Chapter Text
Chikn was away planning “something big!” for the next challenge, which left the contestants with a morning of freedom.
The cloudy grey skies hinted at possible rain, so Garnold and Papyrus had volunteered to build a shelter that could house them all. It would be no easy task, but the two insisted.
In the meantime, Lucy was holding up a bubble to protect Vee and Queen from the rain.
“You Know I’m Waterproof Right” Queen remarked to the concentrating fox.
“Well I’m not.” Vee shot back. “So keep that barrier up.”
Lucy took a breath in. “That is what I’m trying to do. So please, try not to disturb me.”
“Alr Alr”
“Sorry.”
The three got quiet… for about two minutes. “Hey This Pink Color Is Kinda Irritating Can You Make It Blue Or Something”
“…no, I can’t control the color of my magic.” Lucy calmly stated. “It would be like trying to change my height, or-”
“What That’s Not How Magic Works” Queen asserted, tousling Lucy’s head fur and causing the bubble to flicker. “I Mean Maybe If You’re Not As Experienced As Someone Else (Me) But Magic Is Actually Really Malleable”
Lucy sighed. “Maybe magic works differently where I’m from.”
“Say, where are you from?” Vee asked, hoping to cut off Queen before she could say more.
“Well, I grew up in a monastery.” She explained. “There, I was trained by the wise Master Cho until I was old enough to find a job. He recommended I join the Miniforce, where I met the rest of my team—Sammy, Max, and Volt—and the rest is history.”
There was another silent stretch. “What were they like? Your teammates, I mean.” Vee continued.
“Well, you’ve already met Sammy. Max can be a bit hard-headed when he’s angry, but most of the time he’s a softie. And Volt… he’s kind of emotionally unaware. Can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to stop him and Sammy from killing each other.”
“Sounds Like A Fun Gang” Queen stated. “Well I Guess You’re All Probably Wondering What My Background Was Like”
“Not really.” Vee crossed her arms.
Queen gave an unamused look to the robot in return. “You Know What Just For That I’m Giving You The Full Version Without Cuts (Estimated Time: Six Hours)”
At that, a hole appeared in the bubble’s surface and spat Queen out, sealing shut with just Lucy and Vee inside.
“I Hope That Bubble’s Soundproof Because I’m Still Doing It”
A good distance away, sitting around the extinguished campfire was a group that was trying to distinguish the nature of a certain black crown.
“So, ya thinkin’ it’s demonic, huh?” Tunner asked the bunny holding the crown.
Iscream nodded. “I know it when I see it. Black and red? Cold to the touch? The slightest sensation of its breath on my paw? This thing is certainly from some Hell out there.”
Tunner nodded. “You sure do seem to have an interest in this kinda stuff, huh?”
“…maybe.” Iscream set the crown back on Lambert’s head.
“Why is that?”
The rabbit’s ears twitched. “…morbid curiosity, I suppose.”
“Hmph.”
The three sat and stared up at the sky, hearing only the sound of a distant voice monologuing about their backstory.
“…you know, you remind me of someone.”
Iscream brought their attention to Tunner again. “I do, now?”
“Yeah.” Tunner reached under his hat and pulled out a pack of cigarettes. “Jevin, his name was. Into black magic and cult-type activities. I’ve had to tussle with him a couple times, but what can ya do?”
“Sounds like my kind of company.” Iscream snickered.
Lambert bleated something to the two, drawing their attention. “What is it, little fella?” Tunner asked, now retrieving a lighter from beneath his hat.
Another bleat.
“…you know, I can’t understand a word they’re saying.” Iscream turned back to Tunner.
The sheriff sighed as he lit the cigarette. “Yeah, neither can I.” He inhaled a puff of smoke, then extended one to Iscream. “You smoke?”
“Nah, that stuff kills ya.” The bunny pushed his hand back.
Tunner raised an eyebrow. “Really? Even demons don’t like smokin’?”
“Well, personally, I don’t, but others-”
Iscream’s eyes shot open, and their pupils had shrunk to pinpricks. Tunner’s neutral expression had morphed into a wide grin. “Caught ya.” He smirked.
The rabbit sighed. “…you know what, not like it matters now. Yes, I’m a demon.”
Lambert’s eyes widened at the admission and they took a step back. Tunner held his ground, however. “Don’t you worry, I won’t tell no one.” He leaned forwards, the brim of his hat obscuring his eyes. “But what exactly were you planning to do with that crown?”
“I can’t tell you now.” Now it was Iscream’s turn to smile, revealing several sharp rows of teeth that certainly weren’t there before. “I might still do it.”
“Fair enough.” Tunner sat back down. “But do try not to kill anyone. I might have’ta get on your case if you do that.”
“Deal.” Iscream returned to a neutral state.
Meanwhile, Lambert was still shaken by the confrontation, no matter how peacefully it had resolved.
The crown glanced around at the group. “Such a prideful bunch.” It whispered.
Yet further, at the very edge of the woods, two cats and an owl were simply sitting back and relaxing.
“Uggghhhh, I’m BORED.”
…well, one of the cats was relaxing, anyways.
Sammy stared down the sulking Jibanyan. “Then go find something to do.”
“…alright, I’ve got something to do!” Jibanyan suddenly jumped up on top of a nearby stump and clapped his paws together. “I’m gonna tell you how I became a yo-kai!”
“Oh, boy.” Sammy crossed his arms. “I’ll bet this is going to be one big ego stroke.”
Chee glanced at the owl. “Well, I don’t know, maybe it could be a nice story!”
“She’s right-” Jibanyan pointed at Cheezborger. “-and you’re wrong. Anyways, it began on a ship in the middle of the ocean. My owner was a pirate captain, sailing the high seas and always searching for adventure!”
“What was their name?” Chee asked.
Jibanyan waved her off. “Nyot important. We had sailed across the world, planning on being the first two living beings to chart the dreaded… BERMUDA TRIANGLE!”
He paused, waiting for a reaction, but the two just seemed confused. “…Bermuda Triangle?” Jibanyan repeated. “Big- big triangle in the sea where ships go missing?”
“Doesn’t ring a bell.” Sammy shook his head.
“…well, whatever. We were almost at the other end of the death zone, traveling across terrible storms and unforgiving waves. But just when we thought we’d see the sunlight again… a massive sea monster rose from the water!”
Chee gasped in shock, but Sammy just rolled his eyes. Or, well, rolled his head to give the illusion that his eyes were rolling.
Jibanyan was unphased. “It raised a tentacle and began to drag our boat into the ocean! But my owner wouldn’t go down so easy, nyo way! She climbed onto the tentacle, drawing her sword, and jammed it into one of the beast’s eyes before finally falling.”
“And so, I am cursed to wander the earth until I one day find my beloved owner again.” The cat finished, taking a bow.
Chee began clapping. “That was an awesome story!” She praised.
“Yes… a fictional one.” Sammy amended.
“Psh, you’re just jealous.” Jibanyan marched forwards and leaned into Sammy’s face. “But hey, who wouldn’t be?”
Sammy’s beak twitched. “…I’m going for a walk.” He stated, before standing up and leaving the group.
Jibanyan watched him leave, before turning back to Chee. “What a jerk, huh?”
“Where are we headed, again?” Whisper asked his hiking partner, armed with only a small flashlight and his wits.
Rodger glanced behind him, partially to acknowledge Whisper and partially to make sure he wasn’t being followed. “We are seeing if anything lies beyond this forest. Signs of life, if you will.”
Whisper gulped. “…but… what if there’s…” He glanced side to side. “…ghosts?”
The toon sighed. “Whisper, aren’t you a ghost?”
“Yo-kai, actually. And that just means I know they exist!”
“Alright, if you see a ‘yokai,’ you have permission to flee. But I’m going until I find something.” Rodger stated.
“W-well, there’s NO WAY I’m floating back through these woods!”
“Then I suppose you’re stuck with me.”
Whisper pouted for a moment, but dropped the argument. “…what are you hoping to find, pray tell?”
“Signs of life.” Rodger flicked his flashlight at a nearby bush, but it was only the wind that shook it, not an animal. “We can’t possibly be alone out here, can we?”
The yo-kai thought. “I’m not sure… this place seems positively deserted.”
“There must be something. This world cannot possibly have been concocted solely for the purpose of a game show.”
“Why not?”
Rodger paused. “…someone that childish shouldn’t have that much power.”
“Ah.” Whisper put a hand to his chin. “Well, my current boss is an elementary school student, and he’s handling being the sole person who’s able to see yo-kai just fine!”
Rodger glanced at Whisper. “…well, you can entrust your safety to children all you want. I’m doing the intelligent thing.”
“Is that meant to insinuate that I’m not smart?” Whisper raised an eyebrow.
“Considering you haven’t noticed our change of surroundings, yes. I’d say it is.”
Whisper broke eye contact with Rodger and surveyed the forest again, and sure enough, something was wrong.
The trees around them looked… fake. Like someone had put up a cardboard cutout of a tree. Whisper flew to the other side of the tree, but it always seemed to be facing him. “Well, isn’t this some peculiar foliage?” He thought.
“Indeed.” Rodger nodded. “Let’s mark this spot and come back later.”
“Way ahead of you, detective!” Whisper saluted the toon, took out a small pocketknife, and carved the tiniest “X” into a tree’s bark.
Rodger clicked his flashlight off. “Now, time to-”
Footsteps.
“…was that you, Rodger?” Whisper asked.
“No.” Rodger clicked his light back on and began flashing the surrounding area, and stopped on the source of the noise…
…a pixelated man with a grey shirt and a raised index finger.
“No vandalizing school grounds in the halls.” He said in a stilted monotone, before placing his hands on each of the contestants’ shoulders.
And just like that, the three vanished.