Ed's Run-In-To with Diablo

"Hiya, Ed!" greeted Sketch, waving to the approaching hoop-head. Sketch, Doodles, Dramy, and Evil the Klay were all sitting around the mulberry tree, eating and telling stories.

"Hiii!" Ed responded, and sat down next to his friends.

"What you doing?"

Dramy grinned, "Telling stories."

Evil nodded, plucking at the strings on his guitar.

"Stories? Hm..." Ed smiled thoughtfully.

Doodles took a bit of his mulberry and answered, "Yeah, you have any stories to tell, Ed?"

Ed thought for a moment....

"I....me tink so."

The klay beings looked at Ed, waiting for him to speak.

"Dis a true story. It happen a long while ago, before me came to Neverhood..."

"Kool, " someone sputtered.

Ed smirked and continued on.....

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It all start when me was still on Ottoborg's world.....before it break up. Ottoborg go do work.....he said he have plans for new brother! Yay!

Daddy said it be awhile before I could meet him..so me go to sleep....

I woke up from hearing a biiiig crash! Ed go outside home to see.....It was another person! But a scary looking person...

When I got there I saw the strange person disappear..And all the sudden fell into a deeeeeep sleep....

Later, I woke and found myself surrounded by bars. "Where am I?" I asked myself. "What me doing here?" he said about to cry.

I lay against the wall crying and wishing. I wanted to see my dad. I had waited long enough. I wanted my dad to rescue me.

In one loud voice I blurted out, "WHERE AM I?" Then to my fright I jumped us so high and scared that I busted a small hole in the ceiling. What was I jumping about? It was a loud laugh dat scare me. I never heard such a wicked cackle.

"AHHHH HAHA!" it repeated.

I jumped again at the fright of the laugh. "W...Who's...Th..Th...There?" I asked in a shaky voice.

"I won't hurt you.....now. Eh heh, names Diablo, by the way. Don't be afraid.." said he. "Why Not?" I said furiously.

"I don't know....hehehe...I finally caught you! I've been trying to catch one of you Ottoborgs for YEARS! And now I got one! AHH HAHA!" said Diablo.

This time I learned and didn't jump.

"I'll be right back," Diablo said suspiciously.

"What am I going to do? There's no way out." I said to myself. I thought and thought, then finally, had an idea!

"Once brother no me be gone long, they tell Ottoborg! And me no tell Diablo a thing until he get me eat and know what we gunna do!" Me thinks to self.

While Diablo entered the room I stood up with a mean look on his face. Before Diablo could say a word I blurted out, "I'm not doing or saying anything until I get food and learn what's going on!"

"Touchy Touchy," replied Diablo.

"Okay, if you insist I'll go get something to eat and then tell you what I'm going to do to you." said Diablo in a low voice.

Meanwhile, back in the square, Willie wondered, "Where Ed? He been gone all day!"

"Yeah, we need to find him!" added a Petri Alfonzo.

Willie and Petri got all there hoop-head brothers together and went after Ottoborg.

While Diablo gathered food I thought in the cell. I thought about how I would spend my time, when brothers would come with daddy, if daddy could come.

A few minutes later, I was humming a song me knew, when Diablo got back. "Here's your food." He dropped it in front of me.

"Thanks...." I mumbled....still a lil' upset

"This meal is your last. Now here's what we're going to do, first, I'll make you starve, then you'll die of starvation. Fun, huh?" said Diablo evilly.

"My dad come save me! You see!"

When all the hoop-headed bros got to Ottoborg they told him the story.

"This morning Ed went for a walk to wonder around. And he not be back all day! We worried," said Willie.

"Help daddy!"

So the brothers left. Back in the cell I cried myself to sleep.

It what seem like a day, I awoke, kinda of happy. Diablo came in and frowned at me.

"You're still alive," he said.

"Die? Me no die!," I mention.

"I'll make sure you do."

All the sudden they heard footsteps. Many footsteps. At first, Diablo was scared. He knew who it was. It was Ottoborg and Ed's brothers.

Ottoborg stomped in the room and put an glare on Diablo.

"Tsk tsk...didn't know we have visitors here. Now what you doin' with my Ed, eh?"

With that Diablo was already running.

"Daddy!" I said happily. Ottoborg grabbed the keys and freed me.

"I knew you'd come daddy!" me said, hugging him.

"Don't worry.....I found out you were in trouble and came as fast as I could," replied Ottoborg. "But...I've finished your new brother, Ed," he continued, smiling.

My mouth dropped open, "Brother!"

I finally noticed who daddy had brought with him. There were all of the brothers Ed knew of. Then as the group stepped back, a new being appeared. He was a hoop-head! But was different show how....he was part machine.

Ottoborg notice me gazing at the new being, "This...is Noremen."

"Hi!" Normen said, waving. His medal squeaking a little as he moved it back and forth.

I waved back at my new bro, happily..then turned back to Ottoborg....

"Thanks Daddy for saving my life! I don't think I'll go exploring by myself ever again!"

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"And dat the end of dat! For now... " Ed finished grinning at the Hoodians watching.