The smell of burning wood passed through the nose of Thomas as he scurried back into Tazmily Village. The townspeople could tell something was the matter as smoke was rising from the Telly Forest, which was walking distance from town square. Thomas pounded on the door of Flint, Lucas and Claus's dad along with Hinawa's husband, urgently. "Flint! Flint! It's a fire! The Sunshine Forest is burning as we speak!" Thomas shouted. Flint arose from a nap as he walked towards the door and pushed it open. "Flint! It's gonna get the worst it can possibly get if we don't act fast!" Flint's trusted friend panicked. All the commotion startled Flint's dog, Boney, who was barking like crazy as soon as he smelled smoke.
Boney came up to Flint and nuzzled against his side, comforting Flint. "Thomas, I don't think we have much time. We need to get to the forest and find my family." Flint told his friend. "C'mon Boney." The loyal dog barked and ran towards the town square while Flint and Thomas gave chase. They ran into town and then looked at the smoke emerging from the Sunshine Forest. Most of the townsfolk were panicking, save for Leder, who was manning the belltower near the forest. "Flint, Lighter and Fuel haven't come back. I don't know much, but from what I've heard, they're pretty deep in the woods." a resident by the name of Bronson told Flint as he walked into the clearing where Lida was. "Don't worry, Bronson, we'll find them. Let's just keep moving before those flames get worse." Flint calmly replied.
Flint grabbed his shotgun and loaded it while Thomas picked up a 2x4 and held it in his hands. As they were about to enter the forest, Johner stopped them. Johner was a very religious man and found that his inner rage could be settled by visiting the Prayer Room. "Flint, before you go into the forest, please come pray with me." Johner told Flint. "It will help calm your mind for whatever comes ahead." Flint and Thomas reluctantly walked with Johner to the Prayer Room while Boney waited outside. They walked inside and approached the central structure. Flint took his hat off and rested it in front of him before he began praying. A voice spoke to him in his head and it said; "Tell me...what are you most worried of? I sense you are in fear of your family not returning. Is this true?"
Flint nodded as he thought hardly about the fond memories he had of his family. Flint thought about the time he had first laid eyes on Hinawa, the time he had gone to the beach with Lucas and Claus, and the family picture they took a few months ago. "I understand. Your God is with your family at this time. They will all come back." the voice replied after reading Flint's thoughts. "You may now leave this place in peace." Thomas and Flint rose from their praying positions and returned outside. Boney had been waiting patiently outside for his owner to return and was happier than a kid in a candy store when Flint came back out. Flint took Boney and had the dog walk alongside him. The trio set off into the burning woods, ready to begin their search for Lighter, Fuel, and Flint's family.
Nearby, a mysterious soldier with a pig mask on pulled a box out. It contained several Fireflies; these weren't the kind you'd catch on a summer day, but instead they were normal flies infused with a cheap lighter. As the soldier lifted the box's lid open and the Fireflies scattered, he could hear footsteps approaching quickly. The soldier beamed himself out of the area as Flint, Thomas, and Boney walked in. "What the heck is this thing?" Thomas asked to Flint, who had just picked up the box. "It's just a metallic box with airholes in it. Something was in here, and it might have been the cause of this fire." Flint replied.
"Wait...how did you figure that one out?" Thomas questioned. "There's some burn marks on the inside. Only creatures with fire abilities could do that." explained Flint. "Let's keep moving. Maybe we'll find Lighter and Fuel." The trio navigated their way through the fire, fighting bats, living yams, and more Fireflies. As trees collapsed and the fire seemed to get even worse, Flint and crew carried on. Soon they approached a body on the ground.
Thomas recognized it to be Lighter, but he was badly injured; bite marks could be seen on his cheek and burns were on his clothes. "Flint...oh, hey Thomas...cough...Save...your...self..cough. Those creatures...the more I defeated the more that came...cough. Go ahead at your own risk." Lighter told them weakly. He then pointed to a firefly to the left of him. "I think those are what started the fire in the first place. Fuel is probably still in the cabin." "Wait...you left your child home alone during a fire?!" Thomas gasped. "Flint, you go find Fuel; I'll take Lighter and Boney back. It's probably better for them anyways."
Thomas then carried Lighter back to Tazmily Village with Boney close behind. Flint then set off into the woods to search for Fuel, fighting off more enemies than he had earlier. His shotgun was almost out of ammo, and he couldn't stop to reload because of how quickly the flames were spreading. Flint simply put the shotgun into the container on his back and continued walking. Eventually he saw the sight of a burning cabin. This is Lighter's house alright. Flint thought to himself. A scream was then heard from upstairs. "HEELLLLPP!" Fuel screamed out his window. "Mr. Flint! Help me! I'm stuck!" Flint bashed the door down and made his way into the house. As he approached the stairs, Flint was attacked by what appeared to be a light-blue mouse with wings. He grabbed a piece of lumber and then whacked the flying mouse into the flames.
Flint then made his way upstairs, where he could hear Fuel coughing and hacking because of the smoke. Flint bashed his way into the debris that fell from the ceiling to make his way to Fuel. "Mr. Flint, thank you." said a relieved Fuel. However, the house started to shake; it was going to collapse any moment now. Flint pulled Fuel out of his bedroom and they rushed downstairs. As soon as they were out the front door, Flint and Fuel watched the cabin collapse into a pile of debris. "No...no...not the cabin!" Fuel cried. "It was my sanctuary! It was the only place where I felt like I mattered! Now it's...gone.." Fuel cried over the loss of his home and several of his possessions. Flint tried to comfort the kid as they made their way through the forest back to the village, but to no avail.
As they rounded the corner towards town, Flint remembered a hot spring that he and Hinawa loved to visit in their youth. "Hey, Fuel, maybe we should clean off before we head back into town." Flint said to the soot-covered boy. "Um...okay..." replied Fuel nervously. He didn't like the thought of going to a hot spring with an older man, especially one that he didn't really know as well. A few minutes later, the two males got out, feeling refreshed. Fuel actually liked this hot spring, but he had only visited it once. The two males then put their clothes back on and headed into town. A townsperson told Flint that Lighter was resting in the Yado Inn, and this excited Fuel, as he hadn't seen his father is a few hours. The inn was buzzing with activity, but most of the patrons were either nervously awaiting Lighter's recovery or drinking heavily to calm themselves. "Hey, Flint. Thomas was just here. He told me he wanted to see you in his room. First one on the right." Tessie, the bartender, told Flint and Fuel.
Flint knocked lightly on the door and he was let in. Inside the room, several people were gathered around the bed in the center where Lighter laid. "Father! I thought I lost you!" Fuel said as he rushed up to his dad. "That voice...Fuel?" Lighter weakly questioned. "My boy. I'm glad you're alright." The weakened Lighter then turned to Flint, who was standing next to him. "Thank you, Flint. May this fire be put out." Lighter said. Suddenly, rain began pouring from the sky, extinguishing the flames quickly. Flint could hear a few of the men at the bar cheering and then drinking some more, probably due to the rain. "Uh...Flint?" said Tessie, who had poked her head into the room. "There's someone here to see you." Flint left the room, shutting the door behind him, and walked out the front door where Isaac, one of his friends, was waiting. "Howdy, Isaac. What do you want?" Flint asked impatiently. "Look, I need to ask you something..." Isaac started.
"Have you seen Hinawa and the kids?"
MOTHER 3: The Unofficial Novelization
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Hey guys! School has started back up for me, so I won't be posting as much. It'll be awhile before the next chapter is published, so stay tuned. My next story, Heart of Steel, is going to come out sometime next year or whenever this story gets done - whichever comes first. That's all for now!
~ Numbuh 3.14
