CHAPTER XXIII: The Torture of the Prophecy
Poo E'l Ahrim Dalaam woke in a cold sweat. He looked around his royal bedchambers, slipping out of bed, and into his karate gi. He tied the black belt around his waist, slid his plain black shoes onto his feet, and tied his one lock of hair back into a ponytail. It was customary for Dalaamese men to wear no hair, except for one strand in the middle of their heads.
And Poo was the prince of Dalaam. He had to set an example.
-Who is this guy?-
Poo couldn't feel the spirit of the other young man in his mind.
-This must be Poo, the guy that Tarah Rama was talking about.-
He walked out of his room, meeting his Sensei in the hall.
-The final member of the team...-
"Poo," the Sensei bowed. "You have been training hard for the past ten years since your parents' deaths. Your martial arts skills are almost at their peak. You have one more test to pass before you begin your journey."
Poo looked up. "Journey? I don't understand, Sensei," He looked a bit perplexed. "What journey?"
"Poo-kun," The Sensei said in an even chant. "Many months ago, a golden soldier stole into the palace, and stole the royal sword of Dalaam--the Sword of Kings."
"Hai--I know that much."
"When you come back from the final test, you will be notified in full..."
"What is my final test, Sensei?"
-Golden soldier? Sounds like Giygas' work...-
"You are to go to Mu, the Place of Emptiness. You are to overcome the trials there, and return when you are ready."
Poo bowed. "Hai, Sensei."
Poo set off down the hill from the Dalaam Palace. The autumn breeze drifted from the pink clouds above which the entire village was built. The people of Dalaam--Poo knew them all by name, for he took regular runs through the mountain town--called to him, saying hello, and greeting him in other ways. He nodded to them all, his mind a little too excited to actually greet them.
On his way down the mountain, he came across a daily sight--four rabbit statues lined up, blocking the entrance to a cave. The statues, as far as anyone could tell, were unbreakable.
He arrived at Mu, a huge, thin mountain, with a strong rope as the only way to the top. He hauled himself up, his toned arms straining powerfully. As soon as he reached the top, he came across an old man. He eyed the young man.
"You must be Prince Poo," He mumbled, squinting.
Poo's royal manners included humility. He bowed lowly. "Hai," He said clearly. "I am."
"Very good," The old man nodded. "When you are ready, I will come again. You are needed, Poo-kun. The Great Evil is on the move. You will soon come in contact with another young man, and the two of you must battle this Evil."
-He must mean me.-
Poo bowed again, a thousand thoughts racing through his head. "I understand," He said. "I will battle this evil once I have mastered the art of Mu, the art of Nothingness."
The old man nodded, and climbed down the rope, leaving Poo to meditate.
He was there for an immeasurable period of time. The wind whipped at his ponytail.
Finally, he received a sign. A floating ghost head appeared before him.
"Poo," it wailed. "I am the spirit of your ancient lineage!"
He watched. So this was the highest level of Mu!
"As testimony to your trail, I will break your arms. Do you want that, Poo? For me to rip your arms off so you may have the power to defend your country?"
There was a long silence.
"Hai," he said quietly.
Without warning, there was a loud crack.
Poo and Ness screamed as one. Ness was actually feeling the Prince's pain!
Poo struggled to rise, his deformed arms hanging useless at his sides.
"Now, Poo," the spirit wailed. "I will take your legs away. You will not be able to move. Will you do this for your country, Poo?"
He gritted his teeth. "H...h...hai..."
Another loud crack. Ness couldn't believe the determination of this guy as he suffered through the same pain.
Poo's mouth was leaking blood.
"Now, Poo," The spirit said, grinning. "I will take your eyes. I will take your eyes and feed them to the crows. Do you agree to this, Poo? To protect your country?"
Poo's throat had long since stopped working.
-Go for it,- Ness yelled at Poo. -Do it! We can't let Giygas win!-
Poo nodded slowly.
This time, there was no pain. But all vision blinked out.
"Poo," The ghost chuckled. "I will now rip your ears off. You will lose the ability to hear. Will you let me take your hearing?"
The young prince nodded again.
The last sound he heard was his own yell.
"Won't I bleed to death?" He asked himself.
"So, Poo," the ghost laughed. "No legs, no arms, no hearing, and no sight. I can only communicate by throwing thoughts to your mind. Your mind is all you have left, Poo. I will have that too. Your mind is mine, Poo. Know that I will posses it..."
-WAKE UP!-
His eyes snapped open.
He was still on Mu. His legs were crossed, arms outstretched. His mind felt clear as a crystal, and his muscles felt three times as strong.
"Your willingness to sacrifice," The spirit whispered. "Is very touching. Only one other has mastered Mu as you have. Rise, my son, and face your destiny!"
The wind whipped at his ponytail. He stayed in a seated position. After a few moments, the first words out of his mouth were:
"My fate..."
Ness popped awake.
"Ness! Are you all right?" Paula asked, throwing her arms around him.
"Yeah," He mumbled. "But guess what?"
"What?" Jeff humored.
"We're expecting company. Right..."
"..."
"..."
"Now,"
"PSI TELEPORT!"
A young man slid to a halt in front of them. He wore a karate outfit, and was completely bald, except for a single scalp lock running from the middle of the top of his head. He was a little taller than Ness, and he bowed formally.
"You are Ness, correct?" He asked in a deep, rich voice.
Ness stood, nodding. "You're Poo E'l Ahrim Dalaam, right?"
Poo looked amazed. "You know me?"
"I was in you," He said with a smile. "When you went to Mu. I felt the same pain you did. Let me just say that I have never seen a person as dedicated as you."
Poo bowed humbly. "Thank you, Ness."
"This is Jeff," he said, sweeping one hand to his bespectacled friend. "And Paula. They're the other members of the group."
"Pleased to meet you," Poo said.
"Likewise," Jeff smiled, adjusting his glasses.
"Charmed," Paula nodded.
"Then," The leader clapped his hands together. "Everyone acquainted? Let's roll, guys!"
As Ness led the way down the street, Poo pulled his other new friends aside.
"He's very strong," the new member whispered. "He's at least half again as strong as I am. How did he get so powerful? Who was his teacher?"
Paula smiled. "I think desperation was his teacher. Ness was sort of drafted into the trip on short notice, and he had to learn to fight very quickly."
Poo looked a bit awed. "I will serve him as if he was my master," he mumbled.
Jeff rolled his eyes. "He doesn't want that," He laughed. "Ness sees us as equals. He's a very good friend. You should have seen him when Paula was kidnapped. He didn't leave his feet until he got her back!"
"Yo!" Ness called. "You guys comin'?"
"Coming!"
"On our way!"
"Hai!"