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Bartok the Magnificent! (Remake) Part 4
My last entry for 2016!
The long awaited Part 4 of the Bartok Remake story!
You can find parts 1 to 3 here.
Link to part 1: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/19543546/
Link to part 2: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/19844717/
Link to part 3: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20222196/
Link to part 5: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/25911693/
Icon image was made by
50percentgrey, and a link to it can be found bellow.
With text: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/22905161/
Without text: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/22905261/
All the characters seen in this (Besides for Boris and Markus) are from the original movie, and is created by Don Bluth.
And a HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!
If there had been one thing that Bartok had feared more then anything upon doing this giant quest it had been having to face this whole thing alone.
But so far he had been enouncing a nice interesting partner during each of the travels towards these mystical items, that had all decided to stay with him and help him get the rest.
There was Piloff, a very positive and hyperactive worm with the ability to stretch her body out in all kinds of weird manners.
And Boris, a rabbit that despite his age and chubby body still could outrun anyone that dared challenge him! (Plus his pure dedication to the royal queen Ludmilla was something that truly made him a force to follow Bartok to the end of the world if it called for it.)
So far Bartok and his company had been collecting two of the three items that Ludmilla had been asking for, and right now they where all heading together into the "Smert Swamps" in order to retrieve the "Tayna Grail".
The swamps was known to be a very cramped and heavily grown place, and the small group of animals knew that they needed to be very careful upon entering.
Upon reaching the swamps in the middle of the day, the heavily growing trees and fog made it almost feel like it was already approaching evening for the group.
"Is this really such a good idea? It looks so spooky and dark." Piloff said nervously.
"No need to be scared Piloff. You are still in company with us." Bartok said, which in return made the stretchy worm girl so happy that she quickly coiled around and wrapped both her friends up in one huge hug!
"Okay! Okay! It is only going to get even more dark the more time we waste standing here, so I suggest we get going now!" Boris said as she managed to climb out of the coils of Piloff and start marching on into the swamps.
Bartok was also on his way to do the same, when he suddenly felt how the very loose length of worm got a lot more tighter around his small bat body!
"Uh, Piloff?" Bartok asked concern, to which the still slightly scared Piloff said, "Can't I stay with you just a little while longer? I feel safe with you."
Feeling now a bit guilty if he was to say no Bartok just sighed and said yes, making Piloff shout "Yay!" with joy. (And almost crushing Bartok's body completely as she tigthed the grip a lot more!)
"GARGH!!!" Bartok shouted upon the lack of air, and Piloff was very quick to let go off him completely!
"Oh I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Piloff said as she saw how Bartok was lying on the ground trying to catch his breath.
"Maybe it would be best if I just crawled on my own?" Piloff then suggested, to which the recently strangled Bartok agreed on would be the safest choice to go on.
As the heroic trio went deeper and deeper into the creepy swamps they each started to wonder if this was to dangerous of a mission to do. (With even the most brave one Boris starting to feel a bit shaky in his paws.)
"S-Say Boris? D-Do you think there is any monsters living in the swamps?" Piloff asked nervously as she started to slowly constrict herself around the old bunny's body (While being careful to not close herself around him to hard, like she had done with Bartok earlier.), and Boris in return said that while no actual proof of any huge dangerous creatures had been told, there was still no explanation to all the poor souls that had been disappearing while searching for the treasure here.
"Still. Given the very hostile looking environment we are in, maybe turning back and living the rest of our lives as cowards might not be such a horrible alternative to go with?" Boris suggested as even he was starting to feel incredibly weak and vulnerable for whatever could be lurking in the dark, and Piloff wasn't late to second that idea.
Bartok (Feeling for once like the bravest one in the group) was starting to grow tired over his friend's lack of focus on the goal, as he turned around to face them both and tell them some words of truth.
"Oh come on you two! Why so scared when nothing has been happening to us? And even so, what is the worst thing that could happen?!" Bartok asked out, and just after saying that he would soon get an answer for his question.
As all of the sudden from the dark a huge growl could be heard as behind Bartok now stood a 6 feet 6 inches tall wild bear!
Getting all tossed into panic mode both Bartok and Boris tried to each run their separate ways away from the vicious predator, only for Piloff to grab onto both of them to help take her away quickly, resulting in the two of them to first stretch the worm's body a good bit, before then getting pulled back with their combined forces and knocked together in the small pile. (Making them left back at where they started!)
Looking up they could all see the tall bear looking down at them. Glowing eyes in the dark, sharp teeth visible from his mouth, and as he was bending over to get closer to them they also noticed a pretty visible paunch of a belly on him. (Probably the result from all the other unfortunate that he had been consuming before them they feared!)
With his big fuzzy gut very close to them the tiny trio then heard that same loud growling sound coming from him again, but this time when they started to scream in fear the scary bear suddenly seemed to change character on them.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for that! It's my food chamber telling me it's empty, and you three just so happen to stand in front of that berry bush that I always use to calm it down with." The bear said in a surprisingly sophisticated tone and manner, as he reached one of his paws over the heads of the visiting heroes, and pick off a few berries for himself to consume. (Making his fuzzy gut stop complaining so loudly.)
Looking at him now he seemed to be a much more civilized type of bear as not only did her have such un-frightening features as a big red nose and small moustache, but we was also dressed in a Green Vest with Yellow Bow Tie and a Green Top Hat.
"I probably should try to introduce myself a bit more properly." He said as he took of his hat and did an elegant bow before telling that his name was Zozi, and that he was just a struggling actor trying to make a living.
"You are an...actor?" Bartok asked confused, to which Zozi added that, "While I am not a professionally trained one, I did learn a lot from simply peeking inside windows at the finest of acting schools, and doing exactly like the people in there was doing."
"They didn't let you train with then?!" Piloff asked in a very shocked and surprised tone (As she had been spending much of her life isolated in one place, and therefore starting to forget what common sense even was.), and Zozi explained that, "Being a bear they had a hard time wanting to give me a chance to show my skills."
"And what about those clothes? How did you get those?" Boris asked, and this time Zozi didn't have any witty answer to give more then a simple, "I stole them when some of them where hanged out to dry from being washed."
"Wait a minute! You stole clothes just like that?" Bartok asked.
"I figured if I was trying to be dressed as a human that it would be increasing my chances of successfully join the humble theatre groups. But at last I was highly misleading myself thinking so." Zozi said as he sat down feeling a bit down from talking about his failed dreams.
"I simply wished that there was a role in life where I could be of help to anyone!" The big bear cried out as he did a dramatically sad pose of him having one paw covering his face in shame.
"Actually...we could use some help finding a thing we where looking for." Bartok said, making Zozi immediately feel like he got back hope of having a purpose to serve.
"Oh tell more! I have seen many moons pass in these swamps so do tell whatever you would be needing my help with." Zozi said as he was all ears listening to what the small bat would say next.
"Well, we three here are on a quest on orders from the Queen herself to find an ancient artefact called "The Tayna Grail", and it is said to be hidden and protected deep within these swamps" Bartok explained.
"Oh yes. I have seen many men travel down in the direction of where such an item is said to exist, but I have rarely seen anyone come back from it." Zozi said back as he started to get some chills talking about it.
"Do you know by any chance what we might be up facing to get the item?" Boris asked to which Zozi said, "No. I quickly knew to stay far away from whatever was causing all of those mystical disappearances to happen."
"Would you still want to show us where it's at please?" Piloff asked extra nicely, and Zozi told them that, "If it is for something of most importance as you say, then surely I will help you get to it!"
But as they all four then was starting to head off deeper into the creepy swamps none of them noticed that they where being followed by someone hiding in the shadows, and watching their every move!
Having now someone leading them closer to the place where the third item was waiting, was truly making this scary journey a lot more smoother to proceed through. (And that also happen to be a lot more larger and stronger then the rest was also helping a great lot in making the group feel safe.)
But when finally arriving to the place where the secret horror was hiding even Zozi started to feel a bit unsure if proceeding any further.
What was awaiting was a trip down into what looked like a quarry that was filled up with even more of that creepy fog! (Making it almost look like a gateway into the unknown.)
"Is something wrong?" Bartok asked concerned as Piloff started to look around everywhere at once and asking loudly, "Is something about to jump out of the shadows?!" which in return made both Boris and Zozi to jump up in panic and then start looking everywhere also for that "threat" that they thought was waiting for them.
Realising that he was acting just as scared as the little ones that he was suppose to try and protect Zozi put on a much more "brave face" as he said, "It's just that...not knowing what ever happen to the ones that went down there and never returned, might make me a tiny bit nervous." he explained as he quickly added on "Fear of the Unknown, and all that." as to clarify what he meant.
"Well that's very true indeed, as I myself had my fair share of scares during my previous quests before this one." Bartok said before looking at his fellow companions. "But knowing that I at least am not alone makes it all feel a lot better, as I know I got my friends with me."
They all then shared a small moment of piece before Bartok took a deep breath and announced "Let's get that Gauntlet!" as they all headed down into the fog filled pit.
As they went down Bartok could notice that the scary fog was floating upwards and away from where they were going, and very quickly figured that the source to it must come from where the item also was being kept.
"Who knows? Maybe taking care of whatever is haunting these woods will make things a lot less creepy here?" He thought to himself as the whole gang ventured on, as that same unknown figure was still on their traces!
"Almost got you now, Bartok." The hooded figure said to itself as it followed down just after the group of heroes.
Getting closer and closer to the bottom level of the quarry they could all feel how the ground was starting to disappear as they started to put their feet into deep levels of water instead.
Seeing barley a few steps of rocks sticking up from the surface they all had to make small jumps from platform to platform, before reaching what looked like a dead end.
"So what do we do now, Barty?" Piloff asked Bartok, and before he could come up with any idea on what to do a haunting voice was heard saying, "You could tell me who you are, daring to come down here and search for me?"
"W-Who are you s-saying that?" Bartok asked as he tried to stay brave. (While really being on the verge of falling over and fainting out of pure fear!)
As they all kept staying close together the group could see how the fog started to lighten up a bit on ones side, and upon clearing they all saw how the one talking to them was a big terrifying talking skull!
It was all very unsettling as the skull was not only very big and scary looking, but it also seemed to just have a big aura of badness surrounding it. (That it's mere presence gave away the feeling that something really awful could happen at any minute.)
"I'll ask you all again. What brings you all here to visiting me?" The skull asked, and Bartok (Feeling reluctant to be the one answering) stood up and said that they had all come in search for the "Skeleton Gauntlet".
"I see..." The Skull said as it was seen moving around a little bit side to side. (Indicating that it was having what looked like neck bones buried into the wall behind it.) "It's the same reason as anyone else that has come down here and dared challenge me."
"What do you dare us to challenge you in?" Boris stood up and ask, to which the skull smirked a bit and said, "How about a game where the mind gets to work as much as the body would have when lifting obstacles of great weight, or when running at long distances? A game where sometimes even the hardest of questions could be having the simplest of answers? A game...of riddles?"
"Riddles?" Everyone in the group asked confused as Pillow straighted her neck out a bit and asked, "Excuse me Mr...Skull Sir, but is that why none of those countless knights visiting here ever came back? Cause they got to ashamed over failing an easy riddle?"
"Let's just say that upon giving me an incorrect answer one would never hear from those people again!" The skull said as he came off as REALLY creepy to the group now, and he added on by saying that "Since you all four dared to come down here to face me I am expecting you all to answer one of my many riddles if you wish to leave here as well!"
"S-So we all need to be perfect, o-or...?" Bartok asked super nervously as the skull simply said "The End." to him as an answer.
As three of the four in the group felt to scared to dare being the first one up Zozi decided to volunteer.
"WHAT?! Are you crazy?" Pillof asked as she tried to tangle herself all-round Zozi to keep him from risking his life, but unlike the much smaller Bartok the larger bear barley felt the strange worm girl's body binding him so he slowly and carefully pulled her off his fuzzy body and told her that, "My elegantly trained ways of speaking the English language should give me a clear advantage in this."
He then faced the big skull and said, "I am accepting your challenge!" to which the skull made a smaller platform come up from under the water and asked the bear to, "Step right up here, and clear your mind!"
Getting over to the much smaller platform Zozi started to feel a bit more vulnerable and nervous, since he now was a bit cut off from the rest of the team.
"Now listen closely..." The skull said, as Zozi made sure to keep himself more focused then ever before.
"The Eight of us go forth, not back, to protect our King from a Foe’s Attack. What are we?" The skull asked out and Zozi seemed a bit lost for thought at first, before then looking like he's got it all figured out.
"The answer to that is that they are the eight Pawns that a player has in a game of Chess." The elegant bear answered with lots of confidence, and the skull was eerily silent for a moment before saying, "That answer is...Correct!"
From behind the rest of the group was cheering loudly over Zozi's correct guessing, and Zozi himself felt beyond everything else really relieved.
While the quartet of heroes was celebrating their quarter victory against the skull, there was somebody that wasn't as happy to see their success happening.
That same mystical follower who's whole reason to track them down was to make sure they would not succeed with their final task.
That someone was in fact...Markus!!!
Having been very unhappy over Queen Lumilla's decision to let Bartok continue on his successful quests (And incredibly jealous at Bartok himself managing to upstage him as a great sever) Markus had decided to go against his Queen's order and secret leave the castle to track their traces.
Thanks to them he was now witnessing the entire task making at a safe distance, and to see them once again getting so close at taking the sacred item in front of his eyes was simply something he couldn't allow to happen!
He knew what he had to do. He needed to sabotage for the group so that they would most likely perish for the giant skull, and then he could simply take their place, win the item over, and then finally prove to Ludmilla that he was meant to be the one she could trust about anything!
"But I wont be able to do that if they keep guessing right at the riddles!" Markus whined to himself as he then started to think out the perfect way to ruin it all for them. (And he loved it all so much!)
"You see fellows. As long as you don't let that big thing managing to play with your fears then he is nothing to be afraid of." Zozi said before then asking if there was anyone in the group that would like to try out, to which Piloff shouted out "Oh me, ME!" before bouncing over to the smaller platform.
Once there she thought literally over what Zozi had told her before as she tried to put on her most "Serious Face" and told him to, "Give me your best, cause I'm not afraid of you!"
The skull found all of this very funny as he decided to give this crazy worm thingy an extra tricky one to put her in her place.
"What tastes better than it smells?" The skull asked, and Piloff almost imideataley started to second guess herself, as she went on to start talking loudly about what she was thinking.
"Oh! Uh...Wait! I got it just on my tongue! (Wait, that's it!)" Piloff said as she finally seemed to get it.
"Oh no you don't!" Markus thought as he decided it was time to try and ruin Bartok and the gang's chances of winning this.
Piloff: "Tongue!"
Markus: "POTATOES!!!"
While the rest of the group did notice a second voice suddenly being heard, the skull itself seemed to not notice anything as it asked, "Potatoes you say? Care to explain how you mean there?"
This really put Piloff in a pretty bad place, as she looked over at her friends for advices on what to do. (And they in return only seemed to have "Make something up" as their best call.)
"Well...Of course Potatoes tastes a lot better then they smell! How do you think you would smell like if you where forced to be buried underground all the time?" Piloff asked back as she tried to act as sure about her answer as possible.
This got the skull to be very unsure about how to respond at first but eventually it said, "I have never heard that being the answer before, but you are giving me a very reasonable argument so I am prepared to give this as a correct answer to you.", which made Piloff feel very relived over this riddle guessing.
"Oh thank you!" Piloff said to the skull as she returned to her friends, while Markus in the shadows was feeling very upset and said "Damn it!" to himself.
"Do you guys have any idea what is going on?" Piloff asked as she reunited with the other three.
"I'm not sure but it seems like someone else is here, trying to prevent us from giving the correct answers to the skull." Bartok said, as Boris butted in and asked, "So any ideas on what we should do now?"
"I would have gladly gone up again, as I do happen to have a natural talent for improvising. But since I was the first one up I sadly can't be of much more assistance then to ask the remaining ones of you to be ready to use your imaginations when whatever strange things can be said." Zozi said, as the skull demanded another one to step forward.
"I'll do it!" Boris shouted out as the old rabbit general jumped over to the smaller platform to take on the next riddle.
"What has a head and tail, but which the two can’t see the other?" The skull asked out, and this one was a real brain scratch for Boris at first.
The old military bunny started to think about all kinds of animals that he knew had both a head and a tail, and figure if there was anything in one of their appearances that could mean their two ends could never seen each other.
"Penny for your thoughts?" The skull asked in a way to mock the small but high thinking rabbit, and in an ironic way he had actually helped Boris to come up with the right answer.
"I got it now!" Boris said as he was ready to be very loud and clear with his answer. (But the well hidden Markus was once again prepared to toss another curveball in their mission.)
"A Coin!"
"A GIRAFFE!!!"
Despite Boris trying to be as loud as possible when answering it was Markus's answer that still was the one overheard by the skull, who naturally looked down at the white rabbit with the large moustache and asked, "A Giraffe you say? Care to explain further?"
"Well...of course! I-I mean..." Boris said he himself tried to fully understand how to make sense of this mess, without making it look like he was just making it up.
"A Giraffe is known to have a very long neck, correct?" Boris asked the skull with a very convincing tone in his voice, who in return just played along and answered "Yes." back.
"And they are said to be so long that they constantly have their heads buried amongst the clouds, don't they?" Boris then asked out with even more confidence, and this time while the skull wasn't fully sure it still said, "I guess they do." back to him.
"So if their heads are always up there in the clouds, then doesn't that mean that they can never see how their own tails looks like?" Boris asked out almost like he was demanding the answer from the skull, and this time it was the skull that was being a bit short on words before saying, "Yes, I guess that is right."
Having now been declared the winner Boris returned to his group as they where just one last riddle away from taking that Gauntlet. (And Markus was starting to get really worried about failing to stop them!)
This meant now that it was only Bartok himself that was left to answer a riddle. (And he was looking more scared over doing this then anyone else!)
"D-Do I have to do this?" The little bat asked as the other three heavily encouraged him to make the small leap to stand on the platform in front of the big skull.
"So, you are the fearless leader of the group?" The skull asked as Bartok answered "Y-Yes." after been stuttering so much for a few minutes to make out that single word.
"Since you are the last one standing you are the one everyone is counting on. The one where if you succeed you will all win, but if you fail everyone will suffer because of you. So don't feel any pressure or anything." The skull said before preparing it's riddle for Bartok, who (as expected) only grew even more into a weeping leaf of nerves as he was about to listen.
" I break but don’t fall; I fall but don’t break; What are we?" The skull asked.
"Oh gees!" Bartok was heard whispering to himself, as he took more time then anyone else to figure it out.
Several long minutes passed by without the poor little guy having any clue on what to say. He was trying to figure out the right answer, but he was just so incredibly shaken over the pure pressure that he could barley form any solid thoughts!
"You can do it Bartok!" Boris shouted.
"We are counting on you fully!" Zozi added.
"But could you please hurry up just a little bit? We don't want to stay here all day! (Or is it night? It's very hard to tell in this darkness.)" Piloff said, and it was upon hearing her comment that the answer came to Bartok.
"That's it!" Bartok said as he made himself ready to answer, when Markus did one last try to ruin it all for them.
"Day and Night!"
"WATER AND WIND!!!"
"Just who is that who keeps shouting?" Piloff asked the others as Bartok was now faced to try and explain how that strange answer was right.
"Well, how is Water and Wind the right answer to that riddle?" The skull asked as Bartok so desperately wanted to say that it wasn't his answer, but he knew that he just had to accept that this was what he now needed to do.
"Well...you see...I mean..." Bartok said as he tried to collect himself so badly!
"Wind can break up in open areas but never really fall...and water can fall but never really get broken in any way?" Bartok finally said as he looked up for approval of his answer, and he could see how the skull had a very "questionable" look on it's face.
"You know, that is quite a stretch for an answer..." The skull said, making Bartok once again a bit worried about his fate. (Along with the fates of all his friends.) "...but I am prepared to call this right choice as well." The skull then said, making the whole group celebrate loudly over their new success. (Along with the hiding Markus cursing silently to himself.)
"Since you all four managed to answer my riddles I will give you now the treasure that I guard, and I know that once in your hands you will all use it's powers very wisely." The skull said as it made the legendary Skeleton Gauntlet appear right in front of Bartok to grab a hold on.
The skull then disappeared as the group noticed the water levels in the quarry suddenly starting to rise quickly, and they all started to make their exit up to surface level again.
As they came up from the haunting quarry the heroic group noticed that not only had the absence of the skull turned it into a nice looking lake, but now had also the terrifying fog all but disappeared from the swamps!
"I have to say that this looks a lot more better to live in now then it has done for many years." Zozi said as he continued on praising everyone in the group for their different strengths and how they all work so well together.
"Looks like we just need to deliver this one to Ludmilla, and then I think all our missions are finished." Bartok said as there was no end to the cheers and happy songs coming from the group over latest victory.
"Not unless I have something to say about it!" Markus said to himself as he put a mask over his face and grabbed his sword for "Plan B" to make himself the hero.
Suddenly the animal group was faced by a mysterious masked bandit stepping out and demanding them to hand over their treasure to him, and at first it seemed like nobody would be daring to do something about it. (Heck, Bartok was still so shaken by having faced the skull earlier that he almost dropped the gauntlet that was the same size as him from his grip by the sheer surprise of the bandit!)
That's when Zozi stepped in-front of the rest and said "If you want it so badly then you would be forced to face me first!" to which the masked Markus simply said "Works for me." before coming charging towards him!
Markus had been counting on this bear to be nothing more then a mindless beast, but given how he had been studying humans movements in great details from the ballet he was able to predict almost every attack that the bandit was trying to give him, and gracefully dodge away from it.
It was one thing to never fully land on a hit, but when the nicely dressed bear half the times didn't even seemed to notice his very own existence then it really was driving the royal bodyguard mad!
"Just die you Beast!" Markus shouted as he charged blindly with full force towards Zozi, who in return just moved aside as he let the human trip over an out sticking root, and be sent falling straight into a nearby river to be swept away!
The rest could see the masked bandit climb onto a big log that was near him, and upon seeing that he would be fine the team decided to leave him and head straight towards the castle.
For Markus being in the stream was taking to much of his time away, so he knew that as soon as he could get up on land again he would have to make a quick run for it back to the castle if he wanted to make it back in time before Ludmilla would notice he was missing when the group returns.
"I HATE that the little mini zoo there is going to get all the glory once again, but I am very intrigued over seeing what will happen once my dear Queen finally has all the three items in her procession." Markus said as he managed to steer his log into the closest shore and crawl back onto the grass.
The long awaited Part 4 of the Bartok Remake story!
You can find parts 1 to 3 here.
Link to part 1: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/19543546/
Link to part 2: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/19844717/
Link to part 3: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/20222196/
Link to part 5: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/25911693/
Icon image was made by
50percentgrey, and a link to it can be found bellow.With text: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/22905161/
Without text: http://www.furaffinity.net/view/22905261/
All the characters seen in this (Besides for Boris and Markus) are from the original movie, and is created by Don Bluth.
And a HAPPY NEW YEAR to everyone!
If there had been one thing that Bartok had feared more then anything upon doing this giant quest it had been having to face this whole thing alone.
But so far he had been enouncing a nice interesting partner during each of the travels towards these mystical items, that had all decided to stay with him and help him get the rest.
There was Piloff, a very positive and hyperactive worm with the ability to stretch her body out in all kinds of weird manners.
And Boris, a rabbit that despite his age and chubby body still could outrun anyone that dared challenge him! (Plus his pure dedication to the royal queen Ludmilla was something that truly made him a force to follow Bartok to the end of the world if it called for it.)
So far Bartok and his company had been collecting two of the three items that Ludmilla had been asking for, and right now they where all heading together into the "Smert Swamps" in order to retrieve the "Tayna Grail".
The swamps was known to be a very cramped and heavily grown place, and the small group of animals knew that they needed to be very careful upon entering.
Upon reaching the swamps in the middle of the day, the heavily growing trees and fog made it almost feel like it was already approaching evening for the group.
"Is this really such a good idea? It looks so spooky and dark." Piloff said nervously.
"No need to be scared Piloff. You are still in company with us." Bartok said, which in return made the stretchy worm girl so happy that she quickly coiled around and wrapped both her friends up in one huge hug!
"Okay! Okay! It is only going to get even more dark the more time we waste standing here, so I suggest we get going now!" Boris said as she managed to climb out of the coils of Piloff and start marching on into the swamps.
Bartok was also on his way to do the same, when he suddenly felt how the very loose length of worm got a lot more tighter around his small bat body!
"Uh, Piloff?" Bartok asked concern, to which the still slightly scared Piloff said, "Can't I stay with you just a little while longer? I feel safe with you."
Feeling now a bit guilty if he was to say no Bartok just sighed and said yes, making Piloff shout "Yay!" with joy. (And almost crushing Bartok's body completely as she tigthed the grip a lot more!)
"GARGH!!!" Bartok shouted upon the lack of air, and Piloff was very quick to let go off him completely!
"Oh I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" Piloff said as she saw how Bartok was lying on the ground trying to catch his breath.
"Maybe it would be best if I just crawled on my own?" Piloff then suggested, to which the recently strangled Bartok agreed on would be the safest choice to go on.
As the heroic trio went deeper and deeper into the creepy swamps they each started to wonder if this was to dangerous of a mission to do. (With even the most brave one Boris starting to feel a bit shaky in his paws.)
"S-Say Boris? D-Do you think there is any monsters living in the swamps?" Piloff asked nervously as she started to slowly constrict herself around the old bunny's body (While being careful to not close herself around him to hard, like she had done with Bartok earlier.), and Boris in return said that while no actual proof of any huge dangerous creatures had been told, there was still no explanation to all the poor souls that had been disappearing while searching for the treasure here.
"Still. Given the very hostile looking environment we are in, maybe turning back and living the rest of our lives as cowards might not be such a horrible alternative to go with?" Boris suggested as even he was starting to feel incredibly weak and vulnerable for whatever could be lurking in the dark, and Piloff wasn't late to second that idea.
Bartok (Feeling for once like the bravest one in the group) was starting to grow tired over his friend's lack of focus on the goal, as he turned around to face them both and tell them some words of truth.
"Oh come on you two! Why so scared when nothing has been happening to us? And even so, what is the worst thing that could happen?!" Bartok asked out, and just after saying that he would soon get an answer for his question.
As all of the sudden from the dark a huge growl could be heard as behind Bartok now stood a 6 feet 6 inches tall wild bear!
Getting all tossed into panic mode both Bartok and Boris tried to each run their separate ways away from the vicious predator, only for Piloff to grab onto both of them to help take her away quickly, resulting in the two of them to first stretch the worm's body a good bit, before then getting pulled back with their combined forces and knocked together in the small pile. (Making them left back at where they started!)
Looking up they could all see the tall bear looking down at them. Glowing eyes in the dark, sharp teeth visible from his mouth, and as he was bending over to get closer to them they also noticed a pretty visible paunch of a belly on him. (Probably the result from all the other unfortunate that he had been consuming before them they feared!)
With his big fuzzy gut very close to them the tiny trio then heard that same loud growling sound coming from him again, but this time when they started to scream in fear the scary bear suddenly seemed to change character on them.
"Oh, I'm so sorry for that! It's my food chamber telling me it's empty, and you three just so happen to stand in front of that berry bush that I always use to calm it down with." The bear said in a surprisingly sophisticated tone and manner, as he reached one of his paws over the heads of the visiting heroes, and pick off a few berries for himself to consume. (Making his fuzzy gut stop complaining so loudly.)
Looking at him now he seemed to be a much more civilized type of bear as not only did her have such un-frightening features as a big red nose and small moustache, but we was also dressed in a Green Vest with Yellow Bow Tie and a Green Top Hat.
"I probably should try to introduce myself a bit more properly." He said as he took of his hat and did an elegant bow before telling that his name was Zozi, and that he was just a struggling actor trying to make a living.
"You are an...actor?" Bartok asked confused, to which Zozi added that, "While I am not a professionally trained one, I did learn a lot from simply peeking inside windows at the finest of acting schools, and doing exactly like the people in there was doing."
"They didn't let you train with then?!" Piloff asked in a very shocked and surprised tone (As she had been spending much of her life isolated in one place, and therefore starting to forget what common sense even was.), and Zozi explained that, "Being a bear they had a hard time wanting to give me a chance to show my skills."
"And what about those clothes? How did you get those?" Boris asked, and this time Zozi didn't have any witty answer to give more then a simple, "I stole them when some of them where hanged out to dry from being washed."
"Wait a minute! You stole clothes just like that?" Bartok asked.
"I figured if I was trying to be dressed as a human that it would be increasing my chances of successfully join the humble theatre groups. But at last I was highly misleading myself thinking so." Zozi said as he sat down feeling a bit down from talking about his failed dreams.
"I simply wished that there was a role in life where I could be of help to anyone!" The big bear cried out as he did a dramatically sad pose of him having one paw covering his face in shame.
"Actually...we could use some help finding a thing we where looking for." Bartok said, making Zozi immediately feel like he got back hope of having a purpose to serve.
"Oh tell more! I have seen many moons pass in these swamps so do tell whatever you would be needing my help with." Zozi said as he was all ears listening to what the small bat would say next.
"Well, we three here are on a quest on orders from the Queen herself to find an ancient artefact called "The Tayna Grail", and it is said to be hidden and protected deep within these swamps" Bartok explained.
"Oh yes. I have seen many men travel down in the direction of where such an item is said to exist, but I have rarely seen anyone come back from it." Zozi said back as he started to get some chills talking about it.
"Do you know by any chance what we might be up facing to get the item?" Boris asked to which Zozi said, "No. I quickly knew to stay far away from whatever was causing all of those mystical disappearances to happen."
"Would you still want to show us where it's at please?" Piloff asked extra nicely, and Zozi told them that, "If it is for something of most importance as you say, then surely I will help you get to it!"
But as they all four then was starting to head off deeper into the creepy swamps none of them noticed that they where being followed by someone hiding in the shadows, and watching their every move!
Having now someone leading them closer to the place where the third item was waiting, was truly making this scary journey a lot more smoother to proceed through. (And that also happen to be a lot more larger and stronger then the rest was also helping a great lot in making the group feel safe.)
But when finally arriving to the place where the secret horror was hiding even Zozi started to feel a bit unsure if proceeding any further.
What was awaiting was a trip down into what looked like a quarry that was filled up with even more of that creepy fog! (Making it almost look like a gateway into the unknown.)
"Is something wrong?" Bartok asked concerned as Piloff started to look around everywhere at once and asking loudly, "Is something about to jump out of the shadows?!" which in return made both Boris and Zozi to jump up in panic and then start looking everywhere also for that "threat" that they thought was waiting for them.
Realising that he was acting just as scared as the little ones that he was suppose to try and protect Zozi put on a much more "brave face" as he said, "It's just that...not knowing what ever happen to the ones that went down there and never returned, might make me a tiny bit nervous." he explained as he quickly added on "Fear of the Unknown, and all that." as to clarify what he meant.
"Well that's very true indeed, as I myself had my fair share of scares during my previous quests before this one." Bartok said before looking at his fellow companions. "But knowing that I at least am not alone makes it all feel a lot better, as I know I got my friends with me."
They all then shared a small moment of piece before Bartok took a deep breath and announced "Let's get that Gauntlet!" as they all headed down into the fog filled pit.
As they went down Bartok could notice that the scary fog was floating upwards and away from where they were going, and very quickly figured that the source to it must come from where the item also was being kept.
"Who knows? Maybe taking care of whatever is haunting these woods will make things a lot less creepy here?" He thought to himself as the whole gang ventured on, as that same unknown figure was still on their traces!
"Almost got you now, Bartok." The hooded figure said to itself as it followed down just after the group of heroes.
Getting closer and closer to the bottom level of the quarry they could all feel how the ground was starting to disappear as they started to put their feet into deep levels of water instead.
Seeing barley a few steps of rocks sticking up from the surface they all had to make small jumps from platform to platform, before reaching what looked like a dead end.
"So what do we do now, Barty?" Piloff asked Bartok, and before he could come up with any idea on what to do a haunting voice was heard saying, "You could tell me who you are, daring to come down here and search for me?"
"W-Who are you s-saying that?" Bartok asked as he tried to stay brave. (While really being on the verge of falling over and fainting out of pure fear!)
As they all kept staying close together the group could see how the fog started to lighten up a bit on ones side, and upon clearing they all saw how the one talking to them was a big terrifying talking skull!
It was all very unsettling as the skull was not only very big and scary looking, but it also seemed to just have a big aura of badness surrounding it. (That it's mere presence gave away the feeling that something really awful could happen at any minute.)
"I'll ask you all again. What brings you all here to visiting me?" The skull asked, and Bartok (Feeling reluctant to be the one answering) stood up and said that they had all come in search for the "Skeleton Gauntlet".
"I see..." The Skull said as it was seen moving around a little bit side to side. (Indicating that it was having what looked like neck bones buried into the wall behind it.) "It's the same reason as anyone else that has come down here and dared challenge me."
"What do you dare us to challenge you in?" Boris stood up and ask, to which the skull smirked a bit and said, "How about a game where the mind gets to work as much as the body would have when lifting obstacles of great weight, or when running at long distances? A game where sometimes even the hardest of questions could be having the simplest of answers? A game...of riddles?"
"Riddles?" Everyone in the group asked confused as Pillow straighted her neck out a bit and asked, "Excuse me Mr...Skull Sir, but is that why none of those countless knights visiting here ever came back? Cause they got to ashamed over failing an easy riddle?"
"Let's just say that upon giving me an incorrect answer one would never hear from those people again!" The skull said as he came off as REALLY creepy to the group now, and he added on by saying that "Since you all four dared to come down here to face me I am expecting you all to answer one of my many riddles if you wish to leave here as well!"
"S-So we all need to be perfect, o-or...?" Bartok asked super nervously as the skull simply said "The End." to him as an answer.
As three of the four in the group felt to scared to dare being the first one up Zozi decided to volunteer.
"WHAT?! Are you crazy?" Pillof asked as she tried to tangle herself all-round Zozi to keep him from risking his life, but unlike the much smaller Bartok the larger bear barley felt the strange worm girl's body binding him so he slowly and carefully pulled her off his fuzzy body and told her that, "My elegantly trained ways of speaking the English language should give me a clear advantage in this."
He then faced the big skull and said, "I am accepting your challenge!" to which the skull made a smaller platform come up from under the water and asked the bear to, "Step right up here, and clear your mind!"
Getting over to the much smaller platform Zozi started to feel a bit more vulnerable and nervous, since he now was a bit cut off from the rest of the team.
"Now listen closely..." The skull said, as Zozi made sure to keep himself more focused then ever before.
"The Eight of us go forth, not back, to protect our King from a Foe’s Attack. What are we?" The skull asked out and Zozi seemed a bit lost for thought at first, before then looking like he's got it all figured out.
"The answer to that is that they are the eight Pawns that a player has in a game of Chess." The elegant bear answered with lots of confidence, and the skull was eerily silent for a moment before saying, "That answer is...Correct!"
From behind the rest of the group was cheering loudly over Zozi's correct guessing, and Zozi himself felt beyond everything else really relieved.
While the quartet of heroes was celebrating their quarter victory against the skull, there was somebody that wasn't as happy to see their success happening.
That same mystical follower who's whole reason to track them down was to make sure they would not succeed with their final task.
That someone was in fact...Markus!!!
Having been very unhappy over Queen Lumilla's decision to let Bartok continue on his successful quests (And incredibly jealous at Bartok himself managing to upstage him as a great sever) Markus had decided to go against his Queen's order and secret leave the castle to track their traces.
Thanks to them he was now witnessing the entire task making at a safe distance, and to see them once again getting so close at taking the sacred item in front of his eyes was simply something he couldn't allow to happen!
He knew what he had to do. He needed to sabotage for the group so that they would most likely perish for the giant skull, and then he could simply take their place, win the item over, and then finally prove to Ludmilla that he was meant to be the one she could trust about anything!
"But I wont be able to do that if they keep guessing right at the riddles!" Markus whined to himself as he then started to think out the perfect way to ruin it all for them. (And he loved it all so much!)
"You see fellows. As long as you don't let that big thing managing to play with your fears then he is nothing to be afraid of." Zozi said before then asking if there was anyone in the group that would like to try out, to which Piloff shouted out "Oh me, ME!" before bouncing over to the smaller platform.
Once there she thought literally over what Zozi had told her before as she tried to put on her most "Serious Face" and told him to, "Give me your best, cause I'm not afraid of you!"
The skull found all of this very funny as he decided to give this crazy worm thingy an extra tricky one to put her in her place.
"What tastes better than it smells?" The skull asked, and Piloff almost imideataley started to second guess herself, as she went on to start talking loudly about what she was thinking.
"Oh! Uh...Wait! I got it just on my tongue! (Wait, that's it!)" Piloff said as she finally seemed to get it.
"Oh no you don't!" Markus thought as he decided it was time to try and ruin Bartok and the gang's chances of winning this.
Piloff: "Tongue!"
Markus: "POTATOES!!!"
While the rest of the group did notice a second voice suddenly being heard, the skull itself seemed to not notice anything as it asked, "Potatoes you say? Care to explain how you mean there?"
This really put Piloff in a pretty bad place, as she looked over at her friends for advices on what to do. (And they in return only seemed to have "Make something up" as their best call.)
"Well...Of course Potatoes tastes a lot better then they smell! How do you think you would smell like if you where forced to be buried underground all the time?" Piloff asked back as she tried to act as sure about her answer as possible.
This got the skull to be very unsure about how to respond at first but eventually it said, "I have never heard that being the answer before, but you are giving me a very reasonable argument so I am prepared to give this as a correct answer to you.", which made Piloff feel very relived over this riddle guessing.
"Oh thank you!" Piloff said to the skull as she returned to her friends, while Markus in the shadows was feeling very upset and said "Damn it!" to himself.
"Do you guys have any idea what is going on?" Piloff asked as she reunited with the other three.
"I'm not sure but it seems like someone else is here, trying to prevent us from giving the correct answers to the skull." Bartok said, as Boris butted in and asked, "So any ideas on what we should do now?"
"I would have gladly gone up again, as I do happen to have a natural talent for improvising. But since I was the first one up I sadly can't be of much more assistance then to ask the remaining ones of you to be ready to use your imaginations when whatever strange things can be said." Zozi said, as the skull demanded another one to step forward.
"I'll do it!" Boris shouted out as the old rabbit general jumped over to the smaller platform to take on the next riddle.
"What has a head and tail, but which the two can’t see the other?" The skull asked out, and this one was a real brain scratch for Boris at first.
The old military bunny started to think about all kinds of animals that he knew had both a head and a tail, and figure if there was anything in one of their appearances that could mean their two ends could never seen each other.
"Penny for your thoughts?" The skull asked in a way to mock the small but high thinking rabbit, and in an ironic way he had actually helped Boris to come up with the right answer.
"I got it now!" Boris said as he was ready to be very loud and clear with his answer. (But the well hidden Markus was once again prepared to toss another curveball in their mission.)
"A Coin!"
"A GIRAFFE!!!"
Despite Boris trying to be as loud as possible when answering it was Markus's answer that still was the one overheard by the skull, who naturally looked down at the white rabbit with the large moustache and asked, "A Giraffe you say? Care to explain further?"
"Well...of course! I-I mean..." Boris said he himself tried to fully understand how to make sense of this mess, without making it look like he was just making it up.
"A Giraffe is known to have a very long neck, correct?" Boris asked the skull with a very convincing tone in his voice, who in return just played along and answered "Yes." back.
"And they are said to be so long that they constantly have their heads buried amongst the clouds, don't they?" Boris then asked out with even more confidence, and this time while the skull wasn't fully sure it still said, "I guess they do." back to him.
"So if their heads are always up there in the clouds, then doesn't that mean that they can never see how their own tails looks like?" Boris asked out almost like he was demanding the answer from the skull, and this time it was the skull that was being a bit short on words before saying, "Yes, I guess that is right."
Having now been declared the winner Boris returned to his group as they where just one last riddle away from taking that Gauntlet. (And Markus was starting to get really worried about failing to stop them!)
This meant now that it was only Bartok himself that was left to answer a riddle. (And he was looking more scared over doing this then anyone else!)
"D-Do I have to do this?" The little bat asked as the other three heavily encouraged him to make the small leap to stand on the platform in front of the big skull.
"So, you are the fearless leader of the group?" The skull asked as Bartok answered "Y-Yes." after been stuttering so much for a few minutes to make out that single word.
"Since you are the last one standing you are the one everyone is counting on. The one where if you succeed you will all win, but if you fail everyone will suffer because of you. So don't feel any pressure or anything." The skull said before preparing it's riddle for Bartok, who (as expected) only grew even more into a weeping leaf of nerves as he was about to listen.
" I break but don’t fall; I fall but don’t break; What are we?" The skull asked.
"Oh gees!" Bartok was heard whispering to himself, as he took more time then anyone else to figure it out.
Several long minutes passed by without the poor little guy having any clue on what to say. He was trying to figure out the right answer, but he was just so incredibly shaken over the pure pressure that he could barley form any solid thoughts!
"You can do it Bartok!" Boris shouted.
"We are counting on you fully!" Zozi added.
"But could you please hurry up just a little bit? We don't want to stay here all day! (Or is it night? It's very hard to tell in this darkness.)" Piloff said, and it was upon hearing her comment that the answer came to Bartok.
"That's it!" Bartok said as he made himself ready to answer, when Markus did one last try to ruin it all for them.
"Day and Night!"
"WATER AND WIND!!!"
"Just who is that who keeps shouting?" Piloff asked the others as Bartok was now faced to try and explain how that strange answer was right.
"Well, how is Water and Wind the right answer to that riddle?" The skull asked as Bartok so desperately wanted to say that it wasn't his answer, but he knew that he just had to accept that this was what he now needed to do.
"Well...you see...I mean..." Bartok said as he tried to collect himself so badly!
"Wind can break up in open areas but never really fall...and water can fall but never really get broken in any way?" Bartok finally said as he looked up for approval of his answer, and he could see how the skull had a very "questionable" look on it's face.
"You know, that is quite a stretch for an answer..." The skull said, making Bartok once again a bit worried about his fate. (Along with the fates of all his friends.) "...but I am prepared to call this right choice as well." The skull then said, making the whole group celebrate loudly over their new success. (Along with the hiding Markus cursing silently to himself.)
"Since you all four managed to answer my riddles I will give you now the treasure that I guard, and I know that once in your hands you will all use it's powers very wisely." The skull said as it made the legendary Skeleton Gauntlet appear right in front of Bartok to grab a hold on.
The skull then disappeared as the group noticed the water levels in the quarry suddenly starting to rise quickly, and they all started to make their exit up to surface level again.
As they came up from the haunting quarry the heroic group noticed that not only had the absence of the skull turned it into a nice looking lake, but now had also the terrifying fog all but disappeared from the swamps!
"I have to say that this looks a lot more better to live in now then it has done for many years." Zozi said as he continued on praising everyone in the group for their different strengths and how they all work so well together.
"Looks like we just need to deliver this one to Ludmilla, and then I think all our missions are finished." Bartok said as there was no end to the cheers and happy songs coming from the group over latest victory.
"Not unless I have something to say about it!" Markus said to himself as he put a mask over his face and grabbed his sword for "Plan B" to make himself the hero.
Suddenly the animal group was faced by a mysterious masked bandit stepping out and demanding them to hand over their treasure to him, and at first it seemed like nobody would be daring to do something about it. (Heck, Bartok was still so shaken by having faced the skull earlier that he almost dropped the gauntlet that was the same size as him from his grip by the sheer surprise of the bandit!)
That's when Zozi stepped in-front of the rest and said "If you want it so badly then you would be forced to face me first!" to which the masked Markus simply said "Works for me." before coming charging towards him!
Markus had been counting on this bear to be nothing more then a mindless beast, but given how he had been studying humans movements in great details from the ballet he was able to predict almost every attack that the bandit was trying to give him, and gracefully dodge away from it.
It was one thing to never fully land on a hit, but when the nicely dressed bear half the times didn't even seemed to notice his very own existence then it really was driving the royal bodyguard mad!
"Just die you Beast!" Markus shouted as he charged blindly with full force towards Zozi, who in return just moved aside as he let the human trip over an out sticking root, and be sent falling straight into a nearby river to be swept away!
The rest could see the masked bandit climb onto a big log that was near him, and upon seeing that he would be fine the team decided to leave him and head straight towards the castle.
For Markus being in the stream was taking to much of his time away, so he knew that as soon as he could get up on land again he would have to make a quick run for it back to the castle if he wanted to make it back in time before Ludmilla would notice he was missing when the group returns.
"I HATE that the little mini zoo there is going to get all the glory once again, but I am very intrigued over seeing what will happen once my dear Queen finally has all the three items in her procession." Markus said as he managed to steer his log into the closest shore and crawl back onto the grass.
Category Story / General Furry Art
Species Bat
Size 82 x 120px
File Size 71 kB
And just before 2017 started. ^_^
I was expecting the answers to be answered correctly, didn't expect Markus to not only sabotage their efforts but fail quite badly at it to.
And now Ludmilla will be swift to attain the three items she desperately seeks. The next part I can't wait for!
I was expecting the answers to be answered correctly, didn't expect Markus to not only sabotage their efforts but fail quite badly at it to.
And now Ludmilla will be swift to attain the three items she desperately seeks. The next part I can't wait for!
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