Chapter Text
Chapter 9
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Grand Opening
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PYREFLY MARSH, SPROUT MOLE VILLAGE
{THE INQUISITOR}
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In a small hut underground, three SPROUT MOLES sat at a table, they were eating a dinner of fresh TOFU together in silence. One of them had set aside a dented and scratched green metal helmet on the ground next to him while he spent quality time with his family.
The ERIC was about to take another bite off of his TOFU block when loud knocking at the door startled everyone. The soldier hopped off of his seat and went over to crack open the door slightly... And in an instant, slammed it shut, his face fraught with urgent panic, he silently gestures to his confused wife and child to leave the room and hide. Once they had gone, the SPROUT MOLE soldier turns back around to the door, his breathing was quick and sweat beaded down his brow in droves as he reached to open it…
He had little time before the door was broken down on its own by a blast of magic ice, four SPROUT MOLES in black hoods barged in and quickly subdued the ERIC while a fifth cloaked in dark emerald robes quietly stepped into the abode. The black robed MOLES hefted their hostage up to eye level with their leader. Fearful eyes meeting sharp and watchful ones.
”Grandmaster BETHEL, permission to search the suspect’s home?” One of the black robed asks.
“No. Not yet.” BETHEL responds, then approached the interrogatee. "Hello there, having a pleasant night are we, traitor?" the green robed figure accused in a cold and pointed tone.
The ERIC was dumbfounded and shocked. "What? What do y-you want from me? I don’t understand why you’re doing this, I’m not-"
The figure suddenly ignited a flame next to him which illuminated his face under his hood. "I will be asking the questions here. Where were you when we lost the EMERALD KEEP?" He questioned in an aggressively firm tone.
”I don’t…what?”
”Answer the question, soldier. Again; where were you when we lost the the keep to the loyalist scum?”
The ERIC whimpered and frantically attempted squirm away from the flames under his captors grasp, but they held him firm as BETHEL brought the fireball closer and closer, enough to singe the leaves of the ERIC’S sprout.
”The sooner you give us what we want, the less likely you’ll be left with a scorched stump for a sprout. Talk…or else.”
"I was o-out on a walk that day. I swear that’s all I was doing!" The ERIC finally confessed.
"Where to?" BETHEL pressed.
"I wanted some fresh air away from the Keep a-a-and all the commotion. I went outside to the swamplands for a hike to clear my mind."
The fireball grows larger. "Knowing that was where that dissenter MAXIMUS and his rebels were hiding at the time? Did you say anything before you left?!"
"I-I swear on our Lord, I’m telling the truth! I just wanted to go out, I didn’t know ANYTHING about the rebel hideout…” the soldier looked off to the side. ”I mean...I might have wanted to see some family too..."
The ball of flame vaporized into thin air, the room becoming cold and still. The INQUISITOR stared in hard, contemplating silence, then turned his gaze to the other room. "Family?"
The ERIC slowly nods, trying not to draw attention to them. "They were just from my old village before I joined. I was close by and I wanted to drop by and say hello."
The green hooded MOLE continues to eye the entrance to the other room. He slowly steps around his interrogatee, his footfalls accompanied by chainmail and leather. After some time had passed, his next words are considered. "I see, as in right now I assume? Tell me then, are they...protected?"
The soldier turns to face him with a bewildered face. "Protected? No. I told you, t-they were just my family, they aren't officially part of the EMERALD REGIME yet and..." his words trailed off when the realization of his mistake dawned on him. “Oh…”
"Oh." The INQUISITOR repeats and leans in closer to the now sweating ERIC, whispering in an accusing voice. "Is that the sound of...disloyalty, I hear, soldier?"
"N-no of course not, I just…I just thought of seeing others-"
One of the hooded MOLES pulled out a large tome from seemingly nowhere and pushes it to BETHEL who flipped to a section inside. "In accordance to page 56, guideline 3-73 of the doctrinaire; all soldiers of the LEGION-conscripted, or enlisted otherwise-are forbidden from interacting with others outside of regime rule, regardless of relation.”
He shows the ERIC a paragraph and taps it sharply. “Unless they are registered as ‘protected’ citizens under our LORD REZZYL'S ever-enduring grace, they are considered as outsiders. This, any and all associated in violation of this rule are subject to being branded as traitors and/or deserters and thus, are sentenced to severe punishment, and/or banishment."
He closed the heavy book with a loud clap that resounded through the room, BETHEL looks displeased. “You knew these rules…and yet you broke them anyways."
The ERIC let out a defeated sigh. "I mean, w-who could have known about the castle falling around the same time? I came back afterwards and everyone was leaving, it’s not like I could have made a difference anyways if I’d been there."
BETHEL tsked to himself. "I understand, no need to play coy any longer.” The ERIC stares at him with confused eyes.
”It's true that rapport for LORD REZZYL and his cause has fallen in recent times. Trying times, I know. Our repeated losses are becoming quite costly and it’s become difficult to just simply believe anymore." He plucks a fern from a pot and methodically prunes each of the plant's fronds.
“Fortunately for you, your confession confirms you are not who we are looking for, the traitor would have had to have to been on castle grounds, which you were not. You are clear of allegations...”
'THE INQUISITOR' picks out a a single frond and holds it out into the light from a lamp.
“…Your infraction of the doctrinaire however, cannot be ignored, therefore, by the power indicted upon me by our Lord; you are unfit to serve and are banished from serving in the EMERALD LEGION. Consider your early retirement a warning.”
He drops the last of the leaves on the dinner table and turns to leave, the black hoods drop the ERIC to the ground, BETHEL stands in the doorway and turns back. "But carry on then. Forget that We ever visited you and your lovely family. If you do happen to come across whom we are looking for in the future, please report them to the Inquisition..."
He makes a cordial salute to the intimidated ex-soldier as he departs. ”All hail LORD REZZYL, the regime thanks you for your service and your cooperation tonight is noted, good day, citizen. And know…”
His voice drops to a low point.
"...We are ALWAYS watching, always..."
Upon leaving the home. BETHEL takes a deep breath in and fiddles with the gold and emerald engraved brooch on his side. One of the other inquisitors approached.
“Grandmaster, the traitor does not seem to be present, should we move on?” They asked.
THE INQUISITOR steadied himself. "Our mission still stands, we are still looking for the mole named MIKE, the double-agent amongst us suspected to have betrayed the regime and cost us our position of power.“
He scowled. "Mark my word; He cannot hide from us forever. I will not rest nor cease my search. I will search every home, every corner, every inch of this land until I have that treacherous rat caught and personally dragged from HEADSPACE all the way to LORD REZZYL himself. No one escapes the judgement of the Inquisition. No one.”
The inquisitors stand in the quiet of the night before going to the next house over and knocking. A figure peeks out and slams the door shut, BETHEL let’s out a frustrated sigh and used his magic to break the door down, terrifying another SPROUT MOLE family inside. A process that would repeat for the rest of the night.
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PLAYGROUND
{The Midas Bathhouse}
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Today, was not an ordinary day on HEADSPACE…
For one, it came to an abrupt start for everybody when a loud roaring sound boomed across the island. SPACEBOY and his crew were preparing the ship for lift off to engage a potential threat. SWEETHEART ordered her guard to defend the castle, the PINWHEEL FOREST was suddenly struck by a freak lightning storm and all of VAST FOREST below it was shaken by it.
The PLAYGROUND was abuzz with activity as everyone all around HEADSPACE island came rushing outside their homes to see what had woken them at five in the morning and witnessed the massive purple and white cruise ship parked next to the east end bridge. Large, golden letters on the side of the hull saying, S.S WONDERWORLD.
The dream friends were already halfway to the leviathan ship by the time people were already disembarking and being guided by human staff in purple uniforms to designated areas.
Unsure wether to show themselves, they decided to follow the tourists, until they had been led back to the PLAYGROUND where MR. JAWSUM was waiting for them with open arms. GATOR GUYS were busily handing out pamphlets and helping the visitors with their luggage while the other PLAYGROUND kids hide from these strange people.
JAWSUM promptly pulled the friends aside and extended his hands in front himself. ”Our time’s finally come...” He began.
Everyone looked utterly bewildered. “Our what?”
JAWSUM chuckles. “Welcome to our new entrepreneurship. Our business.” He emphasized in a matter-of-fact tone.
HERO quickly apologized to a family that bumped into him from behind. “Where did all these people come from and they are doing here?”
The loan shark smirked knowingly. “You remember that blueprint I had you get for me? I put it to use right away to build a new and improved LAST RESORT 2 here on land as an expansion and replacement for my business...” He turns and gives the crowd a friendly wave, then returns his attention back to them. “…And lemme tell you, it is BOOMING.”
HERO was left shocked and impressed. “You planned all this?”
JAWSUM snaps finger guns at him and got up. “Atta boy HERO! Right on the ticket as usual! I made big plans…and now, here’s the payoff.”
The friends followed MR. JAWSUM as he escorted them to his new project, all around them, people were passing through the area into the northern parts as well. They funneled through around the rainbow stump to the docks where a impressive sight awaited them.
A huge building the size of a small mansion floated atop the surface of the water, the original dock had been repurposed into a gantry into the building as GATOR GUY manned toll booths steadily filtered guests inside.
“People will come from all over to see this place, I’ll meet with Wonderworld and have him sign a CONTRACT with me to let his people stay at my hotel.”
ROWAN and BASIL exchanged looks with one another. “And what does he get from it?” The smaller flower boy asks.
The loan shark pushed his glasses up his nose. ”He gets to own all of HEADSPACE and do with it as he pleases.”
The group was taken aback by this. Just then, MARI arrived just in time to hear that last part. She stormed over to him, looking very distressed. “JAWSUM, you did what? What is this?!!!” She demands.
”We own an ‘on-tray-pre-Nu-er ship’ now?” KEL answered.
MARI was in disbelief. ”What?!?!”
”And Wonderworld owns our home now...”
”What?!?!”
”I’m giving him temporary ownership." JAWSUM corrected. "Relax MARI, We're not selling ourselves out...we’re a-okay.”
“This is not ‘a-okay’.” she says incredulously and pointed around her. “Look how many people there are, this is ridiculous, this our home, not a theme park!”
“WONDERWORLD is gonna sign a CONTRACT...” The loan shark quickly adds. "...And at least until his little tour is over, he'll give it back after the CONTRACT'S time is up, he has to.”
He smiles devilish. “So in the meantime, just let ol’ JAWSUM and his boys take care of the business, and you can all relax and enjoy the show. Quid pro quo, am I right?”
Everyone relaxed slightly but still were unsure how to take the news, as the loan shark left to give Wonderworld the deal, MARI thought of what JAWSUM loaning their home to the big celebrity would mean in the future. There were, underneath all the benefits, some evident risks for these visitors to consider that would need to be done.
First, privacy would become scarce to them with so many strangers around. Some things would need to be kept off limits to the tourists, namely PYREFLY. Secondly, with people wandering about the island, came the dangers of the local wildlife, the SOMETHINGS and the recently emerged EMERALD LEGION running amok. They would need some of their own to keep them safe. Finally, there was the matter of how long this tour would go on for. How ‘temporary’ would this be? they would at least get to find out very soon.
For now, all they could do was watch and wait to see how MR. JAWSUM’S big gamble would turn for all of them…
Nobody would seem to notice SPACEBOY'S spaceship flying towards the pleasure craft, no one except for JAWSUM, who had never stopped grinning the whole time...
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In SpaceS BETWEEN
{Then there were two…]
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A raven haired boy stared thoughtfully at his reflection in a fancy bathroom mirror, within the dark bathroom, only a single light seeping from from under the door to the outside and a small scented candle to see himself in was his light. His discolored reflection stared back just as impassively, the boy’s skin was marked with a number of splotches of paper white skin, cold to the touch. His right eye’s iris was tar black in contrast to his left natural brown one.
Sunny never imagined in his entire life that he’d ever have to buy fashion products for himself…
He reached into a bag next to him, produced a container of fashion cream and opened it. The rich scent of coconut pierced his nostrils and made him choke a bit. With a deep breath in, Sunny dabbed a finger inside and rubbed over a white patch under his left ear…
{“This is unnecessary, you know.”} A younger version of his voice echoed its concerns within his mind.
Sunny carefully lathered cream around his right eye. “I know, OMORI…” he says out loud.
Despite it only being a year, he still couldn’t help but feel awkward, this was his first time outside of his small dingy apartment since that harrowing ordeal his friends had rescued him from, it left his mental state so scarred that it had taken him two years to recover enough to go out again to find a job.
{“I mean, wouldn’t it be better to just go as you are instead of covering yourself with…whatever this stuff is? I can feel it on my face too, it’s disgusting.”} OMORI complained.
“I’m still a little self conscious, alright?” Sunny retorts. “Also, this facial cream was really expensive. Can’t just let it go to waste.”
Sunny feels his finger twitch as OMORI shrugs. {“Whatever you say…just go easier on it, I don’t want to stain my shirt.”}
Thankfully, his friends were able to take turns checking up on him when he needed it. Aside from that, he discovered that he had abilities now that he only imagined before, his new WHITE HANDS, which were similar to his alter self’s own powers.
Sunny thought they were cool…at first.
Turns out, having hands come out of your back was a cool superpower on paper, but in reality; it freaked him out and everyone around him, it felt uncomfortable to use, especially after OMORI had told him they were made from his own blood. Sometimes, they would have a mind of their own, making them difficult to control. It would have taken a while to master them had it not been for OMORI to teach him how to harness them…
{“Why does it suddenly smell like coconut in here?”} The monochrome boy sniffs under his arm. {“This cream is awful.”}
“It sounded a lot better when the cashier advertised it to me...” Sunny mumbled.
{“Yeah, at least you didn’t buy that steak scented one.”}
Having your former coping mechanism you made when you were twelve live in your head for the rest of your life was the price of having superpowers apparently…go figure.
“OMORI…” Sunny sighed and dabbed another wad of cream solution onto his arm. “If you’d be so kind to be more quiet and let me focus, I’ll be done sooner.”
He could feel the monochrome boy roll his eyes at him in response. Sunny finished applying the cream and wiped the remainder off on a towel. {”So…care to tell me where we are now? This isn’t Nearbye, I can tell as much.”} OMORI says to Sunny, there was a rhythmic tapping feeling in his shoulder. {“I can’t read your thoughts like I used to.”}
“Secret. Can’t tell you right now.” Sunny answered bluntly.
There was a low hum in the back of his head, like a groan. {”Come on Sunny, it’s been a entire week and a half since you’ve let me swap out, and every night when we talk, you always seemed to be hiding something...”}
The raven haired boy blinks his eyes a little. “That’s the point of a secret, buddy. You’re not supposed to know.”
The monochrome boy sounded exasperated. {“What do you- When I ask you what’s wrong, you say that same thing you just told me, every time, ‘Secret can’t tell you’.”}
Sunny rolled his shoulders and turned on the shower, ignoring OMORI’S unhappy ranting. “Hey, I’ll tell you soon, just wait a little longer…”
But OMORI wasn't having it. {“No, you know what? I’m not going to wait any longer. You either tell me what’s going on or I’ll see for myself.”}
Sunny suddenly felt a tug on his stomach as his consciousness begin to pull away from him. “OMORI?! What are you doing?”
{“If you won’t tell me, then I’m taking control myself.”} OMORI answers.
“We agreed to take turns!” Sunny argued.
The monochrome boy stood up. {“And mine is way overdue. Let. Me. See.”}
Sunny felt his vision start to tunnel inwards, his body from the waist up began to feel numb. Before he lost control, the raven haired boy managed to lean himself against the wall of the shower.
”Wait…don’t-
{OMORI tagged Sunny]
OMORI opened his eyes to the waking world for the first time in a week. He stretched his back, feeling the warmness in his skin. He stepped out and looked around.
”Finally, freedom…”
He pushed open the bathroom door to an unfamiliar sight, where he expected their tiny dirty single room apartment, with its unmade bed and piles of unwashed dishes, this was a clean luxurious suite with two queen sized beds, a wall embroidered with purple and white paint and lush red curtains hiding a bright sunny day behind them. There were faint sounds of seagulls and water outside.
“This is not our apartment.” OMORI said in an suspicious tone.
Sunny sighs. [“It was supposed to be a surprise for you.”]
OMORI paused. “A surprise…” he considered the room for a moment longer, it was a very nice room, a definite far cry from back home. ”How did we afford this?” OMORI asks.
[“Our friends invited us to join them a few days back.”]
This, was what Sunny had been trying to warn him about this before he forcefully assumed control; that they were on vacation on a fancy cruise. OMORI runs a hand over one of the soft, velvety bedsheets and examines the smooth white walls covered in portraits of various famous landmarks. “You kept me in the dark about all this-for a week-just to surprise me?”
A light twitch in his fingers was Sunny’s conformation. He almost let’s his neutral visage slip into a smile, almost…
“Very well, Let me see what else you’ve-”
He pulled open the large drapes and immediately, his jaw dropped to the floor. ”Oh.”
[“Oh?”]
It was a massive island, rows upon rows of pastel trees covered the landscape, on the far end, the massive pink castle stood tall and proud over a shaded woods. At the center of the land was a clearing, familiar shapes could be seen moving around, And lastly, just a little above the clearing, was a sight that made OMORI’S chest feel warmer than usual, a single tree stump that slowly shifted colors could barely be seen in the distance…
The monochrome boy was left dumbfounded and at a loss for words. “HEADSPACE...S-Sunny…what. How and-I…I don’t…”
“Sunny?!?” A small voice squeaked out from behind.
OMORI slowly turned, Basil was standing there, gawking at him, his face was redder than a beet and his lips quivered. The blonde flower boy had changed much since he last saw him, he wore a bright green, sleeveless shirt and blue swim shorts. His facial features, along with the rest of his body, seemed a bit more pronounced, softer and more rosy along with much messier hair. Most notably, was the absence of his left lower arm, there was a small nub that stopped at halfway down his forearm covered in some scar tissue around the base of the area.
And It looked like he'd just walked in on OMORI...The flower boy's face was starting to turn redder by the second.
”Basil I-
“Jeez Louis! Cover yourself up!” Basil abruptly yelled and covered his eyes with his one hand. OMORI looked down when he felt a sudden chill below his waist. The realization suddenly setting in as his cheeks turned a new shade. He could hear Sunny in his mind holding back the urge to laugh, and it made him feel all the more humiliated by his lack of foresight...
OMORI promptly strode past the flustered Basil back into the bathroom. At the same time, Aubrey walked in talking on her phone. The pink haired girl seemed locked in the middle of some argument with whoever was on the other end before she hung up, she noticed her friend was looking a bit flustered and tilted her head.
“Basil, what’s up dude?" she greets and huffed upon noticing his expression. "Wow geez, you look really red. Did you get sunburnt?”
The blonde flower boy gulps and sits himself down on the bed. "Just…I...give me...need a-a moment..."
Aubrey was dressed in a white cardigan t-shirt with an exposed midriff and dirty torn jeans, she wore a green beanie hat too her hair, which had been cut short into a bob, on top of her shirt was a custom, short-sleeved, track jacket made from an old teal nightgown, a patch on the back had a picture of a purple eggplant with bunny ears and words that read, ‘Hooligans’
The click of a door behind The pink haired girl made her turn to see Sunny trudging out of the bathroom, now fully clothed. She lightly waves at him. “Sup sunshine~ you look well rested.” She says in a joking manner.
"Had to...deal with a certain someone..." He sighs and rubbed his face. "Guess you just got back?”
Aubrey nods. ”Just came back from the top deck. You wanna go get some breakfast? I wanna get there before Kel eats everything.”
"Sure." Sunny sits himself next to Basil and pokes him. "You doing okay?"
The flower boy gives him a thumbs up before letting his arm drop, he let out a soft breath. "Give me a warning next time, alright?"
...
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S.S. Wonderworld Wondercruise
{What I did for my holidays}
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After a while, the three of them were out of their suite, strolling through the ship’s passenger deck, to an elevator to head up to the deck. A catchy jingle played softy in the background as they ascended. The three of them seemed to have the elevator to themselves for the time, standing around while a soft merry tune played in the background. After a while of silence, Aubrey spoke. ”How’s life been Sunny?”
Sunny turned to her. “Been getting by well enough.” He answers.
Aubrey nodded her head. "How's about things between you and OMORI. You two getting along?”
The raven haired boy paused and pulled up his sleeve to show his lower right arm to her. “We get along most of the time. Sometimes we don’t really see eye-to-eye at everything. But we’re on good terms at least."
{“As long as you don’t go doing anything stupid.”} OMORI adds. Sunny mentally shushes his inner voice.
Once they reached the top deck, they navigated across a people packed area to the other side. The top of the ship was decorated with lavish purple and white colors, as was the entirety of Mr. Wonderworld’s grand cruise ship. The massive luxury ship was more like a palace on the water. It was built with over fifteen floors, six were dedicated to passenger suites, one two-floored open mall area for shopping, a game room, a theater area and a pair of five-star, fancy restaurant/buffets-all the service they’d seen and received was the best they had ever had. The rest was filled with necessary areas like crew and staff quarters and engine area. The top deck was home to a main stage under the ship’s bridge, two swimming pools, a water slide, a pair of sports areas rested on either end of the ship while a fantastic carnival was tucked away at the very back in its own lower area.
The three of them entered into one of the restaurants and took a seat at the nearest table, while they waited to be served, they continued their conversation as funky music played in the background.
“It’s good to see you both doing well.” Basil says happily. “Did you ever try therapy again? My parents had a few sessions lined up for me when I got home.”
Sunny made an incredulous face and snorted. ”Hell no, don’t you remember what happened last time? My therapist tried to steal my mind so people could have superpowers, and you guys went on an adventure into my head to stop the evil scientists.”
"Don't forget the giant robot we fought." Basil chimed in.
"You did what?"
{"I also add; You did what?"}
The three of them started laughed together. At the same moment, a waitress would arrive and ask for their order, Sunny picked out a bowl of soup, Aubrey tried a pepper kebab while Basil settled for a salad. Sunny smiled a little. "Okay, it's my turn to ask; how has everybody been doing?"
Aubrey teeters her chair on it's back legs. "I have a job back at home. I'm a lifeguard referee at the beach, I train the new guys on how to look out for trouble."
"Wow..." The raven haired boy looked impressed. "How many lives have you saved?"
She shrugged. "Actually, not that many. The beach I work at is fairly safe most of the time. Sometimes it's some kid who swam out too far, other times, just some drunk dudes who wandered into the ocean from the bar. But that's about it..."
Sunny hums thoughtfully and turned to his friend. "Basil?"
The flower boy grinned as he pulls out a small card from his pocket. "I'm picking up in my dad's footsteps."
"At this the two of them leaned in at the same time. "You're a movie star?!" the said simultaneously.
"Yeah well, more like, a voice actor, for now." Basil rubbed the back of his head. "I'm currently doing voice work for the brand new Spaceboy movie coming out this fall."
Aubrey smirked. "The trailer looked so good, who are you voicing?"
"Pinkbeard." Basil answered. "I did a couple of his voice lines for the release trailer."
Sunny blinked. "What?! that was you speaking in the trailer?"
The flower boy cleared his voice and spoke in a deeper voice. "They said my impression was perfect."
This left the two utterly impressed. "Imagine how much Kel's going to freak out once he hears about this." Sunny wondered. "He's been hyped up about the release ever since he heard about it."
The flower boy glanced out the window. “Speaking of Kel, I wonder how he’s doing?”
Right on cue, there was the sound of someone hitting the window, the three of them looked up and saw a certain tall young man in an orange track shirt and his grinning face plastered up against the glass, fogging it up with heavy breaths. "Hey, how's the cruise treating you?" Aubrey waves.
He lets out a muffled happy scream that made the window vibrate. "I LOVE THIS PLACE!" He shouts excitedly though the glass and dashed down the course into the buffet they were in, he took a seat next to his best friend and pulled him into a tight hug. ”Sunny my man! I missed you!” He exclaims.
”Good to see you too Kel.” Sunny replied with a small meek smile.
Kel glanced over his shoulder. “Sup Aubs.”
”You running around the ship’s jogging course again?”
”Hah! Only on lap seven so far!” Kel replied, beaming proudly.
“Just can’t help yourself can’t you?” Sunny said.
”I REALLY couldn’t help it. I JUST had to try out everything here, the rides, the food, the sports court, there’s so much to do!” The athletic boy laughed. “The best part is that I don’t have to pay for any of it!”
”Heh, you can thank my dad for that Kel.” Basil says.
"Your dad is awesome man."
Kel settled himself in as the group's orders arrived. While they ate, the curtains on the stage parted slightly and a ginger-haired man in a violet tuxedo shuffled nervously onto the center stage. "Everyone? *ahem* Everybody?" He gently tapped on the mic, recoiling when it made a loud sound, but it got the result he wanted so he continued.
"I'd like to tell to everyone here that..." He mumbled awkwardly and shuffles through the messy script in his hands. "Mr. Wonderworld, will be coming on stage very soon to...to make an announcement, uh, he told me to read this stuff to you all before he came...so..."
Kel nudged Aubrey's shoulder. "Hey guys, is it just me, or does that guy talking up there look a bit familiar?"
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Wondercruise Sundeck
{Suns out Guns out}
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Meanwhile, out on the sundeck, two girls laid back on lounge chairs. A teenage girl with red framed glasses and swept, half-shaved brown hair, lay spread out on a lawnchair, her skin fully exposed to the sun and starting to turn a deeper shade. Kim stretched her arms and legs and yawned, turning on her side to face her friend and stretching out a hand. "Hey Mincy, pass some of the sunscreen would ya?"
The Black haired girl in question, was scooted into the back of her seat in the shade, her attention was fully focused on her drawing as she sketched away without a care in the world. She turned her attention away from her work for a moment to hand the other girl a bottle of sunscreen before going back. Kim gave her a look and sighed while lathering her arm. "Are you seriously drawing right now?”
"Yes, I like drawing, what's wrong with that?" Mincy replied without looking away.
Kim sits up. "What's wrong is that it's a freaking cruise! Why not get a tan? go swimming? eat some more? There's better things to do than just drawing."
"Hmmm." Mincy absentmindedly hums to herself while she twirled a colored pencil on the paper some more before a hand reached over and grabbed the notepad from her. “Hey! Give that back!”
”What, you drawing something you don't want me to see?" Kim says smugly and turned over a few pages.
"No!" The black haired girl whined, reaching out for the book, but Kim held it away. "Ooooo!~ Is it some hot dude's bod?"
"No!!!"
The glasses girl wiggled her eyebrows at the other girl. "Or...or you looking at something a little more...exotic?"
"Kim! I'm not..." Mincy looked away to hide a blush, then huffs. "Just, give me my notepad back. Please."
Kim relented and handed the drawing back before a shadow loomed over the two. They both looked up to a figure flexing in front of them. He wore no shirt to cover up his rather plain chest and abs, his arms were skinny and lacked definition, the blonde wig he wore fluttered lightly in the breeze as he grinned from ear to ear. "Hey ladies, enjoying the view?~"
The Maverick, one and only, had arrived on scene, much to Kim's annoyance.
"Move out of the way Mikheal, you're blocking the sun!" she exclaimed angrily and threw an empty sunscreen bottle at his head, he ducked out of the way.
"What's the matter? can't handle the gun show?" Mikheal chuckled and flexed his arms a little harder.
"Move already you dweeb or I'm gonna-!" Kim snapped and accidentally smacked his head, the blonde wig slipping off and fluttering down, landing into the wave pool on the lower deck. Mikhael gasped in horror and reached out over the edge as the wig was tossed around in the water. Mincy seemed genuinely concerned.
Kim lightly put a hand to her lips to hide a laugh. "Oops."
Mikheal bolted to the lower level. "NOOO! My source of power and security!" he screeched, covering his head and rushing downstairs to retrieve his lost pride.
The two watch him go, Kim sat back to her chair. “Of all the people she could have picked, why did Aubrey have to invite Mikheal with us?” she groaned.
“Well, the invitation Basil’s mom and dad bought for us said they needed at least seven people to come for extra bonuses.” Mincy informed.
Kim rolled her eyes and opened up a magazine. ”Pfft, sounds like a weak excuse just to charge you more money.”
"Maybe it is, but at least it's a nice cruise...Mr. and Mrs. Geranium are kind people to let us do this."
Kim lets her eyes close. "You're probably right-"
Another shadow loomed over the two, the red glasses girl tossed down her cover and looked up with a frustrated glare. ”Mikhael, Maverick, whatever you want to call yourself, I don't care. I swear to god, if you…”
Her words fail to leave her lips the second the MERCURY RETROGRADE did a swooping flyover over the ship's deck. Below, The purple uniformed man on the stage was finishing his speech, unaware of the spaceship that had just flown overhead. "He's fantastic, and smile's never plastic, he's the sensation under the pretty moon, he's the groovy showman that'll make you swoon. Give it up for, say it with me folks..."
A beam of light transmitted on the stage next to the man as CAPT. SPACEBOY and his entire crew flashed their space guns out. The present audience let out various gasps and oooos. The stage man jumped back in shock.
"CAPT. S-SPACEBOY?!?"
SPACEBOY turned to the man, his eyes widened in surprise. "Dr. Ray?!" He says and points his blasters at him. "What's going on here? what are all these people doing in HEADSPACE?" he demanded.
"...I think you have me confused for someone else." Simmons replied meekly.
SPACEBOY squinted. "No, I think I clearly recognize you, Doctor. Are you responsible for this huge boat parked on our home? How about OTHERWORLD?"
"No! this ship, it's not mine, it belongs to-"
A broad-shouldered person emerges from behind the curtain, he was dressed in a similar outfit to Simmons, only that it was much more regal looking and came with a top hat to match. Mr. Wonderworld looked disgruntled as he stepped out into the open. "Simmons! What's the hold up? I thought you were going to finish the presentation and-"
Dr. Ray waves his hands in front of himself. “M-Mr. Wonderworld sir, I’m so, so sorry about the delay, there’s just some…issues.”
Wonderworld sees the spaceship and The space captain all assembled on stage. His surprise turns to pleasure. "Oh!~ our special guest finally came up for an appearance, just as that JAWSUM fellow told me he would..." He then turns back to his right-hand and pats him on the shoulder. "Great job getting these guys up here Mr. Simmons, take five."
The smaller man promptly scurried past his boss and the confused pirate crew off to the curtain. Wonderworld grins and turns to the people watching. "Well then, to my beloved audience who have had the pleasure of being here today. Ladies and gentlemen, I proudly announce that this tour has officially begun!"
WELCOME, ONE AND ALL
TO WONDERWORLD!
The day has ended...
Let's greet tomorrow together!