They the Wubbox : Rewritten

[Chapter 65]

Khep thinks deeply for a moment, then brings his hand out, placing his checker piece on the final row, turning it over to become his final king.
"That's not fair!" The young mammott hissed, once he realized he would most certainly lose now.

Khep shrugged, seeming unphased, and mostly bored by checkers by now.
Before the mammott made a move, they heard the familiar breaking news sound from the TV, which was the only source of sound in the mostly quiet room, other than the hushed whispering, pencils and pens on paper, book pages flipping, sounds of coughing, and other audible sounds around.
"Breaking news," the report lady said, "the so-called 'fire bug' has finally been captured. In the past, ethereal monster Humbug was accused early on of being the one to start fires on many islands, causing trillions in damage collectively, along with many manslaughter and other bad charges against him, leading him to be taken into police custody, then sent to Earth Island's prison for life. That was until the most recent fire–on plant island–was caught by a tour guide and their tourists, who called police, and kept the fire bug down until police arrived, who promptly tased them as they ran to attack them, before taking them to the police station, where they now wait in a cell to be trialed for all the previous crimes set on Humbug, and framing him for their crimes." The screen showed many pictures of the monster who started it–which was Buzzinga. The newest mythical, who decided to ruin their life completely by fueling their pyromanic desires.
A poor-quality video played when she spoke about the incident with the tour guide and tourists, but in classic recording fashion, it was shaky, blurry, and struggled to stay focused for more than a few split seconds at a time.
"I never would have guessed she was actually the arsonist!" A rare tweedle said into a microphone, who was being questioned live. "I never met her personally, but she always seemed nice! She never spoke bad about someone, helped after all the fires on each island, acting like she was trying to help, and using Humbug as an escape goat! I don't know if I should still be supporting their organization anymore...

"And what do you think about this, Sir?" The microphone–which showed to be held by a phangler–panned up to the next monster, who was a boskus with dark eyeshadow, and dyed black hair on their head.

"Me and my friends always knew Humbug was framed by Buzzinga, but we had no way of proving it, only hoping someday it would finally be revealed. But now that day has come, and it's the best relief of my life. Humbug didn't deserve any of it, and I hope he'll be alright."

"...We've gotten an update from the news station, saything that many of the higher up in the organization as well–Rare Humbug, Epic Stogg, Tring, Rare Whaddle, and others–were interviewed by police, and admitted to working with her in the crimes, and will be charged along with Buzzinga if the evidence is proven."

"Next up," the other male news reporter said, "the most recently found quint 'mimic' who has taken the name 'Merten' is now a part of the supreme court, and might even be a judge in Buzzinga's case. They are not–"
The TV was suddenly shut off, leaving it silent and black.
Most of the monsters in the activity room had stood up to watch, intrigued at the sudden break. But with the staff member suddenly shutting it off, there was a collective, disappointed groan from them.
Khep went back to looking at the checkerboard, where the mammott still had yet to make a move.

Buzzinga quickly galloped through the island, dashing her way over to Knurv, who was talking to Cranchee and Wheezle. She had to tell him. There was no other chance she could get. It had to be now, or never.
"Knurv!" She called out from a distance. The three looked over to her at the sound over her voice.

"Mom!" He smiled back, but stayed close to the other dream mythicals, though they stepped back.

Once she was up close to him, she took him into a gentle hug. It had been a while since she came back here, and she was sure he missed her. After a moment, she pulled back, lowering her head to his level.
"How have you been, Knurv? Has everything been alright?"

"Mhm!" He hummed with a nod. "Yawstrich said that he might teach me to cook someday, and I really like to cook!"

"That's wonderful! But, there's something I need to tell you." She looked away slightly, sighing as she knew what she would expose to him now.

"Hm? What's up?" He sensed her hesitance, feeling confused and concerned.

"Look, Knurv, I know I've been a bit distant lately, but I would like to apologize for that. But right now, I need you to understand that there have been problems when I am awake, and you shouldn't blame yourself if anything bad happens to me in the real world or here, ok? It's not your fault, and–"

Strombonin, G'joob, Yawstrich had quietly stalked over, then eventually got close enough.
Strombonin quickly rounded in front of her with a growl, blocking her sight to the dream mythicals. She backed up in shock, but her bow-clawed arm was grabbed when she knocked into G'joob, along with the larger string claw by Strombonin. He then used the large horn on his claw to force her back, pushing it against her forehead forcefully.
"Move along!" He ordered, stomping his paws onto the ground with a growl of warning.

"Mom!" Knurv called out, trying to step over to her, but Cranchee quickly stepped forward, using one arm to grab him by his horn, and pulling him back to his other tentacles.
Sporerow quickly followed behind, hopping over with his huge arms, and using one to hold Knurv back, his wooden yellow claws catching onto Knurv's teal fur.

"LET GO OF ME!!" She screeched, trying to pull free, but a few of her legs were kicked out, keeping her from pulling away completely.

Yawstrich quickly jumped over her form as Strombonin and G'joob pulled her back, hopping over to her face and repeatedly flapping all four of his wings to move her back. "It's too late! You've been caught, and we are ordered to lock you up here as well!"

"It wasn't me!" She yowled, continuing to back up to avoid being hit by his wings.

"Then who was it?!"

"I-I don't know! But–"

She was cut off by a swift smack by his wings, pushing her back even more towards the castle. "It is you, Buzzinga!" He hit her again. "You've killed hundreds, thousands even! How can you justify this?! What in your right mind said you could do that and get away with it?!" He yelled, holding back tears as he only imagined the screams of monsters on each island that were set ablaze, the children and elders agonizing wails as they were burnt to nothing, each monster only having seconds to run, or they too would become ash.

"It wasn't me!" She kept saying, trying to use any ounce to deny herself. But they wouldn't believe, and never would. Who would be able to shapeshift and use her body for evil? Nobody. It was her body, therefore her fault.

———

•words : 1257•