“Yes my friends, it is I, aren’t you happy to see your long lost brother again?” El Choncho replied.
Caliente shoved his way to the front and yelled back “You aren’t our brother, you forfeited that privilege when you betrayed us to the Makabendrix.”
“He’s right, you have no place among us. Why are you here?” Demanded Oso. “Cant I drop in and see how my old friends are doing once in awhile?” El Choncho calmly asked as he stepped up onto the great dining table.
“Don’t play games Choncho, you’re outclassed. And I’d appreciate it if you stop referring to us as your friends. We have no love for traitors here.” Duende snapped.
“My my, everyone here is so hostile. It didn’t used to be like this. I remember a time when we all got along.” El Choncho mused as he made his way to the front of the table where he perched himself like a gargoyle, staring down the bloody and bruised warriors.
“That was before you turned into an asshole.” Huevos sarcastically replied. Everyone in the room remembered the snot mines, and their enslavement……………..
“FIRE IN THE HOLE!!!!” Huevos yelled as he ran as fast as he could down the tunnels of the snot mines. All of a sudden there was a huge explosion and Huevos was knocked to the floor just before he reached the safety of the break room they had secretly constructed in the snot mines. Oso walked over and helped Huevos off of the floor. “You need to either set a longer fuse on those charges, or run faster.” Oso said with a smile. Huevos dusted himself off and waited for the rest of the work crew, which consisted of what would one day be the greatest men on earth: Oso Verde, Duende Gallo, Caliente, Cerviche, Huevos de Diablo, Phantasmas mas Palomas, Sueltos Frijoles, and Choni Susio. As the eight trudged their way back up the tunnels Sueltos sighed and asked “I wonder what happened to El Choncho.” “I wish I knew.” Replied Duende, “he disappeared after Makabendrix captured us, I think the trolls got to him before we could.” A single tear rolled down Cerviche’s face. “He is in a better place now, have mercy on his soul.” Caliente muttered.
El Choncho WAS in a better place, better than the snot mines anyway. He had struck a deal with Makabendrix. He helped her to capture his former friends, and in exchange she spared his life, and taught him the black arts. El Choncho proved to be an excellent pupil to the Makabendrix. He had an evil streak in him that he never knew existed, and consequently he learned the ways of evil at an alarming rate. It wasn’t long before Choncho’s power rivaled Makabendrix’s. But he cunningly hid his prowess, and his mentor never suspected a thing.
One day when the eight were bringing a load of snot to the surface, Makabendrix was there herself to oversee the progress of the snot mines. The eight scowled at her as they unloaded their carts of snot. But Makabendrix didn’t notice, she was too busy speaking with her advisors, and the mining foremen. But today there was a mysterious hooded figure with her. He was quickly forgotten as they went once more into the depths of the snot mines. However Caliente had left his lucky snot axe outside, so he raced back to grab it. When he surfaced again he saw the hooded figures face, it was El Choncho. Caliente couldn’t believe his eyes, but he would have recognized that face anywhere. He was filled with a feeling of betrayal, one of his best friends had betrayed him, had betrayed all of them. He pretended to not have noticed as he grabbed his snot axe and went back into the mine. Later that day he called a meeting in the secret break room. “What is it Caliente?” Huevos asked as he poured himself a cup of coffee. Caliente had a hard time speaking, but he re-told his story of their betrayal. When he was done, no one in the room moved, they were barely breathing, and the hate and turmoil of emotions were shown only in their cold eyes and stony faces. They were more determined than ever to escape from their bondage, and destroy Makabendrix and her new disciple.
El Choncho knew Caliente had spotted him, and they would somehow find a way to extract their revenge on both him and his master. This had to be prevented. He cared not for Makabendrix, so it was of no consequence what happened to her, but he must protect himself. So he devised a plan to escape. And it wasn’t long before his old comrades found the Chalice and stormed the castle. El Choncho left just in time. Makabendrix had counted on Choncho’s help in defending the castle, and when he was gone, she knew that she had been played for a fool by El Choncho. He disappeared without a trace. And the rest is history…………..
“Choncho, you have gone un-punished for too long, prepare for the reckoning!” Sueltos yelled. Everyone else seemed to agree, as they all readied for battle. “No, we can’t fight him now. Who knows what dark powers he commands, and we are in no shape to fight right now” Duende told everyone telepathically.
El Choncho laughed as if he had heard the message himself. “You’re right Duende, you don’t stand a chance. I may not have had the privilege of touching your chalice, but I have powers of my own.” Choncho stood and spoke again: “You will have your chance for revenge soon enough my friends.” And in a puff of black smoke he was gone. The heroes now had a new enemy from the past to deal with.