3/4 Panda Warriors XI

[camper]

Wow, as seen in the Courting Commanders thread too.

[C7Angelocas12]

Oops, I think I typed "hand" when I should have typed "head" somewhere during that chase scene. My bad. Anyway, here's the final part of the introduction, the actual announcement by Nigel and Rachel of their not-so-little plan (as well as the Moonbase chase from the first chapter... from Sector V’s perspective):



"Wallabee and Kuki"
Chapter 2: "Nigel and Rachel's Plan, Part 2"



The short boy rushed down the stony corridor, his orange hood flapping inches behind him as he frantically tried to flee his interloper. He'd already knocked several Kids Next Door operatives over -- including two at the last intersection (hint, hint) -- but all he could see in his mind was a girl with flaming eyes as she closed in on him, ready to tear him to shreds as payback for kicking her most recent stuffed toy, as freaked out as he had been -- "WAY too girly," as he put it -- toward the other side of his room just as she was showing it to him. Their two friends tried to restrain them when they checked to learn what was wrong, but to no avail. Thus began that chase all across the various corridors of the Kids Next Door Moonbase. After what was really 15 more minutes down that hall and other corridors but seemed like an eternity to him, he finally noticed an open door, immediately darted toward it into the room inside, and slammed the door shut. At least five more minutes passed, and then the boy sat down leaning against the door, feeling certain that his troubles were over... at least for the moment.

"Crikey, that was close," the boy muttered as he wiped his forehead of any sweat he'd accumulated during the course of that case. "Kuki's really gone crazy this time. If I don't do something to calm her down soon, she's gonna-- YAAAAAAH!!!!"

The door burst open from the outside, sending him flying and careening deeper into the room. Standing at the doorway was a young Japanese girl with oversized green sleeves... and eyes as flaming red as those he was envisioning just moments ago. Each stomp she made toward him seemed more life-threatening than the last as he tried vehemently to back away.

“Kuki, wait!! I can explain! Just hear me out!!!” the boy pleaded as he raised his hands in abrupt self-defense.

“You’ve really gone over the line this time, Wally!!!!” Kuki Sanban, the girl whose “Mr. Fluffy-Wuffykins” he’d just ruined, bellowed over him, completely silencing him and the room around them, if it had any sound at all. “I thought we had something special ever since Numbuhs One and 362 spotted us in the Supreme Commander’s office snuggled up next to each other staring at the Earth after 362 told us about that double airplane massacre, but now I guess I was WRONG, wasn’t I?!?!?!”

Suddenly, a new girl, this one wearing a red cap with the brim tucked backward, kicked the door open, then exhaled quickly in relief, no doubt having heard the latest round of screaming and yelling. “There you two are! Thank goodness y’all haven’t started tearin’ each other apart yet. Now, Numbuh Three, Numbuh Five really thinks you oughta cool it right about now!!”

“She’s right, Numbuh Three! STOP!!” the goggled boy accompanying Numbuh Five agreed, extending his hand pleadingly while gasping for breath, then regaining enough of his composure to talk coherently and thus reason with his diametric comrades. “What if Numbuh One accepts cleanup duty for Sector V at the Arctic Training Base over this?!?!” Had he been aware of that collision his Australian friend suffered at one of those last intersections, his current panic would have skyrocketed exponentially.

“Stay out of this, Abby and Hoagie!!!! This is just between Wally and me!!” Kuki furiously yelled back, then turned back to Wally. “Now, Wally, when I get thro--”

Before any literal sparks could fly, the Kids Next Door Moonbase’s intercommunication system beeped to life. A female voice interlaced with strictness but also a strange sort of secrecy and irony about something replaced the activation beeps right away. “Attention, Kids Next Door Moonbase. Will Numbuhs Two through Five of Sector V please report to my office A-S-A-now? All other KND operatives, stand by for a very... unique and special announcement. Numbuh 362 out.”

At least three minutes ticked painfully slowly by. Hoagie Gilligan, a.k.a. Numbuh Two, could only gulp at what he thought was the KND Supreme Leader’s very stern warning to his teammates. “Great. Just great. Come on, guys, let’s go. We’ve got one serious tongue-lashing ahead of us.”

Abby Lincoln, a.k.a. Numbuh Five, could only nod her head in despair, then sigh in disgust as she turned in Wally and Kuki’s general direction. “Numbuh Five isn’t gonna be too sympathetic with you two if Numbuhs One and 362 ask me what we were doin’...”

With that, Hoagie and Abby trudged out of the room and down the corridor to the office of the highest-ranking operative in the Kids Next Door, leaving a very bewildered Wally and Kuki to reconsider what just happened before they, too, emerged in defeat one long minute later. They could only wonder what punishment Numbuh 362, a.k.a. Rachel McKenzie, not just their Supreme Commander but also their closest real friend here, would impose on Sector V for this unjustified disruption of the peace on the Kids Next Door Moonbase.

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“HAVE YOU AND NUMBUH 362 GONE ABSOLUTELY NUTS, NUMBUH ONE?!?!?!?!?!” Wally, known simply as Wallabee Beetles to his schoolmates and family and Numbuh Four to the Kids Next Door, exclaimed vociferously, echoing rather bluntly the sheer disbelief radiating from the eyes of his teammates as their friend and sector leader and his girlfriend explained Sector V’s latest “assignment,” with Numbuhs 60 and 86, 362’s new Moonbase deputies, in attendance.

Nigel and Rachel only continued smiling triumphantly as they administered a synopsis of their idea and its context. Two months after Al Kayeeduh’s explosive (no pun intended at all) self-introduction to the United States of America’s -- and, by extension, the world’s -- consciousness, virtually every adversary ever normally confronted by Kids Next Door operatives all over the planet but especially in North America was now completely silent and therefore off the radar. As a logical result, thousands upon thousands of kids suddenly became very bored yet also strangely frightened by this new group of villains and their nefarious vision. By that point in time, Nigel and Rachel were completely uncertain about a course of action to alleviate the inevitably mounting stress... until a certain male operative knocked an idea into their heads -- and them clean to the side of said stony hallway just as they were about to reach the final corridor leading to Rachel’s office. The idea itself sounded simple enough: for the next week, the Kids Next Door Moonbase would get into the acting business, and its very first project would be William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.

“No, Numbuh Four. Everything Rachel and I said is correct,” Nigel, known as Numbuh One to the rest of his team, nodded in complete and certain affirmation, standing proudly and smugly next to his Supreme Commander and girlfriend, who was sitting in her chair, her hands folded professionally on her desk.

“Awwww, that’s sooooo romantic of you, Numbuh One!!!!!” Kuki chirped as happily as she normally did while clasping her hands eagerly to her side, evidently forgetting her practically destroyed “Mr. Fluffy-Wuffykins.” “IwannabeJuliet, IwannabeJuliet, IwannabeJuliet, IwannabeJuliet!!!...” That claim she verbally raced through as she started jumping up and down as though she’d just seen a brand-new Rainbow Monkey... while the boy whom she’d had a crush on for quite some time could only gag in unmitigated disgust.

“Actually, Kuki,” Rachel suggested, raising her hand in an offering yet eager gesture. “Nigel and I decided to take a vote among the leaders of every Kids Next Door treehouse on the planet. When we listed our possibilities for the Romeo and Juliet roles... well, let me just say the vote was unanimous, with one key suggestion.”

“You mean...?” All of Sector V minus Nigel questioned in unison.

“That’s right,” Nigel and Rachel countered, also in unison, before Rachel continued, “Wallabee Beetles and Kuki Sanban, you two are Romeo and Juliet. Actually, never mind that last part. Thanks to a suggestion from the British sector, we decided to change the name of our production to Wallabee and Kuki.”

“YAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!!! Oh, we’re gonna have so much fun being all dramatic and stuff, and we’re gonna talk and confess our love under the stars, and everyone‘s gonna wanna try to keep us apart!!!!!...” the black-haired Japanese girl rambled on and on and on, then sighed in anticipation.

“Ooooooooohhhh... You go, Numbuh Four,” Hoagie gently nudged his elbow into Wally’s side. “Go get her, man.”

Wally threw his arms into the air in dismay. “HEY!!! Why didn’t I get a say in this cruddy debate?!?! Guys, help me out here!!!!!”

Numbuh 86, a.k.a. Fanny Fulbright, began to chuckle in total amusement at Sector V’s antics while Numbuh 60, a.k.a. Patton Drilovsky, cleared his throat. “Well, this is all well and good, Numbuh 362, sir, but didn’t Romeo and Juliet have parents of their own?”

“Oh, you mean Lord and Lady Montague and Lord and Lady Capulet, Patton,” Rachel stated matter-of-factly. “Nigel and I did some thinking of our own after the vote, and we thought it would be a very good idea to pit Hoagie and Abby Montague against you and Fanny, er, Lord and Lady Capulet.”

Patton gulped as he felt a blush rise against his cheeks. “M-m-m-me, sir?”

Abby could only laugh heartily. “Numbuh Five is really gonna enjoy this activity!!”

“Hey... wait a minute, Numbuh 362,” Fanny countered suddenly, then pointed at Nigel and Rachel. “How come you two aren’t in this play?”

Nigel and Rachel looked at each other knowingly, then regained their previous smiles just before Nigel spoke up. “Actually, we’re codirecting it. It was Rachel’s idea.”

Hoagie couldn’t resist glancing slyly at the prominent couple. “Oh-ho... VERY smooth, Nigel and Rachel. Now to work on my dramatic performance!!!”

“Well, team, I guess there are no objections to our little idea,” Nigel accepted, followed by various shouts of “Yeah!” and “We’re ready!” that were accompanied by a defeated “Oh, fine... cruddy romantic thing...”

Nigel Uno and Rachel McKenzie could only smile at the warm scene in front of them before turning to each other, their eyes twinkling in clear signal, then nodding, letting Nigel know it was time. “If that’s really the case, then Kids Next Door...” He paused for a moment to allow Rachel to join in. “Let’s get this show on the road!!!!”



END OF CHAPTER 2



All right. The rest of the story might take a bit longer for me to analyze and compose, so just sit tight, Panda Warriors.

[Numbuh 58 (Fredos)]

Yeah! That's great, C7! Give us more! xD

[allie]

Wow, I haven't been in this thread in AGES. ^^;;;


A gift for all the PWs:



Enjoy ^^

[C7Angelocas12]

Well, it took me long enough to get this up. Have fun reading, Panda Warriors. :



“Wallabee and Kuki”
Chapter 3: “The Play Begins”



The next several days saw the Kids Next Door Moonbase once again supercharged with activity as it hadn’t been in the past two months. Different operatives offered to volunteer to gather props, set up the general scenery, and help Nigel and Rachel mentor their teammates and friends so they could master their “Kids Next Doorified” lines for the performance itself. Some even wanted to play whatever characters were left to be assigned by the two usually sternest operatives in the entire organization, now official codirectors for Wallabee and Kuki. For example, Numbuh 65.3, known simply as Herbert, the communications officer for the Moonbase, found himself in the role of Friar Lawrence, Wallabee’s confidant and advisor, for his ability to communicate certain details about major events in the plot so Wallabee and his friends could act quickly. Numbuh 35, a.k.a. Bartie, was eager to try being the Prince of Verona and getting the Montague and Capulet families to halt their blood feud permanently... or face consequences of the utmost severity. Nigel and Rachel’s self-confidence could only inch higher as the characters slots were filled one by one and the operatives -- and, in some cases, allies -- who filled them practiced each line more and more perfectly.

The operatives playing the individual Montague and Capulet characters were, if nothing else, no less active in their own character practices. Hoagie and Abby thoroughly enjoyed mocking Wally, their new “son,” over his inevitable romantic interactions with Kuki during the play, which would be ironic if Hoagie and Abby themselves began to develop their own crushes on each other during preparations for Wallabee and Kuki, as per Nigel’s observations. On the other side, Patton and Fanny got into a rather heated, to say the least, exchange about obtaining the jewels on both Fanny and Kuki’s dress costumes, forcing Rachel to try to break them up just before their yells could reach deafeningly high volume, leaving Kuki covering her mouth in distress. As time went by, however, Hoagie and Abby increasingly sounded like bitter rivals to Patton and Fanny, with Wally and Kuki caught right in the middle of this family feud. They and their fellow operatives on the Moonbase must have been more energized than Nigel and Rachel initially guessed, as may have been particularly evident as cheers and applause erupted from any bystanders while Wally and Kuki brought their final Romeo and Juliet lines to life right down to their final act of defiant self-destruction so that they could be together for all eternity. These and other reflections on the state of affairs at the Kids Next Door Moonbase practically dominated Nigel and Rachel’s minds as they stood at the center of the now-decorated Moonbase auditorium stage... the play itself due to take place within the next few hours.

“It’s almost time, Nigel,” Rachel beamed. “To think that only a week ago, this was a much gloomier, duller Moonbase.”

“I know, right?” Nigel acknowledged wholly as he calmly placed a hand on her shoulder for further encouragement. “Just look around. All this was your idea, Rachel. You never stopped pushing our friends and fellow operatives to try their utmost to succeed at their lines. In fact, this plan may prove even better than I initially thought. The fact is, though, that you did it, Rachel. Now’s it up to them.”

“You’re right, Nigel...” Rachel paused for a moment to further gather her thoughts. “However, we did it, together, I might add.” A slight twinkle in her eye emerged to a raised eyebrow from her boyfriend and most trusted confidant. “In fact, as my own way of thanking you...” She leaned in closer to him, planted a kiss directly on his cheek, and moved back away.

Nigel could only chuckle in enjoyment and bemusement at the same time. “I have a strong feeling that everyone’s going to be cheering and applauding Numbuhs Four and Three once they actually become a couple. Let’s let them keep the spotlight while the two of us have our own moments. You know I don’t like having to wear romance on my sleeve.”

Rachel shook her head negatively, clearly understanding Nigel’s point. “Neither do I. Speaking of Numbuhs Four and Three, isn’t it time to alert the rest of the Moonbase to the start of our play?”

Some laughter escaped Nigel’s mouth as he playfully nudged his elbow into Rachel’s arm. “Ever the workaholic, aren’t you?”

“Well, so are you!” Rachel interjected just as playfully.

One last round of laughter from the Sector V leader and the KND Supreme Commander ensued before Nigel cleared his throat as professionally as he could. “Let’s go. It’s time to start ‘Operation Romeo and Juliet.’”

The auditorium stayed silent as the young couple walked away back to Rachel’s office, steadily holding hands the whole walk through. The play itself would serve as a reward for successfully maintaining the usual order of business over the past two months and one week. Some 30 minutes after Rachel issued her final instructions, every Kids Next Door operative currently on but not necessarily assigned to the Moonbase was either onstage finalizing his or her line memorizations and costume preparations or enthusiastically sitting somewhere in the auditorium rows. Finally, at a signal from Nigel, the curtains opened, and Wallabee and Kuki commenced to riveted applause.

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(Author’s note: Voila!!! The Wallabee and Kuki major character list, using real names whenever possible, meaning if I know them:

1. Wally - Wallabee Montague
2. Kuki - Kuki Capulet
3. Hoagie - Lord Hoagie Montague
4. Abby - Lady Abigail Montague
5. Patton - Lord Patton Capulet
6. Fanny - Lady Francine Capulet
7. Bartie - Prince of Verona
8. Herbert - Friar Lawrence
9. Virginia (Numbuh 23) - Kuki’s Nurse
10. Matthew (Numbuh 101) - Benvolio
11. Lee (Numbuh 84) - Mercutio
12. Numbuh 34 - Tybalt
13. The Kid - Paris
14. Peter - First Capulet servant
15. Patrick - First Montague servant

With that said and done, let the first Montague-Capulet encounter commence!!!)

It was a warm, lovely spring afternoon in the humble town of Verona. A lone figure traversed its streets, admiring the scenery around him.

“Ah, what a beautiful afternoon in the history of creation this is!!” exclaimed Peter, a simple, joyous servant of the esteemed Capulet family, in self-satisfaction as he smelled the soft, fresh air wafting around in the breeze. “Nothing could possibly ruin a day like to--”

Suddenly, Peter’s eyes narrowed as another fellow wandered into his sight, a fellow much more odious than any of the birds singing happily overhead. After all, this new character was a servant of the thoroughly despised Montague family, the Capulets’ archenemy these past several generations.

“So, that dirty Montague servant dares to interrupt my view of this town with his presence? It’s time I taught him a lesson about keeping off the streets whenever there are Capulets around,” muttered Peter maliciously to himself as he picked up a small pebble, walked haughtily over to the unsuspecting rival family servant, who was known to the Montagues simply as Patrick... and cast it directly at his feet.

“What the--” Patrick yelped as he jumped at the sudden impact close to his feet, then glared at the intruder into his retrospective time. “Oh, you... you’re one of those Capulets my family hates with a passion, aren’t you? Are you the one who cast that pebble at me?”

“I cast pebbles, yes. It is a hobby of mine, not that a man as lowly as you should care,” Peter responded, his nose held snobbishly in the air.

“And yet, you cast that pebble at ME?!” Patrick’s voice grew increasingly furious at the last word in that interrogative exclamation.

“Here you are raising your voice when I am simply asserting my right to cast pebbles as I wish, despicable spider,” Peter shot back. “I sincerely hope you aren’t just asking to start a fight with me.”

“Absolutely not, Mr. Crudubrain, but you don’t see me trying to stop a fight, either, do you?!?!” Patrick countered, his tone even more belligerent now.

Peter’s eyebrow began to twitch, his inner rage beginning to bubble out of his control, as he began to draw his sword from the hilt on his belt. “You, a wretched Montague, have the nerve to mock a Capulet!? You shall pay for that insult WITH YOUR LIFE!!!”

Patrick draw his sword immediately afterward, his eyes narrowed in total conviction of the cause he served. “Enough of this idle talk. WE BATTLE NOW!!!!”

Battle cries unleashed, the two servants, each from rival families, charged directly at each other, their swords clashing and clanging. Another battle in the Montague-Capulet War had begun.



END OF CHAPTER 3

[Numbuh 58 (Fredos)]

Great! I wanna more! ;D

[C7Angelocas12]

Chapter 4 now up, fellow Panda Warriors. Enjoy:



“Wallabee and Kuki”
Chapter 4: “Initial Infatuation vs. High-Minded Hate”



The two men (or, in this case, boys) exchanged blow after counterblow, their swords echoing dreadfully across the town as more of the separate clans each boy served began flooding the street, their eyes as narrow with boundless hatred for the other clan as were the boys’ own... except for one voice of reason.

“Hey, guys, cut it out!” Benvolio cried out. “Prince Bartie told us we gotta live in peace so that the rest of Verona might actually respe-- WHOA!!!!”

At that instant, a fellow larger than Benvolio lunged toward him, his sword raised ominously over his head... only to meet Benvolio’s own sword.

“You speak of peace, Benvolio, when you’re not planning to drop your sword any time soon?!?!” Tybalt demanded almost mockingly as he tried to overpower Verona’s de facto peacemaker-wannabe. “Only a Montague could be dumb and cowardly enough to believe THAT! HYAH!!!”

Benvolio deflected a blow that could have gone right through his neck, then stood still as Tybalt took a defensive posture. “And risk letting you simply slice me to death? Thanks for the offer, Tybalt, but, uh, no.”

With that verbal exchange wrapped up, Benvolio and Tybalt’s swords slammed into each other, their respective holders each determined to finish each other off before any more harm could be done. The fight repeated itself all over the town as its denizens fled once again in terror, leaving behind shattered flowerpots, wheelbarrows, even doors. Just then, a boy wearing a cap that clearly symbolized command and control atop his head and a stern expression on his face stepped out to observe the situation, a girl with sharp red hair wrapped behind her in a bun standing just behind him.

“So, another skirmish, eh? Hand me my sword, beloved Lady Francine!!!” Lord Patton Capulet, his expression now transformed into an evil smirk, triumphantly called to his wife, who dutifully presented him with a particularly long sword for him to brandish. “Time to teach these Montague mishaps how to REALLY fight!!!!”

“Aye, Lord Patton,” Lady Francine Capulet grumbled mostly to herself while her husband proudly snatched his sword from her hands and charged into the fray, letting their fellow Capulets know who was in command. “I swear, that boy’s as full of himself in a play when he’s trainin’ those cadets either ‘ere on Moonbase or over at the Arctic Base...”

The battle continued unabated, a considerable number of men, women, and even children on both sides now slaughtered in senseless rage. Eventually, Fanny, er, Francine had to drag Patton back from the fight after realizing that he was dazed from having a little too much fun slicing through every Montague he could find. All of a sudden, everybody froze at their positions -- including one with the tip of his sword less than an inch away from his opponent’s chest -- as a lone figure stepped into the square, his brow furrowed in royal (no pun intended here, either) exasperation at the carnage before his eyes: bloody corpses, smashed property, two clans now silent in inevitable shame.

“Are you guys supposed to be my most distinguished subjects or simple rebels?” Prince Bartie, the ruler of Verona, demanded harshly. “This gihugic blood feud of yours is making my city cower in absolute fear. ALL OF YOU, DROP YOUR SWORDS NOW!!!!!!!!”

Sounds of swords hitting the ground were followed by looks of disgrace and mortification on the faces of Montague and Capulet alike.

Prince Bartie sighed in disgust before continuing his diatribe. “Do all of you realize that this is the THIRD TIME THIS YEAR” -- he held up three fingers and shook them at the crowd while raising his voice during the last four words to emphasize his point -- “that your fights have brought blood flooding onto Verona?!?! Several citizens have fled to my castle for safety, others simply packing their belongings and moving to another town!!! Even the merchants are diverting their trade routes, citing ‘instability in Verona,’ for heaven’s sake!!!!! I promise all of you that the next time I hear about ANY fighting between the Montague and Capulet houses, all those involved will be beheaded at sunset...” Prince Bartie then closed his eyes and paused for a few moments to fill every Montague and Capulet present with even more dread, finally opening them as his mind cleared once again. “... on the same day.”

The infuriated prince turned around and steadily walked back to his castle. Everyone got his cue to return to their homes, defeated in stalemate. Only Benvolio remained to contemplate the devastation around him.

“Prince Bartie certainly deserves to be angry at us for having turned Verona into a battle zone three times in a row already,” Benvolio murmured quietly. “Now that I think about it, Wallabee wasn’t seen anywhere during the brawl. Maybe his parents know where he is. I might as well go ask them now.”

Benvolio ran over to Wallabee’s parents, who were just silently observing after the battle ended.

“Hmm. Wallabee didn’t show up for the fight at all, did he?” Lord Hoagie Montague, Wallabee’s father, queried.

Lady Abigail Montague, Lord Hoagie’s wife, shook her head negatively, her arms folded coolly in front of her. “Lady Abigail says, ‘uh-uh, haven’t seen him here at all.’”

Benvolio shared Lady Abigail’s reply. “Sorry, Lord Hoagie, neither have I. The last time I saw Wallabee was early this morning. He was watching the sunrise for some reason, but then hurried off before I could talk to him. You guys think something’s wrong with him?”

Hoagie and Abby, er, Abigail could only nod affirmatively while chuckling mentally before Hoagie spoke. “Yep, that’s about it, Benvolio.”

“We reckon Wallabee trusts you more than even us, so we’d like you to find out what’s wrong with him,” Abigail added... while trying not to snicker as she thought to herself, “Like we don’t already know what’s wrong with Wally...”

Benvolio nodded at his new task. “You guys better go. I’ll look for him.”

The two leaders of the Montague clan nodded in acknowledgment of Benvolio’s recommendation one last time before departing, leaving Benvolio to search for his old friend.

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A boy with bowl-shaped blond hair wandered aimlessly through the outskirts of Verona, the radiant, serene sun overhead a striking contrast to the strange gloom on his downward-cast face. Suddenly, Benvolio appeared alongside him, curious to know exactly what was troubling his mind.

“Hey there, Wallabee,” Benvolio greeted him. “Nice day for a walk, isn’t it?”

“Wha...” Wallabee Montague, Lord Hoagie and Lady Abigail’s son, looked up in confusion, then focused slightly on Benvolio. “It’s daytime already, mate...?”

“Well, duh!! I mean look how high and warm the sun is right about now!” Benvolio countered.

“Doesn’t feel like day to me...” Wallabee sighed as he and Benvolio continued trudging along. “Feels more like a cold night that’ll never end...”

“Lighten up, man! Do you really want to feel sad on a day like today?” Benvolio continued as he patted Wallabee’s shoulder firmly. “Come on, tell your old friend Benvolio what’s wrong. I’m not gonna tell anybody...”

Wallabee only sighed in dismissal of that transparently false claim by Benvolio before stopping. “Every time I see her, my face turns red...”

Benvolio raised an eyebrow in confusion, then nodded his head and narrowed his eyes in amused understanding. “Oh, I get it, Wallabee. You’re in love, aren’t you?”

“You got it, mate...” Wallabee could only reply unhappily.

“Then why all the gloom and doom on your face, man?”

“She’s a Capulet, Benvolio... She’s in the very family my clan despises thoroughly.”

“Oh, really? Well, who’s the lucky girl?”

“Her name’s Rosaline...”

“Whoa, nice going!! She’s really pretty, you know? Did you tell her how you feel about her already?”

“Mm-hmm... I tried telling her, but she said she wanted nothing to do with a filthy Montague rat like me...” Wallabee could only sigh once more.

“Ouch,” Benvolio flinched just before patting Wallabee’s shoulder again. “Well, cheer up, Wallabee, my friend. I’m sure there’s a girl out there just waiting for you!!!”

“Yeah, but I doubt she’ll be as beautiful as Rosaline...”

Wallabee began to proceed once again, away from Benvolio toward whatever direction his feet happened to take him.

“Hey, wait up!!” Benvolio called, chasing Wallabee down as the two friends meandered through the empty streets of Verona.



END OF CHAPTER 4



Okay, I think I’ve decided to organize this little fanfiction of mine at two major Romeo and Juliet scenes per chapter right up to the end. I’d like to even out my typing a bit. In short, fellow Panda Warriors, stay tuned. ;D

[Numbuh 58 (Fredos)]

Ok... I really enjoyed it ;D

[numbuhx00]

I'm a fan of 3/4 can I join? They are an awesome couple.

[C7Angelocas12]

Eh, why not, numbuhx00? Anyway, I should think typing this took long enough. Have fun:



“Wallabee and Kuki”
Chapter 5: “Preparations for a Rendezvous with Destiny”



“So, Patton, have you decided whether to accept or reject my offer to marry your lovely daughter? I would love to have a wife who can treat others with the utmost respect and compassion,” Count Paris, one of the wealthiest noblemen in Italy, addressed the patriarch of the Capulet clan inquisitively just outside the Capulets’ headquarters.

Patton rolled his eyes. “Like I said yesterday, old friend, Kuki is quite a beautiful girl, and you obviously don’t admire her just for her looks. Not that I don’t admire that quality of a gentleman. Unfortunately, my daughter doesn’t have a single clue who you are, but I’ll tell you what I have in mind. I suggest that you attend a party I’m hosting at my mansion tonight. I trust you’ll attempt to make an excellent impression on Kuki, fellow nobleman?”

“Yes, sir!! I’ll be there!” Paris, smiling confidently, saluted Patton, then left.

“He’s a good guy,” muttered Patton to himself as he rubbed his chin deliberatively. “It’s a shame he works alone. He would’ve made an excellent Kids Next Door operative.” After several more seconds of musing, Patton turned to Peter and handed him a long piece of paper. “Peter, here’s a list of all the people I’m inviting to my party tonight. I want you to find them all and then notify them of that party A-S-A-now. Do I make myself clear?”

Peter tried to review the list, but then frowned in puzzlement. “Uh, sir--”

“No time to complain, soldier! Just do your job!” Patton barked. “Francine and I must get the mansion ready. Now GO!!”

Patton then walked off briskly, leaving a confused Capulet servant scratching his head at his new dilemma. Having taken pride in serving the Capulets since he was young, Peter hadn’t really taken the time to hone his reading skills.

“Oh, man. Talk about being in trouble,” Peter lamented hastily. “If I don’t find somebody who can read and fast, Lord Patton’s gonna roast me alive!! Oh, wait, maybe those two gentlemen over there can help me figure this list out.”

“Those two gentlemen” whom Peter was now running up to turned out to be Wallabee and Benvolio, who were still debating the former’s rejection by Rosaline… or simply were until Wallabee understood Benvolio’s point about cheering up.

“Um, excuse me,” Peter called out behind them to get their attention. “Do you two know how to read?”

When both Wallabee and Benvolio replied affirmatively, Peter immediately handed them Patton’s guest list and ran off. The two unsuspecting Montagues began to scan the strange piece of paper…

“Crikey, Benvolio!!! Patton Capulet’s having a masquerade party at his mansion tonight, and Rosaline’s gonna be there!” Wallabee exclaimed gleefully. “I just want one more look at her beautiful face… It’s settled. Benvolio, you and I are buying masks right now!!!”

Benvolio shook his head at his friend’s passionate audacity. If Wallabee wanted to head straight into the enemy’s lair, he would certainly need at least some backup. Benvolio tucked that thought into his mind and hastily followed Wallabee, who had just raced off to find a mask store.

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“Nurse Virginia, do ye know where Kuki is?” Francine interrogated while various other servants hurried about their business preparing for the masquerade party their mistress and her husband were hosting.

“No, Lady Francine, I’m afraid not,” Virginia responded. “I did tell her you wanted to see her, but she s--”

“Here I am, Mom!!” a young girl chirped just outside the door before skipping into Francine’s dressing room while humming to herself, then started rambling in all-too-obvious excitement. “Oh, I just love masquerade parties! Everyone’s wearing all these cool and funny masks, and we’re all just gonna dance and clap and have a good…”

“I don’t believe this. Numbuh Three’s makin’ Juliet seem a bit ‘happier’ than Numbuhs One and 362 described…” Francine quietly mumbled with a suspicious hint of frustration before Numbuh Three, er, Kuki, the beautiful daughter of and heiress to the Capulets, stood at attention, most likely at a cue from Virginia. “Now, Kuki, I’m going to talk about something very important.”

“Okay, Mom,” Kuki accepted as she giggled.

“All right, Kuki. First, you’re growin’ up now.”

“That’s right. In fact, you’ll be as old as I am in just two more weeks!” Virginia agreed eagerly. “I remember very well how our birthdays are just four days apart and you and I always played together when we were just little kids, although maybe we still are in another way. I remember how you would always tell me not to play pranks on the other servants and just keep yourself the most polite, angelic girl anyone's ever kno--”

Francine had had enough of these consecutive rambling monologues of excitement, first from Kuki, now from Virginia. “Virginia!!! If ye don’t shut up within the next five seconds, I will strangle ye!”

Kuki’s faithful nurse jumped, then bowed apologetically. “I’m sorry, Lady Francine. It’s just that, well, Kuki’s a young lady now, and soon, she’s gonna get married!!”

“I WAS GETTING TO THAT, YE BABBLIN’ LASS!!!!!” Francine snapped loudly enough to make everyone else in the room freeze in place, only to then continue as they realized whom their mistress was talking to. The Capulet matriarch then cleared her throat and turned to her daughter. “Now, then, Kuki, like Virginia was flapping her gums about, have you ever thought about getting married to someone?”

Kuki gasped. “Married? YAAAY!!! Are we gonna have this gihugic wedding in a really big chapel with cool bands performing and stuff? Ooh, ooh, I know! We should invite our friends over so they can cheer while I get married to… uh, who am I getting married to, Mom?”

Francine smiled. “Count Paris, one of the wealthiest noblemen in all of Italy.”

Now it was Virginia’s turn to gasp. “Paris?!?! He’s the best husband I could have possibly thought of!!! He’s rich, handsome, wealthy, loved by everyone, a rich nobleman, powerful, rich, friendly to Prince Bartie, rich, a guy with excellent fashion tastes, rich… oh, did I mention that Paris is rich?”

Francine rolled her eyes at Virginia’s incessant compliments. “Only about five times already. Anyway, Kuki, what do ya think? Could ye take Paris’ hand in marriage and be his loving, faithful wife?”

“Ooooh, I don’t know, since I’ve never met the guy before, but he does seem like a really nice guy,” Kuki mused openly.

“Well, how about meeting him and seeing him for yourself at tonight’s party?” Francine offered.

“All right, Mom, I’ll go meet this Paris guy,” Kuki accepted happily.

Francine nodded at her daughter’s determination, unsure whether to be happy that Kuki was about to find a potential soul mate… or nervous that a certain someone from the Montague family would take Paris and Kuki’s encounter tonight just a bit too seriously and just grab her for himself and “beat the crud” out of the young nobleman rather prematurely. “Well, if all this is settled, then let the fun begin…”



END OF CHAPTER 5



As you all may have guessed from some of the dialogue, I have a feeling the story’s really starting to crank up. Stay tuned for Chapter 6, my friends.

[Numbuh 58 (Fredos)]

Of course, that you can join Numbuhx00... And great chappie!

[C7Angelocas12]

(drums beating in anticipation, then cymbals crashing) To borrow a Ham-Chat word, “Ta-Dah!!!” Enjoy Chapter 6, fellow Panda Warriors:



“Wallabee and Kuki”
Chapter 6: “A Rendezvous with Destiny… Cut Short”



Wallabee and Benvolio, now joined by Mercutio, another old friend of theirs, walked down the street leading to the Capulet mansion, their masks in tow and moods up to just partying and dining with the Montague clan’s greatest enemy. Remarkably, upon thinking of seeing Rosaline one last time, Wallabee’s sense of dismay kicked in once again.

“I can’t dance, mates… not unless Rosaline’s my choice. She fills my heart with butterflies when she and I are near, but if she’s gone, it can only stumble…” Wallabee bemoaned… while mentally excoriating himself, “This is beyond stupid. I can’t believe how romantic I’m having to act. Yecch!!!! Why couldn’t Numbuh One be Romeo and Numbuh 362 be Juliet?! This plan of theirs had better work, or--”

“You know something, Wallabee?” Mercutio interrupted suddenly. “You have GOT to overcome this love bug you’ve caught!! Just look at yourself, man!!! You were a heck of a lot more fun without it! If I were you, I’d just squash it into the ground like--”

“Uh, guys? I think we’re here,” Benvolio affirmed, pointing to the open doorway into the Capulet mansion’s ballroom and then putting his mask on.

“Huh? Oh, right. We better put our masks on, too!!!” Wallabee and Mercutio agreed in unison before following suit, and the trio snuck into the ballroom unnoticed by Patton or any other Capulets who happened to be keeping watch.

“Welcome, all of you, to my wondrous masquerade party!!!” Patton greeted the guests, his tone of command as evident as his gesture of extended arms in outreach. “Eat, drink, and be of good cheer, I implore you!! How I remember my younger days, the days when I, too, would don a mask of my own…”

Wallabee wasn’t paying attention. A girl with black hair flowing down her back like a waterfall and a remarkable dress unlike any he’d seen before had just caught his eye. “Wow… she’s like an angel, but am I supposed to be dead or something? I’m surprised she’s not from heave--”

Wallabee’s eyes blinked as someone with glasses suddenly dragged the girl’s friend into the crowd. As the heir to Hoagie and Abigail Montague learned mere seconds later, it was Benvolio, who was now smiling and giving him one thumb up in anticipatory eagerness, who distracted that friend to the beautiful girl, who was now alone. Wallabee took a deep breath and readied himself.

“All right. Now’s my chance to meet that girl!!!” Wallabee whispered while rushing over to her… loudly enough for Tybalt to narrow his eyes, having just recognized the unmistakable voice of a Montague.

“Peter, where’s my sword?” Tybalt queried crisply.

Upon hearing the commotion, Patton immediately leaned over and whispered, “Something wrong, Tybalt? Did we just run out of root beer, perhaps? Not to worry, I’ll get more,” before barking, “HEY!!!! Tybalt and I want some more root beer over here!!!”

Tybalt shook his head and pointed at a suspiciously familiar trio intermingled with the crowd. “It’s them, Lord Patton… those accursed Montagues had the nerve to sneak in with masks of their own…”

Patton eyed the trio, the boy with short blond hair now rushing toward his daughter more astutely than the other two, then regained his previous calmness. “Nah, Tybalt, it’s just that Wallabee kid and his two friends. I hear he’s actually one of the nicer ones in the Montague family. Ignore them for now, will you?”

“Fine,” Tybalt begrudgingly replied. “But if he disrupts this party in any manner, he--”

“Relax. Even if he did want to do something, he couldn’t possibly risk launching an attack right in the middle of a room full of Capulets, could he?” Tybalt could only nod and snort reluctantly at Patton’s observation before the Capulet patriarch glanced over to his right and quietly alerted Francine, “All right, Numbuh 86, it’s time.”

The Kids Next Door’s Global Tactical Officer, er, the Capulet matriarch could only smirk intently as she grasped the true meaning of Patton’s words. “Yer right, Numbuh 60. Yer too right.”

-------------------------------------------------------------------

With each step Wallabee took toward the girl who’d caught his eye, his heart rate doubled to the point that he thought it might simply burst. Finally, he was behind her, and he didn’t mind at all that his hand was now acting as if it had a mind of its own by reaching out to her hand. She gasped and whirled around to face him, her eyes sparkling like diamonds or pearls glistening on a clear moonlit night.

“Oh, uh, I’m so sorry,” Wallabee apologized. “Your hands were so beautiful and soft… like the most fragile cloud in the sky… I just couldn’t resist trying to touch them, my own hands were like fish drawn toward a fisherman’s hook attached with bait…”

The girl smiled and giggled dreamily, making Wallabee’s heart inch that much closer to melting. “It’s okay. I don’t mind. My hands are warm when they touch yours.”

When she extended her other hand, Wallabee immediately grasped it as gently as he did the first hand.

“You know something? I pray every night that tomorrow’s gonna be even better. Don’t you?” declared the young girl.

“If ya whisper to Him, then you must be an angel…” Wallabee continued, his voice increasingly synchronized to the rhythm of this strangely dazzling girl.

“You can’t whisper without using your mouth, silly…”

“Then you know my prayer?”

One last giggle and affirmative answer from the girl sealed the conversation before she leaned closer to Wallabee.

“Kiss me,” she implored quietly yet firmly before planting her lips squarely on his, and Wallabee could only respond just as tenderly… to sudden various bursts of “EWWWW, GROSS!!!” and “We’re too young for this!!!!” intermixed with shouts of “Awwwww!!!!!” and “Isn‘t that romantic?” that calmed before, a few moments later, a young female voice called out:

“Kuki, your mother wants to talk to you!”

Wallabee and Kuki slowly broke their lips away and stared into each other’s eyes, but before they could speak any further, the friend whom Benvolio dragged into the crowd earlier grabbed Kuki’s arm and started to pull her away.

“Wait!” Wallabee urged before the two girls could disappear into the crowd. “What’s her name?”

“Her name’s Kuki, of the Capulet clan,” replied Kuki’s friend obliviously.

Wallabee felt a chill pierce his heart. “I can’t believe it… Kuki’s a Capulet…”

Benvolio ran up to him and gently patted his shoulder. “Don’t worry, Wallabee. I know you’ll get Kuki and then you two are gonna live together forever. Now, come on, let’s get outta here!! Everyone’s headin’ out!”

Wallabee nodded at his friend, a determined smile on his face, and the two made their way to the exit amidst the flowing stream of guests, in the opposite direction from Kuki, who was now accompanied by Nurse Virginia.

“Virginia, can you see who that handsome young man leaving the masquerade party is?” Kuki asked, pointing at Wallabee and Benvolio, now accompanied by Mercutio.

“No problem, Kuki,” Virginia cheerfully answered, then hurried off toward the trio.

“Oh, I hope he’s not married…” Kuki prayed just before Virginia returned.

“He’s Wallabee Montague, Kuki,” Virginia relayed. “Don’t worry, though. I really think he liked you since he asked me who and how you were before he left.”

“YAAAY!!!!! I’m soooo happy now, but I hope I’ll be able to see him again…” Kuki admitted rather timidly.

“Perhaps you will, Kuki, but for now, we gotta sleep. Lord Patton and Lady Francine know you need your rest,” Virginia admonished.

Kuki nodded sadly, then turned her soft eyes toward the ballroom doorway just before she and Virginia headed for the Capulet mansion’s sleeping quarters. The girl giggled mentally as she contemplated the next phase of her romantic encounter with the boy who what seemed like just moments ago had enraptured her.

“I hope Nigel and Rachel’s plan works…” the Capulet heiress thought one last time before she and Virginia left the ballroom.



END OF CHAPTER 6



All right, Panda Warriors. According to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Act 1 is officially over now, so as ever, stay tuned for the chapters denoting the other acts… whatever scheduling snags may hit me along the way.

[RohaHat]

No offence, but I never seem to come across this thread when I feel like reading your fan fic. I'm sure it's awesome, at a glance it looks great, I just don't feel like reading it. Sorry. xD

[lois4dead4]

lois4dead4.deviantart.com/art/34-spawn-66085379 just something I doodled in school today, thought it might be worth posting here (hehe)

[Numbuh 58 (Fredos)]

Yay, It's nice lois4dead4 And great FF, C7