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1753 A.D.Deep within the mountainous territories of the Eurasian continent, lay the province of Gasaia. Here, many wise sages and templar priests resided and trained. Temperatures remained chilly the majority of the year, which resulted in thick snows capping the tall mountains. Wintery pines grew in abundance, which helped stave off the fierce winds at high altitudes.
It was atop one sacred mountain, that a temple was built and maintained by warrior monks of an ancient sect. They tolerated the environment through strict discipline and martial training. The temple was a monastary to the sacred texts of potent gods determined to prevent the total annihilation of the human species. This in spite of the rampant carnage of their erstwhile defenders of superheroic nature.
"Begin," came the command from the temple sage, Master Kong.
He stood nearly five-feet tall, a giant amongst his people. His age was undetermined, though many had trained under him and rumor had it he was, at least, three hundred and forty years of age. This was a fact and especially evident in his wizened visage. A gray beard and long mustache hung from his chin and upper lip respectively.
Master Kong readied himself for his pupil's attack. His long arms wielded a simple wooden short pole-arm. Orangish fur, tinted in grey, bristled in a cold wind as he awaited his student's challenge. His head was balding showing a white patch where a deep orange used to grow unfettered.
"Ayieeee!" his student squealed and lunged at the master.
The student stood only four-foot-nine, and had black fur along his long, lanky arms and body. Master Kong couldn't help but to be envious of his pupil's full scalp of black fur as he blocked the lunge and deftly swatted the blow to the right side. The rope bridge they fought upon swung under the deflected momentum. He made to counter-attack and twirled his pole-arm in an upward strike. His mahogany robe swung away as the strike passed through the air. The pupil easily deflected the blow and leapt into the air, flinging himself over Master Kong's head.
Master Kong extended his palmed feet as he sprung into the air and countered the downward blow of his exceptional student. He spread his legs and placed one palm to each rope that formed a hand-hold along the rope bridge. His pupil emulated the Master.
"I would never have imagined that a member of the Congolesian Silver-Backs could be so agile. Your progression is remarkable," the Orangatanian Master said.
"Thank you, Master," his pupil responded, using his own pole-arm to shift his black robe aside allowing for better movement.
The two primates steadied themselves upon the rope bridge as they stood there on hand-holds that weren't meant for standing. Then, Master Kong swung out his pole-arm, nearly smacking his pupil in the face. However, his pupil amazed him with his grace as he went horizontal holding the rope hand-hold with his palmed feet and angling out over the ravine the bridge crossed. Once, Master Kong's swing had passed over him, the pupil swung back up from his gravity defying stunt.
"Stop," Master Kong spoke and dropped back down to the single rope that was the base of the 'V' shaped bridge. "That is enough."
A short while later, the Master and his pupil stood within a room elsewhere on the temple grounds. Beside them was a pedestal that held the key to humanity's salvation. So said the ancient texts.
"Young Koko, you have proven yourself worthy by passing the seven trials of priesthood. I haven't been training a monk, I've been training...my replacement," Master Kong said to the young ape.
Koko stared at his Master with his mouth agape. His mind reeled in the revelation that Master Kong had given him. He didn't feel worthy. Being only forty-two and still living at home with his mother, who resided on the next mountain pass over, this was fast becoming a responsibility he didn't know if he could handle. He moved his smooth-faced lips to speak in trepidation.
"Master, you cannot mean this. I have trained to be a defender of this temple. What I have learned is only in servitude to the priesthood. Besides, no one else would hire me," Koko blurted out.
"You are ready. And, I am too old to continue this duty. My soul is weary, my pupil," Master Kong calmly spoke, placing his hand on Koko's right shoulder. "This sacred text must be protected, a responsibility I have attended to for over three hundred years."
Koko looked to the wooden pedestal, lined with golden trim, and saw a glowing ball hovering within the small house-like cradle. He was puzzled by the thing inside.
"You say text, but this is a ball..." he responded to his master.
"Within the ball, resides the text. It was written and stored in the sphere many millenia ago. Only the gods can access the text, but still, it must be defended. Now, kneel down," Master Kong instructed Koko.
Several monks moved about the courtyard beyond the interior of the sacred shrine. A glowing, blue light caught their attention and they nodded in secret knowledge knowing that a new defender had been chosen. They bowed their heads in respect and, soon, the light resided.
Master Kong stood before Koko old and showing his age. Wrinkles displayed his frailty as his power had been transferred to his pupil. Koko stood up and felt renewed. He looked to his Master and felt a little uneasy.
"Master, I..." he began, but was cut off.
"It is long past that I should take a vacation. Perhaps, in my remaining days, I will find some warm beach somewhere, that is overflowing with scantily clad women! Oh yeah! Heh heh heh," the Master chuckled while Koko stared at him with a blank expression. "Anyway, one day, you too will have to find a new defender. And when you do, there are three signs you must pay attention to.
"First, he will have the strength of ten men. Second, he will defeat an army in one fell swoop. Third, he will change the world.
"These three things you must bear in mind. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a llama to catch."
Master Kong walked out of the shrine with Koko following slowly behind. They didn't see the blast of energy until it was too late and Master Kong lay dying upon the ground. Koko stooped low and looked at where the blast came from and saw a contingent of Sectarian combatants jumping down from a silently hovering ship.
"Oh, darn. So much...for the girls. Go, protect...the text..." Master Kong uttered before slipping into the abyss of death.
"There! The shrine is over there!" a Sectarian shouted as Koko made himself scarce.
Fourteen Sectarians disembarked their craft and gathered the monks into one assembly. While they did so, an evilly dressed Sectarian warlord, with a long mane of silver hair, approached the shrine. He stood seven-feet tall and allowed his dark cloak to flow freely behind him as he entered the sacred tome. A moment later, he exited in agitation.
"So, who will tell me where the sacred texts are? Hmm? Anyone?" he inquired angrily and then instructed one of his warriors to kill a kneeling monkey monk. "I will kill you one by one 'til I am given what I desire."
Koko watched one of his brothren collapse to the ground and he felt anger, and sorrow. He couldn't let this happen. Before the next kneeling monk could be mercilessly slaughtered, Koko leapt out and attacked the Sectarians. He dropped four of them, with a variety of chops, kicks, 'kyaas', and groin blows, before they knew what hit them. The kneeling monks got up and ran as the Sectarians were engaged against the defender.
Within minutes, half of the Sectarian warriors were defeated. The warlord grabbed a fleeing monkey and pulled him close. He held a blaster pistol to the monk's head and shouted.
"Stop or I'll kill this monkey!"
"Ape," the monk responded to his assailant.
"What?" inquired the warlord.
"Monkeys are smaller, more irritating members of the primate family. We're apes and don't appreciate the association with feces slinging sub-humans," the monk calmly informed the warlord.
"Shut up," the warlord commanded as he saw the defender paused at the side of the temple edge. "Like I was saying, stop what you're doing. Where are the texts? Answer or I'll kill this 'Ape'-like monkey!"
The monk sighed as he endured the mocking taunt of the warlord. Koko had no choice but to stop his counter-attack. He didn't want another dead body on his hands. The nose-trunk of the Sectarian warlord twitched in annoyance. Koko began to reach for the sphere in his robe when a Sectarian warrior got up from a flat out sprawl he had met at the hands of the defender.
"You miserable..." the Sectarian spoke and shot at Koko with his rifle.
"No, you idiot, he has the texts!" the warlord shouted, only too late.
The shot tore into Koko's gut and he fell backwards over the edge of the temple mount. The warlord stood stunned and let his prisoner loose. The insulted ape shot him a look of disdain and hurriedly departed. Approaching the edge overlooking the deep valley of the mountain pass below, the warlord stared in disbelief. The texts had been just within his grasps.
"General Karma, I...I didn't know," the underling said with a worried expression.
General Shou Karma grabbed the underling by his throat and pulled him to his face. All three of Shou's trunks flexed in aggravation.
"Then, go get it," he commanded to his underling and tossed him over the edge in the direction that the defender had fallen.
He stood watching the falling form of the underling disappear under a mist of low-lying clouds. The scream that issued forth faded into oblivion and Shou turned to leave. He decided that a quick look of the valley floor was in order. A search team would have to be called in, and then they could spend months plowing through the thick cumulation of snow just to turn up empty handed. Perhaps, he thought, luck will be on our side.
Just below the temple edge, in a recess undetected by the General, Koko clung tightly to the stone structures. He would have to get as far away from his family and friends as possible. Though, he wasn't looking forward to the journey at hand. Let alone, wondering just where he was supposed to go next. He placed his left hand to the wound he received and felt it healing inexplicably. With resolve, Koko started inching further into the cliff recesses.
* * * * * October thirteenth, two thousand and fifty-three. The two-apples tall, little blue-men with white pants and white hats, have gone insane and begun ransacking this peaceful garden village of Don Juan just outside of London. What these rampaging, uh, Smurfs I believe they're called, want is beyond anyone's guess," the newswoman reported to the camera, as it followed her through the chaos of a sea of little, blue sentients, that threw pieces of debris and wrought general carnage. "What is known, is that they've been chanting something over and over again. Perhaps we can hear it clear enough, as they are still chanting the saying or verse or what have you.... 'Free Willy! Free Willy! Free Willy!' It doesn't make any sense, but they seem to be chanting, 'Free Willy!' I don't know what it means, however, it is very unsettling.
"These Smurfs are terrorizing the local citizens of Don Juan in flagrant disregard for their person or property. I'm trying to make my way to what used to be the town-square. Wait, whereas all the other 'Smurfs' look alike, I mean no disrespect for this unruly mob but, with the exception of minor details, glasses, tattoos, or what is apparent, they are all blue with white pants and curly hats except for this one. He has a beard, yes, a beard and a red hat and pants and seems to be their ringleader. Let's wade over to him and see if he'll grant us an interview. Excuse me...Sir...er, Mr. Smurf?
"OH,no! A...a flag pole has just been knocked down by some invisible force summoned by this red and blue Smurf. 'Heh he he he heh! You can call me 'Papa Smurf' and my little Smurfs won't stop until our Willy has been freed!! He he he!' Well, you heard it here first. The diabolical Papa Smurf and his hench-Smurfs are hellbent on laying waste to Don Juan and freeing their 'Willy.' It looks like the local ten-o's, ten foot Ogre law enforcers nicknamed the 'Grady-Ogres', have just shown up to dispense some justice. Though, I don't think these 'Willy'-crazed Smurfs, are going to go easily. Reporting live from downtown Don Juan, this is April O' brian, Channel nine news,"
The five-foot-two primate newswoman signaled for the end of the taping and stood staring at the screaming Smurfs as they attacked the Ogre police squad. Papa's magic was laying the Ogre lawmen onto their backs. April brushed her auburn locks out of her eyes as she took it all in. Her short hair shifted as she shook her head in disbelief. She ran her left hand over her gray dress-suit to ensure the psychotic Smurfs didn't cause any undue wrinkles.
"Can you believe this, Mikey?" she asked her camera man, who was occupied rechecking the footage on the playback screen of his digital holo-cam.
"Which part? The blue-man group trying to free their Willy or the fact that the ten-foot Ogres are getting their asses handed to them by six-inch snack food?" Micheal Angelus, a five-foot-three turtle man, responded.
"Good point. Alright, let's wrap this up and go home. Miami is coming to visit tonight and I want to make sure the apartment's clean...Oh, but I don't know what to make for dinner," April fussed as they approached their armored van.
The van was an unusual vehicle. Mikey and his brothers had fixed it up to look like a turtle on wheels. So the roof had a humped shell, and a maniacal grin was plastered across the grill. The vehicle was armored because they did a lot of reporting on Superheroic do-gooders battling crazed Supervillains. Oft times, those battles ended up on top of their van.
"How is your daughter doing anyhow?" Mikey inquired in reference to Miami.
"She's good. Her father got fired, though," April looked at Mikey and informed him.
"What'd he do this time?" he asked with a sigh.
"Well, you know how he got transformed into a super-natural dragon, right?" she asked.
"Yeah," he replied in knowledge.
"Well, dipstick got fired because he used his powerful capabilities to purchase some, uh, illicit 'dragon' materials," she quipped.
"Ugh, so the dragon's hittin' the dragon, eh? There's a bit of irony. Hey, maybe you can use this to get custody now?" he suggested, opening up the sliding side door to the van and putting away their equipment.
"I could try, but the Superheroic Union still backs him up. I wouldn't stand a chance against him, even with this. It's so unfair. I wasn't unfaithful to him. But, all he had to say was, 'she's unfit,' and the Union was right there," she sighed and felt like crying.
"Why don't you come out with us tonight? Bring Miami along. We're going bowling!" Mikey said as he shut the door and April was getting in the passenger side. "It's going to be a regular get together, y'know? Leonard will be there with his wife, Mona, and their son. Donnie's bringing his fam, so's Raf. For some reason, he also invited his ex."
"The ninja chick? What's Dori got to say about that?" April wondered as she sat with her legs off the edge of the seat and Mikey stood with his hand on the passenger door.
"She's cool with it. Gives her a chance to see Rhea. Raf doesn't get to see her much anymore since she decided to follow her mother on those damn-fool crusades into the orient," Mikey continued.
"Hmm. Theresa coming?" she queried Mikey about his wife.
"Well, duh, of course! Like I said, it's going to be a regular get-together. I only wish our father could've been here. I guess being a rat with a short life span has its drawbacks...we all miss him," Mikey said quietly looking to the road.
"Come on. I can't go if I'm not ready. And I'm not wearing my suit bowling!" April patted him on the shoulder.
"True dat! Cool!" he perked up and waited until April had swung her legs inside to shut the door.
* * * * * Nearby, beyond the chaos of psychopathic Smurfs on the rampage, a lone primate wearing a tan trenchcoat, watched the turtle van pull off and leave the scene. He looked over the sight of thousands of maniacal blue creatures shouting and screaming and laughing like crazed lunatics on a feces binge.
Great Spirit, why have I come here? What am I looking for? I remember the words of my master and I get the sense it has something to do with the one in that van, he thought and mentally memorized the features of the van and the being inside. He turned to leave and made it a point to find out where the van was headed.
* * * * * "Chu, I don't want to hear it," April said in a huff, trying to get her ex out of her apartment so she could finish getting ready. "You had your chance before and blew it. And, now you want to 'give it' another shot? With the Union on your side? Forget it. If you don't mind, I do have a right to my visitation and we're going to go out tonight."
"Well, I have a right to know where you're going," the five-foot-nine silver-back demanded.
Chu Wa Denton had been born in the Mongolian territories of Neo Beijing. He was half Chinese, on his father's side, and half gorilla, on his mother's side, who was from the Congolese basin. Which meant he was all attitude and never gave anyone a break from his arrogance. A silver-haired mustache hung off the upper lip of his primate mouth, and trailed down his chin in a Manchurian fashion. He stood before April in his primate form, having choosen to only use his Dragon persona to fight crime.
"We're going bowling at Wilkie's. Is that alright with you?" she inquired angrily and glanced at herself in the mirror in her bedroom.
She wore a pink, rabbit-hair shirt, which was humanely approved as the hairs were donated by willing rabbit folk, and blue jeans and basic sneakers. Though, she would wear specially designed bowling shoes she had just for such an occasion. April strolled to where a case sat on her well-made bed and made sure the shoes were inside with the rose-red ball she liked to use.
"Why should I have a problem with it? What's with all this sprucing up, anyway? You expect to meet someone there or something?" Chu spoke jealously.
"Mom, are we going or what?" Miami came to the bedroom door and inquired.
"Just as soon as we get rid of Daddy," she quipped and stared at Chu.
"Fine, I can take a hint. I'll see you later, sweetheart," Chu said and knelt to Miami's height to kiss the girl on her forehead.
Chu marveled at how much Miami looked like her mother, from her auburn hair to her pale, blue eyes. The four-foot-two girl was nearly a spitting image. This, in some way, annoyed him. He made to kiss April on the cheek, but was met by a hand in his face as if to say, 'oh, please.' He grimaced, but turned to leave the apartment. April waited until he was gone and looked to her daughter.
"So, you ready to go?" she smiled to Miami.
"Yeah!" the little girl responded excitedly.
* * * * * Wilkie's was packed, what with it being a Saturday night and all. This didn't bother April as she escorted her daughter into the establishment and quickly located the two lanes where her friends awaited. Mikey saw her and waved. Miami rushed towards the bulky turtle and gave him a hug. They hadn't seen each other in awhile and this made April smile.
"Wooa! You've gotten big! What have you been eating? Superheroic Growth Protein?" Mikey joked with the girl.
"Nah. Daddy hogs that all to himself," Miami quipped in return with a smile.
"Wh..? Hah! How about a five to my three?" Mikey laughed and held out his hand for a hand slap from Miami, which she happily obliged.
Mikey rubbed her head and escorted her and April to the two lanes the group had gotten. April counted them all up and was astounded at the large family. She only had a few members to her family left. Her father to the north, who she rarely saw, one brother, who had taken off years before to go to the deep regions of Siberia. And, there was her daughter, who she only got to see once a month for one weekend.
Yet, here was Mikey's family, who made April feel like she was one of their very-diverse ranks, gathered around in chaotic revelry. There was Leonard, his wife Mona a five-foot lizard person who stood a head shorter than her husband, and their sixteen year old son, D'artagnon, who stood slightly taller than his parents. Next up was, Rafferty and his current wife Dorithy a five-three human with a fair complexion, their two teenaged children, Christopher and Melanie, Chris was bald, Melanie had a full mane of wavy- red hair. With them was the vixen-sentient Nestina, who practiced ninjutsu and spent the majority of the year in the Japanese isles, and her and Raf's first daughter, Rhea. Rhea was twenty and resembled her mother in most ways. The only indication she was Raf's offspring was the slight green tint to her skin under her Indian-red fur.
Donald had brought his family, Erma a non-powered British woman and their son, Whitley, who, for some reason, had his hair fashioned into a mohawk. And, of course, Mikey and his beautiful, dark-skinned wife, Theresa. April found herself joining the adults in the first lane, whereas the teens had decided to take lane two for their own bantering purposes. Miami invited herself to lane two, because she could care less about the adult conversations she knew would bore her to tears.
* * * * * In a darkened corner of the establishment, a lone figure watched the interactions playing out with the ape-girl and her turtle friends. He was especially interested in the one she had been with earlier. The one he'd heard called Mikey. He watched this 'Mikey' in careful observation. He had to be sure of what he thought was the total truth.
* * * * * "Hee hee hee! Papa Surf to Dragon Smurf, we've located the target!" Papa Smurf spoke into a small communicator from where he stood by the main entrance to the bowling alley.
Behind him, the doors burst open to emit a thousand, chanting Smurfs. They had one thing in mind: to kidnap the young girl on lane twelve.
"Go, my little Smurfs, go!! Hee Hee Hee!" Papa Smurf cried out in total rapture.
Several bystanders panicked and fled out the doors to the establishment, while the Smurfs started to tear the place apart in their zealous eagernous to please their masters and their wanton streak of violence.
* * * * * "Well, guys, I think it's time Miami and I got home. We've been here for several hours," April started after the current set came to its end, which found Mikey ahead per usual.
"Ah, but Momma!" Miami protested.
"We have an entire weekend together, and I'm getting tired. I'm sure Mikey will stop by tomorrow, right?" she inquired of her old friend.
"Well, of course! It's not like I've got anything else planned. Besides, I don't get to see Miami much and I always look forward to her visits! She keeps it interesting!" Mikey responded.
"Hey, I'll come too. Maybe we can hit the bizarre or something, eh April?" Theresa input.
"Sure. Sounds fun. Alright, nice seeing everyone, and we'll see you later," April waved at everyone after she and Miami gathered their belongings.
"Have a nice night," Leonard could be heard over the others due to his deep voice.
A commotion at the other end of the alley caught everyone's attention and they stood up. April stopped and her jaw dropped. Mikey leapt to his feet and couldn't believe his eyes.
"Woooa!! Little, psychotic, blue-men!" he shouted, pointing his finger. "Who invited the Smurfs!?"
"The what?" Leonard asked as he got a good view of hundreds of little sentients pouring into the alley and heading in their direction.
"Free Willy! Free Willy! Free Willy!" a symphonic chant assaulted their ears.
"Better question is, are they heading for us?" April asked backing up and guiding Miami behind her as the malicious sentients came closer.
"I don't know, but I can't believe they're still on that 'Willy' kick!" Mikey chimed in.
The hostile group of Smurfs saw April and Miami and charged full force. Small contingents of the creatures broke off and grabbed furniture to hurl in their direction. Within moments, April and company found themselves under the assault of the blue-men. They fought them off the best they could. With shoes, bowling balls, and beer bottles.
"Hey, watch this! Bowling for Smurfs!" Mikey shouted and slung a ball down the midst of the Smurfs, causing injuries to several dozen but not slowing them down.
"I think all you did was piss 'em off!" Donnie stated grabbing several, biting Smurfs from his back and slinging them back into the midst of a thousand strong pint-sized assailants.
Two dozen Smurfs climbed atop Miami prompting screams from April as she brushed the evil things off and picked her up. April hoped to make a break for the exit, but just then, the roof collapsed and a massive dragon head entered the complex. Heavy whisps of hot air shot forth from the snout of the beast. The Smurfs didn't relent in their attack as they swarmed the complex, forcing dozens of customers to flee in terror.
April recognized the dragon at once. She stood in shock and terror at the imposing form of the dragon beast. A clawed fist came forward and grabbed Miami, lifting her towards the hole in the roof.
"Chu!? What the hell are you doing!?" April shouted in anger.
"I'm taking what is mine and putting into motion what must be," he cryptically responded.
April wasn't about to let him leave, even as Mikey, Don, Leo, and Nestina all attacked the beast. The only one with any real fighting ability was Nestina. She quickly was tossed aside, though. Mikey found himself being slung towards the bar counter, while Leo and Don got a massive finger to their faces. Several of the others there tried to stop the dragon Chu, but met with his vicious fist.
* * * * * The lone figure stared at the dragon in disbelief. He had been in shock over the legion of malicious Smurfs piling into the alley, but hadn't been prepared for all that would transpire. He waited with baited breath as he saw Mikey attacking. However, he was met with disappointment once Mikey became a fixture at the booze salon.
I don't understand...I thought for sure he...the primate thought and saw April bellow in anger and pick up a large bowling ball rack from which hung ten Smurfs struggling in futility. The words of his master came to him.
'He will have the strength of ten men...' Nah, this is just coincidence. Besides, we're talking human men...right? he considered to himself, realizing that the Smurfs were incredibly strong, being able to lift several hundred times their own weight. Just ten Smurfs could lift a one-ton vehicle with little effort. April tossed the rack at the dragon, who bellowed in pain and bumped his head on the ceiling. The rack hit the floor, and under momentum, wiped out an entire segment of the Smurf army...
'He will defeat an army in one fell swoop...' No, but...he stood in astonishment as her fit of rage had ceased the forward momentum of the Smurfs and utter silence prevailed. The Smurfs turned in terror and fled before the raised arms of an enraged primate female.
"Mommy!" he heard the little girl yell as she was carried off by the massive dragon.
April stood there looking on in terror and made to follow the creature. During her flight towards the entrance, she accidentally knocked over a wooden globe sitting next to the main counter. The globe shattered on the ground and she apologized to the owner who nodded in understanding.
"I...I'll replace it with a nice marble one. I just have to do something first!" April said as she hurried towards the entrance.
'He will change the world...' This isn't possible! He is a SHE!! he thought in sudden revelation on the next bearer of the sacred texts. He raised his own arms to the ceiling as the group headed towards the entrance, or exit as it had become, and screamed.
"NOOOOOO!!" his yell echoed throughout the emptied bowling alley.
* * * * * "Miami! Bring her back, Chu! Bring her back!! You son-of-a-bitch!" April screamed and shouted to the deafening roars of the fleeing dragon, the cries of terror from her daughter, and the chaotic frenzy of her friends. "No...this can't be...why...?"
She fell to her knees and felt her world dissipating. Ominous chantings of deranged Smurfs echoed in the air and her mind as she cast her tear filled eyes towards her surroundings. Trees, pavement, the bowling alley, her friends and the sky itself, all seemed a sudden blur in a whirl of motion as she found herself falling into a deep chasm. The hole in the ground swallowed her whole and welcomed her into oblivion. The screams that escaped her throat were drowned out by the little Smurfs that laughed at her from the rim of the gaping maw, receeding quickly from her view.
"NOO!!" April shouted, springing into an upright postion.
The nightmare faded into her subconsciousness, yet the residue of its terror still remained. She looked around and saw that she was in bed, her bed, and back at home. Dull whisperings could be heard through the thin walls of her apartment and she knew, insinctively, those were the voices of her friends.
Yanking the sheet from her form, April got out of bed and saw that she was still fully dressed. Seeing that she didn't need anything else, she opened the door to her room and walked down the short hall to the small living room where Mikey, Leo, Donnie, and Theresa sat quietly talking. Upon seeing her enter, Mikey stood up and smiled.
"Hey, how're you feeling?" he inquired, offering her a hug.
She gladly accepted the gesture and closed her eyes as she embraced his solid form. She fought back forming tears and pulled away with a smile. Wiping the few tears that came away, she took a seat on the couch.
"I feel like a semi just plowed over me," she responded not making eye contact, but focusing on her coffee table.
Theresa sat beside her and rubbed her back in consulation. No one knew what really to say and a silence hung over the gathering like a thick rug.
"When you passed out, Mikey caught you, and we brought you back here," Donnie stated. "Chu flew off. We don't know where he went."
"I have an idea," April said, taking a deep breath. "And I'm going there now."
April stood up and went to grab her shoes by the door. Mikey and Leo cast a glance to one another and Donnie shrugged. They found themselves speechless. Theresa wasn't without words, though, and stood up to meet April at the door before she could leave.
"Look, let's not be hasty. Wherever it is you think he took her, I'm sure somehow, someway the Superheroic Union has Chu covered," she insisted placing her left hand on the door.
"That may be so, but they are NOT stopping me from seeing my little girl," April forcefully said and brushed Theresa's arm from the door. "I appreciate what you guys are doing for me, and I love you for it, but, this I have to do."
Theresa stood feeling helpless as April left the apartment. She looked to her husband and his brothers. Mikey shook his head and wiped his brow with the sleeve of his denim shirt.
"Just, let her go. Sometimes, a mother's got to do what a mother's got to do, y'know?" he offered sadly.
"I hope you're right," Theresa replied. "I hope you're right."
* * * * * Koko stood in the shadows watching the figure of April O'brian rushing towards her vehicle. He wasn't sure how to approach her or even what he would say, but he knew that his duty, his responsibility to the sacred texts, demanded action. So, he decided to approach her before she did anything too hasty.
* * * * * "Come on, you damn piece of crap!" April shouted, trying to get her old sedan to start.
Electric cars weren't too reliable in this time and age, unlike decades before when they had been top of the line. Anymore, they tended to fry out and be as useful as a hairdryer fighting off a pitbull. Yet, April still tried to force the electrical current to pick up. While she was occupied messing with the internal fuses, she didn't see the figure standing by her window. When she did finally see, bringing her head back up from the fuse panel, she jumped in shock and reached into her pocket.
The figure knocked on her window and she opened the door. The figure smiled pleasantly, a strange gorilla sentient, and reached his hand forward. Adrenaline coursed through April's body and she brought out a bottle of mace and hosed the being in his eyes. He screamed in agony and she just kept spraying.
"For the love of all that is great, what the he...heck are you doing!?" the being cried out as April stood there holding the bottle.
"I'm just letting you know that I'm well prepared! Just because you see someone having car trouble, doesn't mean to mug them!" she shouted at him, clearly agitated.
"I don't want to mug you!" the gorilla man shouted back, writhing on the ground and holding his eyes. "I want to train you! Oh, my GOD! It burns!"
"Train me? What are you talking about!? I don't have time for this!" she started to get back into her car.
"Do you greet everyone this way?" he said, getting to his feet. "Just hose someone in the face you've never met before? How do you know I wasn't going to offer assistance?"
April watched him fall back to his knees and continue rubbing at his eyes. Her senses came back to her and she felt immediately foolish. She got back out of the vehicle and knelt beside him bringing out a wetnap from her pocket.
"Oh, you're right...God, I'm sorry. I...I'm just so flustered. Here, stop rubbing at it! You'll only make it worse!" she said dabbing the wetnap around his tear filled eyes. "Look, I don't know who you are, but you shouldn't just come up to someone in the middle of the night and start knocking on their window. You'll scare someone, like me. And what do you mean by 'train'?"
"My name is Koko. I am a monk of an ancient order dedicated to defending the sacred texts. You are the one that is spoken of in scripture. You are the next defender," he began to a bland look of disbelief. "I can help you save your daughter."
"My daughter?" she responded in suspicion with a perked eyebrow. "What would you know of her? So, you're with the Union, are you!?"
April got up angrily and started to walk away. Koko stood and shouted after her.
"Look, I can prove it. I won't stand in your way..." he said and lifted his hand to the hood of her car.
April paused and looked at him with a defying expression. The strange man closed his eyes and flattened his palm against the hood. Seconds later, the car started and she stared at him with pursed lips and a minor annoyance. She wasn't sure how he had managed to pull off that trick.
"Very clever. Did Chu put you up to this?" she inquired, crossing her arms.
"Go to where you need to go. When you are ready, you will find me in the park," he said evenly and walked away into the night.
She watched him dissappear and shrugged. A strange and unsettling feeling crossed her soul, but she got into her car anyway and drove off towards the Union hall. She had a hunch that was where Miami was. She paid no further heed to the dissappearing monk.
* * * * * "Mommy!" Miami cried as the camera in the corner zoomed in on her face.
Chu watched the little girl crying in her small dormicile on a monitor in the main control room. He felt bad for doing this, even knowing that this was for the best. He shook his head and turned off the monitor. He didn't like depriving April of her visitations, but they had waited for many years for this opportunity to manifest itself. Now that the monk had unveiled himself, the Sectarians would have an advantage.
"I don't like this, what if she doesn't come?" Chu inquired of the shadowy figure resting comfortably in a chair nearby.
A menegarie of holo-monitors lined the wall in front of the figure, whose back was to Chu. Not even he was allowed to see the supreme one's face. Though, he figured he was glad that he couldn't.
"She'll come. And you must fight her," the being spoke deeply into the dark room. "Look, there...here she comes now. Hmm, she must be truly potent."
* * * * * April leapt out of her car, after she brought it to a stop in front of the massive building complex of the Union hall, and rushed into the structure. She ran past the guard post and ignored the screaming guard who was half awake.
"Hey!" a voice trailed behind her as she hit the elevators and made for the thirteenth floor.
Within minutes, she found herself on the floor she knew was headquarters to the Union reps and hurried down the hall. Turning twice and nearing the main room she saw two individuals guarding dual doors. They wielded long bo-staffs and got into defensive postures when they saw her.
"'Bout time! Bring it on!" the lead brute, a massive warthog sentient, shouted.
April stood stunned as the other warthog raised his weapon. Both came at the stunned woman and she tried to fight back but was overcome quickly. The two warthogs exchanged baffled expressions. They shrugged.
Nearly five minutes later, April found herself being tossed outside the front of the building onto her duff. She sat up and brushed her hair from her face and watched one of the warthogs make a rude gesture with his right hand.
"And don't come back until you have real skills!" he shouted.
The doors were shut and locked and April couldn't help but be stunned by the whole event. It was like they had expected her, but weren't pleased with her showing. She limped to her car and was on the verge of tears. Getting into her sedan, she thought about current events and came to an unexpected conclusion.
"'Real skills', huh?" she turned the car on, much to her utter amazement, and drove off towards the city park.
* * * * * "You see, it can't possibly be her!" Chu exclaimed and made to head to his daughter's room.
"Leave her be," the figure stated.
"But..." Chu tried to protest with mad gesturings of his hands.
"It's all according to plan," came a cryptic response.
* * * * * Several weeks had passed and April tried desperately to learn the techniques taught to her by Koko, the strange priestly ape who claimed to be the protector of sacred texts. She didn't know exactly what he was talking about, and frankly, I don't give a damn. Just so long as I learn what I need to, so I can save my daughter.
"You must try harder," Koko spoke to April almost disrupting her concentration as she mentally levitated a brick while her erstwhile teacher stood on his tippy toes atop her head.
"Easy for you to say," April replied and mentally added, it's not like YOU have a mentally deranged ape on top of your head messing up your hair.
"I don't believe it is either easy or hard, but, I know one thing is for certain...I am not deranged," Koko said with a smile and his eyes closed.
April tried to concentrate on the floating brick, however she ended up staring at the debris field scattered around the interior of the vacant building complex in whence they were training. There were five buildings surrounding the courtyard she was looking at all together. Each one was ready to be demolished which worried her to their state of stability. What if one of them collapsed? Would there be a domino effect? Would they be crushed?
"You worry too much. Concentrate on the brick," he said, resulting in her rolling her eyes.
She hated it when Koko read her mind. It was unnerving. What she hated the most, though, was that he was generally right, most of the time.
"All the time," he taunted.
Sometimes, she amended and tried to continue concentrating on the brick. However, her concentration was disrupted by the incessant squealing of the mechanical monstrosity that Koko had insisted on bringing along. It was supposed to alert them to any magical disturbances in the atmosphere, but it mostly just squealed like a pig. This time, though, she saw what was causing its alarm. Her car was sinking.
"Concentraaaaaaaaaaate!" Koko yelled as he fell off April's head and she dropped the brick.
"My car is sinking!" she exclaimed as she watched her vehicle sinking in a mudhole. "I told you it was a bad idea to park in here! Now, how are we going to get it out? Let alone go find Chu," she fussed with her hands on her hips as she stood there helplessly watching.
"Use the ability you've been taught and raise it from the mud," Koko said and went to sit on an old 'I'-beam.
"No offense, master, but this is hardly a brick," she said staring at him.
"Size matters not. Only concentration is required," replied Koko as he placed his hands on his knees poking out from his robe.
April rolled her eyes. She just wanted her daughter back, not to be engaged in this monkey business. She'd come to him hoping for help, but instead he'd wanted to train her in the art he knew. He'd insisted she wear a skin-tight leather outfit, that kind of chafed when she sat, and that she pull her hair into a semi-top knot, which kind of pulled.
She shook her head in exasperation and looked to the sink hole that her car had sunk into. She wondered how far down it went and why it was it had formed in the first place. There was no point in worrying any further, she decided, and raised her right hand towards the pit.
"Alright, I'll give it a shot," she said.
"No, do not tr...huh? Oh, no, ok, go ahead," he stuttered.
"What?" she inquired looking back at him with furrowed brows.
"Nothing, I thought you were going to say something else. Do your thing," he replied with a smile.
Whatever, she thought and closed her eyes in concentration. Bubbles formed at the surface of the pit and she could feel the car just beneath the surface. There you are...come on...she thought, mentally wrapping invisible fingers around the vehicle and tugging it to the surface. Koko's eyes widened as the vehicle began to breach the surface. Then he felt the weight of disappointment.
April lost her concentration and the vehicle slid back into the mud. Koko had thought she was on the verge of success and inwardly sighed. Shaking his head, he could only watch as the car disappeared right back beneath the surface.
April placed her hands on her knees and panted. She went over to where Koko sat cross-legged and flopped down into the dirt. She felt like crying, but succeeded in just staring at where her car was.
"I can't do it. It's too big," she stated with a shake of her head.
"That's what they all say," Koko quipped and raised his own arm. "Look at me, judge me by my size do you?"
"Errrr..." she began, unsure of how to respond.
"Don't answer that. Just watch," he said and closed his eyes.
Within seconds, her car rose out of the mud and was gently placed upon solid ground. Mud oozed from various places along the car. April got up astonished and approached her car.
"I...I don't believe it!" she said.
"And that is why you fail," he responded as April walked to her car and opened the door.
Mud slimed its way out of the interior and poured unto the ground where she stood. Soon, she was knee deep in the thick mud that now caked the inside of her sedan. She felt the urge to scream, but maintained her dignity.
"Of course, I still had three more payments to go! How are we going to drive in this!? My car!!" she exclaimed in exasperation and looked to the heavens.
"We can always fly," came Koko's response.
Before April could reply to his uncalled for remark, a chanting echoed through the courtyard of the building complex. She recognized it immediately and looked to the ground in disparaging disbelief.
"What are THEY doing here?" she wondered as the silhouette's of a thousand figures were nearing the entrance.
"Free Willy! Free Willy! Free Willy!" the voices of the obnoxious Smurfs chanted as they rushed forward towards April's car.
"Stop right there!" she ordered, and to her shock, they obeyed in silence. "Will someone PLEASE tell me, who the HELL is Willy!?"
"Hee Hee Hee! Our mentor, our warrior, our hero...those dastardly Ogre cops took him and are holding him prisoner!" Papa Smurf said getting onto the hood of April's mud covered car. "We will protest and cause carnage until he is released! My little Smurfs, Free Willy! Free Willy! Free Willy!"
The crowd started chanting again at their Papa's urging. April stood with her right hand braced against her car and she stared at the diminutive figure. She guessed they weren't really evil afterall, only slightly out of their minds. She came to a decision then, if only to shut them up, she would go and free this Willy.
"Show me where they're holding Willy!" she shouted and the Smurfs stared at her.
"Follow us!" Papa responded as the other Smurfs cheered.
Koko quirked an eyebrow and decided to follow his pupil to see what she had in mind and how exactly she was going to go about freeing this Willy person. He was curious, too, on what Willy looked like. April and Koko followed the Smurfs to the Ogre police station located on the other side of town.
* * * * * "This is where the 'Ogre-Gradys' reside? Sheesh!" April said as she saw the castle like structure the Ogre law enforcers used as their headquarters. "All right, I'm going in. Koko, stay with the Smurfs...You, Smurfs, shut up until I rescue Willy."
She placed her gloved index finger to Papa's mouth before he could start his insane chant over again. She motioned for silence from the rest and not even a cricket was heard. Koko nodded as he watched April leave for the castle structure. Two Ogre guards were at the draw gate, yes, for some reason, the police station had a draw bridge that spanned a moat that ran the perimeter of the facilities.
April leapt across the moat on the shadowy far side of the four story building and used her ability to 'latch-on' to the side of the wall. She ran vertically up the slick stone and headed to a small window alcove.
So, she was paying attention to what I was teaching her! Koko thought with pleasure as he witnessed April disappear through the open window in the stonewall. He hoped she wouldn't be gone long, because he didn't know how long he was going to be able to tolerate the insane looks coming from Papa Smurf. Papa looked like a blue pint-sized, Jack Nicholson with his furrowed brows, and it scared Koko. Koko tremble, Koko good gorilla, Koko leave, Koko...he suddenly found himself signing into the air in trepidation.
* * * * * April crept through the open window in great stealth. She could hear whisperings and whistling down the stone halls. Carpet ran the length of the halls and elegant tapestries hung on the walls. Every so often, she spotted a lit torch casting portions of the hall into an eerie, yellowish light. She decided to hunker down into the shadows of the hallway as she proceeded deeper into the complex.
She inched behind a tapestry as she made her way through the labyrinthine halls. The tapestry kept her hidden when a whistling Ogre guard walked steadily down one hall, scratching his rear.
"*grumble-grumble* I've got a bag of gold for ya," the guard mumbled out loud as he rounded a corner in agitation.
A rough cough echoed behind the guard. April found her way downstairs and kept herself hidden until, eventually, she came across the jail cells. They were located deep in the subterranean level of the castle headquarters.
What, do they think this is the middle ages or something? It's a regular dungeon down here, she internally quipped wryly. A sound was coming from a cell at the end of the dungeon confinements. It sounded like someone rapping something. Complete with several bebops and lip puckerings. April approached the source of the singing and peeped around a well-lit corner. If a guard were to appear at that moment, she'd been busted for sure.
"'Cuz Imma man in black! Protectin' the cosmos and not cuttin' the slack! A..." the dark-skinned man stopped what he was doin', whittlin' a piece of wood with a knife he had been allowed to bring with him. "Who're you?"
April looked into the cell as the man set aside his project and stood to his six-foot-two height. He wasn't particularly imposing, and seemed quite pleasant. His hair was curly and very short and he wore rather baggy clothing.
"Are you Willy?" she asked and folded her arms.
"Well now," the man started and leaned against the jail bars, "that depends on who's askin'?"
"Yes or no?" she asked, feeling they didn't have much time for games.
"Well, some call me Big Willy, don't know how they could have possibly come to that conclusion. But, the name's Willace Wallum," he replied.
"Willace Wallum? Ok...look, a bunch of Smurfs have been going around terrorizing the town shouting 'Free Willy', so I'm guessin' they mean you," she stated looking for some sort of key hanging on the wall or somewhere.
"Smurfs! Hey, my posse got help! Cool," he said happily.
"Posse? You hang out with a bunch of six-inch maniacs?" she inquired with a quick glare.
"Hey, don't let their size fool you, dey's tough ones, dey are!" he responded. "I think the guard has the key."
"Wonderful. So which guard?" she asked and stopped when she saw the Ogre at the end of the hall staring at her. "Nevermind. I think I found it."
The massive, seven-foot guard charged and April had no choice but to counter his attack. With a blaze of speed, she didn't know she had, April leapt into the air and planted a quick heel into his face. The impact rendered the beast unconscious and he fell to the stone with a thump.
April searched him and found the key. Releasing Willy, she guided him back to where she imagined the entrance was located. There was no way she was going to be getting him out through the window she came in. Therefore, the most direct route was through the front door.
Fortunately for them, it didn't take long to locate the exit. Unfortunately, there were seven very massive Ogre law enforcers waiting for them. April wasted no words as she rushed the beasts and found herself instinctively performing aerial maneuvers that would make Jett He jealous. Punches and kicks smacked Ogre faces and misguided baton swings missed April and connected with their own allies. The battle was over in moments.
"Come on!" she shouted to the cowering Willy, who had sought cover in a wooden cabinet that was as tall as a man.
Willy exited the cabinet and followed April out the front. Soon enough, Willy found himself reunited with his Smurf posse. They proceeded away from the castle and headed towards the town park.
* * * * * "We wants to thank you for your bravery, apegirl," Willy said in appreciation.
"It was no problem, really. I was getting sick of hearing their chants, anyhow," April offered in response.
"Hee Hee Hee! Yes, now, if there is anything I and my little Smurfs can do for you, please let us know!" Papa Smurf said.
"Indeed, it is impressive how you handled yourself," Koko began. "You truly are ready. Now, kneel down."
"Uh, ok..." she said and got down on her knee. "This doesn't mean I'm worshiping you or anything."
April quipped as Koko placed his hand to her hand. A blue light bathed the park and the Smurfs in a strange aura of warmth. Willy put his hand to his eyes to ward off the brightness. Then, just as quickly, the light was gone. Koko stood there beside April as an old man, showing an eternity of age.
"My time as defender is ended. Now, it is your turn," Koko said as he reached into his robe.
As he was reaching, a shot rang out and blood spurted from Koko. He dropped down and April caught him. She was in shock and looked around to see three humans and a cow rushing towards them. Koko tried to speak but was fading fast.
"You...you must...go," he said.
"Master, you can't die!" she responded through forming tears.
"Oh?....heh, powerful...in the lifeforce am I...but not that powerful," he replied through ragged breathes.
"Then, I am a defender," April said looking sullen.
"Oh no,...not yet. Chu...you must face Chu...Then, and only then....a defender will you be," Koko said and handed her the orb he had in his robe.
The orb glowed a brilliant blue and then Koko went limp. She knelt there and watched his body dissolve into nothing. A sudden resolve pierced her soul and she shoved the spherical text into her bra. She stood and turned to the oncoming attackers. Seeing her, the attackers stopped.
"Look! She has three breasts!" a light skinned human shouted, pointing at the three bulges in her leather shirt.
April looked down and grimaced. She then cast a steely gaze at the three humans encircling her. The Smurfs hung back, protecting Willy, which she preferred at that moment in time. She angrily pursed her lips and got into battle ready position.
"Nab her, we can put her in a touring freak show and make lots of money!" a second attacker shouted through badly dubbed lip movements.
The cow took this moment to bend backwards and shoot milk from its udder. The milk flew through the air at April and she used her mental abilities to alter the course of the milk and sent it back to its sender, smacking the cow in each eye. A moo of disapproval bellowed forth and the cow fell to the ground in slow motion. She then blocked the varied attacks of the three men as they punched and kicked at her. With great skill she countered their attacks, slamming her elbow into one man's eye, kneeing her way into another's family jewels, and putting the final into a flying, figure four maneuver.
The attackers lay on the ground groaning in pain and April turned to the Smurfs and Willy who smiled appreciatively and gave thumbs up. She brushed some loose hairs out of her eyes and spoke to her newfound allies.
"Now, all I need to know is where Chu is!" she said.
"And the answer is," Papa Smurf started, "Punitron!"
"Huh?" April queried, not knowing what the Smurf was talking about.
"Yo, Sis, Punitron is what deys call Chu!" Willy input with a downward hand gesture.
"Why would they call me that?" she inquired quite perplexed.
"No, no, Punitron is Chu!" he clarified.
"I am not Punitron!" she replied.
"No, CHU! CHU! Damn, girl!" he shouted.
"Oh, OH, right, right. All right, take me to Punitron!" she said balling her right hand into a defiant fist.
"Yes, destroy Punitron, kill the grand Goofball, eliminate even the toughest pains!" Papa Smurf started as he approached a statue in the center of the park and pushed a button. "...Hurry, hurry, hurry, stop right now to test drive this sleek Smurfion cruiser with Smurfo handling!...Ninety minute warranty with no obligations..."
"Or your money back!" the other Smurfs shouted in unison.
A massive ship rose out of the ground in the center of the park and the Smurfs ran towards the ship in great eagerness. All the while they shouted the saying Papa Smurf initiated.
"Destroy Punitron, kill the grand Goofball, eliminate even the toughest pains! Destroy Punitron, ..." they all continued and boarded the now readied ship.
Willy and April exchanged knowing glances and rushed towards the ship.
I hope there's enough room for us in this thing and that it has airbags! she thought as they approached the massive vessel with its engines already preparing for launch. An orange glow surrounded the area as they locked the vessel down once everyone was aboard. With a roar, the vessel blasted into the night sky, its destination, where Chu held Miami.
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