Blinx 2-2: Blinx and You'll Miss It

Chapter 5: Plaza no Plauzing

"Well... that sure was a lot of nothing we walky and talkyed over: can you please tell me how close we are, so I don't pop my melon on this here catcus?" Toto groaned admidst the typical, bustling tumbleweed of the wild-west they had bumbled into, but his superior remained stuck in his own world, oblivious to his teammates platter journey. Choosing instead to absorb as many of the sun's rays to his hearts-content, with the knowledge that his fur's hue was unlikely to change regardless.

"Eh... we're here actually..." Bellow hesitated as he paused (copyright) frozen at the shambling, empty ruins around them, studying his surroundings with the intensity of the microwave they could never hope to escape from, only to be met with the passing distractions of Blinx's admittely pretty ripp...

"Eh, hello, anybody home? I thought you said you knew where you were going?" Toto fumed, only confusing his spectating Sweeper comrade as he tried to distinguish between the steam of his sweet, or the steam he let loose upon the Tom-Tom.

"I swear! We're here! This is exactly where Pigaro mentioned going... I mean - what are you smiling at Blinx?" Bellow was abruptly met with the gaze of his former saviour, current worm squirming against the floor, as his short, obnoxiously wheezy laughter contined to flood the stadium with the mating call that any Octoballoon dare answer.

"Oh, it's nothing... but seriously: Pigaro?... ha!" Blinx continued to burrow himself deeper into the hole he had created, as Spencer began evaluating all possible escape-methods.

"Yeah, heh - we thought it'd be funny if we had a Picaro of our own you know? Since youse really seemed to like yours also!" The hazed explanations that barely contined to escaping the pig's mouth, only encouraged Blinx to dig ever dipper into the centre of the planet: you would think that it's a war-zone if you passed by it.

"Well, well, well... if it ain't pip-squeek, and the molemen, hahaha!" The thundering applause, and frantic panting could only below to one person...

"Pigaro!? I mean... Morbid, uh... I mean..." The silhouette basked in the glory of seeing his puny little brother frantically try to recollect his thoughts: a glorious opportunity to bask even more, he should say.

"Don't you mean - El Pigante himself? The fabolous, and horrifying legend: LUCHA-dore!" The Tom-Tom emerged triumphantly from the shadows, accompanied by the fanfare of seemingly every thief within a 10-mile-radius...

"I just knew you'd be so kind to bring the grand prize right to our doorstep... you and your "science" like that oats for brains, Ugo, that Benito likes to prance around, haha, ha....!" Lucha found the echoes of his own lovely voice fading, as he was met with the ill-amused faces of the Sweepers (and steam-machine) before him, lurching backwards in the very heroic way he always did (yeah, right) at the sight of the festively, sandy camouflage of the Team Blinx (really gonna do this to me?) titular-leader before him.

"This is a staging area that is now under the direct possession of the Time-Factory, and all those who work under the grace of Princesses (Blinx's whiskers fluttered at the meaning that word had to him), and Goddesses themselves. I am giving you 10 seconds to comply with the rules of the the sacred guidelines that the CEO himself entrusted upon us, if you can provide to us, either evidence or direct samples of the the Time-Crystal embedded within this tomb's remains: then a solution of peace can be maintained, if not: we may be prompted to fire upon your current position!" Blinx's almost statue posture, and complete shift of tone and range from the playfully, castle fort he had just built, disturbed the living-daylights of the ever-gleefully, opposing Tom-Tom forces. Spencer and Toto only tugged the back of uniform, as he slowly prepped his gloves for imminent combat. Bellow however, admired the new trimmings his friend had apparently applied to their once, almost flag-like beard: now it resembled more an abused lemon, left to dry, after surviving a busy day at the lemonade stand.

"Eh! Back to your fancy-schmancy boarding school, hairdresser parlours, and leave us pigs alone to play with the shiny Crystals ourselves? Or better yet... how about a trade?" It was rare for a Tom-Tom to even think of proposing a stalemate to the Sweeper's prickled ears, but the more the man asserted from his awfully, fancy balcony, and firmly placed his feet even further into the backs of his squad (he was assuming) as a stool for his comfort: the more Blinx began to doubt the sanctity of the requests he was making, but he's been through too many fights to overlook the possibility of a safer alternative.

"Hmmm... if you bring back that little doormat of a soldier you found, and maybe a little furball, or hair off your cheek, then you can walk off this schmancy Time-Crystal we got ourselves here!" Bellow stumbled backwards in almost harrowing defeat, as his senses dulled, and everything around him just seemed to get further, and further: however a collage of colours and shapes emerged from the distance, and he found himself held back to comfort by none-other than the legendary protector of Princesses, and worlds alike himself.

"...No matter what happens here, Bellow... remember: you will always be a Sweeper to me... and most importantly - a friend! You've proven yourself to me, my team, and the Goddesses above themselves... No one can tell me otherwise, and no-one can force me to ever doubt it..." Blinx reassuredly patted to his giant of a friend, as he hustled for space on his deliberately course shoulder, prompting Bellow to meander for a solid second, as the courageous and respectable display Blinx had given him only reminded him of days long gone. Days where there was nothing, but the fear of time passing by as he was held on the shoulders of his caring mother, gazing at the fireworks display of the shooting stars above them, in that perfect spot they would always managed to find, even when her legs gone frail, and memories began to fade.

Where Benito was just a few-pounds short of that gold crown, as he always chose to sit absentmindly at the back of their class, and made sure to pock him whenever he got too touchy-feely with the emotions.

It's a weird feeling, but those sharp, painful senstations seemed like a gift compared to what he was faced with now...

"Awwwwwww.... isn't that precious - the little girly, girl and his pet mole are having a "moment" together... well, beats that! Either give us the runt, or we'll pull the triger on all youse house-cats! And I don't think potty training is gonna prepare for this!" Lucha embarrasingly attempted to intimidate with, much to the faltering, and somewhat annoyed faces of his pig army around him.

"But the Time-Crystal..." Bellow narrowed.

"There's plenty of time in the universe, but there's only one you... and besides: I've had my fair share of stand-offs, and let's just say I'm usually the one still standing there!" Bellow had found himself inspired by the charisma, and confidence of his leader, now friend more than any adrenaline rush any of the heists he'd been on could ever hope to provide.

"I think I've got a plan, you in?"

"Always..."

"Ya got any of them pause-crystals then?"