We Need a Horse (and a Hat)

[ch_ris127]

Part 1: Rookie's First Investigation

It's been some time, but I've finally built the sequel to the story

This is my first real MOC, and annoyingly so, I ran out of bricks halfway through, so I had a lot of trouble making use of the limited bricks. I'm in the process of breaking down sets though, so the next build won't be this frantic.

Alrighty then, let's get started. Warning: it's picture-heavy.

The overall view of the build.

The streets were lined up with vendors and makeshift stores set up to attract both tourists and everyday shoppers alike. After much searching, Johnny Thunder and Izzy Seeker, the rookie, stopped at the edge of the marketplace and looked around.

"Why are we here again, Mr.Thunder?" Izzy asked, wondering why they weren't with the team instead. Johnny sighed, looking tired and worn, answered,

"We're going to rendezvous with the others later, after we search for the most important thing. My hat."

Izzy stared at Johnny's red bandana, hastily put on as a replacement for the hat he lost. Without his trademark fedora, Johnny felt helpless and oftentimes, luckless.

"Alright then. I'll go search us some horses to get to the rendezvous point. We'll meet up again," Izzy said, and they parted ways.

Izzy meets an energitic horse.

Izzy came upon a small stable with precisely two horses inside it. Just what I needed! she thought, and went to see the stable. She took out a leftover carrot snack from the morning breakfast, and just as soon as she pulled it out, the brown horse neighed and excitedly stood, almost crossing the stable fence!

"Whoa, easy, boy!" a voice called from beside Izzy. It was the horse-keeper, or seller, as he immediately greeted the rookie investigator with much joy and smiles as a salesman would.

A business discussion.

"Morning, miss, I see that our fine breed of horses interest you. How may I be of help?" he asked, as the brown horse chewed on the snack with much satisfaction.

Where is that darned shop?

Meanwhile, Johnny walked through the streets looking for the hat shop that he traded his old fedora for the new one that is now lost. Ah, here it is. I hope I can get my old hat back, Johnny thought.

The Hat Shop.

The shop was small, but filled with hats that nobody in their right mind were to buy. The shopkeeper stood inside promoting his stand.

Finding Johnny's Hat

"Hello," Johnny said. "Do you remember me from a few days ago?"

The shopkeeper seemed to ignore his question and offered him the white pith helmet in front of him.

"How would you like this wonderful hat? Perfect for explorers!" Johnny held the helmet and examined it. Uninterested, he said again, "I traded a hat here not long before, I was wondering if you still have it. I'm willing to purchase it back."

Meet the shopkeeper

The shopkeeper laughed and went out from the shop through the side. Johnny noticed a huge sombrero hanging on the side, and wondered what a sombrero was doing in Egypt.

Excited salesman. But is Johnny buying it?

The shopkeeper enthusiastically welcomed Johnny and said, "Ah, I remember you! Sadly a man bought that hat already. But I hear you are searching for a hat! Let me introduce you to more exquisite hats I acquired." The keeper guided Johnny to the other side of the shop, ignoring Johnny's disappointment, as if he'd only heard the word 'purchase'.

'Exquisite' hats. Right...

There were more undecipherable hats on display, including a decorated Egyptian head dress, and...an eskimo's hood? Johnny had trouble talking to the keeper, as he kept on promoting his 'great' items and equally great price. That is, expensive. Johnny shook his head and felt a headache coming on. It would not be easy to turn the shopkeeper down.

I'll make a deal you can't refuse!

On the better end of the market, the horse seller confidently said, "I can give you a great price! These beauties are guaranteed to be healthy horses, perfect for adventures and long journeys."

Hmmm...why not?

Izzy looked at the horse, and being fond of their spirit, replied, "Well, okay then. I'll take them!"

At the same time as the horse keeper made a deal with Izzy, Johnny tried making a different deal with the shopkeeper. It didn't go as smoothly as Izzy's, and it went something like this:

Johnny's negotiating skills aren't as good...

Making the deal.

As the shopkeeper grabbed his broom, a monetary exchange was being made at the stable.

Johnny in danger (?)

Izzy paid the horse seller, but something else was definitely going on behind them.

The great escape.

The shopkeeper chased Johnny with the broom, and Johnny had no choice but to jump over the stable's fence. Loaded with heavy equipment on his back, he clumsily fell over the fence with a hard 'thud'.

Face the wrath of the horse!

Thinking as if things couldn't have gotten worse, Johnny turned to face a furious white horse approaching him. The horse lifted its front legs and neighed loudly. Johnny defensively pulled out his shovel when taming the horse clearly didn't work.

The horse prevails...

The horse seller, hearing Johnny's scream, ran to his rescue by opening the gate to the fence, letting Johnny out without his shovel. The horse seemed to like its new chew toy.

Johnny's unlucky day.

"I thought horses aren't supposed to be territorial..." Johnny groaned, walking towards the rookie. "I knew this was going to be bad. Without my hat, I'm, I'm..." with that, Johnny fainted on the floor, exhausted by the whole ordeal. If he doesn't get his hat back, he wasn't sure whether he could go on at all!

Johnny wishes for his fedora back...

Izzy shrugged and went to the horses. "Alright, let's bring you boys out, we need to get to the rendezvous point! Maybe finding the two masks and treasure will get Johnny's spirit back."

Creeping crooks

Unbeknowst to the duo, someone was watching them the whole time. Someone, or some people. Hiding behind a crate of herbs and giant mushrooms were a band of crooks. They hid under the arch's shadow, eavesdropping on everything.

Plotting criminals

The leader of the band wore a red turban, sported a bushy white beard and held a heavily-used sword. His black cape kept him in stealth and gave him an evil presence. "You hear that, boss? They're going for the treasure soon!" the man with the short knife said. "Yeah, boss, we gotta get them now! Force 'em to show us the map and treasure!" The man with the gun said.

A discussion among evil men

A rat watches the three plotting as it rested beside a barrel.

The man who means business

"Silence!" The leader growled. "You fools, we'll follow them to the treasure, and grab it then. Haven't you watch enough movies to know that? We don't have to do the hard work!" He laughed softly so as not to be heard, and said sinisterly, "That Johnny Thunder and his crew will pay for what he did to me! Let's go and wait for them on the other side."

Noticing something?

The band of crooks began walking in a thuggish manner, scaring the rat as it scurried away from the men. The crook with the gun stopped for a moment something caught his eye.

Never sleep unguarded!

A man lying beside the arch was sleeping heavily, unaware of his surroundings. A bottle of wine lied beside him, unguarded and half-full.

Never leave empty-handed

The crook grabbed the bottle without thinking twice and whistled a happy tune as he caught up with his crew.

Prepping the horses

Izzy and the horse keeper were bringing out the horses. She retrieved Johnny's shovel, and the keeper was putting on the horses' saddles. "This white one is called Nadeem, a great companion for your friend there. He seems to like him! The brown one is Intisar, sure to bring you victory in your journey," he said. "I'm sure we'll get along really well," Izzy said.

Creeping creeper

While the two discuss about the horses, the rat that previously ran away from the crooks scurried into the open. Johnny, still down on the ground, stirred as he heard the rat approaching.

Overreaction

Startled by the rat, and traumatized by the horse, Johnny quickly stood up and pulled his axe, ready to strike on the rat he thought was a threat. The rat, shocked and terrified, immediately ran away from the human he perceived as crazy.

Moving on

Izzy caught up with Johnny and the two started their way to the arch, Intisar and Nadeem following them close. "Seriously, rookie, I need my hat! I think I'm getting paranoid!" Johnny confided in her. "Relax, Mr.Thunder, you're Johnny Thunder! Why would you let a hat get into your way?" Izzy nonchalantly said. "But, b-but...the hat and I come in one package...!" Johnny muttered as his rookie partner went ahead.

The confident rookie

She walked through the arch confidently, excited about the journey to find the treasure, and couldn't wait to rendezvous with the others. Johnny stood at the archway, staring at something that caught his attention.

Hmmm?

His eyes focused on the brown thing sitting comfortable on top of the sleeping man, still deep in sleep and unlikely to wake up any moment then.

...seems familiar...

Johnny pondered, "Could it be...my hat?" It surely seemed familiar, and the hat shop was just a short distance away, so this really could be the man that bought his hat.

The switcheroo

The sleeping man, deep in sleep, didn't even stir as Johnny switched his hat with the bandana, and continued on his journey with a much, much more confident stride.

I'm Johnny Thunder

Johnny smiled a triumphant smile, and walked ahead to catch up with the others, grinning as he said to himself in a strong confident voice. "I'm Johnny Thunder."

End part 2.

Well, that's it for the second part! It's quite long isn't it

I tend to get carried away, cause there's so much to say with the build!

Here are some of the details of the build:

The archway.

Yes, the sign is supposed to be vertical, but it was snatched from Pharaoh's Quest, and it looks better horizontal anyways.

The flower at the corner of the stable.

It adds a bit more color and greenery to the mostly brown and sandy terrain.

The shop and the shopkeeper

The minifigure was fun to make.

The inside of the hatshop.

There's the small table at the back, with a pan, goblet and the seller's earnings. There's a fish in a barrel, for food, most probably, and...a magic lamp? Maybe he stole it from the genie when he got the turban too.

The stable.

For a moment, I was afraid I'd run out of brown bricks, but I think it turned out pretty well.

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So...what do you think about it? Stay tuned for the continuing series!

[Axis600]

Fun stuff! Haha, it's been awhile since I saw Johnny make an appearance. I hadn't seen the last one, but I like where you're going with this.

[Kristel]

It was quite long, but I was still reading when I got to that point, so you were definitely doing something right. I thoroughly enjoyed this second part and will be watching out for Part 3!

[ch_ris127]

Fun stuff! Haha, it's been awhile since I saw Johnny make an appearance. I hadn't seen the last one, but I like where you're going with this.

Thanks!

It was quite long, but I was still reading when I got to that point, so you were definitely doing something right. I thoroughly enjoyed this second part and will be watching out for Part 3!

That's great to hear; I was afraid it would get tedious towards the middle :D

Thanks for the feedback!

[Axle]

I'm glad to see the adventures of Johnny Thunder haven't ended I'm looking forward to the next parts to this! Who is the man that's after Johnny? Maybe is it the Mahrajaja from the Scorpion Palace (It looks a bit like him but maybe that's just the turban ) Any ideas when the next one will be? Adventurers was always my favourite theme!