Alright, yet another piece to the story:
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“I’ll take 10.” Eloeem said.
The cashier at the restaurant nodded and handed over a huge bag, filled with ten different water containers.
“That should do it for water.” Yapi said, looking at the bag. “And we already got the food. What else do we need?”
“I’d say we could probably go for some ammunition.” Moshi said.
“We don’t even have a cannon on board our ship, why do we need ammunition?” Yapi asked.
“It’s an all-goes race, right? Then we should get whatever we can, because this race is going to be a very long and tiresome thing.” Moshi said. “Plus, I’d say that it’s not a smart idea to underestimate our rivals.”
“To be perfectly honest, I don’t think we’re going to need ammunition. I mean, we have absolutely no cannons, and no weapons.” Yapi said. “And we don’t really need them either. Everyone in this team is pretty strong.”
Eloeem, Leoshi, Moshi, and Spider all nodded.
“So then, about this race, we’re obviously going to use the Majestuosa.” Spider said.
“Yeah, we are.” Moshi said. “She’s a small ship, but she’ll do. In fact, any ship is more then enough for me to do it.”
“Well, somebody’s confident about it.” Yapi said.
Moshi slowly tilted her head angrily at Moshi. It seemed her anger hadn’t been resolved with Moshi yet, at least not at Yapi. “…well, maybe I am a little confident.”
“Let’s not get too overconfident.” Spider said. “I mean, we’re up against a ton of villains. Not to mention those other mysterious guys on that 5th team.”
“You know what?” Yapi asked. “…I think it’s a little fishy that all of our old villains were teamed up on one team.”
“Well…” Eloeem started. “It was random after all-”
“No, but that’s just it.” Moshi said, figuring what Yapi was thinking. “…it’s too coincidental.”
“Whatever it is, it’s something we can’t worry about for now.” Eloeem said. “We still have a few coins left from our spending money. Let’s get everything we can grab and head back to the Majestuosa. We left Merrier there all day long, and I’m sure he’s at least a little curious why we’ve been missing all day.”
“…you guys go ahead.” Leoshi said.
Everyone looked at Leo, who had been silent.
“What do you mean?” Moshi asked.
“I mean, if you guys want to keep looking for supplies, then maybe it’s better. …but I should head back to our ship.” Leoshi said.
“But why? You’ve been assigned as our leader, shouldn’t you stay with us?” Yapi asked.
“Actually, I think it may do us all a bit of good if I head back to the ship. I mean… I can do some preparing on board.” Leo said.
Leoshi began to walk away.
“Hold on a sec.” Moshi said. “What’s going on with you? You ran away at Rogueport, you sat out most of the battle with Charfg, you disappeared almost the entire time at Airway isle-”
“Moshi, cut it out.” Yapi said.
Leoshi looked down and walked away, back into the streets of the metropolis, quickly vanishing into the crowds at Prospesky city.
“He needs to get stronger.” Moshi said. “Sure, I have powers, Yapi can use all of those elements, Spider’s got ice, and Eloeem has his own daggers and abilities, but that won’t mean a thing if we have such a weak leader.”
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Yoshee was in the middle of the streets, leading her team underneath the night sky as they walked around, looking for stalls that would sell them anything useful.
“So then, it looks like we’ve got a big problem.” Jay said. “Obviously, since Leo’s team’s going to use the Majestuosa, we don’t have any sort of ship to use. I can handle all three of the terrain, but not all of us can, and especially not against a fleet of determined ships.”
LD stopped in his tracks. “How come they get to use this ship!?”
“Because, this whole little adventure was his idea.” Yoshee said. “This entire trip, the reason we’re all out here is because of his book. He got first dibs.”
<Still, that does leave us in a pretty tough spot.> Charon said. <With no ship, we may not be able to even make it that far>
<So then, we just go and find a ship.> Champ said.
“Hey, that might work!” Yoshee shouted. “It’s a big city, right? I’m sure there’s someone here with a ship that’s willing to let us borrow it!”
“Ok, but where?” Jay asked.
They continued to walk around for a while, until spotting an old boathouse.
“Look in there.” LD said. “They probably got some ships in storage there.”
“Wait a sec, we can’t just take a ship from there.” Jay said. “That’s robbery.”
Yoshee walked towards the doors of the boathouse. “…we can find the owner of this place and try to buy it off them.”
<Actually, maybe not.> Charon said. The dark chao flew up to a sign on the door. <Condemned building, scheduled to be blasted after the races.>
“So then everything in there is up for grabs?” Yoshee asked. “Lucky us!”
Yoshee turned back and flung the doors open. The room was vast and empty. The floors and walled looked rusty and old, and so far, hadn’t had visitors in at least 5 years. As opposed to what they expected, there were no ships inside.
“…what?” Jay asked. “Oh great.”
“What a waste.” LD said. He turned his back on the warehouse. “Let’s get going.”
“Hey, hold on a sec.” Yoshee said, walking into the warehouse. “Check this out.”
She directed them toward a huge item hidden under a giant black cloth. Yoshee walked to it’s sides, and gripped them. Then, with a quick and strong swing, she made the cloth fly off the side. Everyone opened their mouths wide to what was hidden beneath:
It looked like an old craft. It resembled a normal blue chao, but instead of eyes, this machine had a huge window where a thingy pit would be. On it’s back, in replacement of wings was a huge rocket, and below that, wheels replacing the feet.
Jay and LD gave strange glances. “…what a weird looking machine.”
“Oh… wow…” Yoshee looked lost in words, her eyes aglow with joy. “I can’t believe I’m actually here with the Chaos Rider Prototype!”
“Excuse me, that what?” Jay asked.
“I heard about this thing all the time in my newspapers, see?” She asked, revealing an old magazine. On the front was the title “Chaos Weekly.”
“…weird, never heard of that.” Jay said.
“I’m surprised you keep that with you.” LD said.
“It was a little series I used to read when I passed by Station Square once.” Yoshee said. “…anyway, it said that this was a revolutionary upgrade to the Chao walker!” Yoshee said. “…but for some reason, they suddenly stopped saying anything about it. I guess it was a forgotten project.”
“So now what, we have a prototype craft.” Jay said.
“A bit of polishing, and a few more additions, and we can put this in the race!” Yoshee said.
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“So then, I guess I’m technically the group’s craft.” Teo said. They had decided to take a break, resting at some outdoor benches near the monorail.
“Yup!” Lava said, with his three loyal friends nodding behind him.
Teo nodded. “I’ll be the dragon that carried all of you across the finish line. Which means I got to carry all 4 of you plus all of your supplies.”
“What an honor, I wish I was you!” Lava said.
“Heh…” Teo gave a small chuckle. “…so are you sure we got everything?”
“I got all the foods.” Treyba said, turning to show them a backpack.
“And I got the water!” Velvet T replied, doing the same.
“And of course, I have all of our weapons and first aid kits.” Fantasy guy said.
“You’re carrying all of that in the same back?” Teo asked.
“Yeah.” Fantasy guy replied.
“…uh, are you sure it’s safe to mix Gun Powder with First Aid medicine?” Teo asked.
Fantasy guy frowned. “…uh…”
“The point it, we got everything we need now.” Lava said.
“Hm… maybe.” Teo said. “…hey, I got a question.”
“Yeah?” Lava asked.
“About Ansem. I was thinking about this when I was at dinner tonight. …I heard that some of the other guys got into a battle with him back at Airway isle.” Teo said.
“Oh yeah.” Treyba said. “I can’t believe we missed it!”
“He told some of the others that he was trying to keep us grounded. He was the one who placed the curse on the island, after all… do you think that he was trying…” Teo stopped himself. “Wait, it’s obvious!”
“It is?” Lava asked.
“There’s no doubt that he was trying to keep us out of the sky so we couldn’t come here!” Teo said. “It’s obvious that he’s up to something big, and he needs the prize of the race for it!”
“Brilliant deduction, but what does Ansem need?” Lava asked.
“I know as much about it as you do.” Teo said. “…but we can all assume that whatever he’s up to, it’s no good.”
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“Are you kidding?!” Yin shouted. “That’s not smart, that’s really dumb!”
Yoshiko had led his group into the monorail, and were currently riding it, sitting in some seats alongside the windows, observing the assortment of lights that streamed by as the train flew down it’s single track.
“Oh, what’s dumb about it?” Yoshiko asked. “I think that we don’t need a craft! I say, we just tie me and Yoshiken together, and then fl the rest of you guys through the course.”
“I have to agree with Yin on this one, Yoshiko.” Yoshiken said. “How are the two of us going to carry three passengers plus 5 days worth of supplies?”
“Easily, we’re buff!” Yoshiko said, giving an elbow to Yoshiken.
Yoshiken gave a laugh. Yin and Yoshifrog, who were with them at the time, laughed as well. John was tuning them out and watching the ride through the polished windows.
Yoshiken turned his head on Yoshiko for a second. In a barely audible voice, he whispered to the others “What does he mean, we?”
Yin and Yoshifrog burst out laughing.
“What was that?” Yoshiko asked.
“Oh, nothing.” Yoshiken said, still chuckling a bit.
“Hm…” John said. He looked over at the rest of the group. “Yesterday, we were in the battle of our lives. Now it’s like we’re all just friends in the city without a care in the world.”
Yoshiko narrowed his eyes.
Yoshiken jumped at Yoshiko, landing in the seat beside him, and putting his arm around Yoshiko shoulder. “Aw, I’m just kidding!”
Yoshiko also let out a small chuckle. “Yeah, I know.”
“Heh… oh, that was a good one.” Yoshifrog sighed.
“…well, anyway.” Yin said, slowing her laughing fit. “…are you really going to carry us like that? Can you?”
“Well, we don’t have any sort of craft, so it may be our only option.” Yoshiko said.
Yin looked up. “…well, maybe-”
“As the leader, I say we do it!” Yoshiko announced.
Everyone else shrugged: “Ok.”
“So then, what about our team name?” Yoshifrog asked.
“Bros. Riders/Hybrid Riders!” Yoshiko/Yoshiken said at the same time. Both of their eyes narrowed. They jumped up from their seats and pointed to one another. “That’s stupid!”
“Here we go again.” Yin sighed. Yoshifrog let out a small chuckle and John nodded, still looking out the window.
“Now arriving at Prospesky Square.” the driver said over the intercom.
“Ok, let’s get off here.” Yoshiko said. “Yin, Yoshifrog, and John Yoshi, go and find some supplies. Yoshiken, let’s take to the skies and practice flying patterns.”
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“Are you sure we should be doing this?” Shez asked. They were on a rooftop of a huge building, peering down onto the streets of the city.
“Of course.” Midnight said. “It’s good to know your enemy before you defeat them, isn’t it?”
“Well yeah.” Shez said.
“But spying?” Hunter asked.
“Yeah, I’m not too into the whole idea.” Yoshiark said.
“Shut it.” Midnight said. “I was appointed leader, and I’ll keep things under order. So go ahead and do it.”
“Eek!” Hunter said, running to hide behind Yoshiark.
“I’m getting pretty bad feelings from that girl.” Kator thought. The woodland fox walked toward Hunter.
“I know that she’s a little scary, but you got to accept that.” Kator told him. “We’ll be able to win this race.”
“Thanks.” Hunter said, walking back and standing right toward Kator. “Glad to know there’s a friendly face around here.”
Midnight sighed, but smiled when they weren’t looking. “Another one is scared by me. I think I’m getting better at this.”
Midnight quickly thought back to before. “That Moshi yoshi.” Midnight thought. “That’s no ordinary yoshi. She has a kind of drive… that I’ve never seen before. It’s not driven by the power of her heart… in fact, she almost seems like she’s void of a heart. Amazing.”
“Something wrong, Midnight?” Shez asked.
Midnight looked back at them. “No, no of course not. Now all of you, get ready. After spying, we’re going to do a lot of training. We have to be ready by the crack of dawn (she cracked her knuckles) This is going to be… interesting.”
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The race begins next chapter! That’s coming soon.
MY SIG ONLY HAS ONE PIC NOW!!!!!
