FAT49 #12 - Fishy Flashback

In the stillness the seas converged.

Grgl was underwater. He was surrounded by what looked like shattered buildings covered in coral. He noticed some familiar symbols on the buildings. Fish-kin symbols. He swam to one and inspected it. It glowed softly at his touch.
"Could it be?" he thought.
He felt a tail brush past him. A fish. Not to be unexpected. The fish paused and looked at him.
"Is this..." he began "the sunken city of Brow Island?"
"This..." replied the fish. "...is our homeland." The fish's voice was Bloop's. The recent memories came flooding back.
Flock. Butler Suits. Felix... CHANG!
"Sister, I thought you..." Grgl began.
"Alas, brother, I did." Bloop said.
"But then how...?"
"This is the Fish-Kin afterlife."
"We... turn into fish?"
"Yes."
"But, we eat fish."
"Ironic, isn't it? You are what you eat they say."
"..."
"But, never mind that now brother. You are still alive."
"But, I thought this was the after..."
"Hey! There are enough inconsistencies without you asking questions all the time!" Bloop snapped.
"Anyway, you were brought here because you are the last surviving Fish-Kin." Bloop said.
"Okay?" Grgl said.
"Which means..." said another fish with a mighty fin. "...that you shall inherit our will."
"Oh." said Grgl who was trying to imagine what a dead culture robbed of their land and who were now inhabiting fish could will to him. He imagined a life time supply of tuna and then gagged a little.
"You will inherit all of our strengths, all of our memories." said a third fish who had beard-shaped coral growing on its face.
"Inherit your memories?" Grgl said feeling more and more like a fish out of water.
"Touch my fin and I will show you the true history of our people." said coral beard fish.

SPLOOSH

Grgl was there. He floated above the carnage of a sinking city in a bubble of water, with Plash, the bearded fish. Somehow, he knew that was the fish's name.
"Behold, Grgl. This was the mighty wave that claimed our homeland, Brow Island." Plash said. The seas were turbulent and powerful. They crashed mightily into the island, spilling out onto the land and overcoming the walls of its cities. Grgl could see the Fish-Kin, his people, fleeing in terror below him.
"Can't we save them? Can't we stop this?" Grgl said.
"This has already happened." Plash said.

SPLOOSH

They floated above a beach, a familiar beach, as a Fish-Kin girl crawled out of the ocean onto it. She was exhausted. She looked north. She looked south. There was nothing dangerous on the beach save a small crab with an above average sized pincer clicking at her menacingly. The girl turned back to the tides and started waving. She beckoned the other Fish-Kin still lost at sea.
"This child was the first to arrive on the new shore." Plash said.
"Her name is Krash, she is my grandmother." Grgl said.
"Ah, then your bond is strengthening."

SPLOOSH

The beach was now home to a small, thriving settlement. It was a curious one with buildings on land and sea that ebbed with the tide.
"This is the Stolen Shore?" Grgl said. "It's paradise."
"Our people made this place our home, but we would soon have to defend it."

SPLOOSH

There were screams, shouts and gurgles. The settlement was in ruins and great multi-armed creatures emerged from the tide. The Fish-Kin met them at the shore bearing their bone swords.
"The Squid War." Plash said. "Do you see that warrior at the front?" There was a mighty warrior with a mohawk much like Grgl's own standing at the front line fighting the squids.
"My father, Floop." Grgl said.

SPLOOSH

The settlements were being rebuilt but were nowhere near their former glory.
"Many Fish-Kin died in that war and rebuilding the settlement was a difficult task. It left us gutted and desperate." Plash said gravely.
"What did the Squid want with us?" Grgl asked.
"The squid are an ancient enemy of the Fish-Kin. Also, they taste great."
"True. So, why have you brought me here?"
"This was where we met... him. He that is responsible for so much of the Fish-Kin's suffering."
There he was, talking to the village elder. Chang. He looked younger but no less hateful. (NOTE: Before Chang usurped Doshforthewin he was known as Chinstrap Chang).
"That elder is me." Plash said. "Flock had been established during the Squid War. Maximillions Doshforthewin was the leader at the time and he had sent Chang to claim our land. It was the perfect location for their new port. I declined their offer to relocate us. We had just fought off the squids and I would not give up the shore so easily. But, they came with superior numbers..."
"I can feel it..." Grgl said.
"Feel what?"
"I can feel their pain! I can feel the blades and the fire! I can feel their life being drained away!" Countless names, countless faces and countless lives flashed through Grgl's mind. He knew them all.

The converged seas stirred.

FAT49 #11 - BOSS: F.O.T. Chang

"Chang, will you tell us where Valiant is?" Felix asked.
"By Perpetuum, it does talk. Flagnork, see if it can scream." Chang said to the hulking monster on his left.
"Yes, Boss." Flagnork said and flexed his muscles menacingly.
"My magix will not work on the cats but I'll have my fun with the others." Henry laughed.
"Now will you fight, Felix?" Bloop said impatiently.
"So be it." Felix said.

Battle Theme Song: Let Me Blow You A Kiss (Noriko Matsueda, Takahito Eguchi)

Enemy Turn

F.O.T. Chang uses Hateful Words - Party's END down

Flagnork uses Flex - Flagnork's DMG up

Henry uses Maniacal Laughter - Henry's MGX up

Party Turn

Jean uses Nunchaku Strike - Deals 10 DMG to Flagnork

Beardface uses Axe Swing - Deals 15 DMG to Flagnork

Bloop uses Flipper Kick - Deals 6 DMG to Flagnork

Grgl uses Read Up - Discovers Flagnork is weak to ICE

Ranaweyt uses Ysela - INTERCEPT - Henry uses Deflect Magix (the attack is deflected onto a nearby sleeping Sycophant who turns into an ice cream)

Felix uses Claw Flurry - Deals 10, 10, 10 DMG to Flagnork

"Oh, I hate fighting. There's no money in it." Chang said.
"There's more to life than your profits, Chang!" Bloop shouted.
"To live is to make profit, otherwise you are simply another loss." Chang said.

Enemy Turn

F.O.T. Chang uses Flash Some Cash - A herd of greedy Sycophants storm up to him dealing 20 DMG to ALL (except himself)

Flagnork uses Smash- Felix dodges

Henry uses Vurela - Deals 25 DMG to Beardface

Party Turn

Jean uses Encouraging Words - Party DMG & END up

Beardface uses Lumberjack Punisher - JAKUTEN - Deals 20(+25) DMG to Flagnork

Bloop uses Flipper Kick - Deals 8 DMG to Flagnork

Grgl uses Wimpy Punch - Deals 1 DMG to Flagnork and 5 DMG to Grgl

Ranaweyt uses Ysela - Deals 20 DMG to Flagnork - FROZEN

Felix uses Feline Gaze - Henry is challenged to a staring contest and loses - Henry is stunned

"Chang, we have no quarrel with you. All we want is to find Valiant." Felix said.
"Ah yes, Valiant. I hated him."

Enemy Turn

F.O.T. Chang uses Dosh Dagger - Deals 100 DMG to Beardface - Beardface incapacitated

Flagnork frozen

Henry stunned

Party Turn

Jean is distracted

Beardface is incapacitated

Bloop uses Flipper Kick - Deals 8 DMG to Flagnork

Grgl uses Ancient Fish-Kin Remedy - Beardface is revived

Ranaweyt uses Ysela - ICE-ICE COMBO (SHATTER) - Flagnork dead

Felix uses Swift Claw - JAKUTEN - Deals 20(+23) DMG to Henry - Henry Incapacitated

"Give it up, Chang. Tell us what we want to know and we'll be on our way." Felix said.
"I really hate you for making me have to step in." Chang hissed.

Enemy Turn

F.O.T. Chang uses Invest on himself - F.O.T. Chang's DMG, END, AGI, WIT, JKT, MGX up

The investment attracts the Sycophants - F.O.T. Chang is protected by a wall of Sycophants

Jean uses Nunchaku Strike - INTERCEPT - Deals 10 DMG to Wall of Sycophants

Beardface uses Axe Swing - INTERCEPT - Deals 15 DMG to Wall of Sycophants

Bloop uses Flipper Kick - COUNTER - F.O.T. Chang counters with Bankrupt - Bloop dead

Grgl's mind goes still. Still enough to reflect with powerfully calm clarity.

FAT49 #10 - Platforming

"So, the A-B connecting bridge located at the top of this strut will lead us to Strut A where Chang is being held?" Felix clarified.
"Yes, that's what I just finished saying." Grgl said with the unsurprise of one who was ignored often. He was younger than his sister. He couldn't have been older than the main character of a YA novel about zombies, rebellion, angst, post-apocalypse and/or magix. Such novels were commonplace in the Gnome Archipelago and were mostly attributed to one author: I. B. Good. This was of course A Pseudonym. Mr and Mrs Pseudonym had been at a loss with the birth of their 17th child and when asked by the official person what their child's name was they replied: "A..." The official, who was feeling rather impatient that day, recorded this utterance as her name. A was a bookish child because she found that books didn't tease her about her name. When she started writing she decided to attribute it a different name, I. B. Good. She would later become one of the most popular authors around with her first book: Teenage Heroine Rebels Egregiously Against Imperial Scum. Her name was forever etched into the annals of history. Many authors today pay homage to her by coming up with a fake name they call: "a pseudonym". Her most popular work was the Iago Zacklii Trilogy. The second book, Iago Zacklii and the Flagnork, was a smash hit and any self-respecting person owns a copy. Beardface who lives in the mountains and can't read, Jean who lives in the desert and spends most of her time looking after her siblings and training, Felix who has no interest in human books, Ranaweyt who spends most of his days poring over magix scrolls and Bloop who spends most of her time plotting revenge have, none of them, read the book. Grgl, who would consider himself fairly fashionable and up-to-date, has read the entire trilogy.

"There's no need to fight unnecessarily. We should simply ask if they can lead us to Chang." Felix reasoned. "Ah, look here's someone now. Excuse me."
"!" said someone now.
"We were wondering if you might show us to Chang?"
"Gah! A talking cat!" they screeched and ran away.
"There'll be no escort then." Beardface said.
"Then we'll just have to do this the old fashioned way." Felix said. "Platforming."

"Phew, we made it! The A-B connecting bridge." Felix said.

"It's a lot less impressive than the B-C connecting bridge." Bloop noted.

"What were those foul pumpkin monsters?" Beardface said.

"Did anyone see that crocodile?" Jean said.

"Check out all these sweet floating coins I got." Grgl said excitedly.

"Come on, everyone. I feel like the fun is only just beginning." Felix said.

F.O.T. Chang looked down disdainfully at the guard in front of him.
"A talking cat, you say?"
"Yes, Boss!"
"Why did you not bring it to me?"
"Uh...I was going to..."
"Why would you do that? I hate cats."
"Uh... I mean... that was... I..."
"I hate stuttering."
"Sorry, Boss."
"I hate apologies."
"..."
"And, I hate ellipses. Henry!"
There was a flash of light and the guard fell to the floor as a wad of money.
"Excellent work, Henry. I love money."
"I live to please you." said Henry. Henry had the familiar blue tinged skin of a wizard.
"I want smash face." said the monstrosity standing on Chang's left.
"Too slow, Flagnork." Henry taunted.
"Hmm. Cat coming. I smash soon. I hate cat."
There was a creak and a boom as the doors to Strut A burst open.
"Chang!" bellowed Bloop.
"I feel like the hate is only just beginning." Chang said.

FAT49 #9 - Fishy Butlers

"Does anyone else feel like their spit is on fire?" heaved Jean.

"Mmph!" Beardface said inaudibly. His head had gone out through the other side of the bridge.

"He says 'even me'." Felix interpreted.

Ranaweyt meowed their attention to two suspicious looking butlers who looked as if they'd just seen two people and two cats crash land onto a bridge in a blaze of light. 

"Gaah!" Beardface roared as he excalibured his head from the wall. "My tongue is on f..." But, he was interrupted by a splintering crack that resounded through the air. 

"Get off the bridge!" Felix yelled. The party leapt into action. The suspicious butlers had their eyes on the prize and were already surging ahead. The party bolted for the other side. All around the bridge was starting to crumble. Bricks were tumbling down on unknown victims below. It was a shame too, it was such a nice bridge... oh, it also sucked that countless people would be grievously injured. 

Ranaweyt was at the head of the pack followed by Jean, then by Beardface and with Felix taking up the rear. Any structural integrity the bridge might have had was a bygone memory now as it tore apart under its own weight. They could feel the bridge imploding below their feet. 

"Jump!" Felix cried.

Ranaweyt sprang. Jean dove. Beardface leapt. Felix hopped.

"...!" 

"REACH!" 

"RUAARGH" 

"WE CAN MAKE IT!" 

"DRAKE!"

... CRASH. CRASH. CRUMBLE crumble crumble crumble tumble tumble boof ouch!

The party sighed a breath of tasty relief in unison. Everything tastes better when you're alive, you see.

"Did everyone make it." Jean asked.

"Yeah." said one of the butlers out of turn. 

"Felix?" Beardface's head shot up. He had only just made the jump and Felix had been behind him. Had he made it? Beardface bounded to the edge and flung his head over. "FELIX!!!"

"Yes?" Felix said from atop his shoulder. 

"Hey did you guys see another guy jumping with us?"

"Nope."

"Who are you and what business do you have here on the Business Strut." said the first butler.

"The Business Strut?" Jean said perplexedly. 

"We're looking for Valiant. We heard this was the last place he was spotted." Felix said.

"V... Valiant? You'll find fair taxes before you find a hero in Flockboast. Valiant is a false saviour. Hrgl hrgl!" The first butler said. Her laugh sounded like a drowning goose.

"How so?" Felix asked. The butler seemed to have been waiting for this response and cleared her throat in a way that suggested an incoming backstory. 

"Valiant was meant to be the hero of the people but he did nothing for me or mine. He sold his soul to the foul leaders of Flockboast who stole this land from my people. The fish-kin."

"Fish skin?"

"No. Kin. Like "people" but the edgy 3-letter equivalent. Anyway, the fish-kin were robbed of our land. Our culture has all but died out. My brother and I grew tired of waiting for 'heroes'. So, we decided to take the future into our own flippers."

Jean checked immediately. Nope, just a metaphor.

"I sympathise." Jean said.

"Then help us!" She said.

"What exactly is your intention." Beardface asked with his arms crossed.

"We want the head of F.O.T. Chang, the head of Flockboast." she said with a dark glow in her eyes.

"Remind me never to get a butler." Jean said.

"We are looking for Valiant. We are not interested in your vengeful plots." Beardface said.

"Have it your way." she said in the voice of someone who'd just discovered their lifetime supply of toilet paper was 1-ply. "However, let us join forces for now. If anyone were to know of Valiant's whereabouts it would be Chang. We can lead you to him. If you help us get to him we'll ask him your questions before we end his wretched life."

"So be it." Felix said. Beardface shuffled uncomfortably and gave Felix the I-don't-think-we-can-trust-them look. Felix returned with the they-may-be-useful-to-us look. Jean gave them the if-things-go-south-we-can-just-ditch-them look. Ranaweyt gave them the a-vengeful-person-especially-one-who-has-had-their-culture-stolen-from-them-is-unpredictable-and-should-be-treated-with-caution look. After that it was up to interpretation. 

"I'm Bloop." said the first butler breaking the visual tension.

"And I'm Grgl." said the second. Felix gave them the lead-the-way look.