Chapter 9: Sirens and Winds
Following Punio through the forest to make our way to Flurries home. Hopefully this lady will help. Already from her name, she sounds like some kind of actress. Which means she may have a high-class mindset. I can only hope she's not a snobbish woman. Had to deal with two in my life. I don't need a third.
"How much further Punio?" Goombella asked.
"Just a bit farther." The little puni replied. "You guys will like Flurrie. She's a very sweet woman. She visited the great tree a lot when she was building her home here ten years ago."
"Well this place does seem like a good place to make a home." Koops spoke.
"There!" He called as we saw a fancy looking house ahead. "Thats her home."
"Hmm pretty big, like a small mansion." I commented.
"Come on." He spoke as we ran ahead. We came to the door. "Madame Flurrie, you home?" There was no answer. "Did she go for a walk in the woods?"
Maria came to the door and turned the knob. It clicked open. I blinked. "What is with people not locking their doors?"
"Well she lives pretty far out so barely any people try to steal from you." Goombella shrugged.
"...good point." I nodded as we walked inside. The place was a deep salmon color with all the things you'd find in a classy mansion. No one was around. We walked up to another door as I knocked. "Hello?"
"Eeeeek!" We heard a woman's voice on the other side screech making us jump. "No! Out of the question! You mustn't come in here!"
Punio came up to the door. "Madame Flurrie? Are you in there?"
"Wait..that voice…those adorable squishy little footsteps. Is that you Punio?" Flurrie asked behind the door. "Oh it's been an AGE since I saw you last! You poor dear! Is there something you need?"
"Well, we have a problem that only you can help us with." He spoke. "The entry to the great tree is blocked by a metal door that we can't open. My tribe is inside. Me and my friends, Ace and Maria and the others are in a pickle. They're looking for the Crystal Stars. Its a trainwreck. We can't find the secret entrance."
"Oh..is that all dearie? You came all the way here just for that?" She giggled. "Oh my adorable little Punio you know I'd do anything in my power to help you." Huh….she doesn't sound like a prissy bitch actually sounds like a nice refined woman. "However…latementably, i'm just in a bit of a bind myself. I just cannot come out."
"What's the problem ma'am?" I asked.
"It's somewhat embarrassing…but I never go out without my favorite necklace." Flurrie answered. "I just can't find the blessed thing. I suspect I dropped it on my daily constitutional. I'd be simply SCANDALIZED if anyone saw me without it. So, I shan't be going out."
"Oh I feel you sister." Goombella spoke up. "Whenever I go out, I'm all about style and accessories."
Koops perked up. "Wait a minute, I think we might know who has the necklace you lost!"
"What's that? DO speak up!" Flurrie called out. "You! Whoever just spoke! Do you have some clue to where as to my necklace's whereabouts?"
"I believe we might know ma'am." I replied. "Though it's in a little pickle, but I think we can get it back for you."
"Oh please do, dear." Flurrie spoke hopefully. "If you do, I will be more than happy to help you out."
"Not to worry Madame Flurrie. I'm sure Ace and Maria can get it back." Punio replied.
"We'll bring it back to you in one piece miss." Maria assured.
"You can count on us." I added.
"I'm sorry to trouble you so. But rest assured you will be rewarded well." The woman assured us. We then headed out of her home with our new quest gained.
Meanwhile with the three ghosts….
"Beldam! I told you!" Vivian stated half hurt and half angry. "Blaming me for losing the sketches…and YOU had them the whole time!"
"Silence you twit!" Beldam shot back. "Now's not the time to get hung up on stupid details! We must study the sketches!" she took out the sketches of both Maria and Ace. While Maria was their main purpose to study, the trio's attention turned to Ace's picture. "Wow, this ace guy is so manly." She grinned. "And check out that stern and calm look…how handsome!" She then hummed. "You know my lovelies, I swear I've seen this gentleman before." She gasped. "AAAACK! He's the boy that passed by with the others…and that lady with him was Maria!"
"Guh GUUUUUH!' Marliyn groaned in surprise.
"Ack! I don't believe this! Vivian, this is without a doubt all your fault!" Beldam yelled at the younger ghost. "I;ll be dealing out some strict punishment later, my dearie! Oh yes! I promise you that!"
"What?! That's not fair you're the only who had the-" Vivian started.
"Silence you squirrel-brain! Don't you cop that insolent attitude with me!" The older ghost interrupted her.
"T-This is so not fair…" The younger ghost girl spoke heartbroken.
"And about that necklace…I was planning to return it to you, but NO MORE!" Beldam grinned at the enjoyment of her sisters misery. "AND, since you caused this problem, you have to figure out how to find Maria and Ace!"
"Awww." Vivian groaned out.
We backtracked to find the three ghosts who possibly had Flurries necklace. "I have to admit, I was expecting Flurrie to be a snob when I heard about her…but I was surprised shes actually nice."
"I told you." Punio spoke.
"Why would you think she would be?" Goombella asked.
I tensed a bit before looking away. "No reason…"
"Okay if you're not gonna tell us, we won't pry." Maria spoke. Well, at least they're not trying to pry in my life.
We soon arrived back in the area before seeing the three ghost women. Beldam noticed us and grinned. "Well, if it isnt Maria and Ace. Handsome or not, you can't be too bright if you came here looking for us." she laughed. "And you know why? Cause we were waiting for you!"
"Taking a wild guess that you're planning on stealing the crystal star and map we have?" I questioned.
"Well well, you certainly are a bright one." She grinned. "I suppose since we will take you out, we will introduce ourselves to you. We are…"
"...The three…" Marylin continued.
"Shadow beauties." Vivian finished with a giggle.
"The three shadow beauties?" Goombella blinked.
"Vivian you nimrod!" Beldam snapped. "What are you babbling about?! Is Shadow SIRENS! I don't see three beauties! I see two, but then there's you, and your PLUG-UGLY!"
"Ah right, sis I'm sorry, its just that you alway called us "Lovelies" and-" Vivian tried to defend herself.
"Its a figure of speech you dumb brod!" The blue hatted ghost girl snapped.
"HEY!" She turned back to me when I shouted. "Will you stop yelling at her for a simple mistake?!"
"And why should I? Vivian is at the bottom of the Sirens who makes mistakes." She mused.
"Everyone does dammit!" I growled. "But treating your own sister like that is disgusting!"
"Hmph, no matter." She spoke. "Let's do this my lovely and ugly! Marilyn! Vivian! The might of the Shadow Sirens will be more than Enough to win this fight!"
"Oh ok." Vivian spoke in a small voice.
"Guuuuh." Maryilne groaned as they came at us.
"No mercy guys." I ordered. We all got into fighting stances as Punio went a safe distance away. Maryliyn came first to strike us, but Maria jumped in front and swung her hammer as they both collided. The impact caused two of them to skid back a few feet. Beldam came up next and stuck Maria in the chest.
"Gah!" She grunted and skid back. "Ow that hurt…" She pulled her hand back and noticed icicles where the ghost girl hit her. "What the? Ice?"
Beldam laughed. "Yes, I possess Ice magic, foolish little girl, and thats not all I can do. I can also make others bigger or smaller to be tonger, or weaker." So Marilyn is the muscle and Beldam is a caster. "Vivian you twit, get in there and attack!"
"Yes sis!" The younger ghost quickly spoke and rushed up to us. I moved up as she struck me, but it was a weak punch, and I felt heat behind it. Vivian has fire magic…so by that logic and their hats leads Marilyn to be using lightning magic.
I pushed her back to the side, but not too hard to hurt her. I moved in to the other pair. Beldam swung her arms as she released an icy wind at me. I moved to the side, but that was when Marilyn swung her arms up. Lighting crashed down in front of me, causing me to blow back. I tumbled a good amount from the attack.
"Very good Marilyn. Now be sure to finish him off with your lethal blow!" Beldam smirked.
"Guuuh!" The ghost replied as she started glowing while changing up power.
"Oh crap baskets." I gulped. She blasted me with a large lightning attack that blasted me back, striking a tree. "Gah!"
"Ace!" I heard my friends shout as I fell on the ground with a heavy thrud.
I grunted as I looked up. The others are fighting the Sirens. "Dammit..how are we supposed to beat them?" I got up on my knees. "There has to be something…" A gold light flashed nearby from a white bush. "Huh?" I blinked before pulling it back. In the bush revealed what looked like some kind of gold sun star with pupil eyes. "What's this?" The sun star shined before a flash in my eyes showed me tossing it to Koops as he glowed brightly. I blinked. "...not sure what but I hope i'm not crazy." I grabbed it and turned back to the others.
Beldam laughed. "Now you know the might of the shadow Sirens! Meet your doom!" She, Mayilne and Vivian blasted ice, lightning and fire at them.
"Oh this is gonna hurt!" Goombella yelled.
"Koops think fast!" I shouted and threw the sun star at him. He saw it coming before snatching it. Like I saw in the vision, he glowed brightly before it enveloped us. When the light faded, we were in one piece.
"We're okay." Goombella blinked. "But how?"
"Look." Maria pointed. Looking up we saw the frame of a Koopa shell around us like a shield as the lines glowed green.
"Whoa…" Koopa breathed in shock while looking at his gold glowing hands. "Did…Did I do that?"
"Talk later!" I called as we turned back to the Sirens.
"Bah! Whatever trick you got we'll match!" Beldam snapped.
"Not today!" Maria took her hammer out before swinging it down. "HYA!" She hit the ground as it released a vibration, knocking the three back.
"Now or never!" I yelled before Koops spun inside his shell. He glowed gold a moment before blasting forward, striking them back into a tree. "Take that!"
Beldam groaned as something dropped from her pocket. "Ouch…maybe we were a bit too confident…" She turned to her sisters getting up. "Marilyn! Vivian! You lumps! We would have won if you two pulled your weight!" Seriously? This bitch is blaming them again!? "Prepare for a world-class punishment when we get home!" She turned and ran.
"Guuuuh." Marilyn groaned as she quickly followed her.
"Y-Yes sis…." Vivian gulped as she followed. She turned back to us for a moment, her gaze locking to me. My gaze softened at her as I didn't view her as an enemy. She soon ran off to join the others.
"Poor girl…" I whispered.
Maria patted my shoulder. "We'll help her at a later date."
"Speaking of help." Goombella spoke as she turned to Koops. "That was crazy Koops, making a big shell of energy to protect us and hitting those three like a bull."
"Im…stunned too." He replied. "Ace tossed me something and it gave me this power."
"I found it in one of those bushes, it looked like a fusion of a sun and star with eyes." I spoke up.
Maria blinked. "Ace, that must have been a Shine Sprite you found."
"Shine sprite?" I blinked.
"They're special stars of pure light energy that resign from an island known as Isle Delfino." She explained. "They possess incredible power and respond to the light on the hearts of those they choose."
"Wow." I breathed. "Well it showed me throwing it to Koops beforehand, so it must have known what we needed."
"The Shine Sprite gave Koops a new power." Maria smiled. "And it formed a Shield around us to protect us."
"Oh that is gonna be so handy for AOE attacks." Goombella grinned.
"Hey guys!" We heard Punio shout as he came up with a golden necklace. "I think we found Madame Flurrie's necklace."
I picked it up and smiled. "Looks like the Sirens did something good for us."
"Miss Flurrie is gonna be really happy when we bring it back to her." Koops beamed.
"Lets not keep her waiting." I spoke as we headed back.
We arrived shortly after to Flurries home. We approached the door and I knocked. "Madame Flurrie. We found your necklace."
"Oh you did? Fabulous!" We heard her beam on the other end. "But..you still mustn't see me. Please leave it by the door and wait a moment." Nodding, I set the necklace down before we backed up away from the door. It opened it before the necklace was grabbed and pulled in with the door shutting. After a bit the chandler above us retracted into the ceiling before a disco ball came down and lit up.
"What the hell?" I blinked. Classic music played before the door opened. Coming out was a purplish spirit woman floating. She was plump thick and busty with darker purple hair, blue eyeshadow and thick eyelashes with plump thick red luscious lips. She had green bead earrings and the gold necklace we retrieved around her neck. "Holy…"
Flurrie turned to us and beamed. "So you all are my little necklace treasure hunters." Her eyes fell to me as she grinned. "And you must be Ace. My my my, Aren't you a fine specimen of a man. Yes indeed."
"Huh?" I flushed in surprise at this.
"I simply just the you for your graciousness. But how to do it?" She hummed. "Hmmmm…perhaps it I…" She grinned slyly. "Grab you and give you a little sugar?~"
"Say what?" I blanched. "Um I-im good ma'am your thanks is good enough."
"Here I come handsome! Time to give you a proper thank you. Pucker up!~" Flurrie grinned and like the wind, she flew right in front of me.
"Wa-Mmph!" I was cut off when she kissed me fully on the lips. I was flustered as hell, getting another kiss from another woman. This is the four time I've been here, twice by Goombella on the cheek, Ms Mowz on the lips and now her! She pulled back with a smack. I was in a daze as I collapsed with my eyes swirling. "Momma Mia…."
"Oh Ace you are just the CUTEST little thing I've ever laid eyes on!" Flurrie gushed.
I got back up with a blush. "N-No im not."
"Yes you are and that's that." She replied with her hands on her hips. "So tell me, are you truly looking for the Crystal Stars? The very things the lowlifes in Rogueport talk about?"
"Y-Yes that's correct." I nodded before I pulled out the Diamond star. "We already have one. We're collecting seven in total."
"Oh how absolutely marvelous." Flurrie beamed. "And here I was thinking how frightfully bored I was! It's time for a change!"
"What kind of a change, miss?" Maria asked in surprise.
"While this forest is peaceful, I do miss the busyness and excitement of the city." She replied. "It's time I come out of retirement and embrace my ways once more." She pushed a finger under my chin. "And besides, I do declare Darling…your exotic handsome face has completely swooned me. A man as manly as you must attract all sorts of trouble, and I will keep you safe under my winds." She grinned. "So, I daresay I'll be joining you on this little adventure. I assume thats fine, Ace?~"
"Uuuh." I flushed brightly at this. Well…I guess this should be okay. I mean we will need her help to get into the great tree, plus her power might come in handy for later points. "S…sure madame Flurrie."
"Marvelous Darling.~" She cooed before planting another exotic but quick kiss on my lips. Again why do I seem to be getting kissed by girls left right and center?
"Man, who knew Ace was a lady's man." Koops spoke up. "I'm honestly a bit jealous."
"Remember Koops you got a girlfriend back home." Maria mused.
"Just saying." He chuckled.
"This is perfect, with Madame Flurrie with us, we're back on track!" Punio beamed. "Now we can get into the Great Tree without issue!"
I cleared my throat. "Yes, uh, lets head back to the tree."
"Lead the way." Flurrie mused.