The Book Of Secrets Long Begotten

IV

Jake looked around him in complete wonder at every sight that passed him by. Leo was busy explaining the history of the Nether world.

"All the creatures used to get along. But we don't anymore." Leo said.

"How come? Is it because of this Lord Zygor?" Jake asked. Leo nodded.

"Ever since Lord Zygor unleashed some of the darkness unto us creatures, we have only been able to get along with our own kind. Huppets only respect and associate themselves with Huppets. Orgs unto Orgs. Toggle Woggles to Toggle Woggles. So on and so forth." Leo said. Jake nodded.

"Then, how come you were able to talk to that Org over at the shuttle ride?" Jake asked.

"Oh Tuommle? Uhh, I don't really know. I still ponder over that to this day." Leo said.

Jake observed the village. Everyone looked at him with a look of confusion, fear, and wonder. Jake felt a little shy which he normally did not feel. His ears picked up certain conversations out of this market area part of the village. Jake looked at all the creatures. Some of them were close to human while others weren't. Leo referred to those as Toggle Woggles.

"It is believed the first Toggle Woggles were pure humans. But further down the line, the more humans stayed in the Nother World and communed with the other creatures, the more they started to adapt and change, first starting with the arms. They would start to develop 2, then 3, then ending at 4. Next, their organs would redevelop. And by the end, the only human features they still have are face and legs. It is almost tradition for them to wear those cloaks. It is something that has to do with being shy and worried." Leo said. Jake nodded.

Jake had  his eyes fixated on a certain Toggle Woggle. It was a female. She had blonde hair, blue eyes, skin that appeared smooth and touchable. She looked like the woman of his dreams. She stared at him and smiled. Her smile was by far the most heavenly thing he had ever seen.

He smiled back. When he did, she laughed. Her teeth were white and clean. Jake was mesmerized by her beauty. He was caught in a sort of daze where all he wanted to do was stare at her. Stare at her heavenly complexion.

Leo looked at Jake and realized what was going on. He stared at this Toggle Woggle and back at Jake. Leo wanted to introduce Jake to her but also wanted to get home and make arrangements for Jake. So, Leo snapped Jake out of his love trance.

"You ought to be careful with Toggle Woggles. They are very wishy washy individuals." Leo said. Jake looked at him.

"You mean, Toggle Woggles are bipolar?" Jake said.

"Yeah sure, I guess...bipolar, sensitive...I'm just rambling on at this point in time." Leo said. 

Soon, the 2 made it out of the market area and into some woods. Leo lived in a cottage surrounded by this diluted forest. It was a nice and cozy little cottage. But it seemed a little odd to Jake. Something do close to human architecture in a world where he seemed to be the only human. He pushed that thought aside. They walked up to it.

"Come on in, make yourself at home." Leo said. The 2 walked in. It was more than what Jake thought it would look like. It was nice. Real nice. Jake took it up on himself to sit down in an easy chair that made him want to fall asleep. It was so comfy.

"So, you've lived here your whole life?" Jake asked. Leo nodded.

"Yep. Sure have." Leo said. He was in the kitchen area getting some drinks. "Ever since I was small." He walked over to Jake and gave him a cup of a yellowish green substance.

"What's this?" Jake asked.

"Just drink it...I'll tell you once you've tried it." Leo said. Jake took a swig of it and realized it was delicious. It was probably the best thing he had ever drank in his life.

"It's good, huh?" Leo asked. Jake nodded and took another drink of it. "It's called Strömbuckle. It's a refreshment that consists of the Nother Realm's native Strömbuckle berries, a drop of Orgish rum.....and Huppet urine." Leo said. Jake had taken a sip and spat it out. "Well, it's just a little bit....you cant even really taste it." But Jake made up his mind.

Then, all of a sudden, someone had walked into the room the two of them were in. It was another Huppet. Leo seemed to be happy to see him. This Huppet's pinky, ring, and middle finger were raised upwards as if to resemble a mohawk. The forefinger and thumb were stretched outwards as if to resemble a beak. 

"Oh, hello Swamp. A pleasure to see you here." Leo said.

"This is him?" The Huppet asked while staring at Jake. "The Chosen One?" Leo nodded.

"He sure is." Leo said.

"A pleasure to meet you. My name's Swamp, I am Leo's brother." Swamp said.

"I'm Jake, Jake Collins. And what's with all this talk of a Chosen One?" Jake asked.

"Well, you have were chosen to defeat Lord Zygor, save Princess Nevaldine, and stop the darkness from causing The Effect." Swamp said.

"But why me though? Out of everyone who has walked the earth, why me?" Jake asked.

"Princess Nevaldine has always seen you as a favorite of hers. Why? None of us really knows. But that's what she told us." Swamp said.

"Wait? So the Princess actually chose me for this?" Jake asked. The 2 Huppets nodded. "Wow." There was an awkward silence that fell amongst them. Leo broke it.

"Well, let's make arrangements if The Chosen One is gonna stay here with us." Leo said. The three of them went off to their first task: give Jake his own part of the house. He would train there, stay there, and be safe there. Jake was fine with that. Absolutely fine.

~

The 3 sat in the hut. Leo tapped his feet on the floor. Swamp stared out the window, watching birds fly. Jake sat there in utter silence. Leo, being the shy but hyper Huppet he was, broke the silence.

"How about we go into the market area and see Goofy. I'm pretty sure Jake would get a kick out of him." Leo recommended. Swamp shook his head.

"No. You'd get a kick out of him. Goofy is a lousy excuse for a Huppet. All he does is eat food and ask for other people's food. On top of all that, Goofy doesn't know Jack from shit." Swamp said and turned to face Jake. "Pardon my tongue." Jake nodded.

"Don't worry about it." Jake said. Swamp turned back around.

"Yes I admit, Goofy does have an eating disorder. But besides all that, he's fun to be around." Leo said. Swamp rolled his eyes.

"How is he fun? He's not even a good influence on a headache. He is the absolute worst. Besides Lord Zygor, that is." Swamp said.

"But, he is our cousin." Leo said. Swamp shook his head.

"He's no cousin of mine." Swamp said. Jake sat in the middle of this argument unsure about anything but knew he had to break it up.

"Guys, guys, please. Let's all just calm down and perhaps we do meet him....don't kill each other over it. Just take deep breaths and relax." Jake said. Leo nodded. Swamp sat there in silence.

"You're right. Let's all just be calm. Goofy isn't that bad." Swamp said, breathing calmly as he could. Jake nodded.

"There you go." Jake said.

"He's worst." Swamp said. Jake rolled his eyes. It seemed as if this fight would never end.