"The Dark Land is vast, like other lands, and there is more to it's vastness than has been explored by adventurers of the past, present, or future. It is here that our protagonist's story continues... Seeming from experience, the Banzai Bill, Billy, yells in alarm to the fallen Koopa of the dangers of the world surrounding them. As if on cue, a Scuttlebug descendants to what it sees as a possible meal. Feeling the wet dripping on his forehead, the Koopa realizes he is not safe. Rising and running, the Koopa looks back for simply a moment before bumping into something at full speed, dazing himself. Recovering quickly, it seems what appears to be another Koopa. But no, this one is gray...it's eyes are hollow with glowing pupils, and it's bones are laid bare. It opens it's mouth for "breath", which is enough for our protagonist to get up and run, leaving the strange creature to wonder just what happened. After what seemed like a countless barrage of strange noises, whipping branches, and dark shadows, the young Koopa emerges from the tree line of the forest he had landed in. After a moment of breath, he realizes he is not alone. A few feet away, a strange creature chained to a stake sleeps, almost peacefully. Curious, our protagonist picks the strange creature up, wondering if the calm-looking being was friendly. Slowly from being handled, it awakens, then it's eyes widen in surprise...before it prepares to take a CHOMP out of the one foolish enough to get so close. The Koopa manages to back away as the ball clamps down on where he had been a second before. Reeling back in shock, the Koopa watches as the living ball and chain flings up and down, back and forth, trying to bite him again, limited as it was a by the stake it was chained to. Upset at first, our protagonist stares past the creature, who jumps away in disinterest, at the sight far off and below them. Nestled beside a river of lava and a few mountains...is a town. Even from this distance, he could see the dots of movement, of people, milling about the few buildings and town square. Buildings seem to be in construction, and the most notable of them was what appeared to be a large tower-like structure to the north of the square. Thoughts went through the Koopa's mind in rapid succession, but the most simple of them came to the forefront. Survival. And here was a new place to try and live in, in some way. He was discarded from his "home", and now he was alone. And this town was the best place to start anew...
spacemechanicazul
