The Everlasting Crystal
By: Lightening816
Rated: PG-13
Genres: Angst/Action/Adventure
Synopsis:
Taking place three months after UTFR ends, Arden isolates herself from the rest of the world, or at least from her family, because of researching the Crystal of Everlasting. Her ignorance makes everyone tense, except Basil. Never underestimate a detective who has been trained to find out the facts.
CHAPTER 1:
Studying the Truth
July 12, 1899
In a dark room with only a small candle for light, a small fourteen-year-old mouse lies at a desk in her room reading a big light brown book with a saying in dark brown letters which had the saying:
"Gems, Specimens, and other Artifacts"
Her green eyes would not leave the book's sight. She just sat there reading in her mind. She only wore her purple pajamas underneath her lavender colored house robe. Her long red hair lied down her back. She had not left her room since when she woke up and had sent her sister, Olivia Flaversham, out so she could have some peace and quiet. Her mind raced as she read silently. She could not wait to get to the next book and read more about the strange crystal she desperately wanted with all her might.
"Arden! Arden! You've been in there for hours! Come downstairs please!" asked Olivia from outside the room.
"NO!" yelled Arden back.
"You've been stuck in the room. Every time we see your face, it doesn't last for long, because you keep on just going right back into your room. What's going on?"
"I SAID 'NO', OLIVIA! GET USED TO IT!…bitch…" said Arden.
"I HEARD THAT!!" replied Olivia.
"GOOD!!" returned Arden. Olivia scoffed and walked away. "How dare she call me that! She's not so nice and spirited like she used to be," she thought.
Olivia was right. Ever since waking up and realizing what had happened a day after passing out on April 25th, Arden had made it her goal to study and research the Crystal of Everlasting, the gem that can keep anyone alive and well. By now, Arden knew that her enemy, Prof. Ratigan, had it for sure. How else would he survive the arrow shot in Chapter Eleven in the first story, "After What Happened, Can I still Win?", and the gun shots from the revolver in Chapter Thirteen of "Arden's First Love". She believe it was from that crystal. There was no other reason. What she really wanted to figure out now is where the crystal hidden. It could be anywhere! After her studying, she was planning on her, Basil, Dr. Dawson, and Toby to go look for it. She wanted that because she knew Toby had one magnificent sense of smell that could track it down. She wanted Basil to help because she also knew that he would not let her use Toby without his permission. She wanted Dr. Dawson to go because she also knew that ever since "The Flaversham Case", those two have been inseparable ever since.
After two hours of studying, Hiram came to the door and knocked it.
"Arden, could you come out?" he asked.
"No!" snapped Arden.
Hiram glared.
"ARDEN! I really want to come out of the dark right now!" he exclaimed.
"NO! YOU'RE NOT MY DAD!!" replied Arden.
Hiram kept arguing but Arden just ignored him. She kept reading her book thinking in her head. After five minutes of trying to talk Arden into coming out, he gave up.
"That's is, Arden! If you're not coming out, you're grounded until further notice!" he said.
He stormed away from the door.
He sighed.
"Ever since she woke up back in April, she's been quiet and staying away from us! I should've seen this coming when she asked for her own room. And I especially should've asked her what was going on when I saw her building that desk. She thought of everything when I said she could have the spare room. It doesn't even have any lights, yet she thought of that because she found a candle to light. She didn't have those books, yet she rented them from the library. She's been so busy, she hardly has time for anything or anyone else anymore. I always wish she could come back. She's not who she used to be," thought Hiram.
Arden would not stop reading...at least until she saw something. She saw a line that said something useful.
"The crystal is currently in London, England. The specific location in the city is unknown."
Arden jumped in her seat.
"My God! This is it!! Out of all the books I've read the past three months, none of have ever said where it was!! I've got to go find it!!" she said. She jumped out of her pajamas and into her mission clothes, which were her camouflage pants and revealing black shirt (the same outfit she and Olivia wore in Chapters 16 and 17. She put her long cherry-red hair in a braid, just to keep it out of her face. Arden kicked her bedroom door open and ran to the house door.
"Where do you think you're going?" asked Hiram.
Arden turned toward Hiram, who was looking really upset.
"I'm going out, and I don't know when I'll be back. See ya around!" she replied.
Before Hiram could say anything, Arden ran out the door and rushed to 221 Baker Street.
On her way there, she bumped into Hunter, her boyfriend. Arden and Hunter collided with each other. They looked at each other.
"Hello, Hunter, but I can't talk to you right now. I've got to go on a mission with Basil, Dawson, and their dog, Toby," she explained quickly. When she took a couple steps past him, Hunter grabbed her arm and swung her back.
"Arden, what is going on?" he asked.
"I read some useful info about the Crystal of Everlasting! I'm going to Basil's place to ask if I could borrow Toby, his dog," replied Arden. Hunter swung her again.
"Arden, you know Basil's not gonna let you borrow him. He says that Toby's only used for his cases," he said.
"I know that, but I'm gonna ask Basil to come with me. Then he'll have to let me use him, damn it!" replied Arden.
"Are you sure?" asked Hunter.
"I'm absolutely sure! Sure as hell!!" returned Arden. "Now if you'll excuse me."
She ran past her boyfriend and disappeared to 221 Baker Street.
