Chapter Forty-Five: The Masters Code
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“GET
OUT OF MY WAY!” Lady Sunlight roared in fury, throwing her sun
yo-yo and narrowly missing Lady Silent. She reeled in her weapon and
prepared to fire again when she was taken out with a solid
hip-and-shoulder by Lady Courage.
“We
nearly got rid of Marion for good, and you stopped us you FOOL!”
Sir Moonlight shot another arrow at Giggles, who cartwheeled out of
the way and landed on a nearby balcony.
nearly got rid of Marion for good, and you stopped us you FOOL!”
Sir Moonlight shot another arrow at Giggles, who cartwheeled out of
the way and landed on a nearby balcony.
“Will
you give up?! What did we ever do to you?” Sir Dark and Sir
Hedgehog fought against Lady Starlight.
you give up?! What did we ever do to you?” Sir Dark and Sir
Hedgehog fought against Lady Starlight.
“Stop
getting in our way!” Lady Starlight threw some more of her throwing
stars at them.
getting in our way!” Lady Starlight threw some more of her throwing
stars at them.
Let's
rewind a little bit. Mobster Marion had actually been very good the
past few weeks, keeping her nose out of crime, but it all came undone
when she went to get her hair cut and didn't like what the
hairdresser had done. Obviously, this is a valid reason to call in
the rest of the Death Valley Mobsters and have the place destroyed.
rewind a little bit. Mobster Marion had actually been very good the
past few weeks, keeping her nose out of crime, but it all came undone
when she went to get her hair cut and didn't like what the
hairdresser had done. Obviously, this is a valid reason to call in
the rest of the Death Valley Mobsters and have the place destroyed.
(Personally
I'm with Marion but for the purposes of this story let's just agree
it was a massive over-reaction)
I'm with Marion but for the purposes of this story let's just agree
it was a massive over-reaction)
The
Outer Knights of the Last Order were first on the scene, and had
nearly killed Mobster Marion when Giggles stepped in, telling Mobster
Marion to get the hell out of there and stop being such a stuck-up
bovine. Infuriated, the Outer Knights of the Last Order chased
Giggles to the abandoned old school, where they landed in the middle
of a Noble Knights of the Last Order ambush.
Outer Knights of the Last Order were first on the scene, and had
nearly killed Mobster Marion when Giggles stepped in, telling Mobster
Marion to get the hell out of there and stop being such a stuck-up
bovine. Infuriated, the Outer Knights of the Last Order chased
Giggles to the abandoned old school, where they landed in the middle
of a Noble Knights of the Last Order ambush.
Another
arrow barely grazed Giggles helmet as Sir Hedgehog threw one of his
blades at Sir Moonlight. Sir Moonlight dodged easily and fired an
arrow at Sir Hedgehog, which was shot out of the air by Giggles and
the Lucky Seven Gun.
arrow barely grazed Giggles helmet as Sir Hedgehog threw one of his
blades at Sir Moonlight. Sir Moonlight dodged easily and fired an
arrow at Sir Hedgehog, which was shot out of the air by Giggles and
the Lucky Seven Gun.
“You
guys have tried to kill both Ruby and Marion, what makes you so
different from them?!” Sir Hedgehog asked as Sir Moonlight grabbed
another arrow.
guys have tried to kill both Ruby and Marion, what makes you so
different from them?!” Sir Hedgehog asked as Sir Moonlight grabbed
another arrow.
“They're
criminals! We're trying to save people!” Lady Sunlight threw her
yo-yo again, nearly hitting Lady Courage.
criminals! We're trying to save people!” Lady Sunlight threw her
yo-yo again, nearly hitting Lady Courage.
“Can't
we all just get along!?” Lady Luck pleaded, holding her first-aid
kit close.
we all just get along!?” Lady Luck pleaded, holding her first-aid
kit close.
“If
you lot would do your job properly, we wouldn't be here!” Lady
Starlight thundered.
you lot would do your job properly, we wouldn't be here!” Lady
Starlight thundered.
“Look
at you, you easily outnumber us three to one, yet you still haven't
beaten us!” Lady Sunlight laughed.
at you, you easily outnumber us three to one, yet you still haven't
beaten us!” Lady Sunlight laughed.
“We're
not trying to BEAT you, we're trying to make you see reason!” Sir
Hyper groaned as he dodged another throwing star.
not trying to BEAT you, we're trying to make you see reason!” Sir
Hyper groaned as he dodged another throwing star.
"You're
pathetic." Lady Starlight scowled.
pathetic." Lady Starlight scowled.
Sir
Moonlight dodged a punch from Giggles and swerved to avoid Sir
Hedgehog. He then shot an arrow directly at Giggles, whose Backpack
decided to malfunction again, leaving her a sitting duck.
Moonlight dodged a punch from Giggles and swerved to avoid Sir
Hedgehog. He then shot an arrow directly at Giggles, whose Backpack
decided to malfunction again, leaving her a sitting duck.
CLANK.
"No
way has your shoulder healed yet!" Sir Moonlight roared in
anger. At the last second Chuckles had stepped in with the Lions Claw
Blade and cut the arrow in two!
way has your shoulder healed yet!" Sir Moonlight roared in
anger. At the last second Chuckles had stepped in with the Lions Claw
Blade and cut the arrow in two!
"You're
right, it hasn't, but I can wield with one hand unlike some people
who can barely lift a sword with two." Chuckles replied, arm
still in a sling.
right, it hasn't, but I can wield with one hand unlike some people
who can barely lift a sword with two." Chuckles replied, arm
still in a sling.
"Nobody
likes you." Giggles sulked.
likes you." Giggles sulked.
"What
are you doing Chuckles, you're going to get yourself killed!"
Lady Starlight looked in horror at Chuckles.
are you doing Chuckles, you're going to get yourself killed!"
Lady Starlight looked in horror at Chuckles.
"He
definitely will if he gets in my way!" Sir Moonlight pulled out
another arrow, but was stopped by Lady Sunlight.
definitely will if he gets in my way!" Sir Moonlight pulled out
another arrow, but was stopped by Lady Sunlight.
"Leave
him alone Moonlight." She warned.
him alone Moonlight." She warned.
Sir
Moonlight looked confused, but backed off.
Moonlight looked confused, but backed off.
"Stay.
Out. Of. Our. Way." He warned threateningly, before the Outer
Knights of the Last Order escaped.
Out. Of. Our. Way." He warned threateningly, before the Outer
Knights of the Last Order escaped.
"What
was THAT all about?" Sir Dark asked.
was THAT all about?" Sir Dark asked.
“You
know you look really weird wearing only one Arm Scythe right?”
Giggles asked, poking Chuckles un-injured arm.
know you look really weird wearing only one Arm Scythe right?”
Giggles asked, poking Chuckles un-injured arm.
–
"So
what's for dinner tonight?" Charlie sat in the tree next to
Belle later that evening.
what's for dinner tonight?" Charlie sat in the tree next to
Belle later that evening.
"Dad's
having some friends over from Awesomica, they're doing a tour of the
world and thought they'd stop by." Belle replied, pulling some
dead leaves off the tree. "They were going to head to the Great
Nations but things there are starting to get dicey."
having some friends over from Awesomica, they're doing a tour of the
world and thought they'd stop by." Belle replied, pulling some
dead leaves off the tree. "They were going to head to the Great
Nations but things there are starting to get dicey."
"I
saw on the news." Charlie sighed. "Guess what else I saw on
the news."
saw on the news." Charlie sighed. "Guess what else I saw on
the news."
"Demon
resigning as Mayor?" Belle asked hopefully.
resigning as Mayor?" Belle asked hopefully.
"Worse.
Pro-Outer Knights crap." Charlie told her. "People are
calling in to these news shows and giving the Outer Knights their
support."
Pro-Outer Knights crap." Charlie told her. "People are
calling in to these news shows and giving the Outer Knights their
support."
"This
really isn't helping our cause. Don't these people think long-term?"
Belle groaned.
really isn't helping our cause. Don't these people think long-term?"
Belle groaned.
“Anyway,
I'd better go. The twins are having a friend over and they want us to
meet him.” Charlie sighed, stretching out.
I'd better go. The twins are having a friend over and they want us to
meet him.” Charlie sighed, stretching out.
“A
guy?” Belle looked surprised. “Not guys?”
guy?” Belle looked surprised. “Not guys?”
“I
have no idea, apparently he's a bit older than them.” Charlie tried
to keep the distaste from his voice.
have no idea, apparently he's a bit older than them.” Charlie tried
to keep the distaste from his voice.
“And
so you're going to play big brother and scare him away, right?”
Belle grinned.
so you're going to play big brother and scare him away, right?”
Belle grinned.
“If
Dad doesn't get to him first.” Charlie grinned back.
Dad doesn't get to him first.” Charlie grinned back.
He
headed back inside and straightened his hair before heading
downstairs to meet his sisters friend. He got to the bottom of the
stairs before seeing the dark-haired, handsome young man.
headed back inside and straightened his hair before heading
downstairs to meet his sisters friend. He got to the bottom of the
stairs before seeing the dark-haired, handsome young man.
"Good
evening. You must be Charlie." Hugo smiled a little too
graciously.
evening. You must be Charlie." Hugo smiled a little too
graciously.
Charlie
immediately scowled. He didn't like the look of Hugo
Graziano one little bit. Thomas didn't look thrilled either.
immediately scowled. He didn't like the look of Hugo
Graziano one little bit. Thomas didn't look thrilled either.
"That's
my name." Charlie reined himself in a little. "And you must
be Hugo."
my name." Charlie reined himself in a little. "And you must
be Hugo."
"Indeed.
It's nice to finally meet the beloved big brother of my two favourite
girls." Hugo smiled politely. Charlie didn't trust that smile.
It's nice to finally meet the beloved big brother of my two favourite
girls." Hugo smiled politely. Charlie didn't trust that smile.
"That
looks like it hurt." Hugo continued, looking at Charlies arm.
looks like it hurt." Hugo continued, looking at Charlies arm.
"Broke
it at work." Charlie replied coolly. Who was this creep?
it at work." Charlie replied coolly. Who was this creep?
"You
should come into the kitchen and meet Mum." Izzy quickly grabbed
Hugos hand. The twins dragged him away as Charlie shared a look with
his father.
should come into the kitchen and meet Mum." Izzy quickly grabbed
Hugos hand. The twins dragged him away as Charlie shared a look with
his father.
"Don't
like him and don't want him near my sisters." Charlie said
bluntly.
like him and don't want him near my sisters." Charlie said
bluntly.
"Agreed.
I'll be keeping an eye on him." Thomas scowled after the young
man.
I'll be keeping an eye on him." Thomas scowled after the young
man.
Hugo,
meanwhile, was inspecting an old scroll on the wall near the kitchen.
Lizzy smiled.
meanwhile, was inspecting an old scroll on the wall near the kitchen.
Lizzy smiled.
“That's
not the real one, it's a copy. The Masters have the original.” She
told him.
not the real one, it's a copy. The Masters have the original.” She
told him.
“I
will never kill another human being again. I will always respect my
elders, even if I don't agree with them. I will endeavour to dress
nicely and appropriately. I will never hold back, and will fight
forever for what is right. Most of all, I will always believe.”
Hugo read. “Signed, Maurice Masters.”
will never kill another human being again. I will always respect my
elders, even if I don't agree with them. I will endeavour to dress
nicely and appropriately. I will never hold back, and will fight
forever for what is right. Most of all, I will always believe.”
Hugo read. “Signed, Maurice Masters.”
“The
Masters Code. They live next door, and they've lived by it for over
500 years.” Thomas came in from the lounge room. “Which is about
the same amount of time our families have been best friends.”
Masters Code. They live next door, and they've lived by it for over
500 years.” Thomas came in from the lounge room. “Which is about
the same amount of time our families have been best friends.”
“A
bit archaic needing a code to tell you how to be a decent human being
though.” Izzy scowled.
bit archaic needing a code to tell you how to be a decent human being
though.” Izzy scowled.
“It's
tradition.” Charlie stood behind his father, also scowling. “We
honour the past by honouring the Code!”
tradition.” Charlie stood behind his father, also scowling. “We
honour the past by honouring the Code!”
“You
set WAY too much by the code, you even use a capital C when you say
it!” Lizzy cried.
set WAY too much by the code, you even use a capital C when you say
it!” Lizzy cried.
“How
on earth do you know whether or not someone is using capitals when
they speak?” Thomas wondered out aloud.
on earth do you know whether or not someone is using capitals when
they speak?” Thomas wondered out aloud.
“You're
right, I do. Because that Code has survived 500 years for a reason.
Because our friendship with the Masters family has survived FIVE
HUNDRED YEARS.” Charlie fought back.
right, I do. Because that Code has survived 500 years for a reason.
Because our friendship with the Masters family has survived FIVE
HUNDRED YEARS.” Charlie fought back.
“Can
we not do this with guests in the house?!” Betty snapped. She
turned apologetically to Hugo. “It's an old family argument, I
apologise for their rudeness.”
we not do this with guests in the house?!” Betty snapped. She
turned apologetically to Hugo. “It's an old family argument, I
apologise for their rudeness.”
“No
need Mrs. Begly, I understand.” Hugo smiled politely. Thomas didn't
like that smile. It was too polite for his liking!
need Mrs. Begly, I understand.” Hugo smiled politely. Thomas didn't
like that smile. It was too polite for his liking!
“Oh,
Liz, Lara was over earlier, she was wondering if you could take care
of Madeliene again next week?” Betty turned to her daughter.
Liz, Lara was over earlier, she was wondering if you could take care
of Madeliene again next week?” Betty turned to her daughter.
“Of
course!” Lizzy squealed, making Izzy chuckle and Charlie smile. No
matter how much she wasn't thrilled with the older members of the
Masters family, Lizzy Begly was a sucker for the baby Madeliene!
course!” Lizzy squealed, making Izzy chuckle and Charlie smile. No
matter how much she wasn't thrilled with the older members of the
Masters family, Lizzy Begly was a sucker for the baby Madeliene!
“Lizzy
is madly in love with the baby Masters.” Izzy explained to Hugo,
who chuckled.
is madly in love with the baby Masters.” Izzy explained to Hugo,
who chuckled.
“It's
nice to see that one of you likes children.” He commented, earning
him veiled glares from the two male Beglys.
nice to see that one of you likes children.” He commented, earning
him veiled glares from the two male Beglys.
Betty
sighed. It was going to be a long dinner.
sighed. It was going to be a long dinner.