Operation: MASKED, Part 5

Chapter 5: Jungle Slag

Alternate Sector V Treehouse

Cheren and the Sector V team were up early the next morning, but much wasn't going on. After eating breakfast, Cheren was seated on the couch while he and Celeste watched Kellie and Thomas play videogames. "So, in your universe, each of our parents still get married, but they all have different kids from us. Also, in your universe, some people have the power to bend elements like Air or Poison, while others have metahuman powers?" Thomas tried to summarize.

"Pretty much, yeah." Cheren said. "Don't you guys have bending in this world?"

"Not that we know of. I guess the only one who comes close is Father being a firebender." Celeste said.

There was an explosion on the game. "Yaaay!" Kellie cheered after her victory.

"Guys, not that I'm not having a great time, but I was hoping we could get started searching for Miyuki." Cheren stated.

"Chill, dude, Harry's looking into it." Thomas said. "He's trying to find any lead he can on this Miyuki girl. Shouldn't be hard to spot a girl with a funny dress wearing a terrifying mask that causes doom and destruction wherever it goes."

Cheren sighed and got off the couch, proceeding to head upstairs to the mission prep room.

Harry Uno was studying a hologram projection of the Earth when Cheren walked in. "Hey, look who's up! Got tired of playing videogames?"

"I'm tired of waiting around. I wanna start looking for Miyuki now!"

"Someone's a little too serious. Alright, don't worry. Listen, we've had trouble finding leads, what with demons running loose all over the world, but the Supreme Leader's having our best operatives search for clues. And one of our squads talked about some white-haired girl in a strange dress, wearing Majora's Mask."

Cheren's eyes perked. "Where was this??"

"She was walking into some jungle, on the south part of Africa. Should we gather up the guys and get going?"

"Yeah, could we not bring everyone onboard?" Cheren asked.

"Why not?"

"The thing is, when our parents told us about their past adventures, they always brought a lot of people with them, and I could not keep track of that many people."

"Heheh, okay. I'll go with you myself. Besides, it'll be up to Sector V to go for help if somebody else gets attacked by demons. Meet me in the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. when you're ready." Harry said, beginning to walk out of the room.

"Oh, I've been ready." Cheren said sternly.

"Hehe, okay. Race you then!" With that, Harry scampered off. Cheren took a moment to catch this before chasing after him.

Somewhere in an ancient temple

"You fool!" Miyuki Crystal/Majora yelled as Gekko trembled before him/her. "How could you let the prince get away?! You DO know who he is, don't you?"

"He-He ish de Hero of Time, Mashter."

"He's MORE than that, don't you see! He is the Prince of Shadows! That means HE has the strength to banish me. And if we let him run around, he will come to destroy us!"

"But he cannot deshtroy you, Mashter! The agesh have broken him! He ish jusht a normal human! The shtrength of de bloodline hash begone him-shes!"

"Hmm… you are right, Gekko. But I am no fool. Dispose of him, immediately! And if you succeed…" the girl smirked behind her mask as she pulled out a terrified, light-blue frog behind her back. The Gekko smirked and licked his lips as Miyuki tossed the shivering froggy upward, and Gekko leaped to snap it in his mouth. "There will be plenty more. Now GET GOING!" Gekko saluted and hopped away quickly.

Sector V S.C.A.M.P.E.R., over the seas

Aerial Defense, Act 1

Mission: Get to Jungle of the Apes!

The sun's rays reflected off the calm seas below as Harry and Cheren rode in the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. under the vibrant daytime sky. "I wonder why Miyuki would go to a jungle in Africa?" Cheren thought aloud. "Probably has something to do with Majora wanting to come here."

"Well, whatever reason she had, Cheren, long as we got this baby, we'll be able to catch her in-" The ship shook just then, and the operatives nearly fell. "What was that? ?"

The mini screen on Harry's controls showed the image of a chubby robot with a metal pirate's skull and captain's hat. "Argh, reach fer the heavens, Kids Next Darr. This be Captain Slag, scourge of the seas and stars! And whatever cargo ye be holding, it belong to I!"

"Great. Who is this bozo?" Cheren asked.

"Beats me. But they sound like space pirates. Man those turrets, Cheren. I'll fly us through here as fast as I can!"

Flying pirate ships already began surrounding the S.C.A.M.P.E.R.. The 2x4 ship performed barrel rolls as it dodged incoming cannon fire, and Cheren fired missiles at the smaller ships. A series of bigger ships flew in the S.C.A.M.P.E.R.'s way, forcing Harry to navigate around them and evade the cannon shots. Before their eyes, the massive flagship rose out from beneath the ocean. A pair of cannons extracted in the front of ship and began firing at the operatives. Harry kept dodging the shots as Cheren locked on and fired missiles, destroying the cannons after a few shots. The flagship sent out a group of smaller ships that launched slow-coming cannonballs, which Harry easily dodged. Cheren shot lasers and blew away the small ships before they began flying past the flagship.

They flew around the flagship's side on their left as cannons began appearing along its outer wall. Once again it could only get a few hits off of them as Harry avoided the shots and Cheren blasted the cannons. Eventually, they were able to make it around the flagship and keep flying ahead. Immediately, the flagship started to turn as more ships came at them from behind. "Cheren, activate the S.C.A.M.P.E.R.'s absorbo shield." Harry ordered. Cheren held down a button and projected a shield around their vehicle, allowing enemy shots to strike it and build up energy. A meter began filling up at Cheren's station, and when it was at its max, Cheren pressed the button and released an explosion at the surrounding enemies.

"Ahh, the good old CHICKEN-SOUPLOSION. A KND classic." Cheren said. The flagship began to come after them as it released more cannon fire, but Cheren kept the shields raised to absorb the fire. As the pirate ship drew closer, Cheren released the shockwave and pushed it back. The flagship didn't take long to recover as it came after them some more, alongside a group of smaller ships. More cannon fire was unleashed as a result, enabling Cheren to fill the meter up easier. He released another shockwave that blew back the flagship and wiped out the small ships.

"Attention lads! It be time for pirate pageant auditions down at the bar. Let Sea-salt Saul take care of 'em."

A ship came down from the sky, designed like a pirate skull attached to two arms with big hands holding giant containers of salt and pepper. It aimed the salt container at them as it released a swarm of spike balls that exploded in midair. The S.C.A.M.P.E.R. took some damage, but the operatives stayed airborne as they fired missiles at the salt container's cap. The pirate ship pulled the salt back and aimed the pepper at them, which unleashed a wave of fire. Harry barrel-rolled and avoided the flames while Cheren shot the cap. The pirate switched back to the salt, and Cheren shot at it the cap some more, eventually breaking it and exposing a blue, shining core. Cheren shot the core and destroyed the salt container. Sea-salt Saul used the pepper to blow flames at them again, but Cheren repeated the process, destroyed the pepper cap, then destroyed the core inside.

The huge pirate skull then opened its mouth, revealing another blue energy core. The core started to charge power, preparing to blast the operatives, but Cheren was easily able to defeat with a few shots to the core. "Daarr, I knew only one should be used on a meal." Explosions appeared around the ship as it sank to the ocean.

"Well, this was totally random." Cheren said. "What were space pirates doing here?"

"Eh, they're pirates, they mess with anybody. Get ready to land, Cheren." The S.C.A.M.P.E.R. crossed the rest of the seas easily on their way to the jungle.

Coastside; Southern Africa

After successfully evading the fleet of pirates, the S.C.A.M.P.E.R. touched the beach as the two operatives stepped out, the sight of a thick, green jungle not far from where they were. "So, in your universe," Harry began, "the Uno family is descended from a demon family, and so are the Fulbrights, and you're the latest in a line of Demon Princes?"

"Yup, that's my family history."

"Wow, that is cool! And you can shoot fire like everyone else? ?"

"Well… know. Though I do seem to kind of.. heat up a lot."

"But if you're the prince of all these demons, why can't you control them?"

"Because some demons are only loyal to one side. They've gotten distaste in the Uno family since my dad turned the throne over to Grim. …What's your family history, anyway?"

"I dunno. For one thing, we still have Grandfather in this universe, but I'm not sure about the demon thing. If I was demon-related, would I be able to bend fire?"

"I don't see why not."

"Okay… lemme try it!" Harry turned and walked a few feet away from Cheren. The boy took a few breaths, clenching his fists shut tight. And in one swift motion, he punched his right fist forward. Nothing.

"Heh. Power doesn't run in the family." Cheren chuckled.

"Well, if you couldn't do it. Besides, my S.P.I.C.E.R. is good enough. Anyway, this was the jungle they saw Miyuki heading into. I heard this place is really well-known for its ape population. Maybe we'll get turned into Rainbow Monkeys like my dad was one time."

"Ha ha, I hope not. Let's just figure out why the demons are occupying this place… and take out any along the way." (Play the "Shy Guy Jungle" theme from Paper Mario: Sticker Star!)

Stage 4: Jungle of the Apes

Mission: Traverse through the thick jungle and find Miyuki!

The operatives started their venture into the thick jungle, having to push past giant shrubs and vines hanging from trees. Harry touched one of the vines, which turned out to be a snake, but Cheren sliced the hissing creature as they kept moving. Green Chuchus formed up from the ground ahead, a couple of them latching onto Cheren, but Harry burned them with his S.P.I.C.E.R.. Cheren pushed away other Chuchus with his shield as they leaped at him before slicing them in half. The two continued past a few more shrubs before they reached a trench with a rapid river down below.

"Any ideas?" Cheren asked.

"This is why I come prepared." Harry smirked as he revealed his G.R.A.P.P.L.U.H.. He grabbed Cheren's arm as he shot the device at a tree branch on the other side, hauling them over. They continued along a clear path between two rows of large rocks. Just then, a giant crab crawled out from behind the rocks, blocking their way. Its left claw was larger and made of stone.

"No, nono, nope, nono, nope, nono." It said quickly, skittering back and forth.

"Come on, let us pass." Cheren demanded as they tried to walk around.

"No, nononono, nope, nononono, nope." It still blocked their way.

Harry tried to shoot it, but its huge claw protected. "No nononono, no nononono."

"Darn. We'll have to find a different route." Cheren said.

"Hold on! There's two of us, right?" Harry asked.

"Yeah…?"

"So I'll go around the right, you take the left, and he can't block both of us! To make me go around, tap the little icon on the Touchscreen and draw me a path for me to walk-"

"WHAT??" Cheren yelled.

"Hehe! Just kidding! I feel like we're playing Zelda."

"Ugh. Just do it." Harry did so and walked to the right, and the crab tried to block him.

"No no, nope-nono, nono." Cheren hurriedly ran left, and the crab zipped back-and-forth, confused which way to go. "No no, nonono, no!-" Cheren struck him from behind and knocked him out. Harry was able to get by as the two high-fived.

The duo kept moving along as they found an area with five large tree stumps, each at different heights, with a Miniblin dancing on each of them, wearing grass skirts. Cheren ran and rolled into one of the tree stumps, causing them all to jump down. The crazy creatures tried poking the operatives with spears, but Cheren and Harry were still able to take them out in one hit. The operatives then noticed two separate roads between huge stone walls. They decided to follow the right path first, finding an area where the ground was covered in long sticks. Oddly enough, across the pile of sticks was a huge container of coffee. "Cheren, look!" Harry pointed to the other side of the sticks, noticing a mask that was designed like a cobra snake. "It's some mask!"

"Hm. I wonder why that's here? Another Majora victim?" Cheren tried to walk over to the mask, but as soon as he stepped on the first stick, a giant jade snake, camouflaged with the scenery, gnashed its long teeth at Cheren. "Aah!" he jumped back.

The snake took the cobra mask in its tooth and curled it in its body. "Hoooo… You thought you could ssssneak here and take Sssslitherss massk."

"Um, we were wondering if we could take a look at it?" Cheren asked.

"Hnnnno. A dark wizard gives Sssslitherss this massk long ago. Normally Ssslitherss sssleep. But he keep himssself awake by drinking highly caffeinated coffee." With that, the large snake stuck his head over the coffee container and proceeded to drink it. "Slithers hasn't sssslept in yearsss. No one getsss by me anymore. Thiss massk ssstays with me. Now leave… before you become Ssslitherss nexxxt dinner…"

They backed away from the giant jade snake, leaving it to guard its mask. "Well, I guess we're not going that way." Harry said as he and Cheren proceeded to follow the left path, though Cheren made a mental note to come back later. The left road was a straight path with spike-traps hiding in tiny slots in the ground. The two operatives ran straight ahead and leapt over the spikes fast enough to avoid being pierced. They came to a dead-end area where a rope went over a wooden beam, then was tied around the top of a tall stone, which seemed to serve as a door. The operatives both grabbed the end of the rope and stepped backward, using all their strength to pull the rope and lift the stone door upward. "Think it'll hold?" Harry asked.

"No. We'll have to run and roll under." When the stone was at its highest point, they let go, ran for the open way, and Youth Rolled under the stone just before it closed. They appeared on a small cliff that was over a waterfall in an enclosed area. They noticed a tall log standing upright on the cliff on the other side. Harry simply shot his G.R.A.P.P.L.U.H. at the top of the log and pulled on it, causing to topple over and make a bridge. They carefully balanced across to the other side and entered a swamp area with huge lilipads in the water. The swamp went only up to their waists, so they tried to just walk across, but that's when a swarm of piranhas swam over and tried munching on them.

"AAAH!" they screamed, hurrying back to land as they smacked the piranhas off.

"Blaarr. Git yer smelly-ass human parts out of our swamp." A piranha said hatefully before going back to swim with the others.

"Ookay. So we aren't walking across."

"Those lilipads look big enough to hold us." Cheren pointed. The two shrugged and attempted to hop on the first lilipad, but it immediately collapsed to their weight. "NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HOLD US!" Cheren yelped as they were attacked by piranhas again. "Okay. Guess I'll have to go by myself." Cheren figured as he pulled out the Kateenian Mask. "Wait here until I find something." He placed the mask on his face and immediately transformed into a half-sized Kateenian.

"Ooooh!" Harry's eyes widened with interest. Cheren ran to jump on the first lilipad, and this time it was able to withstand his short weight. The Kateenian-human proceeded to jump the series of lilipads, going between two rock walls to another area of the swamp. He looked up as a swarm of Keese were bunched together among the branches. The monster bats awakened and flapped down to attack Cheren, but they were immediately scared away when a light stream of water was squirted at them.

Cheren looked up to his left to find a monkey wielding what looked like a 2x4 squirt gun. "Hoo-ooh-aah-aah!" the monkey jumped, raising the squirt gun in the air. The excited chimp tossed the device down to Cheren before leaping away amongst the trees. Cheren picked up the squirt gun and studied it closely.

The Supreme Leader hopped his way across the lilipads again and made it back to Harry, showing him the device. "Any idea what this is?"

"Oh yeah!" Harry recognized it. "It's something the scientists have been working on. It's a squirt gun with two kinds of special water: water that makes plants shrink and water that makes them grow. They built it as a way to reduce the spread of broccoli and other vegetables. But I guess they decided to ditch it in case adults stole it and used it against us."

"Well, it's serving us now! Let's take it!"

Kids Next Door: S.Q.W.I.R.T.

Squirts Quenchable Water Into Respiring Terrain

Cheren saw a thin plant that sprouted a leaf dangling over the swamp. He tested the S.Q.W.I.R.T. out by watering this plant, causing the leaf to grow to the size of a boat and even bend into the shape of a boat as it placed itself on the water. The two exchanged smiles before hopping in the boat. Cheren squirted behind the boat to make it push in the direction they wanted to go. They floated to another spot of land and stepped off the boat, but shortly arrived at another part of the swamp. With only a single big lilipad to work with, Cheren, in his Kateenian body, stood on the weak platform and used the squirt gun to push himself along the water. In the water were Bio Boko Babas, hungry plant monsters that waited for Cheren to approach, but the operative carefully navigated around them.

Cheren made it onto some land with another Leaf Boat Plant, watering it and making it grow to its boat size. Cheren got into the boat and floated his way back to Harry, allowing his partner to get in with him. They floated over to a left area of the swamp as Keese swooped down to try and nip them, but Harry scared them off with his S.P.I.C.E.R.. They drifted over to another piece of land where a Big Boko Baba was guarding the path ahead. Cheren reverted to normal and tried to swing his sword at the giant plant, but it snapped the operative in his mouth before tossing him away. Cheren growled as he recovered, looking at his S.Q.W.I.R.T. and switching to the other water setting. He ran to the giant plant and shot the reverse-growth water, causing it to shrink to a regular Boko Baba.

Cheren easily sliced the plant and defeated it as the two continued to another enclosed area. The path seemed to continue on an upper area, but all they could find were three patches of dirt and three seeds, a pink one, a blue one, and a yellow one. Cheren went to grab the yellow seed and toss it onto the middle dirt patch, shooting water onto it to make it grow into a flower platform. Cheren shrugged to Harry, who shrugged back before grabbing the blue seed and tossing it onto the furthest dirt patch, Cheren watering it afterward to make it grow into a taller platform. Their eyes widened with amazement before grabbing the pink seed and throwing it on the closest dirt patch, watering and making it into a medium sized platform.

"Well, this doesn't help us." Harry said. Cheren studied the relatively easy puzzle for a second before nodding and using the reverse-growth water to shrink the yellow and pink platforms back into seeds. He tossed the yellow seed onto the first patch and the pink seed onto the middle patch, watering them to make them grow to their respective sizes. "That works!" Harry said after the platforms made a staircase. The two operatives climbed onto the short yellow platform, jumped to the pink one, and then jumped to the blue one before reaching the ledge above.

Up there, they found two Miniblin with spears and grass skirts, bashing each other on the head. "I'm Dirty Dan-"

"No, I'm Dirty Dan-"

"No, I'M Dirty Dan-"

Cheren was about to strike them, but was stopped by Harry. "Wait! We gotta play this right!" he whispered. The Alternate Uno child rolled over to the Miniblin and took aim with his S.P.I.C.E.R.. "OKAY! Which one of you is the REAL Dirty Dan?..."

The two monsters exchanged glances. "I AM!" They both raised hands. Immediately, Cheren jumped out and did a spin attack, taking them both out.

"So you both are." He said, sheathing his sword. Next to them was a rapid-moving river, and another Leaf Boat Plant. Cheren watered the plant and made it grow into a boat, and they quickly hopped on as it began moving down the river. The boat was difficult to maneuver as it surfed across the rapids, with the operatives having to swerve it left and right to avoid rocks, and having to duck to avoid branches. There were Foothold Plants coming up ahead, so Cheren quickly fired the S.Q.W.I.R.T. and minimized them to avoid crashing. Octoroks popped out of the river ahead and spat rocks at them, but Cheren bounced them back with his shield to knock them out. The river was easy going the rest of the way, but it quickly came up to a waterfall. Harry grabbed Cheren and shot his G.R.A.P.P.L.U.H. onto a tree branch to swing them to a ledge, while the leaf boat was sucked in the mouth of a Big Octo down below.

"You guys always do this extreme stuff in your universe?" Harry asked as they stopped to catch their breath.

"Let's keep looking for Miyuki." Cheren stated simply as he walked ahead.

Harry rolled his eyes. "So serious." With that, he followed his ally. (End song.)

The sky started to become dark after more venturing into the jungle. The sky was orange in the distance behind the trees, and Harry could see the sun was setting. "It's getting late. We should stop and get rest, then keep moving in the morning." Harry suggested.

"What? We can't stop now! Not when we're this close to finding Miyuki! I'm…" Cheren released a yawn.

"Heh heh. Okay, workaholic, you really need to settle down. Let's make camp."

The duo put out sleeping bags and had their weapons placed on the ground. They made a pile of firewood as Cheren furiously rubbed two sticks over the wood. He grunted angrily, unable to make the fire. "Come ooon! Light, you son of a-" Just like that, the sticks flashed, and the fire bursted forth.

"Whoa!" Harry fell back a little, surprised. "Nice fire!"

"Heh…" Cheren blushed and brushed his hands off.

Harry then grabbed a bag of marshmallows and tossed one to Cheren. They stuck them onto sticks and began to roast them over the fire. "You're really serious about finding this Miyuki person." Harry observed. "Is there something… goin' on with you two?" He raised a brow.

Cheren blushed. "What? No! It's just, my job as leader is to protect all of my operatives, and that includes Miyuki."

"Alright then. Anyone you do like?"

"I dunno."

"Yeah ya do. Anyone you really miss back in your home dimension?"

Cheren looked away in thought. "Well… there was this one girl… I was thinking about her last night."

"Is she pretty?"

Cheren blushed. "I dunno."

"Is she related to anyone of our parents' parallels?"

"Uhh… yeah?"

"The Gilligans' daughter?"

"No."

"Beatles'?"

"No."

"Storks'?"

"No."

"Drilovskys'?"

"N-…" Cheren stopped himself.

"So it's THEIR daughter?"

"Nnn…" Cheren blushed. "Well, what about you?? Anyone YOU like?"

"No!!" Harry shouted.

"Come ooon. …Is it Kellie?"

"No."

"Melissa?"

"No."

"Celeste?"

"Ye- NO!!"

"Aha!!" Cheren exclaimed as he pointed.

"Oh, just forget about it." Harry said as he stomped out the fire. "Let's get some sleep. Hopefully we'll catch up to Miyuki tomorrow."

The two operatives fixed their selves into their sleeping bags. Cheren felt sad as he laid his head on his pillow, the thought of never seeing Panini again forming in his mind. "And dude?" Harry spoke.

"Hm?"

"Don't worry. You'll get to see her again. Whoever she is."

Cheren smiled at this and closed his eyes, trying to get some slumber.

In the skies above, a shooting star was quickly dropping toward the earth.

The next morning…

The sun was already high in the heavens as Cheren awoke to the sound of chirping jungle birds. He yawned, rubbed his eyes, and put on his glasses. As he turned to notice Harry still asleep, a sound caught his ears. It sounded like singing in the distance. He quickly crawled over to shake Harry. "Harry, get up."

"Mmmn, no, Mom, I wanna sleep for 10 more minutes…" Harry snored.

"Get up!" Cheren yelled, standing and stomping the boy's stomach.

"Oow!" Harry whined and sat up.

"Do you hear that?" Cheren whispered. The two faced ahead as the singing drew closer.

"We stealing, carousing, sea-farin', ship jumping, and DRIINKing EEEVeryDAAAY!" Through the shrubs, a band of robotic pirates cut their way through. The one slicing the bushes and leading the way was Captain Slag, the chubby pirate with a sword for a right hand, and cracked, steel belly. His left arm was wrapped around a shorter, skinnier robot pirate, with two big eyes, and a long lower lip. The two pirates' heads were close together as they sang. "But drunk on her beeed, our muums once saaid, a life, of crime, don't PAAAY. But stealing, carousing, pillagin' and roughhousing, are fuuun times ALLL the WAAAY!"

"D'arr, it won't be long now, mateys! Somewhere beyond this jungle lies the ancient ruins, home to the Earthican apes of old as it were…"

"But what could a bunch of apes be holding in there that's so special?" the skinny pirate said with a hiccup.

"Ay, something tasty, Rusty Pete. Why, with all these spawn from the Underworld crowdin' this here jungle, Ay can sense it be somethin' worth slicin' a few heads fer, aye?"

"Oi, boss." One of the pirates spoke up as he walked over to Cheren and Harry's campsite. Their sleeping bags and some of their clothes were left on the ground. "Methinks some poor souls be after that treasure, too, aye?"

"Arrgh, it be those meddlesome Kids Next Darr that be escapin' our fleet. Arr, can't go anywheres wifout the likes of them in our way, aye? Scour the area and search fer clues, eh?"

But at that moment, Harry Uno dropped from a tree and onto Rusty Pete, knocking the first mate out before beginning to burn pirates with his S.P.I.C.E.R.. Captain Slag turned to face him, his sword raised, but turned around when Cheren dropped down behind him. "YAAAAH!" Cheren leapt at the pirate, his leg stretched straight at him, ready for a kick. When his bare foot made contact with the pirate's steel belly, he froze. Pain surged through him, and the Supreme Leader gripped his foot as he hopped on the other, grunting in pain.

Slag immediately grabbed his leg and held him upside-down. "Soo, yeh tryin' ta lay the smack on me, yeh wee squishy? Why I oughta ball you up, squeeze ye into a cannon, and BLAST ye all the way into the sun! Yeh mangy bilge rat-" The captain dropped Cheren when he was suddenly attacked by a bunch of monkeys which fell from the trees. "AYYRGH! What manner of trickery be this? ! OFF me, ye filthy undeveloped scallywags!" Slag cried as he shook around, trying to get the apes off of him.

At the same time, a pack of apes began pounding on the other pirates as Harry looked confused. Just then, a female ape with a red rose on its head and grey fur climbed down and jumped around the operatives to get their attention. "Come with me. Ook. Ook."

The two exchanged glances and quickly put on the rest of their clothes and gathered their camp equipment, hurriedly running after the little monkey.

"Arrrr!" Captain Slag roared again, trying to pull off the monkeys. "Begone with ye, ye miserable man-rats!" At that instant, a wave of purple flames was thrown, and the apes cowered away. The pirates were able to recover, looking confused. "Aaaye? What sorcery be this-ah?"

"Look, Boss!" a pirate pointed. "That boy be back fer more!"

"'old on! A different air be surroundin' this one, lads." Slag noticed. "Who are ye?"

Nerehc EiznekCm Onu smirked. "Just your fellow roughhouser."