Toadstool World
The Oob were a race of peaceful, round-shaped spirits that had temples built all over the planet. These temples were sanctuaries where people could seek refuge, but many of these temples had been secured by the mafia. The only safe haven people could escape to was the First Resort, a temple which spanned across a large portion of Everdawn Valley. The Oob Deacon, leader of his race, were ensure protection for all his denizens: if anybody were killed or forcibly dragged outside his temple, the deacon would bind the culprits in ghostly chains and seal them in a dungeon.
A pair of Abmoog brothers with red and blue skin zoomed up the valley road in a buggy. Mafia cars were in pursuit, with Revilo driving the lead car. Revilo wore a black jacket and matching fedora with sunglasses. The Abmoogs launched Apook shells backward, taking down several cars, but Revilo dodged and blasted Dark Beams at their buggy. "Sanctuary, sanctuary!" the brothers yelled, but Revilo struck their wheel and flipped them upside-down. They landed before the edge of the temple's grounds. The blue brother reached to touch the border, but Revilo and the gang of Toads caught up. They seized the red brother and were about to grab the blue.
"STOP!" yelled the Oob Deacon. He had a yellow tongue with matching eyes and a small pope's hat. "This man is on my property. He's called for sanctuary."
"Look, Hunchback of No Body, these two never paid back the mafia's loans, so I'm under orders to bring them to the Underboss. They have a debt to work off."
"Drag them off my territory and you will be punished."
"Fine, you can keep Bluey. But Reddy here is still our game." They bound the red Abmoog up and dragged him to a car. "Looks like he'll be working off BOTH your debts!"
"HEY! You give him back!"
"Don't worry about me, Bro! The mafia ain't gonna break me, I'll break 'em first!"
"Yeah, yeah." Revilo scoffed, getting back in his car. "But if you hand yourself in, maybe we'll go lighter on you both. For now, I'll have more soldatos patrolling the border."
Revilo brought the red brother to a parked airship where the Goddaughter, Airam was waiting, sitting in a fancy cabin. Her feet were propped on a desk and her rump on an oversized chair. "So, we only nabbed one, eh? Those arms look pretty good for scrubbing. Send him to Isle Onifled. He'll be digging coal for a while."
"You won't get away with this, you little twerp! I'll strangle you, I will!" the Abmoog vowed as the Toads dragged him away.
"Onifled?" Revilo questioned. "You trying to set him up with Allebmoog?"
"Abmoog fingers are good for digging coal, that's all. And speaking of good fingers… let's go pick up my new dress before we head home. Business really makes a girl sweaty, Revilo."
"The new Poison Chi certainly shows." Revilo pinched his nose.
"Don't remind me."
The Underboss made a quick flight to Lake Démodé, a toxic lake that was home to a race of poisonbending mermaids, known as Lochladies. (This would be a good name for Nega-mermaids in general, but in the Posi-Mushroom World, they are still called that.) The town under the lake was a muggy area. The Lochladies were known for weaving plain clothes in sweatshops, but they weren't very popular besides.
"Ugh, I can't believe that girl wove something like that." A lady scoffed.
"Trying to outshine us, how dare she?"
Anaigrom was forced to wear a ragged brown top and skirt with bulky boots. Using what materials were given to her, she wove a sleek white dress with open-toed platform shoes and matching, wide sun hat with a pink ribbon. "'ey, Ana! The Underboss is here, ya better be ready."
Anaigrom sneered at the Lochlady. "Yeah, here's your dumb thing." She handed the clothes over.
"Peh. I don't get why the mafia didn't send ya to the Underlook, makin' these shiny-ass things."
"Maybe they want me to teach ya a thing or two."
"Oh, we'll teach you a thing all right!"
The Lochlady packaged the clothes up and brought them to Airam's ship. With that, they made the trip back home.
…
Shrew City was an unkempt town of mostly three-story buildings. As Airam's limousine carried them, she and Revilo watched the sights roll by. Gangs hung out in almost every alley, looking at other passerby threateningly or whiffing drugs. Airam's limo drove through a gate that led to a forested road. The road took several snaky turns before leading to Toadstool Manor, set partway up the mountain to overlook town.
Once they had returned home, Airam relaxed on a posh white garden chair on the veranda. She swayed her foot expectantly as Revilo began to file her nails. There was a gap in the fumy clouds to let sunlight shine on the heiress. "Does your mom even care about one or two unpaid loans? She controls the whole planet, doesn't she?"
"Technically, yes, but officially, no. Legal crap and all that. But the less resistance there is, the better. If too many people make it to those 'sanctuaries,' it'll become a problem. Though she said herself that she could take down the deacon whenever she wants to. The same way she got the Apooks to fall in line. If any soldatos tried to run and hide there, she would definitely attack. Including our friends."
"I see…"
"WELL, AH DON'T KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENIN' TO ME~" The gorilla, Yeknod Gnok, burst open the veranda door, jigging to his song. "Ah just wanted to do that monkey… at the zoo, yeah." The two shot a glare of annoyance at him. "I thought I was the ape with the ultimate DONG of them all! But I'm an absolute zero. 'Guess I'm nobody's heeeero."
"You're interrupting my pedicure, Yeknod."
"Salutations, Underboss! I hope you and this little hooligan have been behaving yourselves."
"Revilo's been a very good boy. Gooder than me, at least."
"So, how's Ikik?" Revilo asked. "She fitting in with you apes?"
"Oh, we can hardly tell her apart from our own! Apart that she's now a delightful zoo animal, oh hoo hoo heh. But I wanted to inform you that the Boss is holding a dinner between the consiglieres and capos this evening and she'd like you to attend."
"I know what my own mom is doing, I live here."
"Just didn't want it to slip your mind, or to have you slip away~ I do hope to see you there. By the way, boy, would you like to see a video of the fat girl's status?"
"Certainly." Revilo answered.
Yeknod held up a phone, playing a video of Ikik inside a hanging cage in a jungle. She was scratching her armpit like a monkey and dressed in a furry brown top and pants. One of the Gnoks threw a tomato at her head, prompting Ikik to shout, "Ooo-ooo-ooo, AH, AH!" and tug on the cage. "We gassed her with the Gorilla Goodness drug! Isn't she a natural?"
"Hah, she is." Revilo cracked a smirk. "Always thought her as more of a cow though."
"Well, we have a drug for that. Toodle-oo, chums!" Yeknod walked away. "…" Revilo shared a scowl with Airam. While it's true they weren't friendly with Ikik, even they were sick to see her like that.
Toadstool Moon
The Black Shroom landed at a pier on a cliff of the moon. Don Shrew, Igiul, and Tulip marched off the ship and across the valley, their goons carrying several coolers. In the distance, a Galactic Navy base stood, encased in a barrier.
An army of impish creatures awaited them. They had white, furry hoods and red suits, though their colors varied, and all had a large "Y" on their suits. They waved flags that bore the "Y" symbol with spectacles on either side of the letter. The leader of these creatures was a larger one in a navy officer's uniform, his head mechanical with a glass dome, and carrying a scepter whose head matched his own.
"Rear Admiral Sudorg, how good to see you!" the Don expressed. "I suppose Vice Admiral Dump couldn't bother?"
"NYAH, no get pleasant with me, Don Shrew! YOU better have what YOU promised, Y!"
"Y-NAUT, Y-NAUT, Y-NAUT!" The troops chanted, arms positioned like the letter.
"WHY do you insist on chanting your stupid race's name when WE ALREADY KNOW?!" Igiul shouted. "How'd you like it if I do it, HUMAN, HUMAN, ITALIANO!"
"Patience, dear Sudorg, we have the Moebian right here! So long as you hand us what we asked, we'll hand her right over and be on our merry way."
"Let's not be so hasty, Ma'am." Another voice spoke from behind Sudorg.
"Oh?" The troops moved aside: a muscular, dark-skinned boy stepped up. He had a black, messy mohawk, an open black vest, white pants, and orange boots. Gold bands covered his wrists. "Admiral Uub?! Why, I didn't expect to see you here~"
"Don Shrew, I demand to see Admiral Eniram alive. Show us her right now!"
"I'm afraid I can only meet you halfway. Safety first, you know?" Shrew snapped her fingers.
The Pianta goons carrying the coolers opened them. Uub froze up in terror: the coolers contained Eniram's body parts, frozen in perfect ice cubes. "YOU'VE KILLED HER!! Don Shrew, you won't leave this moon ALIVE!"
The admiral began to enlarge and transform: he was a five-headed, ten-tusked, pure-white elephant. Don Shrew smirked, conjuring a massive cloud of gas when Uub blasted Water Guns from all five trunks. The gas filtered and vaporized the water, but Uub held his breath and charged through the gas, attempting to flatten the mafia with his trunks. Tulip slipped away while Shrew and Igiul endured the trunks. The boss bent powder out from her dress and shoved it up one of the trunks. Uub huffed it in, causing that head's eyes to grow wide and turn mad. Uub cut off the consciousness from that head and stomped away, shooting water jets from his feet. Tulip drew a long pole to whack and deflect the jets. Meanwhile, Don Shrew bent a wave of toxic waste over from the ship to splash over Uub, the elephant struggling to evade.
"'ey, knock it off, ya stupid elefante!" Igiul yelled. "She's-a fine, have a look!" He drew a flamethrower and used it to melt the ice around Eniram's head.
"Oi! Where in blazes?!" Eniram bounced awake. "Why am I so cold, I…AH?! WHERE THE HELL IS MY BODY?!"
"Eniram?! You're alive?!"
"Uub?!"
"I chopped her up with-a my Chop-Chop Fruit!" Igiul twirled a butcher's knife. "Nothing dies from my chopping unless I say so! It's good for keeping the meat nice and fresh."
"Now, I think we had a deal." Shrew smirked. "The navy's going to trade me the materials I asked for in exchange for your admiral well and alive."
"You don't possibly think we'll let you get away with this!" Uub argued. "Augh!" But a force overcame him as his eye flashed the navy's symbol. "Why… How could you let this happen… Admiral…"
"Nee, Y-NAUTS, bring the tankards out!" Sudorg ordered. "Just get her to stop polluting MY moon, Y!"
"Y-NAUT, Y-NAUT, Y-NAUT!" The soldiers transported several jugs of substance to the mafia's side. Igiul stuffed Eniram's head back in her cooler as all her pieces were handed to the navy. "You'll have to reassemble her yourself-a!"
"Pleasure doing business with you~" Shrew wiggled her fingers as they returned to their ship.
"Wait, we're not through here!" Uub yelled. "What's the status of the Black Lotus leader's daughter and wife?!"
"I think we'll keep them around a little bit longer. Make sure you navy guys behave. Mushu-shu-shu-shu-shu-shu-shu!" Her laugh echoing across the moon, the mafia ascended back to the planet.
Toadstool Manor
Revilo stood guard outside Airam's room while the girl changed clothes. He glared as Awful Oiram walked by. "'ey, what's the little scappa doin' in there, boy?!"
"Why the fuck do you throw in Italian words in your English? How'm I supposed to know what you're saying if you don't-"
"It means runaway, fucking runaway, you stupid merda!" Oiram pushed Revilo aside and banged the door. "Oi! You better not be plotting anything in there-"
Airam blew the door open with a Radon Punch, slamming her father against the opposite wall. She had on her brown pants, but only a white tank-top. "I don't recall giving you permission to attack my right hand."
"I don't need my own daughter's permission! Even in the mafia, I'm ranked the same as you!"
"Revilo was ordered to guard my room while I get dressed. Girls like privacy, I hope you know."
"You've had enough privacy this past year! I demand to look in your room!" The father stormed into the room and tore up his daughter's dresser, queen-size bed, and her TV. "Hmph…no communicators, letters, or nothin'." With that, Oiram stomped out. "But I'll catch you one of these days, and when I do-"
"DADDY! Sissy!"
Esiuol magnetically flew at her sister with a hug. "Ain't it a beaut that we're back home? When Ma gets back, can we go to one of them 'funny playgrounds' with all the screamin' people?"
"It's called an amusement park, you idiot!" Airam pushed her off. "And Esiuol, I do believe you soiled all your pants, so you should really buy some new ones."
"Shoot, how'd you know, Sissy? I don't even remember doin' it!"
"Well, my enhanced smell says otherwise." And also, because she asked Revilo to fill them with dirt. "So, Dad, could you take Esiuol shopping before dinner?"
"Bah!" Oiram grabbed the older twin's hand and dragged her away.
"I forget she even exists sometimes." Airam sighed.
"I can see why you don't like these dicks." Revilo remarked.
"Hmm…" Airam glanced up at her friend. In truth, she cared less about the state of her room than she did for his wellbeing. "Do you hate me?"
Revilo perked up. "Where did that come from?"
"Where do you think? Because of me, you and the others…sigh, you know."
"Forget about that. We just gotta… figure something out is all. The rest of the DNK have to come eventually, right?"
"Who knows. Anyway… better get dressed. You can use my washroom."
…
Revilo would stay by his friend's side in the dining room. One by one, the consiglieres arrived. "'SCUSE ME, CHUMS." A huge, muscular Washling man in a pirate captain's black coat and hat marched in. His voice was rather scary and gurgly. "I had a bite before coming here, so sorry if I smell like shark-sticks and tartar. HMM-MUU-MUU-MUU!"
Captain Mollusk is a pirate who once terrorized the seas of Toadstool before joining the mafia. He is -130 years old and oversees Washopolis as his territory. He ate the Eel-Eel Fruit, Model: Conger, making him capable at underwater combat.
"I'm quite positive your people invented toothpaste, so I doubt your apology is sincere." Yeknod replied. "Why don't you apply your culture's tradition to practice more often?"
Yeknod Gnok and his family of apes rule the animals of the Gnok Sea with terror. He is a genius scientist and strategist. He seems to possess a Devil Fruit that lets him emit smoke.
"You're the one who smells like a cigar barn, Yeknod." Tulip retorted. She was a thin woman in a black bikini and high-heel boots, and her hair was light-brown. "But if Igiul don't give me some, I'll let you make a monkey in me~" She popped a bottle open and drank.
"'ey! We still haven't found out if you're pregnant," Igiul yelled, "don't-a poison my little mushroom!"
"Like we need any more kids around here."
Tulip had always been a close officer of Don Shrew, and she commands the mafia in the country of Sarexaland. Her Strip-Strip Fruit can hypnotize people into performing sexual dances by stripping them half-naked, but the effect will wear off if they are reclothed.
The Oiram Brothers had parallel seats near the table's end. Airam and Esiuol would sit on that end at separate sides of their mother's seat. Revilo found Nebraskapook casting him a glare. There were other officers present as well.
The doors creaked open as Don Shrew entered the chamber, proudly taking her seat. The Gifter butlers (Shy Guys with sweet faces) would dance out and serve food to the table. "What a spectacular start to the new year! Not only have the New Galaxia operations succeeded splendidly, but my darling daughters have returned home! The new drugs produced from Airam's Noble Gases have shown great promise. I'm so proud of you, dear!" She ruffled Airam's hair.
"Meh…"
"Of course, I'm sure we can produce much more than drugs. With your help, we may finally construct the perfect weapons to crush those wretched rival pirates."
"Dah, her chi is inferior to yours!" declared Admiral Azure, a Dya-Namite with a mystic blue glow and high British accent. "We can make no more perfect weapons than with our lady's toxicity!"
"No, there is great promise in the Underboss's Noble Gases." replied Bronzebob, a bronze-colored Dya-Namite in a bowler hat and Russian accent. He was a capo. "With her, we may be able to crush the last resisters of the rebellion."
"Haven't the rebel races fallen low enough?" Airam asked. "Just leave them to their territories."
"Oh, you know we can't afford to show mercy, sweetheart." Shrew cooed. "Even so, my current concerns are the other Emperors. They've been attempting to make advances on the planet, and it's only a matter of time before they abduct the rebels into their crew. Just as how the Meta-Beasts kidnapped those Kremlings long ago."
"We also have another army to concern ourselves with." said Nolrem. He was a gray-cloaked Shaman with a huge, white mustache that brushed the floor, its ends like swirly clouds. Nolrem had a clock under the mustache's center: he was a timebender with a unique gray chi, and a consigliere. "The Daring New Kids. They will no doubt try to save their comrades."
"Well, let them come. That only means more slaves or potential soldatos for us. Airam, you've spent some time with the DNK. Tell me, any particular ones catch your interest?"
"Nope. I think I sold out enough of them at this point."
"Then I suppose we'll have to wait 'til if and when they visit our little world. But I should like to hope your prisoners are still in fair condition?"
"My little Washlings are having a shell of a time with that scrawny one, hmm-muu-muu-muu!" Captain Mollusk laughed.
"You just-a better behave," Oiram said to Airam, "or we'll stuff them marmocchies with way more drugs! We went easy on them with those Body Mushrooms!"
"You have my sincerest gratitude for your 'mercy.'" Airam glared.
"Ah love mercy, too!" Esiuol cheered. "Mercironi and cheese!"
"Oh, and Airam's friend." Shrew said to Revilo. "Could you bring this bowl down to the basement? I'm sure the prisoner's starving."
A Gift Guy held a bowl of green ooze to Revilo. The boy huffed and carried it downstairs as told. There were Piantas guarding a cellar in the basement, and a smooth Hispanic voice was singing. "Mushroom Shrew… Mushroom Shrew… if she doesn't scare you, then what can she do? To see her makes you wanna take a poo… Don Mushroom, Don Mushroom~ She's like a spider creeping down on you… Look out for Don Mushroom… Shrew…"
"I brought this for him." Revilo told the guards.
A Pianta opened the cell. Revilo walked up to Sutsugua Saruzzif, chained to the wall with chi-blocks. "Here to serve me more poison?" he asked with a smile.
"You don't have to eat it, I guess."
"Nah, it's good for the immune system." Revilo shrugged and held it over, allowing Sutsugua to sip from the bowl.
"Airam says she's sorry this all happened."
"Well, that ain't like her. Tell her to straighten up and keep scowling. Sweetness don't do you any good in this place. Hmp! Kuff, cough! Case and point!"
"You need a drink?"
"Nah! I'm just… fine. Aaah…just don't worry about me, kid. I'm a seasoned mafia man. And the longer they keep me here, the more trouble they'll be in."
"If you say so…" Revilo left after he was finished.
Sutsugua smirked through the green on his mouth. He still had the paper tucked away in his ear, and hoped that the others still had theirs.
Somewhere on the sea
During the mission to rescue Sutsugua on Planet Contempora, the Bodyguard Trio, consisting of Eiwets, Ollar, and Eiggam, stowed away on a Mushroom ship. Ollar had sealed them all in a book and blended them in on a shelf. Once the ship made return to the planet, they emerged from the book and KO'ed the crewmen, taking control of the vessel. Their other Little Dad associates climbed out of the books. "As I feared, it seems Nega-MG have been divided across the planet." Ollar said. He was holding several paper cranes that were trying to flap in various directions. "Not only that… they seem to be tracing multiple cards. Perhaps they are trying to indicate other associates."
Before Nega-MG left for New Galaxia, the Little Dads had given them small papers called Vivre Cards. The cards were made from Mama Tebrehs's sacred tree and had the ability to track each other. The range was only effective for cards on the same planet. Ollar focused his mind over the cranes and listened for sounds radiating from the scattered cards. "I hear their voices, as well as unfamiliar ones. I don't know why she has scattered the cards further, but I conjecture there are other prisoners being detained in exchange for -MG's cooperation."
"Then we gots to go save them all, we do!" Eiwets exclaimed.
"The boss only wanted us to prioritize Sutsugua and Airam." Eiggam reminded.
"Regardless, our chance of success is minimal with our numbers. We must plan our course carefully…"
Washopolis
Washopolis was set on a small island close to the grander Monochrome Island. Known for its Wash Wars, parts of the city would be covered in filth for teams of Washlings to scrub clean. The team who cleaned the most in the allotted time won. The Washlings were humanoid creatures with squid-like or octopus hair, and they could change into these creatures, too. Their hair came in different colors and contained all kinds of soaps.
Washopolis was known for its jazz and folk music. "On the Hook" were the jazz duo: a short Washling named Diana who played the clarinet, and a taller Octowash named Aniram who played piano.
The "Squid Cousins" were the folk band: Eillac was a soft-spoken Washling who played the harmonica and her cousin, Eiram played the accordion. Eiram was the more upbeat singer between the two. These two were also famous as the granddaughters of Captain Mollusk, so naturally, the citizens feared their wrath.
Several of the Washlings served as soldatos for the mafia. Abatiuqs and Mauqs were a particularly nasty pair of siblings who were overseeing the torture of their new prisoner. "No, I don't want any more! Stop it!" cried Oemor Tlobnoc as the Washlings stuffed him with spicy beans. But it wouldn't matter, for once he was full enough, they would force-feed him laxatives and make him take a large dump in his own pants.
This was one of several ways they would filthify him daily, others being showering him in manure or urine, making him eat mud, or submerging him in trash. Then they would scrub him clean by submitting him to carwashes boiling bathtubs, or massive toothbrushes that drilled the inside of his mouth. Afterwards, the boy would be strung upside-down in his chains above a toilet, crying like a helpless nerd being tortured by bullies. His green "Reading Raincloud" shirt and orange shorts were terribly damp, and his shoes and socks had been taken away. He already lost his glasses a while ago.
"NOOO!" Oemor cried as a Washling pressed a button to dunk him into the toilet. The toilet flushed upon sensing a presence inside it.
"The sooner you quit cryin', the sooner I'll let ya breathe." The Washling was reading a magazine and not even looking at his suffering.
"Just let us go home! We didn't even care about the mafia, the navy made us—aaahh!" Oemor was dunked again.
"No one cares, kid."
Oemor gasped for breath after being pulled out. He lost the will to cry further, but the humiliation and helplessness was building up. If not for these chi-blocking chains, he could try to summon a Dream Spirit to bust him out. Still, if he kept being put through the wringer, maybe he would shrink skinny enough to slip out of these chains. Then he could make a swift escape down that auto-flushing toilet. Boy, how he'd like to just make like a Minish and shrink away from the world. Still, he wasn't even good at the Psy-Shrink technique, and it's not like he could in this state.
If only he could at least be near Asigan. Her beautiful figure, sweet sky-blue hair, soothing eyes and soft skin. If only she could give him a hug after every day of torture. It would be all worth it to feel her comforting embrace…
"?" Oemor thought back to his previous notion about shrinking, then he thought back to Asigan. And then he remembered… Field Day. The Fairy Sisters put a magic curse around all the participants of the Whisper Hour. Would it actually work here? With nothing else to lose, Oemor decided to shout, "Asigan doesn't like her Positive, Nagisa, and she was glad that he turned into a girl in New Galaxia!"
"The hell does that have to do with anything?" The Washling pressed the button again without looking. He heard the chain lower and the sound of flushing.
About 10 seconds later, Abatiuqs and Mauqs walked into the room. "Good news, boy!" Abatiuqs smirked. "We're filling that toilet with…?!" They panicked: the chains were dangling loose and empty. They looked into the toilet as it had just finished a flush. "Nahtni, where'd the prisoner go?!"
"Huh?" He looked up. "WHAT?! No, he was there just a second ago! He shouted something about Asi-whatever, so I pushed the button and…"
"He must've loosened the chains somehow!" Mauqs deduced. "He could be using his psychic to hide! Call the others and find him!"
…
"AAAAHH!" Oemor had been flushed down the toilet, taking a waterslide down a pipe. The shrunken boy wound up in the town sewers. He resurfaced gasping for breath and climbed onto a sidewalk. "Man, it's even clean down here. Huff…thank goodness that worked. …But now I'm stuck like this. And if they catch me in this state…gulp." He didn't want to imagine the new forms of torture he'd be put through. "How am I ever gonna find the others?" Though he was free from the torture, he felt even more powerless than before. If he could at least learn where Asigan is… well, it would be a start. But how could he get to her now… and how could they even escape?
Toadstool Manor
"So, darlings…" Don Shrew said to her daughters as she walked them to their rooms, "did you enjoy meeting the family again after so long?"
"I rarely saw them, so I barely considered them family." Airam said.
"Ah missed Uncle Nolrem's face-waterfalls!" Esiuol said. "It feels like a cloud made o' strings!"
"Oh, give yourself some time to warm up to them, Airam. Until then, you'd best behave. You've got to learn responsibility if you want to inherit this business. And you can't learn responsibility by running from it. Especially in a universe that wants your pretty little head, mushu shu! Now, you sleep well tonight. Got any plans for tomorrow?"
"Well, I was thinking of looking for that Abmoog's family."
"You be careful then. Those long-armed freaks can be a handful, mushu shu. Good night, dears." She walked away.
"Sissy, can I go with you tomorrow?"
"I don't want you anywhere near me. Go find your own business." Airam and Revilo entered the former's room and slammed it shut.
Don Shrew would return to her room with Oiram. "You're puttin' too much trust in that girl, Shrew. She's-a cookin' somethin'!"
"Oh, let her try, Oiram. After all, backstabbing is what we do best~"
Abmoog Woods; the next day
Revilo drove Airam out to the nearby forest. The trees were rather torn up from the Abmoogs' regular workouts, and the locals naturally cast glares at the gangsters' car. Eventually, Revilo parked the vehicle as they both stepped out. Abmoogs immediately surrounded them threateningly. "What are YOU doin' here… 'Underboss'?"
A much bigger pair of arms climbed down from some tall trees. They belonged to a black-stached Abmoog with blue and white king's attire. "Lord Abmoog… I've come to make a request."
"A request? You sure you don't mean an offer I can't refuse?!"
"No. I know you're an officer of the Revolutionary Army, and I'm certain you have ways of contacting your fellows."
"What's it to you? We ain't got nothin' goin' on. You and your wretched family got this whole world wrapped around your slimy fingers."
"I'm just as trapped as the rest of you. The mafia is holding my friends hostage. Well… acquaintances, most of them."
"And why does that concern us?"
"Listen, big guy… I want to restore peace to this planet. I wanna take my mom down and stop the drug deals. My goals are no different from yours."
"Pretty bold of you to say that out loud. Ya sure there ain't spies?"
"You're the one who would know that. Or is your Seismic Sense not as good as they say?"
"Heh heh! Ya got me there. True, these fools can't lie to save their nuts. But you're a different story. The way you're speaking and that calm heartbeat… It just screams with untrust."
"I don't like to waste time with emotions. But I'm serious: I need the Revolutionaries' help to take down the mafia. But I can't while my fellow DNK are in danger. They didn't ask for this. They wanted nothing to do with me, but they've been forced into enslavement against their will. I know you guys have agents all around the world. And that's why… I would like for you to contact them and rescue those operatives."
"You expect us to endanger ourselves for you?!"
"That's why I called this a request. Besides, the Revolutionaries try to save innocent prisoners, right? Why should they be any different? So long as the mafia is holding them hostage, I won't be able to fully act against Don Shrew. And if nothing else… I just want to get them off this planet. So… will you please help?"
"And what if our men end up suffering for yours?"
"Then I will personally rescue them myself."
"You're a mighty bold child… too bold to be lyin', I wager. But tell me… how do ya expect us to get them off the planet?"
"I have associates from Earth. I would wager they're on this world right now, possibly listening to me. If your allies knew a special place they could bring the operatives, my allies could meet you there and take them. For them to be able to find it easier, you'll need this." She took the Vivre Card out of her ear and gave it to the ruler.
"Alright, kiddo… we'll see if my allies feel like granting your request. But you'd better not disappoint us."
"I don't plan to. However… there's one more thing I need you to do for me."
"Yeah, what?"
"The mafia thinks I drove out here wanting to collect money from some Abmoogs' family. We may have to rough each other up to make it look convincing."
"If you say so. But don't think I'll go easy on you."
Lord Abmoog's earthbending was powerful, so Airam had to put some effort into fighting back with poisonbending. Revilo even struggled to hold back the Abmoogs assaulting him. They cut the battle short before too much damage was done.
Airam would then clarify where the operatives in question were being detained. Allebmoog was working in the coal mines on the bitter cold island of Onifled. Anaigrom was sewing clothes in Lake Démodé's sweatshop. Oemor was supposedly imprisoned in Washopolis. Terezi was working in a factory at Famished Fields, being made to do sniff tests for their drugs. Xedni was on Aquaqua Island, being made to do hula dances for the vicious, big-nosed dinosaurs. Asigan was being forced to pole dance in Sarexaland. And of course, Ikik was a zoo attraction on Gnok Island's jungle.
"So, she intends for us to rescue these operatives." Ollar listened in. "But why has not informed them of her direct allies?"
…
"It's because my first priority and getting those seven out of here." Airam told Revilo. "Nega-SA didn't ask to be the navy's pawns and Terezi was only leading us through New Galaxia. But once the Revolutionaries secure those seven, the four of us can meet up, get with those Revolutionaries, and get to work. Our mission then will be to bust Sutsugua out of the mansion. If my mom doesn't suspect anything beforehand, you can bet she will then. Of course… you guys can always head to that place and escape with them."
"Well, I'd rather stick with you. Can't say the same for the others."
For the next few weeks, Airam would return to regular mafia duty, catching runaway customers or slaves and bringing them back to the capos and consiglieres. She would contribute some Poison Chi to some of the mafia's drugs and Admiral Azure's weapons. Every few days, she would be allowed to meet with her teammates for a casual hangout.
"Well, you're sure out of shape, Ydnew." Revilo remarked.
Indeed, Ydnew had been shrunk to the body of a 3-year-old. "I'm sthick of working for that dumb Nolwem! Sthupid age-wegression!"
"Can't you use your bending to stretch back to normal?"
"I could if he wet me use a miwwow! When I twy, I just wook ugwy!"
"As for me, things are going good in Damp Damp Desert." Lihp replied. "The Mighty Mice are pretty cool dudes! We've been working out a ton!"
"That's good to hear." Airam replied. "So, let me ask you guys… if you guys had a chance to escape this planet, even if it meant leaving me behind… would you do it?"
"Nuh-uh! I can't weave you aww awone up here!" Ydnew stomped.
"Me neither!" Lihp cheered. "I know things aren't lookin' so hot now, but we'll get through it! Besides… it sounds like you're up to something."
"I wish I could say that. But who knows, there could be something going on under our noses."
"HEY, SISSY!" Esiuol flew up and glomped her sister. "Let's go play Bally Ball! You an' me can be against the boys, and the li'l girl can be the coach!"
"Look, Esiuol, would you just leave me alone?"
"But Mah says she wants us to be friends!"
"Esiuol, Mom doesn't care if we're friends. You're a tracking device. You're a threat to my privacy and you can't keep your mouth shut. Now, make use of that power and repel yourself away from me."
"…" Downtrodden, the older twin flipped her Magnet power in reverse and flew away.
Across the world
The Revolutionaries had several squads of Ninjapook to swiftly travel around and relay messages to the officers. Airam wasn't told about these ninja, but she wanted Lord Abmoog to relay a promise to the other officers: "Goddaughter Airam wants to undo all the harm her mom has done. Please work with me in restoring the planet!"
After some time, the Rebels initiated their rescue operations. (And no, I don't expect you to remember all these characters, just go with the flow.)
The Revolutionary commander of the Gnok Islands was Yknam Gnok. Working with Kremlings and other allied animals, they swarmed the zoo to bust the apeified Ikik out of her cage, though the wild girl didn't come along patiently. It was then a rogue, giant Kremling called Nilluk Ysmul attempted to crush them with monstrous strength, but Ikik fought the monster out of instinct. She still remembered how to use Space Sumo Style, so she and Yknam were able to topple the beast together.
Ikik became exhausted and more cooperative after the bout, but on the cusp of their escape, Yeknod confronted them directly. He remarked how Yknam was always the loser of the family, even more than the late Yknuhc, who had gone rogue and fled to the Smile Pirates many years ago. Yknam was angry that they had Yknuhc assassinated, and on top of the fact that Yeknod poisoned their elder, Sappy Gnok, Yknam had long lost faith in the family. Yeknod revealed his Bear-Bear Fruit, Model: Smoky, which could emit smoke. As Yknam fought him, he had a Chomps shark carry Ikik across the sea. That same shark would be chased by the swordfish, Unguard, but other loyal sharks would hold the fish back.
…
The smoggy skies above Famished Fields were home to Poison Puffs and Utikals, who dreamed of living in fresh, clear skies. They swarmed the factory where Terezi was imprisoned, fighting back the wicked, rotted flowers called Bloo-Ooms that ran the place. Terezi was in a sickened state after being forced to huff drugs, but the Utikal commander, Ululikal gave her some medicine. It didn't fix her completely, but Terezi regained enough strength to escape. They were impeded by Retselikal, a traitorous Utikal who served the mafia. Ululikal revealed he was her ex-boyfriend, and she encouraged Terezi to escape while she settled the score with him.
…
Oiraw and Igiulaw were the poorest brothers of Sarexaland, but they became infamous revolutionaries. They led a reliable band to swarm Tulip's strip club and get some decent clothes on Asigan, breaking the spell of Tulip's Devil Fruit. Tulip confronted them, but Oiraw battled her with his airbending while Igiulaw used his musicbending to whisk Asigan away.
…
The Flounder Plants swarmed the Ihsoy of Aquaqua Island and helped Xedni escape. She would ride atop a giant Aqua Flounder, who swam across the sea to take her to freedom. They were chased by Copernicus the Crow, a giant crow who acted as the Consigliere of the island. Copernicus ate the Pigeon Fruit, which allows him to turn into that bird while dropping large mounds of… well, you know. Aqua Flounder relied on some smaller Flounders to carry Xedni away while he fought the bird.
…
Similarly, Yetep Flounder would lead the Revolutionaries on Isle Onifled, such as his trusted companion, Scrubber Blooper. They and their soapy compatriots wiped the floor with the mafia on the island to liberate Allebmoog and some fellow Abmoog slaves. Unfortunately, they were trapped by the island's capo, Judge Acsecnarf. The judge used her Nen-type Court-Court Fruit to trap them in a courtroom. She would initiate some kind of argument, and they could only attack each other with words for the argument. Fortunately, Allebmoog was a good arguer, and she was able to show her the door! Yetep would stay back to wreck the mafia's boats while Scrubber Blooper carried Allebmoog across the sea.
…
A family of blue rabbits called the Bloodals dove into Lake Démodé to rescue Anaigrom. Taking down the Lochladies wasn't too troublesome, but that was until the Consigliere, Eniluap arrived. This French-accented human ate the Fuzzy-Fuzzy Fruit: her black fur coat could release a swarm of fuzzies that were closely connected. The Bloodals encouraged Anaigrom to run, but she was determined to vent some rage! Anaigrom donned her own crocodile-scaled coat that made a perfect shield against the Fuzzies, though some managed to seep through the gaps and suck Anaigrom's stamina. Still, she persevered and struck Eniluap with Gas Footbombs, eventually KOing the woman.
The Bloodals decided to bind her up and take them amid their escape. With all the operatives rescued, the revolutionaries would meet on Sternrudder Island: it was a secret island shrouded in a thick mass of fog. Only people who knew the correct means of travel could navigate the fog and enter the island. Otherwise, there was a spiritual spell in place that would make ships sail out of the fog.
The Vivre Card had been entrusted to a Ninjapook, who would wait on a boat as a mafia ship seemed to be approached. The Apook would learn this ship was in control of the Little Dad Mafia. He agreed to guide the Little Dads through the fog, where they would find the DNK waiting on that island. "Why hasn't Oemor shown up, yet?!" Asigan asked worriedly.
"According to the agents in Washopolis," Igiulaw replied, "that prisoner seems to have escaped. But because he's hiding, they can't invade the upper city without a solid plan."
"Then we…we need to go find him!"
"Airam has requested us to get you off the planet." Ollar stated. "We are not obligated to do so. We only wish to secure her and Sutsugua. Will you allow us to take you, or will you stay here?"
Asigan shared looks with her exhausted teammates. She growled at herself in frustration.
Toadstool Manor
"FOOLS!" Don Shrew bellowed through the comms. "How could you let them all ESCAPE?!"
"It wasn't a total loss, my dearest!" Yeknod said. "I have successfully secured Yknam and many of the traitors!"
"The little SHRIMP had already disappeared some time ago." Captain Mollusk said. "Disappeared right from under my idiot granddaughters' noses! Some think he's still in town somewhere, but they've already scrubbed the place clean!"
"Shrew, you know that little cagna had something to do with this." Oiram stated. "She's been plotting with the Rebels all this time!"
"Where is she now?!"
"She had business on Spring Mountain, last I heard."
"Esiuol! Get over here!"
Her eldest daughter nervously entered the room. "Yes, Ma?"
"Come!" Don Shrew forcefully snatched her by the scruff and dragged her away. "We're going to give your little sissy a stern talking to. Nolrem, meet us at Spring Mountain pronto!"
"Yes, Godmother." Nolrem signed off on that note.
Esiuol clenched her teeth anxiously.
Spring Mountain
Spring Mountain was a fairly peaceful area where it rained almost endlessly. The light rain was gentle, but the sky was always gloomy. Revilo and Airam had gone to the local theme park, Daimyo Studios, to help the Loan-Loans collect rent from the owners. (The Loan-Loans were Nega-Cheep-Cheeps, still round, but with shark features, because they were loan sharks.) The mission went without trouble, so she trusted the sharks to bring the money back.
Afterwards, Airam and Revilo went for a walk on the mountain trail, finding a bench to rest on. "Seems that the officers are in a frenzy. I'm willing to bet the Revolutionaries succeeded."
"When will we know for sure?"
"When they decide to gang up and question me. That's why we've been trying to keep our distance. But I'm sure the Little Dads will come, too. By then, it'll be time to rescue Sutsugua. But even then, we'll be up against my mom directly. We'll need the Revolutionaries to accomplish that as well."
"Why not leave and try to get more DNK?"
"That may not be an option. Even if they were willing to help someone like me, the navy is breathing down their throats, by the sound of it. At the same time, I don't think the Revolutionaries made clean getaways. They won't appreciate doing any more favors for me. Not unless I repay them in turn."
"I guess that's how this business goes."
Airam looked at him. "Well, I'm used to being in debt. It's not like I'm any close to paying back you guys or the Little Dads."
"That's the thing about friendship." Revilo shrugged. "There's no deadline when paying back favors, I guess."
"…Still considering me a friend is a bit much."
"Why? I like you, and I wanna help you do this. After gettin' to know that bitch, I wanna take her down, too."
"Revilo, I dragged you down a road that you can't easily travel back on. Why would you still-"
"Yeah, yeah, I heard it before. Look… I might've signed up for this without thinking at first. This whole thing stresses me out, fine. But deep down… I can tell that you're glad to have me. I can tell that you feel bad for us. And if we weren't here… you might just fall apart completely."
"…" Airam lightly touched his hand. "Revilo… I-"
"I FOUND YOU!"
Lasers rained down on them, the kids hastily evading. It was only then the cloaked space-pirate ships revealed their selves, flying the Meta-Beast colors. Commander Tachyon, some Gnosis, Primagen and his Dinosoids, and Commodore Krawq dropped to the ground. "This many people?!" Airam exclaimed. It was true that she was stressed: even in this relaxing moment, she had carelessly deactivated her Haki.
"Men, seize her at once!" Tachyon ordered.
"REVILO, JUMP!" They dove off the cliff behind the bench, dropping into a rainforest.
"What's wrong, little heiress?" Krawq sneered, flying down after them in a floating pod. "Not enough bodyguards?!" He blasted lasers across the forest, but Revilo blasted a Dark Beam at the laser's turret. Primagen dropped down as the big-brained alien used his Past-Past Fruit, summoning insects from the ancient past to swarm the kids. Airam was worried that she may not have antibodies to these ancient bugs, so she quickly took them down with her Noble Gases. But the Gnosis surrounded them, the two struggling to take the aliens down with their bending, and it was then they were seized in the grip of Tachyon's matterbending.
"I think it'll be easier to carry you in pieces!" Tachyon declared. "D'AAH!"
It was then Tachyon was crushed under someone: Eiggam of the Bodyguard Trio. "Who do you think you are, you—" Eiggam emitted a one-inch blast of chi with her Blast Fruit power: Tachyon's Logia body scattered into billions of particles. Eiggam was KO'ed by the aftershock, but some books swooped down to lift her, Revilo, and Airam away.
"Lordy, we almost didn't make it in time!" Eiwets cried. "Thank the stars you're safe, Airam!"
"You three! Did you…did you meet with the Rebels?"
"Yes. I listened to you via the cards and followed your instructions." Ollar replied. "It was not in our quota, but… we called the boss and acquired his permission."
"But we ain't take the operatives back to DNK. They're still in the safe zone." Eiwets said.
"Why not?" Revilo asked.
"Because they one short! Said their 'Oemor' friend was missing, they did!"
"Oemor wasn't rescued?!"
"Damn." Airam cursed. "Well, we'll have to worry about him later."
"Come back here, you little twits!" Krawq bellowed as he and the pirate ships engaged pursuit. "The king will have our heads if we don't come back with the heiress!"
"The king doesn't care about this mission!" Primagen replied. "Captain Ridley gave us the order to-"
"SILENCE! No matter whose orders, if we don't get that girl, we-"
Gas Nukes were launched from the distance, blasting the enemy ships out of the air. The Little Dads are horrified to see a smaller version of the Black Shroom: Don Shrew, her husband, and her brother-in-law were onboard. (Play "Hag 1" from Banjo-Tooie!)
"Oh, AIIIIIRAAAAAAAM!" She came flying with a blast of gas. The Little Dads stomped the gas and tried to fly faster, but the Godmother blasted more Gas Bombs at the engine to slow them down. "Airam, what do you think you're doing?! How could you let yourself be kidnapped by these strangers?!"
"Please tell me you guys have a better plan of escape." Airam said.
"No worries, kid! The boss should be here soon!" Eiwets answered.
"The… boss?"
"Don't think I haven't come prepared!" Don Shrew reached behind and grabbed Esiuol, who was tied to her mother via a long rope. "Now, Esiuol! Pull yourself to your sister and I'll yank you both back!"
Airam grit her teeth, having expected such a tactic. Revilo stood ready to guard Airam… but Esiuol didn't launch herself over. "What's wrong?!" Shrew asked. "We should be close enough!"
"I…I don't wanna, Mama."
"WHAT?! Do you want these bad men to take her? Seize her NOW!"
"I…I don't wanna bother mah sister, anymore."
"Nonsense! Your sister will thank you for saving her! It won't be a bother at all! Now, get her so I can blow this ship out of the sky!"
"…" Airam peeked out slightly around Revilo. Esiuol could almost see her glare through her double shades. That simple glare that Airam made every day conveyed the same words to her twin: she didn't want her around. She made it hard for Airam to hide. She was just a tool to keep track of her. And Airam… was a tool for their mother as well. But, she noticed Airam trembling: her hands were green with Radon behind her back, amassing a Radon Bomb by her rear.
Esiuol donned a look of resolve and opened her arms. She kicked her Magnet on and launched: once at Airam, the sister handed her the Radon Bomb. Esiuol immediately repelled herself away and SMASHED the bomb against her mother. "DAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHH!"
The bomb burned off the rope, but Esiuol was charred as well. She used her last ounce of consciousness to draw herself back to Airam, but fainted before landing on the ship. Ollar flew a book down to catch and drop her by her sister. "Esiuol…" Airam bent the residual gas away from her.
The Little Dads cleared good distance between their selves and Shrew, flying over a field. "WHAT?!" The ship was suddenly frozen in place, trapped in a gray bubble. On the ground, Nolrem was channeling timebending over it: he reverted the ship back to when it was lumber. Ollar tried to carry them on books, but Nolrem stopped him next, causing the books to drop.
"Going somewhere, little lady?"
The group survived the fall using their respective powers. Airam and Revilo started attacking Nolrem, but he would Rewind some of their attacks back and dodge the others. Eiwets became a tiny ball and bounced against Nolrem forcefully, but after Rewinding him back, Eiwets would make the same maneuvers, allowing Nolrem to blast him away with a Chrono Beam. Eiggam clung to him and blasted him away with her power—Nolrem used Time Recordance, so Eiggam blasted away a Paradox Clone. (Nolrem still took damage from the attack.) Once Maggie fell unconscious, Nolrem grabbed her and Age-Regressed her back to an infant. Revilo shot a Dark Beam to knock him away while a recovered Ollar saved Eiggam in a book. However, Nolrem Stopped Ollar again and endured Airam's poison attacks.
"You'll be happy to know we locked the spacebender safely away." Nolrem remarked. "Her power was way too risky to let run loose, ho oh oh!"
"Airam, she's coming!" Revilo yelled, alerting them to the gas-powered rocket that was Don Shrew.
"Yes, you'll not be running very far now!"
But then huge seed pods came flying, exploding against Nolrem as large Piranha Plants entangled and chomped him. "Daddy's here!" A pair of tank wheels sped up, carrying a short man in a black suit and fedora.
"BOSS!" the Bodyguards exclaimed.
"EGEB?!" Airam gasped.
They all gathered together and jumped, immediately shrinking into Egeb's castle. "EGEEEEB!" Don Shrew soared close over him. "How dare you show your smelly mug on MY planet! After you held my daughter prisoner for so long!"
"Prisoner? Don't make me laugh. I wanted that kid outta my hair the minute she walked in."
"Then you should've been a good boy and returned her to me!"
"I may not got a good reputation… but you don't seem like the type to be raising a kid."
As the group caught their breath inside the mobile castle, a miniature Egeb appeared. "The Nostra Castello is just up ahead. I'll get you kids onboard and skedaddle on outta here."
"Egeb, why are you here?!" Airam yelled. "With Don Shrew and the Oiram Brothers here, you could've attacked the mansion and saved Sutsugua!"
"Sutsugua can tough it out a little longer. I wanted to see to it personally that I get you away from this shrew."
"But…"
The Little Dads fired more seeds from Egeb's cannons, bursting back to normal size as Piranha Plants popped out to munch her, but they were easily dissolved by her gas. Airam got to a window to launch her own bombs, further holding the witch back. Don Shrew launched bombs, but as they shrunk around Egeb's perimeter, Airam could grab, restrain, and throw them back. The Little Dads' flagship was just over a hill, a castle-like vessel that drove on tank treads. A back hatch opened, leaving a slope for Egeb to drive up.
"You won't get away!" Don Shrew mustered a bigger Gas Nuke to launch directly at the opening. Airam immediately jumped out of Egeb's head, and the don restored her size as she perched herself on top. Airam mustered her power to hold the nuke back, but as it exploded from the pressure, Airam decided to suck the gas into her mouth. Even if she directed the gas elsewhere, her mom could just take it back.
Egeb made it inside the Castello, the hatch sealing as the crewmen fired Veggie Bombs at the Godmother. "Cough, cough! Keh!" Airam collapsed on the ground before Egeb.
"Airam!" A tiny-size Revilo ran to his friend.
"I'm fine…blech! Used to Mom's stench."
All of Egeb's passengers exited his body as they all resized. They headed to the ship's deck, where they fired seeds to intercept more of Shrew's Gas Nukes. Other capos like Atteir, Mimebrother, and Brusselscalp were onboard. "Pullin' off all these attacks and flying with her own bending?!" Eiwets panicked. "She's got some scary chi, I tells ya!"
Airam looked up curiously as Egeb stepped up to the ship's stern. Don Shrew was still 30 meters behind them. Egeb faced down at Airam. "Now, kid… I'm countin' on you to save Sutsugua. And for troublin' all these kids and Rebels… you better fulfill your promise."
"Egeb… what're you…"
"Boss! Wait!" Eiwets cried. "You can't be thinkin' of-"
Egeb faced the shrew directly. "BIG FATHER!" Egeb mustered a tremendous surge of chi and lunged at Don Shrew.
"AAAAAAAAH?!?!" The Godmother gawked when the puny man exploded into a massive castle. The castle's treads RAMMED her dead on and flattened the witch.
"HOLY SHIT!" Airam screamed.
"He can fuckin' do that?!" Revilo yelled.
"The boss done squished her flat!" Eiwets exclaimed.
"Do not be fooled." Atteir said.
A great cloud of purple gas began to seep out from beneath the castle. "Errrrryyyyyaaaaaahhhh!" A pair of giant, gassy hands hauled Egeb off, and a titan of gas rose from the ground. "Mushushushushushushu…mushushushushushu…" The gas shaped like Don Shrew, but with a pair of horns and red eyes. "Muuuuuushushushushu…"
"It's Mom's… Death Cloud Fury." Airam gasped.
The Big Father rolled away from the titan and bombarded it with cannons. The ammo simply flew through the mass of gas, but Shrew grabbed hold of Egeb in attempt to rot his castle. Big Father plowed forward, knowing her real body was somewhere inside. He managed to ram the small Don, but the gas began to encase him. Egeb spun around to shake her off, then aimed his cannons directly against her. Don Shrew withstood the fire and willed the gas to seep inside. Egeb used the castle's ventilation system to filter it, falling over to crush the shrew, but she survived again and used her bending to push him off. (Play "Sorrow" from Xenoblade Chronicles.)
Their battle carried on from the distance, even by the time the Castello made it to a river and sailed away. As Airam bit her lip in fear, "Airam, I hear Egeb's voice in the Vivre Card!" Ollar reported.
"You do?!"
Egeb projected another clone inside his castle to speak to his card. "Hey, Ollar! If you're hearing this, pass a word to the kid for me. Tell her… that I may not've liked her attitude… but she was still an honorary member of the Little Dad Family. If Mama Tebrehs trusts her… then she's A-OK in my book."
"Egeb…" Airam's glasses sank. Why was he picking now of all times to say that?
"When you become the new boss of Mushroom Mafia… I hope our families can work as one. But ya better make it, kid. 'Cause if ya don't… you'll be doin' me a great disservice."
"EGEB! WAIT!" Airam screamed.
"And make sure ya tell the rest of 'em… that Papa Egeb sends his farewells! OH! MY FAMILY! May we meet again… in the next life!"
The gas overwhelmed him too much. Egeb shrank back to his human form, laying coughing on the ground. Don Shrew landed, walking over the boss with a smug glare. "Little Dad… you were such a small-time gang… yet, you thought your silly veggies stood a chance against my empire."
"SHREW!" Oiram yelled, the brothers flying overhead.
"Oiram, toss me a gun. I want to finish this quick."
Her husband dropped a pistol, landing cleanly in her hand. She cocked the gun, aimed down, and pelted him with bullets. "I never liked you, Egeb… but I'll be sure to show your grandson your body."
"Eh…go suck on a cactus… you damn… Shrew…"
"EGEEEEEEEEB!" Airam could feel his presence vanish. Her glasses dropped as tears spilled from her eyes.
The last traces of smoke rose from Egeb's cigar. It flowed to Shrew's face. "Poof." She blew. The Don glared in the direction the treads led.
The mafiosos sobbed, knowing what fate became of the boss. "Boooooooss!"
"Papa…" Atteir sniffled.
"Egeb…" Airam dropped to her knees.
"Airam…" Revilo touched her shoulder.
"Boss… thank…sniff…thank you for… putting up with someone like me…"
"Alright… let's keep this ship moving." Eiggam said. "We have to get to the safe place… there'll be more of them coming soon."
…
The Meta-Beasts decided to abandon their mission when backup Mushroom Mafia arrived to fend them off. Ydnew was cuffed inside a cell at Ztardie Valley, but could hear someone tearing through the soldatos outside. She gasped at seeing her mother, Einna had come to rescue her, having escaped her own prison and put her Rokushiki to work. Lihp was inspiring his band of Mighty Mice to join the revolution. And as the Castello escaped across the sea, Airam lay with a heavy heart. (End song.)
…
"At first, you think Don Shrew is a devil…" Sutsugua's song echoed through the basement. "But after time has worn away the shock… You come to realize, you've seen her kind of eyes, watching you from underneath a rock! This vampire bat, this inhuman beast… She ought to be locked up and never released. The world was such a wholesome place to view… until Don Mushroom, Don Mushroom… Shrew…"