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There was once a violent criminal who goes by Mars. Wanted through Maine for fighting through many of it's illegal fighting ring, if there wasn't an opponent on the ring, he would take to the street Batman style and beat the shit out of the wicked and deserved. Stealing a trophy from them each, an ID card usually suffice.
One of his greatest highlights however, his bestest and last case was the grandest assault into a base of smugglers network and assassinated the leader, who so happens to own the entirety of Maine's underworld.
Surprise to say, he had to make a dip to Georgia.
Then met a strange magical man named Krampus. And he was here, punished for his violent ways.But he didn't knew that.
As far as he remembered from a few weeks ago, he simply met Krampus and ended up here. He remembers Krampus saying something to him, but he was thinking of his next target while Krampus narrates.
He should really listen to others when they're talking. Else he didn't end up... Where exactly is this place?
He sees a line of strange people going in and out of the place, from people with plastic skins, people with wooden skins dressed as nutcracker soldiers, people without arms and legs, a living block, a living chess piece of a pawn. There was even an athromorphic sheep. As sheepish as she is, she ran far after the first time he was close. A little amusing, but not enough to curb his hunger for violence.
So, he sat at the same bench, contemplating his strategy and what to do next. It's clear he's in some... Strange new world, sent in by the mythical Christmas spirit partner of St. Nicholas, Krampus. Legend said to punish evil children. Perhaps the Krampus legend wasn't as detailed as they say if adults are targeted.
Well, Mars rarely celebrated Christmas. For all he knew this could also be the work of aliens, taking the moniker of Krampus. Conspiracy theorists seems pretty apt on the Maine case, why not aliens?
...Hmm, perhaps he should try fighting Krampus. Yes, he never fought an alien before, but there's always the first time for everything.Question is, where would he be?
If he was Krampus... Where indeed would he be...?
"Uh, excuse me?" A girlish voice came to called to him. "Could I uh..." It came from the sheep girl he had scared a few times. She was holding a comically large coffee cup, rubbing it with anxiety and pressure. "I, there wasn't any other seat around, and I noticed you have yours, and uh, since it's a public chair and everything and it's wide enough, I, uh, well..."
Ah, it is wide indeed. Very well, Mars moved to the edge, tapping the seat.The sheep girl nodded, "Thank you." And sit besides him, he supposed he wasn't scary anymore.
The comically large coffee cup she carried plop down so lightly on the snow one wonders if it even has anything in it. She took a sip of it, but Mars could not hear the usual slurping of thick water, the bubbles nor the heat. It looks indeed hollow to the best of his senses can pick up. He did not question this however, perhaps in here, it is some culture type of drink, he was curious a bit about this. Unaware that his head is inching close to the comically large cup.
"Uh, do you want some?" The sheep asked him, but he decline.
"It is yours, you payed it with your money after all, no?" He reasoned.
"Well, technically, it's playing cards. I, I paid it with playing cards so..." She seems sad saying that. But to Mars, it is strangely fascinating.
It's no surprise they have their own economy here. Playing cards as currency sounded familiar, but Mars couldn't make a reason why. But he knew if he wanted to try that drink, or started living here, he needed a job.
"I see, thank you indeed, sheep woman."
"...Sheep woman?" The sheep woman started at him with utter confusion and befuddledment at the words he said, but said Sheep Woman brushed it off, preferring to just correcting the stranger and move on. "My name is Michael."
"My name is Mars. It is a pleasure to be introduced to you, Michael." He replied straightforwardly as Michael took another sip.
"It's uh, nice to meet you too, Mars." Michael puts the cup asides and shakes Mars hand and went back to drinking the cup.
Michael seems very knowledgeable of the world here, perhaps he should ask her about his predicament. "Michael, can you give me your opinion on this question?"
"Hmm? Oh uh, Sure. What is it?"
"How do you search for an alien?"
Michael spits her drinks, "ALIENS?!?"
"Yes. Indeed. I have the idea of challenging Krampus to a fight, but to fight him, I must search for him. His mystical status made him feel unlikely to appear here in such public space. So, I wish to understand what Krampus is thinking, know thy enemy and all." Sounds profound, but Michael only heard half of it, more trying to process what insane word salad he had gotten.
He wants to fight Krampus? He thinks Krampus is an alien? Wait, is Krampus an Alien? Technically he checks almost all the boxes except for space craft? Why couldn't he ask... No, he was right that no one knows Krampus around here personally...
Michael had all these insane ideas jumbled, cobbled, and twist and pull on his head with each crazier than the last. Until eventually it all shuts down completely and she responded with a monotone beat, having given up a reason to understand it, "Maybe ask the smartest person for that?"
"Who is the smartest person around here?"
Michael doesn't know that, she blurted out whatever it is that makes sense to her, think of the smartest person she had ever known and go with that...
...
...
Oh crap, Michael doesn't know the smartest person around here. The only person he got the closest to was Beau, so... "I, know someone who could find the smartest person here."
"Very well. Lead the way."
***
Beau was having her daily R&R. After tending the... Uh... Sheep? Should she called them that considering their formerly human, are they even human? It was a question Beau kept asking herself whenever he saw them cute dumb little eyes.
...
After tending the usual flock, managing the little ones and her barn. Beau's body had finally allowed her to rest, her body slumped onto the makeshift hammock, made of some strewn strings and plastic found about, and slowly, steadily, it rocked her to what was supposed to a cozy rest.
Until the door knocks.
Beau grumbled, but it's usually somebody important knocking on her door. She reluctantly open it to reveal Michael, a sheep gal she often talked to and take care of and... A shady man in black with a sword?
"Hello, I'm here to find the smartest person in this town." The man in black says.
"...Why?"
Michael replied, "He uh, wanted to fight Krampus."
"And pretending to be like him seems apt, first I wanna know more about him, if he's an alien or not. Y'know how it is."
If they hear closesly, they could listen in on Beau's brain deflated into mush at hearing a cacophony of word salad of alien, Krampus and beating him up."No, I do not 'how it is'. Because first of all, you want to FIGHT KRAMPUS?! And second of all, HE'S NOT AN ALIEN?"
"Maybe, but we can't be sure no?" The men in black argued, "I mean how well do you know if Krampus is or is not an alien?"
"He's an urban legend!" Beau pinches her nose in frustration, "He's like, he's an urban legend in Christmas Tales, along with Santa Claus, y'know Santa Claus?"
"Not personally, but I have seen his face many times through my lifetime." The man in black nodded.
"Yeah well. There's your answer, he wouldn't be an Alien if there's an urban legend about him and Santa Claus."
"Hmm..." It sounded like He doubt it, but, "Very well, I'll keep that info in mind."
"Okay. So what's this about the smartest man around to fight Krampus?"
"Michael told me you knew of the smartest person around here."
Beau turned to Michael.
"I, uh, you're the only one I know personally around Toyland." Michael scratches his head, shy of his claims. Beau's smiled a little at the thought, "Sorry if we, like, ruin your break."
"Sigh... It's fine. But you could've gone to the library for this kind of stuff?"
Michael shrinks,”I… uh, dunno where that is, is it the place near the King’s Castle?”
”Ye-Y’know what, I got time anyways. I’ll lead you to the Library. However, let just say this to Mr… What’s your name?”
”Mars.”
”Mars huh?” Beau gets close to him “You’re not the first person to want to fight Krampus. From what I’ve heard from other people around here since I came, loads of others tried fighting Krampus, and they failed, miserably. Either because they couldn’t find him or when they did, knew just how powerful he is. I’m not saying this to be mean, but don’t get your hopes up on returning to your old life.”
It was a hard pill to swallow for anyone. Krampus didn’t became the legend today if he wasn’t so powerful. He’s an immortal, can turn anyone he deemed evil or bad into toys and playthings and all other assortments of forms fitting for punishments. Beau became what she is today through his will and power and it’s when she least expected it.Whoever this guy is, must’ve really wanted to go back home if he’s willing to fight such an opponent. Probably has violent tendencies if the toy fits the crime.
“Why would I want to return to my old life?”
Oh, never-mind, guess he’s like that Jennifer gal, but still. “What? You don’t like your old life?”
”I mean more like, uh, I don’t have one? This is technically my life.”
Beau first thought he meant he essentially already gave up and accept being a toy. But something ain’t right about the way he said it. “Okay, I guess it’s good you accept your life as a toy?”
”…What’s a toy?”
Beau had a stroke that day.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Amelie "Mull" Mullins used to be a conspiracy theorist way around 2003 before she was turned into a toy lamp and worked in Storytime Library. If anyone met her then, they would all label her Overly-Patriotic, Paranoid, A Nutcase, or all three in the above.
Aliens, Secret Society's, Freemasons, Men in Black, Commies, Russian, JFK. She had dipped her hand in just about everything, and the most she had believed in was Lizard People ruling the government, because of course it made sense. Atlantis, Lemuria. It is all connected.
Oh, but punished her for speaking the truth, Krampus himself existed so why can't lizard men? What? Just because her truth cause a few people panicking is worthy to turn her into a toy lamp?
Amelie sigh, there's no use thinking about it again. This is her new life now. She'll keep the Lizard Men conspiracy to herself. Besides, now she has a new theory to form, one about the truth of Toyland's nature.
Even if they lived in a toy, this Library is anything but. All sorts of history of Toyland to Krampus himself resides here. Maybe nothing about how to best the old fogey, but it's still informative books, and right this second, three figures entered the library to search for such a book.
"Is that also a toy?" The man in black ask the tall sherpdess doll, Beau. Pointing towards Emma the Pawn, who was interrupted from reading one of the library books and change her attention to said man.
Beau sighed hard, "Yes. That's also a toy." But the man shakes his head."That can't be? Chess is a board game."
"So? It's still a game?""But that's such a degenerative description of Chess. It uses strategic skill, the fight of two minds duking in a battle of wits, predictions and tactics. To call such a board game as a toy is basically lowballing the efforts of the likes of Anatoly Karpov, Garry Kimovich Kasparov & all the other chess players."
Although Beau and now entering her anthro sheep friend had this bewildered face ranging from tired uninterested to strange fascination. When Emma heard those names, it seems to light her eyes with familiarity as she rises from the chair.
"She's not wrong. Chess has been mistaken as a children's game from time to time, ever since I've been here with my new... Body." She sighed, "But the game is so much more. It's one without elements of chance or hidden information, recorded history of chess goes back at least to the emergence of a similar game, chaturanga, in seventh-century India. After its introduction in Persia, it spread to the Arab world and then to Europe. The modern rules of chess emerged in Europe at the end of the 15th century, with standardization and universal acceptance by the end of the 19th century. Today, chess is one of the world's most popular games, with millions of players worldwide!"
"...You seem pretty enthusiastic about chess?" Beau commented.
"I've been here too long." Emma sat down again, "The least I can do to keep me tethered is learn about... Well, my form." And then she repicked her book back, while the man in black gestured good luck. Emma nodded and replied with a thank you.The event catches Amelie's eyes as she begins hopping towards the trio of toys. "And what can I do for you three today?"
Beau replied, "Amelie, this is Mars. Mars, say hello.""Hello!" Mars waved, Amelia gestured her head to nod."He wants to fight Krampus."
Amelie's hinges creaked and Emma's book dropped. The both of them focus their eyes on Mars with a dreadful deadpanned look. "I, uh, what?"
"I want to fight Krampus, in battle."
Mars isn't the first person to go up and arms on someone like Krampus. God forbid how many violent criminals and abusers Krampus turns to toys. But most if not all of them wouldn't be so blunt about it, especially not as blunt or direct as Mars over here.But judging from the Toy this person is based on, maybe it's not a farfetch guess that Mars came here due to some violent past.
Mull regains her composure again, "Okay. So, what do you want me to do about that?" She asked him, keeping her composure until she can get some understanding what this new guy is gonna do.
"I need information on Krampus, books about him, about his history, behaviour, stuff like that. Just about everything related to Krampus." He said. To which Mull perks up happily, too happily Beau realizes.
"Oh, if that's what you want, I'd be happy to even share my own finding of Krampus!" She smiled and tried to get close to Mars.
"Uh, uh." Beau seperates between them, "None of your conspiracy theories here. Bad enough I had to deal with Mr. 'What's a toy here', you are not adding your crazy conspiracy to fuel him."
"Oh c'mon!" Mull grumbled, "Theories wouldn't hurt a fly, besides, I'm currently one of the few people researching Misfits Isles and Krampus, you tell me if anyone spares that kind of time for that!" She argued, but Beau fired back.
"Oh sure, if you didn't convince people to dig up potholes because you think there's buried treasure or tell people to raid the king's castle because you had a hunch they had secrets to hide!"
"Okay, I'll admit that some of my older theories are a bust." Mull bit her teeth in sheer guilt, "But, but, this one I think you'll find convincing!"
"Is it Lizard people?"
"Yeah! How'd you guess that? Wait... Did Krampus gave you the power to spy on me?!"
"No numbskull!" Beau raised her fist, "This is why your theories are crazy!! It always, always starts with fucking Lizard People!"
"Hey, I'll have you know Lizard People are real!"
"It's true. I've met them before."
...
...
Michael, shaking his head snapping out of the shock, responded "What?"
"I've met a Lizard Person before. Want me to tell you?"
Beau realizes where this is going, she does not want to fuel Mull's already crazy Lizard People Conspiracy obsession, so she tries interrupting, only to get sidelined by Mull as she leaps in front of her, "PLEASE DO!"
"THE YEAR WAS 1995!" Mars boomed, his suddenly wore this old western cowboy accent like in the movies, Mull crouch down with stars in her eyes as she listen his tales, Michael sit next to the groaning Beau. "Maine, exactly 3 AM sharp. My opponent was the dastardly desperado who challenge me in the middle of the Witching Hour. His name? Lezlie LeThankYou."
"LeThankYou?!" Beau scratches her head, and scoffs at the name.
"Your Welcome."
"That's not what I-"
"Now as I was saying. Lezlie and I, we have only met one time, and yet, there is already a spark there I have never felt. A spark, for combat!On my side, is my trusty blade, on his side, his revolver. The winner's reward shall be the person itself, they do whatever the winner's heart desire, as is the rule of the strong. We fought, with blood, sweat and tears. He took out my eye, but I took his tail. And in that final clash, I reign, barely supreme.He had challenge me beforehand, in a motel outside of Maine. His goal? Helping keeping the peace during the Lizard Wars."
"Oh you've got to be-""LIZARD WARS?!" Mull jumps up again.
"The Lizard Wars. You were right in that Lizard People used to rule the world, emphasis on use to. Two faction of the Lizard People ruled then. The Atlantians and the Lemurians. Although the Atlantians wanted to rule in secrets, the Lemurians wanted to make their presence know through the world, despite the fear of racism & destruction of balance of the world.The world of Lizardfolk are ruled by a council, each representing the best of both faction. And yet, power struggle continued between each other and their own inner circles, vying for total control and wealth and power. The final boiling point, is the day of Y2K. Where the Atlantians and Lemurians have decided by both parties, to wage war on each other, and the winner decided by the Rule of Strongest.Lezlie wanted to recruit me to help keep peace in towns needed defense against both warmonger faction. With such a scale of war on Hollow Earth, either one would spill innocent blood. I agree to join his humble cause, if not for the
battles to come.And the battles were brutal and hard, each from either faction, to plunder or to profit. Sometimes we made enemies of both, but neither at the same time. That's part of war, in such a world where there is no line people aren't willing to cross, you see all sorts of horrors and tragedy to families and friends, to familiar places and to once your home.And the people who did such a thing would happily die with a bright smile in their faces, believing their cause is always just.Those same people nearly killed me and Lezlie, with him having the worst of it. Broken bones, injured spine and torn limbs. But he and I lived on, if not to make sure everyone in town gets to see tomorrow.And when they all did, he died. His wounds got infected too deep, caught a terrible fever with it. And when all that adrenaline, that fighting spirit was gone as soon as everyone felt safe, as he felt save. He was gone, in his bed."
As Mars finished his story looking down and remembering his friend's face. Mull, Beau and Michael looked at Michael with a wide array of faces. Beau and Michael with horrified looks, even Emma was listening in filled with curiosity, and Mull?If she wasn't a toy lamp, she might've actually teared up on the story.
"Eventually only a few lizardfolks are left," Mars continued on, "War took almost everyone out, the one who survives couldn't take the guilt, and those who kept on living succumb to the disease the war brought on, or buried themselves deep somewhere far from civilization. Never to be seen again." He looked at Mull, "It's probably for the best though, it'll cause more problems with the numbers they have now going public. And they just couldn't take that pressure after everything."
A part of Mull wanted to press on the details on their location, the conspiracy part of her. The one that seeks out her truth as a proud American. But..."Y-yeah, I think it's for the best."Which caught Beau off-guard, considering the type of person Mull is. A conspiracy nut with a never ending thirst of seeking her truth. And here she is agreeing to keeping the Lizardfolk a secret.But wait, what the heck is Beau thinking. Is, is this even true at all?
"Mars. Is that true? What you just told us?"
"Well yeah. Why shouldn't it?" He shrugged
Michael points out, "I, you'd need some sort of evidence at least right? Do you, y'know, have a way to proof-" As Michael continued on, Mars had already taken out something from his coat, a pendant of sorts, with a picture of Human Mars and a Reptilian person.
And this broke Beau again.
Mull meanwhile told him, "Wow. *Sniff* I, I don't know what to say..."
"Well, anyways. Do you have a book about Krampus?"
"After what you told me?? I'll get you the entire Toyland!"
And as she went back to pick those books. A particular toy soldier overhears the request. With odd eyes and suspicious feelings.