The four almost rolled their eyes in unison as if silently saying 'we know' before they gave the Spider Queen one last glance and Taro twirled his sword...then the battle began.
xxxxxXxxxxx
Meanwhile, with MK and his friends as they approached The Spider mech on Sandy's flying ship.
The group saw the spider queen and her henchmen all in craters with some of them flat out unconscious and decided to strike. "If it isn't Spider Queen digging herself more holes, prepare to meet your doom!" MK exclaimed before laughing maniacally.
"Now that's a hero speech!" Remarked Red Son with a grin.
"Wow, MK, you're handling your spiderphobia really well." Added Mei cheerfully before she noticed that MK was actually sweating buckets.
"I'm internalizing a lot of stuff right now." Replied MK quaking in his fear of spiders. "RELEASE THE ANTIDOTE!" He yelled before water cannons appeared on the flying ship firing the antidote to the spider Queen's venom across the city, freeing the mind controlled citizens.
"NO!" Exclaimed the Spider Queen in horror before she glanced towards her mech then back to the heroes as they landed down from their ship in front of her. MK dashed towards the queen with his staff ready to take her down, but Spider Queen simply used the powers from her mech and stopped him mid air before sending him flying into a building alongside his staff. MK's friends, including Red Son, were next to fall to the queen. "I don't have time to spare on you, Monkey Boy! I have to get away from those monsters."
Everyone who heard this was confused. What did she mean "monsters"? As if on cue, the answer landed between MK and Spider Queen not a moment later. Zi, Zao, Zuzu and Taro. "Give up, Spider Queen. You're finished."
"What are you?! I have the monkey king as a battery and countless more, you should be flies in a web by now!" Yelled Spider Queen angrily, gritting her teeth as she tried to find a way out of this fight.
"Well, that's what people in the gaming industry call "a skill issue"."Replied Taro with a smile before turning to Zuzu next to him. "There, I said it. Happy?" Zuzu nodded vigorously before Spider Queen dashed towards them raising one of her legs to attack only to be blocked by one of Zi's wings.
"After all I've won and lost and won again, you think I'm really gonna let some random boy take it from me?!" Spider Queen screamed with anger and desperation, but it was worth nothing in front of Zi's immovable defense.
"No." Replied Taro in a serious tone as his eyes and his companions' glowed pink in unison. "But a random boy, a prideful pheasant, a mischievous monkey and a maniac of a dog all together? Definitely." Without hesitation, the peach boy twirled his sword before dashing towards the Spider Queen from under Zi and slicing one of her robotic spider legs off. Not wasting a moment, Zao charged into Spider Queen like a hammer sending her crashing into her mech before Zuzu fired a beam of energy her way.
Once the dust had settled, Spider Queen's Injured and limping figure was revealed. She was glaring at Taro and his companions with grit teeth. She tried to conjure more of her power to use, but for some reason she couldn't. Suddenly, everyone heard a loud roar coming from near the spider mech. "I AM NO ONE'S SLAVE!" It was DBK before landing like a comet next to his son, accidentally freeing almost everyone with the shock from his landing before ripping the webs trapping his son with his hands.
"I expected you to escape sooner. How did you handle being near that guy for so long?" The peach boy said as his sword began glowing pink brightly. DBK only huffed in response before Spider Queen spoke.
"NO NO NO! THIS CAN'T BE HAPPENIN'! I'M THE QUEEN!" Exclaimed Spider Queen in a panic before another familiar figure entered the fray.
"Oh yeah? Well, I'm the king." It was Wukong walking on the side of the building that MK crashed into. He picked up the staff and helped his student get back up on his feet.
Suddenly, ominous pitch black aura shot out of Taro's sword. Everyone but MK and Wukong was confused while the two internally panicked. They stared at the peach boy worriedly before seeing him sigh. Soon, the dark aura disappeared and was replaced by a bright pink glow. MK and Wukong sighed in relief before they turned to the Spider Queen once again.
Spider Queen glared at her enemies with grit teeth before she used a web to leap to the top of her mech. Soon enough, the mech started to move. "If I can't rule this world, no one can!" She declared angrily. "I'll level this whole city!"
MK and Wukong immediately stepped forwards to stop Spider Queen, but Taro put his arm in front of them and shook his head. "Don't. You'll wreck the city again." He said calmly, locking eyes with MK. "Let us handle this...please." MK paused, staring at Taro's expression that was darkened by guilt before nodding with a smile. The peach boy let out a small smile in return before he turned to his companions. "Zi, Zao, Zuzu, keep the mech in place. Make sure I can get a clean shot." The three Z's nodded before they got to work.
Zi quickly flew towards the mech, particularly the leg that it was raising in the air and spread his wings in front of him. The giant spider leg came to a halt the moment it made contact with the pheasant's wings. Not a second later, Zao charged in like a bullet headbutting the giant mech's stomach and taking all its feet off the ground barring two hind legs. Following the sequence, many mystic circles riddled around the mech began glowing pink brightly. One by one, the circles shot chains at the unbalanced mech until it was tightly held in place. Now, there was only one thing left to do.
Taro twirled his sword before raising it above his head. The sword began glowing brighter and brighter before the light and energy manifested into a giant glowing pink tree. Everyone stared at the beautiful tree in awe. Shortly after, the tree shrunk back into the sword before the peach boy unleashed his most powerful slash yet. The pink arc of energy sliced the mech in half in less than a second before abruptly disappearing. Everyone got ready for the mech to explode and cause immense damage like usual, but that never came. Instead, the mech began to disintegrate into magical peach blossoms that covered the sky like a fluffy blanket.
Everyone watched the beautiful scene in awe before they noticed something. Whenever a blossom touched something, it healed it before disappearing. Be it buildings, roads or people, all were healed. Although, it wasn't on the scale where it could cover the whole city. It was more than enough help.
xxxxxXxxxxx
Later on the rooftops.
Taro sat at the edge of the roof, looking up into the sky. "Looks like they're having fun." Remarked Zao calmly as he put his head in Taro's lap.
"I don't care about the fun of ugly peasants! I'm never letting go!" Countered Zi in a firm tone as he hugged Taro's arm tightly, causing Taro to smile before turning to Zuzu who was staring at the ground guiltily.
"I'm sorry." Zuzu apologized dejectedly as tears welled up in his eyes. "*Sniff* I hurt you and I nearly got us all killed. I-"
Taro ruffed the hair on the monkey's head softly. "Hey, it's okay. Just... don't do it again." He said with with a sad frown. "I don't know what I would do without you guys." Zuzu jumped onto Taro's shoulder and hugged his head with tears running down his face like twin rivers.
"Of course *sniff*...how could anyone truly live without witnessing my dashing looks every once in a while?" Replied Zi as he started crying rivers as well.
"Sh-shut up before throw you off this building you annoying turkey." Replied Zao as he tried to hide his teary whimpers to no avail.
"So, what's next? I'm guessing we're not going after Wukong again." Asked Zuzu curiously as he wiped his own tears.
"I guess a spiritual journey to find inner peace or something?" Replied Taro with as his dark doppelganger stood next to him unseen by anyone else.
"Hah! You really think you'll achieve something like inner peace? After nearly killing your friends? Gosh, you're dense. Maybe you should forget mom and dad while you're at it. You won't find peace while still holding onto their memories." Said dark Taro digging metaphorical daggers into the peach boy's heart, causing him to grit his teeth and crack the building below him.
"Yeah, inner peace. Let's go." He said trying to hide his feelings from his friends. Zuzu quickly drew the mystical circle before MK cut in and approached them.
"Taro! Wait! Please, don't leave!" Exclaimed MK with a pleading look.
"Kid, I can explain everything. You don't have to go." Added Wukong in a firm tone.
Taro frowned as he heard his dark doppelganger mock and insult him again. He sighed and turned to Wukong. "Everyone knowing what happened won't change anything important. I won't chase you anymore; just don't show me your face ever again." The peach boy replied in a serious tone as he gripped his sword tightly, letting its dark aura be a warning to the Monkey King before turning to MK as the dark aura died down. "And...MK, I'm sorry for what I said back then when I... y'know. I don't have any excuse for what I did."
MK wanted to say something. To make his big bro stay somehow. But before he could, the mystical circle activated and Taro and his companions were gone. But amidst this situation, MK found a light in the darkness.
His big bro really was lying back then. Taro didn't hate him.
xxxxxXxxxxx
I hope you liked the Peach squad fluff.
Toodles.