Ding Academy: A week of Traffic Safety
Chapter 14
Ding Academy:
A week of Traffic Safety
"No! Stop, you're going the wrong way. Hit the brakes!!!" Maigashi yelled.
The car slides and skids off the side of the road. A sudden crash suddenly stops the vehicle's momentum ramming into a big tree. Outside in the middle of the rain, the four of them exits. Food and supplies were scattered everywhere.
"Hot damn! You have done it now." Tannen muttered.
"Bamboo isn't going to be pleased with this. Look at it, completely totaled. You should have let me take the wheels." Maigashi warned.
Alistor had a guilty look on his face. The look of disappointment and worry for the others.
"Hopefully, he's got good insurance."
One hour later...
"What! My car! What happened?" Bamboo wept.
Back at the restaurant, the other member's eyes were on Alistor for the blame. A facepalm was the only thing their boss expressed at the moment.
"I'm sorry, I just couldn't control it any further. It was raining, and if it wasn't for Maigashi backseat driving." Alistor explained.
"Take that back! You obviously never had any prior experience on the road. Plus, I'm a better driver." Maigashi argued back.
Arguing between the members commenced as Bamboo left the room for a moment to think about it. He returned back after a quick breath of air.
"That was my good car. I paid good money for it."
"Don't you have insurance?" Auroa asked.
"No, I don't. I never even bothered. I left you all for a simple pick-up mission, and you destroyed my car. Plus, Mathias is a wide-open road, so I never expected this to happen."
"So what happens now?" Alistor asked.
"Well, this will have to come out from all your paychecks for the next two months." He shrugged.
"What!" Maigashi had the sudden urge to snap. "If it's anyone's payroll, it should all be all of his. How could it be our fault?"
The party continues to argue with Bamboo trying to reason the situation out. Meanwhile, from another screen, Vilevelious watches them. Then, finally, an idea comes to his mind.
"That is it! Admiral Bombshell. Come forth!" Vilevelious hollered.
The Admiral appears in the room behind the shadows.
"My next plan is not ready yet. What did you call for?" He asked.
The emperor presents him with a driver's handbook. A confused expression on the other lesser minions in the room.
"I want you to oversee and carry out my next plan in gathering energy. We are going to open a school to promote safe driving and traffic safety."
An astonished look was on the general's face.
"An odd plan, don't you say? How will teaching the ways of traffic safety benefit the labyrinth?" He further questioned.
"Young drivers are practically more reckless and likely to be in accidents during their first year behind the wheels. When teens get into accidents, insurance rates get high. When insurance gets high, parents get stressed; when parents get stressed, negative energy is made and ready for the taking."
"Very well, is there a monster ready?"
"Not to worry, Admiral. Professor Ding! Come forth." The emperor called.
A short, stumbling professor appears in the room. Carrying a large book in one hand. He trips and stumbles down a small step of stairs. Then, he got quickly back up to regain posture.
"You rang Vile, my lord?"
"Professor Ding, you will carry out my plan. He is a well-informed instructor with a Ph.D. and master's degree in traffic safety. You shall educate the young minds occupying them with loads of homework."
"And how will we have control over the insurance?" The general asked.
"As for the insurance, I have plenty of inside informants planted and ready to take over at my command. So we'll have a complete monopoly on time, and it's your duty, Admiral, to keep the rates high once accidents commence. Now go!"
The professor and Admiral take a bow before teleporting away.
One hopeful night later, a new building appears out of nowhere. When morning came, Bamboo offered a deal the party couldn't refuse.
"What? You're kidding me? We have to take a class on traffic safety?" Maigashi yelled.
"How will this benefit their training?" Tannen asked.
Bamboo nodded with a serious look.
"Yep! It's a new school that just opened up in Emerald, and all the parents are enrolling their kids. It's been a while a school was really around. This might be a skill that would come in handy one day. Young adults are even taking this course, so I might even consider taking it one day, but now I have a business to run."
"Traffic safety…Why us. At least Alistor, I can understand. Don't we have a say in this?" Auroa complained.
Bamboo continues to nod.
"Look, if you don't want to go without two month's pay, then you'll all enroll in this program. It's only five days a week for a few hours. Plus, I even heard the instructor was a driving guru." Bamboo further explained.
The party couldn't refuse the offer.
"Looks like we don't have a choice then." Alistor shrugs.
The sound of a bell rings, and a mass of people is gathered by the new school. The four of them go to check the facility out as the crowd waits below the stage. A short professor heads up to the front step. He walks forward and reaches out for the speaker that was too high. He grabs a small stool to help reach.
"Dear fellow students: I am Professor Ding. Whether you are a new or experienced motorist, I hope my course will enhance your road experience and promote safe driving in the future. So without further ado, follow me."
Alistor and the party follow the crowd into the building. A standard classroom with tables, chairs, and chalkboards all set. They all took a seat as the professor begins.
"I'm here to help drivers prepare for exams. First, the five most common reasons for motor vehicle accidents are speeding, driving recklessly, running off the road, driving in the wrong lane, and of course, DUI. We will be looking at each category in full detail each so pay attention."
A few hours later…after a long lecture.
"You even listening to half the things this guy is saying?" Maigashi yawned.
The party was seated in the way back, snoozing while Alistor was the only one taking notes. The professor immediately passes out fliers to the class.
"What's this?" Auroa wondered.
"By law, you must be financially responsible for your actions wherever you drive. Having a reliable insurance policy ensures responsibility. So here are a few trustworthy programs you may find. Look at them over and choose before tomorrow." Ding explained.
"Well, there's only three known in this kingdom. What? Did they all have a sudden change of name?" Alistor questioned.
"Who cares anyway?" Maigashi pestered. "Let's see, we got Shogun Insurance, Admirals Insurance, and Meister Insurance?"
Everyone was looking over at the choice they had for coverage.
"That's a low price! So cheap!" Tannen snapped.
"Why yes, great auto insurance for as little as a cent a day. Flexible payment options offered including low down payments." The professor stated.
The bell suddenly rings.
"That concludes our lesson for today. As for the assignment tonight, think over and choose one of the three options you'll sign up for. Have a nice day."
Back at the restaurant, Bamboo looks over at the given insurance offers.
"Wow, these are good deals. I think I'll go with Shogun insurance whenever I got the free time." Bamboo picked.
"Admiral for the rest of us, it seems. Meister seems a bit strange for our taste." Alistor replied.
The next day of class…
The students all turn in their choices from the flier Ding passed.
"Today, we will be watching this video on the dos and don'ts of safe driving."
The professor pops in a VHS tape, colorful logos begin appearing on the screen. Then, a speeding car on a racetrack zips through with cheesy music playing.
"At least it's not another boring lecture," Maigashi whispered.
The video begins…
"The Dos and Don'ts of safe driving: Smoking when a minor is present. Dumping abandoned pets or loitering on the highway. Leaving a child unattended, following too close such as tailgating."
A while later…
"And most importantly, do not let your emotions interfere with safe driving. Using good judgment, common sense, and courtesy will lead to successful driving."
The video comes to an end. Then, the professor begins handing out the next assignment.
"For tonight, I want you all to write a ten-page essay on what you learned about safe driving. What will you do to embrace this experience?" Ding announced.
"What ten pages?" Maigashi yelled.
"Yes, due tomorrow, and you must all write it up on my specially marked paper provided? You must also study the first two chapters from the textbook for tomorrow's test." He said.
"Can't we use normal paper?" Auroa asked.
"No! It doesn't have my stamp of approval. Sorry, but it's either credit or no credit. So be ready for a test tomorrow." The professor took his leave.
Later that night…
"You guys are seriously bothering with this assignment?" Maigashi asked.
No one in the room paid attention to him. The rest of the party was busy studying as he took a glance at their papers. Erase marks here and there.
"You're done?" Auroa asked.
"Whatever, you guys can stay up all night. I'm gonna head to sleep."
As Maigashi heads to bed, the rest continued studying through the night, pushing their limits. Then, finally, the stamp on the marked papers begins releasing a faint glow as energy begins to slowly leave them.
The following day: Day 3 of class.
"It seems most of you done your assignments. Get ready for a test now!" The professor announces.
Everyone except Maigashi was exhausted and too drained from concentrating or focusing as the test was handed out.
"Multiple choice; this should be a breeze." Alistor thought.
A while after the test…
"You need a good vision to drive safely. If you cannot judge distance or spot trouble, you may not be able to make the best judgments." The professor lectured.
Nearly half the class was awake to listen as he rambled on.
"When driving in the rain or snow, it's best to slow down so your car won't skid off or slip off-road. If you can't see more than 100 feet ahead of your vehicle in a heavy rainstorm, you cannot drive faster than 30 mph. You may have to stop time after time to wipe any mud or snow off your windshields."
The bell rings.
"Well, look at the time. Unfortunately, I got a little carried away. I'll be sure to mail in your results by later this evening. Class dismissed!"
A while later in the evening…
"What! You all flunked your first exam." Bamboo yelled.
An astonished look was on nearly everyone except for Maigashi.
"How can this be?" Alistor wondered.
Their scores were all below forty as they had their heads down. They then took a look at Maigashi's paper.
"You didn't even answer a single question."
The look of disappointment was around as Bamboo lectured them on.
"What to do with you…sigh."
Maigashi immediately steps in with a reminder.
"Hey! Do you remember our deal? You stated we have to take the class, but you never mention we had to pass it." Maigashi pointed out.
His claim enlightens everyone in the room for a brief second.
"Oh…you do have a point." Bamboo agreed. "At least try putting in a little effort to learn something."
"Plus, I didn't bother with last night's assignment because I sensed something fishy is up."
"What do you mean?" Alistor asked.
"The feeling of life energy sapping away from your very soul. The very moment I wrote my name, I quickly stopped and crumpled my paper." He further explained.
The party begins to recall the professor's words from the day before as Maigashi brings them to their senses.
"Let's take caution and see what happens tomorrow."
The very next morning…The professor briefly cuts to the chase.
"It seems you've all struggled with the test." He coughed.
The look of disappointment was on Ding's face.
"But I'm sure you'll get the hang of it. I'm not going to give up because I believe in every one of you. Cause today we are going outside."
Outside behind the school, a surprising look for the class. An entire practice course for driving was ready for them.
"I figure a more hands-on experience would help embrace your understanding of traffic safety. So I'll be by your side as you drive, and by the end of the day, you'll all receive a certified license."
"So, who wants to go first?" Ding asked.
Alistor steps in first entering the vehicle with Ding. He reached for the ignition key to start the engine but was slapped on the wrist with a ruler.
"Not so fast! Safe practices always begin by checking your rearview mirrors. You must also signal when turning left, right, changing lanes, or even slowing down and stopping. Can you demonstrate signaling?" He asked.
He rolled the windows down. Then, before he had a chance to answer, Ding used him as an example.
"From the left, stick your arm out; to make a right, you raise your arm, and to slow or stop, you leave it raised down. This will allow motorist or other pedestrians to know your intention."
"Right…Can we begin?" Alistor grumbled.
"Proceed!"
The car begins to accelerate and stop constantly.
"What are you doing? Shift to drive and accelerate. Do you know which ones the brake?" Ding nervously asked.
After a brief moment, he finally got the hang of the controls, thanks to Ding's assistance. He proceeded through the track, making a left and then a right around the set cones. The practice goes on from making signals and stops at red lights. It finally ends parking the vehicle.
"So, how did I do?" Alistor nervously asked.
"Well…I suppose I can pass you with a C."
The feeling of relief through his eyes.
"So, who's next?"
From that moment, everyone was pretty motivated to drive with Ding. Tannen proceeded next, followed by Auroa and the rest of the class as the hours passed. The entire morning was spent driving. Finally, the afternoon came, and the professor checkmarks the remaining students.
"And last but not least, Maigashi. Will you please enter the vehicle?"
He enters the vehicle, the professor sat flat on the front passenger seat. A cup of coffee clutched in one hand as he waits for Maigashi to start the ignition. A brief moment of silence commenced as Ding turns to face him.
"Um…anytime now. You may proceed?"
A glint sparks in Maigashi eyes.
"If you say so."
He steps hard into the acceleration bursting the exhaust as the vehicle dashed at high speed. The professor stumbles over his chair, coffee spills over as cones outside began flying.
"Ahhh! What are you doing? 70 miles? Are you mad! Too fast! Too fast!" Ding panicked.
He knocks Ding back.
"I'm driving! Just sit back and watch. You saw nothing yet."
Alistor and the rest of the crowd speechlessly watch from a distance with amazement. But, unfortunately, the professor continues to panic.
"Let's ditch this small track."
The speed increases up to 90mph. The car bursts through a fence and out of the school premises and into an open field.
"Hit the brakes! Watch out for those open trees." Ding cried.
"Heh."
Maigashi maneuvers around the row of trees without effort as they approached a steep hill with a ramp. The car zips through the air.
"Waaaahhh! Mommy!!!"
The car lands on the ground as Maigashi makes a fancy U-turn back to the school. The car arrives back in one piece, smoke streams from the tire tracks left behind. Ding exits the vehicle dazed and ready to barf.
"So, did I pass?" Maigashi grin.
Ding took a moment to regain his breath.
"You want me to go again? Sure, I don't mind."
Ding began waving his arms around.
"Oh no! No need! Yes! You passed! You passed! You all passed." Ding hastily said. "Your license will be in the mail later this evening. So to conclude for this lesson, keep your eyes moving and scan your surroundings to avoid hazards."
The professor begins to hurl once the bell suddenly rang.
Later that evening…
The Admiral contacts the professor from another line.
"All the students have just received their license in the mail as instructed, general."
"Good, now we can proceed on to the next phase of the plan."
Back with the party, they wouldn't hesitate to open their mail. Finally, a valid license was issued to them as they rushed out of the house to see Bamboo.
"Well, at least you all learned something. I'm so proud of you all." Bamboo snuffled.
"Hey, there's a short message at the bottom." Auroa pointed.
"Well, read it out then," Maigashi replied.
He begins reading aloud to the group.
"Congratulations on passing the driver's test exam. With this valid license, you are now certified to drive. It's been a grand time and honor getting to instruct you all in the ways of traffic safety. And never forget to buckle those belts."
Be ready in the following hour to receive your diploma. 7:00 pm sharp.
Yours truly: Mr. Ding.
Not a moment sooner, a loud sound could be heard from the distance. The sound of an engine roars recklessly as it grew louder.
"What's that sound?" Tannen turned.
Bamboo takes a quick glimpse out the window and starts to panic.
"Fall back!"
A car comes crashing through the restaurant, knocking everyone back behind the counters. A huge mess of tables and chairs scattered across, leaving a gaping hole on the wall.
"What? Who dare crashes my business." Bamboo yelled.
Alistor goes to check on the person inside. They pulled him out from the wreck to see if he was ok.
"Hey! This guy was a classmate of ours."
"We need to get him to a hospital. His insurance better covers this." Bamboo frowned.
The man regains consciousness at the hospital later that night. Then, he begins explaining himself to Bamboo and the rest.
"I don't know what came over me. At first, I was driving, but then I had the sudden urge to speed up. My parents are gonna kill me for this. Ugh!"
As Bamboo wrote down his insurance information, Auroa takes a close look at the license issued.
"Hey, take a look once more. That's the same marking as the papers Ding provided." Auroa pointed out.
"You're right…Something is not right here." Maigashi nodded.
More patients begin arriving through the doors as Tannen goes out to investigate. He quickly returns to give the news.
"Six more accidents have just occurred across town. The same case with all of them." Tannen explained. "We should get to the bottom of this."
They all left the room and headed to the school. The Admiral's ship was close by, sucking energy away from a crowd of victims. There Ding awaited for all of them with the general by his side. The mouth of the dark skull closes.
"The insurance rates are skyrocketing." Ding chuckled. "Just look at all the families suffering. The rates have increased by tenfold!"
"Be ready to round up the next batch of students." The Admiral ordered.
"No problem! Just give me another week to rack 'em in."
Ding was getting ready to file the papers, but Bamboo and the party arrive at their door.
"We meet again." The Admiral greeted.
"So it was you who fueled everyone with the false sense of safe driving. Those tests, the driving, and this license was all a setup." Auroa explained.
"Of course…Who else would you think? Yes, a great amount of energy is easy for the taking." He laughed.
Alistor pulls out his blade at the professor.
"So you finally caught on," Ding smirked. "Not that it matters, Whoopers attack!"
Enemy soldiers begin charging towards their way while Bamboo fell back for cover.
Tannen destroys the oncoming wave of Whoopers with one quick slice. The professor begins stepping back. He turns around to notice the Admiral no longer at his side.
"Hey! Where are you going?" Ding trembled.
"You go handle these fools. I must return back with the energy collected."
"What? Fight? But this is not part of my job. I didn't sign up for this. Oooh, don't leave me here."
The professor grabs onto his leg, getting dragged across the floor for a moment.
"Then improvise!" Bombshell commanded.
He immediately kicks him back to face the rest. As the professor begins cowering in the corner, Auroa and Maigashi rushed in to attack the Admiral.
"We're not letting you get away."
Bombshell quickly sends them both back with a blast from his cannon. Bamboo watches from a distance squinting his eyes. Maigashi loses consciousness.
"I have no time for this."
Tannen went in with his scythe ready to cut him down, but his attack gets deflected by the general pulling out his anchor. He immediately tosses three quick reaper cards at the Admiral, but his attack was nullified by a wall of water.
"Ding! Destroy them." He ordered.
The Admiral scares Ding with an attack from his anchor, leaving a hole on the floor. The professor regained his attention.
"Yes, Admiral, I'll do it."
Alistor then jumps in with his blade clashed against the chains from the Admiral's anchor. Easily outmuscled, Bombshell sent him flying back towards the others.
"I know this guy from somewhere." Bamboo whispered to himself.
The Admiral's ship immediately vanishes, leaving them with Professor Ding to face. They follow the professor outside the practice course.
"You have nowhere to run." Alistor pointed his blade to him.
The professor begins chuckling.
"I have no intention to run. So give me your best shot." He provoked.
"No problem. This is going to be a piece of cake." Alistor rushed in, ready to swing.
The professor immediately pulls out a stop sign, instantly stopping his attack in midair. Tannen and Auroa then attempt to move, but a red light flashed from the professor's head. The three of them were unable to move as he placed a large table in front of them. The light turns green, causing them to slam against the object.
"A Dirty trick!" He grumbled.
The professor continues to provoke them by slapping his butt in front of them.
Alistor then readies the Star Breaker from his blade; Ding simply turned the light yellow slowing his attack down to easily dodge. Finally, a large mirror gets placed, deflecting his attack back at the three.
"Haha, none of you can touch me. You are bound by the laws of traffic safety."
"What? Explain!" Alistor demanded.
The professor pulls out their test results.
"You may have failed to answer all my questions, but you had the common sense to correctly guess the basics. From green to go and red to stop, you sealed your fate with this test ha ha ha."
A lightning arrow immediately hits the professor from behind, sending a shock to him.
"What? Show yourself." Ding demanded.
Maigashi appears before them.
"You're finally awake." Auroa smiled. "Get us out of this mess."
He slowly begins to walk towards Ding, his weapon locked and ready to fire.
"I just about had enough with your school. Class is canceled."
"Argh, I'll show you! You can join the rest of your friends." Ding grinned.
He faced Maigashi and turns the light red to stop, but he continues forward. He quickly changes the dial yellow, followed by green. Flicking back and forth between the lights as he got close. Finally, Ding pulls out a yield sign.
"By the laws of traffic safety Yield?"
Maigashi quickly sends him stumbling to the ground. Then, a burst of high lightning begins channeling around him.
"Sorry but, I never answered any of your questions. None of it applies to me, so good riddance to your traffic safety school."
"Uh oh…." Ding gulped.
"Surging Thunder!"
The professor gets impaled and sent flying from an electrocuting blast from his attack crashing into the school. The entire school explodes, leaving nothing but the bell intact. They go to watch the fireworks.
"We still have to deal with Admiral Bombshell. Damn, we're still no match for him." Alistor mumbled.
Bamboo creeps up behind them.
"I might know something about the admiral." Bamboo claimed.
Everyone was all open ears, ready to hear what he says.
"Well, spill it. Any time now."
"This might be a little complicated to explain. So I'll tell you back home after a glass of grass jelly." He nodded.
The scene ends with them leaving the ruins of what remains of Ding's school. A full moon brightly shines as they never looked back.