Richard had gotten his van to the Chrome Trim Car Auction, a very high-class automobile auction site. Michael was looking over the description of the Spectacular. \u201c\u2026\u2018Hand-crafted by a renowned Vortech Wars Veteran and News Anchor,\u2019\u201d he read aloud incredulously, \u201c\u2018the van sympathetically marries the class of Chrysler and Dodge\u2019s names to the modernity of the\u2026\u2019 Richard, you ARE joking!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHardly a lie!\u201d protested Richard. Michael read on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2018The interior would benefit from some minor alterations.\u2019 What interior?! And those alterations will need to be conducted with a hand grenade! You gotta put that thing down!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComing up to Lot 25,\u201d called the auctioneer. \u201cA beautiful 1956 Citro\u00ebn DS. Start me, if you will, at 200,000 studs. 200,000. Do I hear 250,000? 250,000? 250,000! Do I hear 300,000?\u201d The final total reached 3,000,000 studs. The buyer handed over the total and gave the auctioneer the delivery information. \u201cComing up to the last lot, Lot 26, the\u2026Spectacular.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s me!\u201d Richard whispered to Michael.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA\u2026fantastic hand-crafted minivan,\u201d the auctioneer couldn\u2019t believe he said it, but he HAD to emphasize the positive, his job depended on it. \u201cA very unusual machine. Beautiful, stylish Dodge Grand Caravan coachwork. Again, a very unusual, unique vehicle on sale this afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUnusual?!\u201d Michael chuckled. \u201cUnusual?! He\u2019s being very generous!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStart me, if you will, at\u2026300 studs,\u201d said the auctioneer. Richard goggled in horror.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWHAT?!\u201d he yelped. Michael laughed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStarting at 300 studs,\u201d continued the Auctioneer. \u201cAny advance on 325? 325! Do I hear 350? 350 studs? 350!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSomebody\u2019s bid?!\u201d asked Michael. The bids went up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c400! Do I hear 425? 425?\u201d Richard rolled his eyes and raised his marker. \u201c425! Do I hear 450? 450? 450 studs for this unusual minivan? 425 going once! 425 going twice! 425 sold to Mr. Richard Saunders! Come forward to pay and give us your delivery information and Lot 26 is yours!\u201d Richard grumbled as he went to pay.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Back with the Horsemen, now that Order was in the picture, she also had to put up with Famine\u2019s pasta bowl deliveries. \u201cI\u2019ve been acting like your mother here, you know that?\u201d grumbled Order as she stacked empty bowls into Famine\u2019s hands. \u201cI\u2019ve been talking to you, we ALL have, it\u2019s like we\u2019re talking to a wall! I heard Death say, \u2018we don\u2019t wanna see you get another bowl\u2019, and you still go and get one! All right, come on, let\u2019s go.\u201d Order led Famine to the sink. \u201cWatch how you walk. And hurry, will you? We got a lot.\u201d Famine then stumbled and all the bowls came crashing down. \u201cOh, for the love of-! How many times do I have to tell you? Neatness counts!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was an accident!\u201d protested Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s always an accident with you,\u201d sighed Order. \u201cYou\u2019re my sister, and I love you, but I tell you once! I tell you twice! It\u2019s like you don\u2019t listen to me! Why is that?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you believe me when I say I can\u2019t say no to a guy like him?!\u201d argued Famine. \u201cBesides, he\u2019s a cutie and he thinks I\u2019m cute!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Cute? He thinks you\u2019re cute? I think you\u2019re cute too! But what\u2019s gonna happen when the bill comes in, huh? You ever think about that?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDon\u2019t worry, I got a plan!\u201d assured Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, sure you do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGOTCHA!\u201d called War\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHEY! WHAT\u2019S GOING ON HERE?!\u201d yelped a man\u2019s voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s him!\u201d said Famine. She dashed off to the main dining hall with Order in tow. All the Horsemen were surrounding the poor delivery boy. He had a stack of pasta bowls as usual. \u201cOoh! Food!\u201d cheered Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s enough!\u201d snapped Death. \u201cI think it\u2019s time to get some answers here!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Oh, okay,\u201d sighed Famine. She looked to the delivery boy. \u201cHey, Rupert, I gotta know, why are you giving me all these pasta bowls?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026W\u2026Well, Miss Famine,\u201d said the delivery boy, Rupert, \u201cI just\u2026you know the expression that the way to a man\u2019s heart is through his stomach? \u2026Well, I\u2026I wondered if that was true\u2026for you. You see, I\u2019ve got a\u2026a crush on you and\u2026\u201d Famine sat next to him and patted his hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen, perhaps, we should go out to eat on an official date?\u201d she suggested.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cY-You mean it?!\u201d asked Rupert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWith all my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUgh, sappiness,\u201d groaned War.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a question your new girlfriend is avoiding, so I\u2019m gonna ask!\u201d said Lacey. \u201cRupert, how much are all the pasta bowls gonna run us?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh, nothing, Ma\u2019am!\u201d replied Rupert. \u201cThey\u2019re all free and so are future deliveries.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Free?\u201d asked Death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah!\u201d confirmed Rupert. \u201cWe recently hired a new chef that\u2019s been making all sorts of new bowls and the boss wanted him to simply throw away the rejects, so I offered to take them and see which ones Famine would like. You know Famine better than I do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd the way to my heart IS through my stomach!\u201d said Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Well, if that\u2019s the case,\u201d said Life, \u201cI guess we panicked for no reason. Sorry to delay you like that, Rupert.\u201d The Horsemen released him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll see you for our first date when this whole affair is over!\u201d called Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJust to make sure I got it right, fine dining or casual buffet?\u201d asked Rupert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBuffet, please!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI know the perfect buffet place! See you then!\u201d Rupert then left the Horsemen\u2019s mansion, jumping and clicking his heels as he went back to his car.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I\u2019ve never seen a man click his heels like that outside of Vaudeville,\u201d remarked Death. Famine sat down and began eating her newest acquisitions. Bounty then looked over Famine\u2019s shoulder. Famine sensed it and looked behind her.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026You wanna try some peppermint and shrimp alfredo?\u201d offered Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cForget the pasta,\u201d replied Bounty. \u201cDoes Rupert have a brother or sister that likes cooking?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026I dunno. I\u2019ll have to ask him when he comes back,\u201d mused Famine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Megumi, Optimus, and Arsha headed to the Gateway with Liam and Palmarta. \u201cSo you guys visit the Mushroom Kingdom and someone comes back from a universe with a Source of the Apocalypse?\u201d asked Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s right,\u201d confirmed Megumi. \u201cIt was Alesandro\u2019s idea. Speaking of which, I think it\u2019s his turn to come back.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye, it is,\u201d confirmed Liam. \u201cLet me just give him a call.\u201d He activated the comms. \u201cAlesandro, it\u2019s Liam. Me and Palmarta are heading to the Mushroom Kingdom. Confirm that you\u2019re ready to head back to Beyond City. \u2026I said confirm.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s odd,\u201d muttered Megumi. \u201cHe\u2019s a punctual guy.\u201d Liam tried someone else.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMickey, this is Liam. Have you seen-?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLiam?!\u201d yelped a high-pitched feminine voice. \u201cIt\u2019s Minnie! Have you seen Alesandro or Mickey or War\u2019s Source?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Aren\u2019t they in your universe?\u201d asked Palmarta, worry creeping into her voice. Megumi took over the call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMiss Mouse, this is Megumi. We\u2019ll find them.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPlease do,\u201d said Minnie. \u201cI\u2019m really worried right now.\u201d The call ended and Megumi called Vorton.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cVorton, this is Megumi. Lord Alesandro Ortiz, Lord Mickey Mouse, and the Source of War are missing. Begin a search starting from the-.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTrying to find a certain rat?\u201d came a voice. Megumi realized the call was intercepted!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cKhan!\u201d she snarled.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Richard had gotten his van to the Chrome Trim Car Auction, a very high-class automobile auction site. Michael was looking over the description of the Spectacular. \u201c\u2026\u2018Hand-crafted by a renowned Vortech Wars Veteran and News Anchor,\u2019\u201d he read aloud incredulously, \u201c\u2018the van sympathetically marries the class of Chrysler and Dodge\u2019s names to the modernity of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":5119,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[754,880],"tags":[482,9,146,337],"class_list":["post-6743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-journey-through-wonder","category-story-journey-through-wonder","tag-fantasy","tag-kamen-rider","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6743"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6744,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6743\/revisions\/6744"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}