Ranger's Roundhouse

[Ranger of the North]

Death... so much fun

Death!? 😱 Where?!

[Yubel Fated]

Oh. Okay. Rest in peace Sandy.

Bjeez Ranger. XD Exploding eggs must be a bad omen if it turned out like that

[TheSongOfTheStars]

Aren't there exploding eggs in Httyd?

[Ranger of the North]

Oh. Okay. Rest in peace Sandy.

Bjeez Ranger. XD Exploding eggs must be a bad omen if it turned out like that

Ahahahaha XD
Who knows? ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Aren't there exploding eggs in Httyd?

Are there? I don't actually know, tbh o.o

[DeMaizu]

Aren't there exploding eggs in Httyd?

Yup. Don't think it was in the movies, though. A mini feature?

[Ranger of the North]

Warning! Spoilers for Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle.

Requirements: spinoff of a well-known action movie between 2.8k and 3k. Fast-paced plot.

xxxxxA lazy breeze wandered through the hut, tugging playfully at available nose-hairs, and Nigel groaned drowsily. The wind smelled like yet another beautiful Jumanji morning — yet another boring Jumanji morning.
xxxxxStomach growling softly, he rolled out of bed and stumbled through the kitchen into the bathroom. Unlikely as it was, one never knew when players would arrive, and he didn’t want to be puffing morning-breath in their faces. Blinking sleepily, he made a grab for his toothbrush.
xxxxxSuddenly the world twisted. If he could move he would have stumbled, but for an instant he couldn’t even breathe. The toothbrush, his home, it all disappeared. Nigel blinked — once — and then he was speeding through the jungle in a grey-green Land Rover, trees flashing past in a dizzying blur.
xxxxxNigel caught his breath, trying to slow down, but his muscles refused to obey. This could only mean one thing: players! Dr. Bravestone! Joy bubbled in his throat, and he laughed silently.
xxxxxA figure stumbled into the road, and Nigel gasped, foot slamming down on the brake.
xxxxx“Ah! Seaplane McDonough!” he called cheerfully, the words springing unbidden to his lips.
xxxxxHe — was he talking? For the first time in his life, he could hear his own voice!... It was higher than he’d imagined, but he couldn’t have cared less.
xxxxx“Welcome to Jumanji.”
xxxxxSeaplane spun, the panic painted across his face burning itself in Nigel’s memory; he hadn’t expected him to be so... so terrified. They both jumped as Nigel’s finger involuntarily popped the doors open.
xxxxx“Don’t just stand there, in you go!” he called with a cheery jerk of his chin, and Seaplane stumbled forward, clutching at the rover as though his life depended on it. Nigel scanned the trees worriedly. Where were the other players? There were meant to be five — surely all four of them couldn’t have lost their three lives already?
xxxxxNo. His heart sank to the toes of his boots. The boy had come alone.
xxxxxNigel’s foot slammed the accelerator, startling them both, and they roared into the trees.
xxxxx“Jefferson ‘Seaplane’ McDonough! Nigel Billingsley at your service; welcome to Jumanji! I’ve been so anxious for your arrival!” he exclaimed, flashing the player a quick smile. “As you know, Jumanji is in grave danger. We’re counting on you to lift the curse!”
xxxxx“W-wait — curse?” Seaplane stammered, lips bloodless.
xxxxx“Of course! It’s all documented in the letter I sent Dr. Bravestone.”
xxxxx“Doctor who —? Nevermind, can — can you take me to him, or — or tell me what it said?”
xxxxxYes! Nigel would have; oh, he wanted to — he needed something other than a piece of paper to confide in—but his tongue was as stubbornly independent as always.
xxxxx“I’m afraid not, sorry,” it said instead, faint regret colouring his words. “It is for Dr. Bravestone’s eyes only. However, I’m sure he’ll arrive as soon as he gets my letter. I’ll drop you off at the bazaar to wait; I’m sure you must be eager to meet him!”
xxxxxThis was new; only the outcome where five players appeared together — or at least Bravestone — had been downloaded into his knowledge-banks.
xxxxxHis hands swerved the wheel suddenly, tossing Seaplane against the wall, and Nigel’s heart clenched. Nearly there.
xxxxx“In the bazaar are a series of challenges,” Nigel said, relaxing as his tongue finally decided to move again. “You must find the ‘missing piece’.” At the moment, he was fairly certain that the missing piece was a fragment of map; when — if — Bravestone appeared, the paper would be negated, and ‘missing piece’ would mean Seaplane. He only hoped Bravestone wouldn’t take too long.
xxxxx“Wait — what —”
xxxxxNigel slammed the brake, taking a breath for the last words he might ever hear himself speak. He was puzzled and confused; as the guide, he was supposed to explain the aim of the game, but so far he hadn’t — and couldn’t make himself.
xxxxx“Right then. I’m sure you’ll want to get started right away!” Nigel wanted to scream. Without knowledge, Seaplane would die quicker than he blinked. “Good luck! The fate of Jumanji is in your hands.” He popped the doors open, and Seaplane nearly fell from the vehicle.
xxxxx“And remember — the goal for you I’ll recite in verse: return the jewel, and lift the curse. If you wish to leave the game, you must save Jumanji and call out its name!”
xxxxxStunned, Seaplane lurched from his seat. He couldn’t seem to close his mouth, so Nigel impulsively leaned forward to flick it shut. He realised, with a sense of relief, that he was regaining control of his body; it seemed his time was almost up.
xxxxx“But —”
xxxxxNigel sucked in a sharp breath as his foot slammed the accelerator, and he smacked back in his seat as the vehicle charged forward, leaving Seaplane alone in a trail of dust.
xxxxxDamn. He clenched the wheel, knuckles white with anger and disgust and grief. Curse this game; curse being an NPC. In the real world Seaplane was only a boy, and soon he would be a dead one.
xxxxxThe vehicle swerved suddenly, and Nigel’s heart leapt into his throat. He was headed for the edge of a cliff. Blood pounding in his ears, he spun the wheel, foot grinding the brake-pedal. The rover skidded wildly across the damp leaves, and Nigel’s breath caught in his throat as he lost control completely.
xxxxxThere was no time, he had no time, it was going over, he’d be pulverised on the rocks below —
xxxxxFlinging the door open, Nigel leapt into the air, fingers clutching for a hold on anything, anything. There was no time to breathe before he hit the ground.
xxxxxNigel groaned as pain flickered through his body, then flinched as a resounding boom echoed over the hills. It was okay, he was alive. He let his eyes drift shut for a moment, trembling uncontrollably.
xxxxxWhat now? There was no way to get home; vehicles weren’t auto-generated unless new players entered the game!
xxxxxSometimes he hated his life.
xxxxxHated the lives it snatched away.
xxxxxAlthough really, who knew Jumanji better than him — Nigel — the guide? Maybe... maybe he could help. Maybe he could save a life, end the game; maybe it would let him start over.
xxxxxGritting his teeth against the pain, Nigel forced himself to stand. He would go back to the bazaar, but he couldn’t afford to let Seaplane interact with him; couldn’t afford to let the game take control. He would watch from the shadows, make sure Van Pelt didn’t get too curious — deter the beasts.
xxxxxThere’s more than one way to finish a game.

~

xxxxxNigel wasn’t hungry that afternoon, but he bought a sandwich in the bazaar for later. Technically he didn’t need food, and starvation wouldn’t kill him — he’d tried — but it helped with thinking straight. He’d driven further than he’d at first thought, and by the time he reached the marketplace, Seaplane had disappeared. Now the NPC wove his way between the stalls, nerves humming with a tense, vibrant energy.
xxxxxHe was going to save a life. He was going to end the game. He didn’t know for sure what would happen to him once the game was defeated, but—well, he was never really real anyway.
xxxxxAwhile later, Nigel became aware that someone — or something — was trailing him. Suddenly cold, he squeezed his pocket — the pocket where he kept the sacred Jewel of Jumanji — and sighed in relief. He still had it.
xxxxxProfessor Russell Van Pelt, the villain of the game, had pried the Jewel from its shrine months ago, casting Jumanji under a dark spell; Nigel in turn had stolen it from him. He had tried to return the Jewel to its rightful resting-place himself, but to no avail; it seemed only Dr. Smoulder Bravestone was allowed. In the meantime, he was left to protect it.
xxxxxNigel swallowed, turning on his heel to scan the stalls, but the feeling had faded slightly; nothing seemed out of the ordinary. He’d always felt out of place at the bazaar, like he’d never really fit in being mute, so maybe that was it; maybe he was just being watched by civilians.
xxxxxExhaling softly, Nigel slipped into the crowd. Stalkers or no stalkers, Seaplane needed help.
xxxxxHours later, just as the sun was setting in a glorious blaze of blood red and fiery orange, Nigel crossed the last street and peeked into the last stall. There had been no sign of Seaplane all day. He whipped his hat off and twisted it nervously, palms sweating.
xxxxxWas he too late? Surely Van Pelt couldn’t have caught the player already? No, surely not. Surely—surely he would have come to rub it in?
xxxxxThink, Nigel! If you were sucked into another world, where would you go?
xxxxxAh, yes, you would stay away from the inhabitants, wouldn’t you? Not too far away, though. Maybe — yes! There was an old structure in the jungle, just beyond the hills. Maybe Seaplane had found it.
xxxxxNigel ate a sandwich as he made his way through the bazaar and out into the darkening hills, a million thoughts whirling through his head. He hoped the boy was alright; hoped he wasn’t too late to help. One avatar in particular had a ridiculous amount of weaknesses, and — what were Seaplane’s, anyway? He couldn’t remember many, except... A sudden sting tickled the back of Nigel’s neck, and he slapped the spot.
xxxxxOf course. Mosquitoes. His heart dropped to the toes of his boots. If Seaplane fell asleep, he’d be dead.
xxxxxNigel broke into a run, heart drumming frantically in his chest. He couldn’t be too late, couldn’t be late, couldn’t be late, couldn’t be late. He tore down the hill like a madman, straining to see in the fading sunlight, and plunged into the jungle.
xxxxxA branch took a swipe at Nigel’s beloved hat as he passed, so he ran with one hand clamped to his head, the other flailing wildly in a desperate, one-armed attempt to sprint and stay balanced.
xxxxxAfter what seemed an eternity, he at last reached the wispy, tumbledown structure, and doubled over, gasping for breath. His legs ached, and his fingers trembled uncontrollably; his hair was damp with sweat.
xxxxxThe soft rasp of snores met his ears, and Nigel’s heart soared. Cautiously, he approached the building and peered between the wood slats; sure enough, Seaplane McDonough lay sprawled on the cot.
xxxxxNigel sank to the ground, sighing wearily. Everything hurt, but he had no time to rest. Seaplane was asleep; it was his job to prevent death by mosquito-bite. Grinding his teeth, he wearily forced himself to stand.
xxxxxA bug hovered over his hands, whining shrilly before settling on his arm, and Nigel crushed it with an air of finality. He was a non-player-character; he didn’t need sleep, he didn’t need food, and he couldn’t die — at least, not permanently. Seaplane, on the other hand, was vulnerable and alone.
xxxxxRemoving his trusty can of bug-spray from an inside pocket, Nigel crept into the hut and sprayed it thoroughly. Walls, ceiling, floor, Seaplane’s mouth... he got everything. The boy never stirred, and a pang of pity touched Nigel.
xxxxxHe must be exhausted.
xxxxxCreeping forward, Nigel gently tugged a worn blanket up to the player’s chin, warding off a slight chill drifting through the slatted walls.
xxxxxPoor boy.
xxxxxThe NPC slipped from the hut and plopped down on a log, eyeing his bug-spray dully.
xxxxxWhat kind of existence was this? Today had been more interesting than the rest of his life combined. Van Pelt was allowed intrigue — Van Pelt had even been released from the game once! But not him — the guide — the good guy. Or as good as you could get in a game that actively abducted people, anyway. He wished he could taste the outside world, just for a minute. Was it too much to ask, before —
xxxxxNigel exhaled softly, hiding his face in his hands.
xxxxxWhat if Seaplane died for good? What would happen to him — Nigel — if the players ended the game? What if the others never even showed up? Van Pelt’s rule had brought nothing but misery, and Jumanji needed Dr. Bravestone, but what if he never came?
xxxxxA branch cracked nearby, and Nigel sucked in a sharp breath; he slipped from the log and disappeared in the darkness of the forest.
xxxxxHe wished he could go home.

~

xxxxxThe next few days passed by in a blur of exhaustion and protection. Nigel faced mosquitoes — at least until Seaplane bought citronella candles — poisonous spiders, hunters, falling trees, and countless wild beasts; he was impressed that he managed to save the player’s life so often without being noticed.
xxxxxAfter a few weeks, however, Seaplane had come up with a plan to break into the transportation shed a hill or two away. Nigel trailed cautiously behind as he made his way through the jungle, nervously twisting his hat in his hands. The shed was guarded by Van Pelt’s men, and there wasn’t much he could do to help the boy. Maybe take some bullets, if it came down to it?
xxxxxNo, he knew how that would end.
xxxxxNigel regretted leading the professor to the Jaguar Shrine. Regretted being so gullible as to believe the man’s lies. It was his fault, his fault if Seaplane died. His fault if anyone died.
xxxxxA threatening hiss snaked its way through the air, and Nigel froze, foot suspended midstep. He couldn’t tear his eyes from the python.
xxxxxAt least twenty feet in length, and thicker around than his thigh, it whizzed through the leaves like greased lightning. Nigel’s heart stopped, and the world froze for an instant.
xxxxxIt was after Seaplane.
xxxxxThen, not stopping to think, he was diving forward, and the snake’s tail was cold in his hands, and he pulled.
xxxxxIt achieved nothing, really; he wasn’t strong enough to stop it — but the serpent spun to face him in an instant, pure hatred glaring in its eyes.
xxxxxNigel stumbled back, tripping over a root as the long, sinuous body flowed toward him. Frantic, he thumped his chest, and the world blurred; a ringing toll echoed in the air, and he knew he was autosaved. Now he had to get the snake away.
xxxxxTerrified, Nigel turned to run — the python lunged — and there was no time to react before needle-sharp teeth sank deep in his calf. A fiery burst of pain snapped lightning-fast through his leg, and he stumbled, snatching desperately at the trees for support.
xxxxxWith a silent scream of terror, he went down beneath the ocean of scales. A coil tugged at his shoe, and he fought back against the oncoming tide, fingers dragging at the head in his skin.
xxxxxA shudder rippled through the serpent’s body as his foot connected with a loop of scales, but it surged forward undeterred. Nigel slammed his foot into the writhing mass again, sending every ounce of strength and adrenaline he owned into the blow — but the snake only shivered, teeth carving furrows in his skin. Blood trickled like rain between his fingers.
xxxxxNigel sank back, head spinning madly; the world whirled by in a dizzying blur of colour, and a loop of snake tightened quick as a snap round his leg. Terror rose in Nigel’s throat as his eyesight cleared. That was a mistake.
xxxxxNot daring to think, he jammed a thumb in the serpent’s eye.
xxxxxHissing furiously, the snake lashed its head and whipped him away; Nigel didn’t have time to think before he landed with a sickening, crunching thud. A river of blood gushed from his leg. He had to get up, had to get up, had to get up, had to get up —
xxxxxArms trembling with pain and fear, Nigel forced himself to his feet, breath shuddering in his throat. There was a flash of gleaming, multicoloured scales moving quicker than he could process — and then the air was bursting from his lungs and he was face-first on the ground. Scales engulfed his leg. Vomit boiled in his throat as the snake tossed him like a rag-doll, coiling tighter, and tighter, and tighter, and tighter —
xxxxxNigel struggled for breath, muscles clenching convulsively as the snake squeezed again. The world swam in a dizzying array of dark and light; his eyes bulged; veins burst, and blood trickled from his mouth and nose as his muscles gave one last, hopeless jerk.

~

xxxxxNigel gasped, face twisting with terror, hands flying instinctively to his throat and chest. He could breathe! Hands shaking, he pulled the leg of his pants up and examined his calf. No marks — no blood. He was alive. A sob shuddered up from his very soul and broke in the air.
xxxxxA whiplash-crack sounded, and Nigel leapt to his feet, adrenaline flooding his bloodstream like a drug. He couldn’t shake the feeling of scales tightening around his throat.
xxxxxThe python writhed some metres away, snapping and hissing, and a cold chill crawled down his spine. He sprinted past the beast on tiptoes, one hand securing his precious hat.
xxxxxHe had died again.
xxxxxNigel ran, ran harder than he ever had before, muscles burning with a primeval terror.
xxxxxHe had died again.
xxxxxThe sky rippled once he was a minute or two past the snake, and a screaming form plummeted down into the forest. So Seaplane, too, had died. Shuddering, Nigel ducked behind a bush, trying to ignore the nausea in his gut; what if he could have saved the player’s life?
xxxxxSeaplane only lost one more life over the next couple of months; Nigel died countless times on his behalf.
xxxxxAfter dropping to the last of his three lives Seaplane barely moved from the hut, and the number of potential threats decreased drastically. However, they never wholly went away. Beasts far worse than mosquitoes prowled the jungle at night, and his candles didn’t last forever.

~

xxxxxOne morning, just as Nigel forced his gritty eyes open, the world twisted. His makeshift shelter, the trees, his bed—it all disappeared. He blinked — once — and then he was speeding through the jungle in a grey-green Land Rover, trees flashing by in a dizzying blur. He inhaled sharply. Players!
xxxxxAnxiety and exhilaration writhed like a snake in his gut.
xxxxxA flash of movement caught his eye, and his hand leapt to slam the horn, foot colliding with the brake at the same time. He didn’t have time to register faces before he spoke.
xxxxx“Ah, Doctor Bravestone!” he cried. And — and it was! And he couldn’t believe his eyes — there were others! Ruby Roundhouse, Shelly Oberon, Mouse Finbar — they were here, they were all here!
xxxxx“Welcome to Jumanji!”
xxxxxEvery nerve tingled and fizzed with excitement. They were here! He wanted to laugh and cry all at the same time. The heroes of Jumanji had finally arrived. His cursed world might just have a chance.

[TheSongOfTheStars]

Aww, I love this. Nigel definitely should've had a bigger part in the movie. I like how this gives him a bit more of a story.

[Ranger of the North]

Aww, I love this. Nigel definitely should've had a bigger part in the movie. I like how this gives him a bit more of a story.

Thanks!! And I totally agree He's more than 'just a non-player-character' cx

[Ranger of the North]

The Taihape Titan can be found here.

[Ranger of the North]

My Inktober writing can be found here.