The Purple Monkey (Book 2 in SRMTHFG series)

17

Suddenly, helicopters and black vehicles swerve in. Men in black suits with guns come pouring out, lining up in front of the citizens.

"We are the FBI!" one man shouts. "Retreat now before we blast you to bits!"

"No, wait!" I say, holding my hands up. "Regular bullets won't take him! You need to leave this to us!"

"Out of the way, kid!" the man yells. "Somebody get this monkey thing outta the way!"

I frown and push Violet behind me. She grabs my arm and flies up.

"Shoot away at him!" I call. "But don't say I didn't warn you!"

The bullets and bombs fire at Skeleton King, but he still stands. The men are almost out of ammo.

"Now do you believe me?" I yell, lounging in a nearby tree.

"What's a kid and a monkey toy gonna do?" a man yells back.

"Fight," I shrug.

"You and what army?"

"This army!" a voice calls. I look up to see the Super Robot. More ships gather around.

"Captain Shuggazoom!" I say, my eyes brightening. "The Sun Riders! Slingshot! Planetoid Q, Circus of Ooze, Mobius Quint, Master Offay!" A blue furball lands in my arms and licks me, covering my cheek in purple slobber. I giggle.

"Thingy!" I hug it. It snuggles up to me. I leap down onto the ground, facing the agents.

"Everybody, step back if you want to live!" I yell. "You too, gun boys!" Everyone slowly walks back. I turn to Skeleton King and signal to attack.

A barrage of lasers, torpedoes, and many, many more weapons come down. They battle with Skeleton King's army.

"Chelsea! You have to take everyone to safety! Now!" Chiro yells through the communicator. I nod and gather the frightened crowd.

"Alright, everyone, to Jenkin's warehouse! You know where it is!" I bark. "Move it! Come on!"

We rush down the street, going down a dozen blocks until we reach the old building. The agents help me usher everyone in.

One woman is clawing around in her attempt to get out. She's crying and looks severely disheveled.

"My baby! Where's my baby? Someone get my baby!" she screams. I hear a cry behind me.

Turning around, I see Skeleton King holding a four-year-old toddler up by her arm. She's screaming and crying.

"Put. Her. Down!" I yell, freezing in a battle stance.

"What an interesting child," Skeleton King coos. "It would be a shame if she... disappeared." He traces her arm with a bony claw.

"Let her go! Please!" the woman screams.

"Alright, then," Skeleton King says. "Mandarin! Would you... help this child?"

Mandarin cackles and leaps down from a tree. He grabs the infant and claws a large gash in her arm, then lets her run.

"Aaiiiiii!" the girl cries. "It hurts! It hurts!" She freezes and screams. "Go away! Go away! No no no! NO!"

I run to the girl, sweeping her up in my arms. I cradle her, furious at Skeleton King for harming her.

"Shhh, shhhh, there now, it's okay," I whisper. I rub her hair. "I'll make it all better. I'm going to sing to you, and it'll be fine."

"Like Rapunzel?" she sniffles, her eyes lighting up. "You'll sing Rapunzel song?"

"Yeah, exactly," I smile. I'm actually wondering this entire time whether or not those words will heal her. Oh well, let's give it a go.

"Flower, gleam and glow
Let your power shine
Make the clock reverse
Bring back what once was mine
Heal what has been hurt
Change the fate designed
Save what has been lost
Bring back what once was mine
What once was mine."

I look at her arm, where the gash is healed with a blue glow. She gasps and grins at me. I guess "heal what has been hurt" really helped her. An agent hurries out, grabbing her and taking her to her mom. I stand and glare at Skeleton King.

"You have no power over me," I grit my teeth.

"You have forgotten. I do," he cackles, raising a hand. A pain comes in my forehead and I fall to the ground.

"You do what I say, and the pain will end!" Skeleton King orders. I'm shuddering in the pain, but I manage to speak.

"No."

"What?" Skeleton King gasps. I slowly push myself back up. He presses my mind harder, but I fight back.

"I'm tired of all of this. I'm done. Hillary Dawson cannot boss me around. She can't hurt me. You can't control me. This stupid taint can't control me, either. I am sick and tired of all of this." I feel the strange sensation take over my body and eyes as I rise into the air, looking through blue mist.

"You can't control me any more!" I scream, swinging my arm and knocking down the stunned Skeleton King.