Stories: Emerald Emergency (Issue Four of the Quest of the Legendary Rainbow Gem)

Note from PeaVZ108: Here's the fourth episode of QotLRG. I hope you like the frequency of the episode releases. Featuring Green Shadow, Starcade, Kyoji and a special appearance of Cagney Carnation from Cuphead!

Previous Episode: Topaz Trouble

Main plot
Friends in fighting Starcade and Kyoji are shocked to witness the return of Shogo the Warlord, due to unforeseen forces of evil enchanting the Orb of Power. To combat this evil, both guy and girl must travel to the Seven Worlds of Wonder to recover the missing gems of the Legendary Rainbow Gem to destroy the new Orb of Power.

Episode Four: Emerald Emergency
Shogo the Warlord begins to get impatient, as he is now attacking the other continents of Earth as well! Meanwhile, the fourth World of Wonder takes the gang to a world of flora and fauna, where just about everything seems naturally natural. The gang must recruit Emma Emerald, the queen of the forest, to help them. However, Cagney Carnation, Emma Emerald's best friend, is turning the forest into his own kingdom! The gang decides to stop him, not to the approval of Emma Emerald. They must convince her to get rid of Cagney Carnation to save the entire forest as every minute gets lost, so will the number of friends.

Cast

 * Green Shadow
 * Starcade
 * Kyoji
 * Shogo the Warlord
 * Red Ruby
 * Gary Garnet
 * Toby Topaz
 * Emma Emerald
 * Cagney Carnation

Story
''The gang enters the fourth World of Wonder, which takes them to a place of flora and fauna. Despite not having a single man-made object in the vicinity, the place has nonetheless a rather beautiful scenery.''

Starcade: Woah! That's a beautiful sight!

Toby Topaz: Someone must have gone through a lot of trouble to keep this up.

Gary Garnet: I'll agree with the both of you, this is indeed breathtaking.

Red Ruby: Well, not so much for me!

Starcade: Why not?

''Meanwhile, Red Ruby was assaulted by squirrels that have mistaken him for a giant strawberry. The squirrels only ran away as soon as Red Ruby takes out a lit stick of TNT.''

Kyoji: *sees what is happening* Red, quickly throw the TNT into the river!

''Red Ruby throws the TNT into the nearby river Kyoji pointed out. The TNT gets defused just in time by the water.''

Kyoji: Why did you do that? You could have destroyed part of the forest! It may be large, but still.

Red Ruby: That was the only method I could think of to scare off those darn squirrels! They're biting me!

Kyoji: You could have asked for our help though. A smoke bomb would have scared them away easily.

Red Ruby: You're right, sorry.

Kyoji: No more dynamite, alright?

Red Ruby: *sighs* Alright.

Gary Garnet: Um...guys?

Kyoji: Yeah?

Gary Garnet: You might wanna come look at this.

The gang move towards Gary Garnet, who has spotted a glowing flower swaying about in an odd fashion.

Red Ruby: AAAAAAA!!! It's a monster! *takes out a stick of TNT*

Kyoji: Hey, we just talked about this! No more dynamite, remember?

Red Ruby: But....the flower...

Kyoji: We'll just have to execute non-dynamite-related methods.

Starcade: To be fair, Red's got a point. The flower is kinda freaky. I have never seen a flower move like that before.

Gary Garnet: Even I agree with Red for the first time ever.

Kyoji: Let's find out. *draws and points his sword at the mysterious flower* Stay behind me, guys.

As the gang inch closer to the flower, the flower turns around and reveals a rather adorable face with small eyes.

Kyoji: Huh.

Starcade: I'm thinking this is a way to let our guard down. To think the flower is harmless.

Toby Topaz: Aww...how adorable. Just like the flowers I've seen in Mewni.

''Toby Topaz decides to take a closer look at the flower. However just then, the flower changes its face into a more demonic one, giving Toby Topaz a jumpscare.''

Toby Topaz: I take it back! It's ugly!

Starcade: I knew this would happen eventually.

The flower proceeds to attack Toby Topaz.

Toby Topaz: Argh! Help!

Gary Garnet: He needs our help!

Kyoji: Then let's help him!

''The gang attempt to grab Toby Topaz away from the flower. However, the flower is no pushover either as it pulls with equal strength.''

Starcade: For a flower, this one's got strength!

Suddenly, the flower grows more thorns, which it uses to whip the gang members into giving Toby Topaz to him.

Starcade: Ouch!

Red Ruby: Ouch!

Gary Garnet: Ouch!

Toby Topaz: Ouch!

Kyoji: I think we can all stop now.

Starcade: We should find a way to get this flower's thorns out!

Kyoji: You guys hold him. I'll go do the cutting.

''Kyoji leaps out, draws his sword and slices through the thorns of the flower, releasing Toby Topaz and the gang altogether. Just then, the flower gets mad and roars at Kyoji, who has spotted a glowing crystal on its forehead.''

Kyoji: Interesting crystal. You know what, I'm thinking this flower is not born to be this evil. Something must be controlling it.

Gary Garnet: I think that might be a good theory. Let's see what happens if we break that crystal on its forehead.

Kyoji: Sounds like a plan, Gary.

''Kyoji proceeds to break the crystal with his sword. The flower stops attacking, and as its face disappears, it passes out and hangs its head low.''

Starcade: It worked! It turned back into a normal flower!

Red Ruby: Is this a good time for dynamite now?

Everyone else: NO!

Red Ruby: Hmph, at least there's someone here who appreciates explosions!

Kyoji lightly pokes the flower with his sword.

Kyoji: Yup, Starcade. It's a normal flower all right.

???: What is going on in here?

Red Ruby: Who are you? SHOW YOURSELF!

''From the bushes, a gemstone appears. It is Emma Emerald, the queen of the forest.''

Toby Topaz: There she is. Emma Emerald.

Emma Emerald: Ah-ha! I see you have harmed my flower.

Starcade: What are you talking about? YOUR flower?

Emma Emerald: All the flowers in this very forest you are standing on are mine. The forest is mine. I'm protecting it just like a mother protects her baby.

Gary Garnet: Well, it's certainly nice to reunite, Emma.

Emma Emerald: Can it, Gary!

Everyone gasps as soon as Emma Emerald snapped at Gary Garnet.

Kyoji: Yikes. I guess she's not to be messed with when it comes to nature.

Red Ruby: I remember her now! She's an emerald who is totally paranoid about keeping the forest green as it should be! What a klutz.

Emma Emerald: I heard that, Red, and I definitely do not appreciate it!

Gary Garnet: Nice one, Red.

Emma Emerald: Come with me to my castle. We'll sort out this mess there.

Kyoji: Umm...actually, we need you to come with us. We sort of have a problem back at...

Emma Emerald: TREES!

Two anthropomorphic trees, Emma Emerald's personal bodyguards, step forward and scoop up the gang members.

Emma Emerald: Let's go back to my castle!

Gary Garnet: Wait! Can't we talk about this?

Emma Emerald: *seemingly sweet tone* We can do that. *more sternly* AT MY CASTLE.

Gary Garnet: Gulp...*to Kyoji* You're right, Kyoji. She is not to be messed with.

''Emma Emerald's bodyguards "escort" the gang to her castle, a gigantic hollow tree. As everyone enters, the gang look around the castle's surroundings.''

Starcade: Looks like there's a whole lot of stuff made out of wood. Even the toilet and the bathtub.

Red Ruby: See? This is why I said she is paranoid!

Emma Emerald: You may be my friend, but I'm in charge here. Now silence, or else!

Red Ruby blows a raspberry at Emma Emerald, who luckily, fails to notice.

Kyoji: Red, we got to work on that attitude of yours.

Red Ruby: I'm sorry, I have a bad attitude, and I have no real friends. Maybe except the gemstones, but yeah, I just hate them sometimes.

''Emma Emerald opens the doors to her throne room. Her bodyguards then release the gang members gently.''

Starcade: Thanks, I guess?

Kyoji: Is everyone alright?

Starcade: I am.

Red Ruby: Me too.

Gary Garnet: So am I.

Kyoji: How about you, Toby?

The gang turn to Toby Topaz, who is for some reason, dancing about.

Kyoji: Anyone knows what's up with him?

Gary Garnet: Oh, I have forgot to mention this. Toby has a crush on Emma, he doesn't want us to know it, but all of us gemstones know. It's best not to mention it in front of his face.

Kyoji: I guess he prefers Emma to the Baroness, huh?

Emma Emerald: Now that we are all gathered here, how about you all start explaining what you are doing in my world?

Starcade: I...I'll go talk to her. *to Emma Emerald* We're actually here to look for you.

Emma Emerald: How do you know me? I have not set foot on Earth for years.

Starcade: You're part of the Legendary Rainbow Gem. It's on an account to save Earth, we need to reunite all the seven gemstones back together, and you're just the fourth.

Emma Emerald: And you expect me to help you after what you have done?

Starcade: No, it's a misunderstanding! We're helping the flower, not killing it.

Emma Emerald: I saw your friend pointing his sword at that very flower! Explain that part to me, please?

Starcade: He was just trying to see if the flower is alive. You see, we believe that the flower is actually possessed by some evil spirit.

Emma Emerald: *scoffs* That's ridiculous. Plants don't talk, except for trees of course.

Starcade: Aren't trees technically plants too? Just pointing out a scientific fact right there.

Emma Emerald: You do have a point. Hmm...actually, I have a flower that talks. He's my best friend, and he calls himself Cagney Carnation.

Starcade: Who's Cagne...*gets flashbacks of Cuphead battles* Oh right. So, what's the deal about Cagney anyway that he's your best friend?

Emma Emerald: Cagney has been helping me blossom the forest to the beauty it has till today. Therefore, as an effort to thank him, I decided to make it a point to keep the forest that way. He's also the only flower known to talk.

Meanwhile, the others are eavesdropping on the conversation.

Kyoji: Cagney Carnation?

Gary Garnet: So this entire forest is made beautiful by a flower? And to think, it's male. Scientifically, only a female gives birth to offspring.

Red Ruby: I bet that flower is up to no good!

Kyoji: I agree with the both of you. We should keep a closer lookout of the forest later. I hope Starcade can talk Emma out.

Back to the conversation...

Starcade: I guess it's pretty understandable why you had to protect the forest so badly.

Emma Emerald: And that's why I had to stop you as soon as possible. I don't wish to hurt Cagney's feelings.

Starcade: Anyway, on behalf of the gang, I apologise for the whole mess. Can you forgive us?

Emma Emerald: Maybe...there is something you can do. I'm going to take a nap, watching over the forest for a long time as its queen is indeed exhausting. Watch over it for me while I'm snoozing off, will you?

Starcade: You got a deal.

Emma Emerald: That's the spirit! I'll be waking up in a few hours, make sure that the forest is as beautiful as it is before and I'll join you all in your adventures. *goes into her bedroom*

Starcade walks back to the gang.

Kyoji: Did you manage to talk her out?

Starcade: Yes, but we will need to watch over the forest to make up for the mess until she wakes up from her nap.

Red Ruby: This is ridiculous! Watch over an entire freakin' forest?

Starcade: She has done it for years. It's not easy being queen, you know? Besides, you're not the only one to do that. We all are doing it.

Kyoji: If this is the only way to convince Emma to join us, then we have to do it.

Red Ruby: But how are we going to watch over the entire forest?

Kyoji: I have a plan, it involves everyone. Everyone, I need your contact numbers.

Everyone writes down their contact numbers.

Kyoji: Here's the plan. Gary, you stay here and watch the view of the forest from the huge window here. Let us know if you spot anything.

Gary Garnet: Roger that.

Kyoji: Toby, you...Toby?

Toby Topaz: *singing* And we're gonna sit under the tree, K-I-S-S-I-N...

Kyoji: Toby Topaz!

Toby Topaz: *clears throat* Ahem, sorry.

Kyoji: Are you done?

Toby Topaz: Yes, yes I am. What do you need me for?

Kyoji: I need you to tend to Emma Emerald and keep her company, so that she doesn't see the forest should it be very disastrous.

Toby Topaz: I like that idea!

Starcade: So how about the rest of us?

Kyoji: We're going straight into the forest.

Starcade: Sounds like a plan.

The gang execute Kyoji's plan, as Gary Garnet stays and watches the view from Emma Emerald's throne room window, Toby Topaz keeping Emma Emerald company in her bedroom and the others going to the forest.

(W.I.P.)