Western Desert - [Relic] of Elements Ch.2

This is the 2nd chapter and I want to write more chapters from this fanfiction. ^^ Hee-hee..

Awrite, this is the chapter 2.. enjoy!

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"[Expletive] Porcupinneee! Why do you always butt in my [relic] hunt!" Mint yelled at Narcius. Rue was not in the mood to yell, he was curious about why this silly Trap Master was in Klaus's room but he was too tired to pull out his super heavy Arc Edge! However, he didn't feel any dangerous aura from that punk. He was sure about it- although he didn't know why- that was why he let Mint quarrel with him.

He took a nice position leaning against the wall with folded hands before his chest. He only needed good shower, nice food, and comfortable rest. It was only 2 hours, but having a walk with overhyped Mint gave 6 hours effect. Maybe because it was the first day.

"Tchhh.. Stop calling my hairdo 'porcupine', you fool! I'm cool! My hairdo is cool! You ain't gonna know what cool stuffs are, Princess!" Narcius yelled back at Mint, emphasized on 'Princess'- he wasn't praising, he was mocking her instead. Rue sat on the floor against the wall staring the two quarreled like husband and wife, waiting faithfully for them to stop.

"Do you want to fight? Because I do want to punch your face with Blowup Rocks! That will shut your [expletive] mouth off and send you to hell! Now, tell me what you've done to Klaus and his family!" Mint pulled out her Dual Haloes from her back.

"BWAHA HA HA HA! Don't you realize, [expletive]? Man, you're as confident as ever! I'm the one who will beat the crap out of you! Hey, Dirty Mouth Princess, I'm surprised you're worried about them. Try me if you want to know! " Narcius playfully challenged the saucy girl. Alright, he was no serious at all. On the contrary, Mint supposed it as one serious challenge to fight. Town of Lacquer burnt up her emotion, that Mint in her angry state now was almost able to breathe fire, just like the old dragon friend Wylaf.

And...

"Ouch! Ouch! OUCH! Dammit, brat! Stop it! STOP AT ONCE!"

Mint didn't cast any spells, not Blowup Rocks nor Drop Ice spell, but she fervently hit him with her Dual Haloes- the worst thing, she MEANT it. Rue quickly got up and tried to pull Mint away from Narcius. An old man stucked his head out from a half-open door at the end of the aisle. He looked like melting candle due to lots of flabby wrinkles on his face.

"Hey, kyds! Stop makyng noyse here! Go fyght somewhere, all of you! Grrhh.." He shouted at those three wrestling teenagers, the voice was hoarse and high-pitched. Well, the old man didn't know whom he was talking to. Mint, at the time was choking Narcius, turned and showed typical gaze of a murderer. "You, oldie.. If you really love your life, go back to your room and stop COMPLAINING! You keep doing it, you're the NEXT after this porcupine!" She brought Narcius forward so that the innocent grandpa could see clearly Narcius' pale face with tongue weakly hanging out in the corner of his lips. He shuddered in horror and squeaked, immediately leaving them without saying a word.

Mint chuckled, "I bet he's hiding under the bed now.." She hadn't forgot about Narcius, though. Bursting in anger, she grabbed Narcius collar and scream right next to his right ear, "Who are you working for now! Eat this, moron! (POW!) Now, tell me and beg my forgiveness!"

"Pshhh..! No way! I ain't gonna tell or beg anything to you, [expletive]! Ouch! Man, this is bull! " Narcius never gave up on his pride.

"Mint, there's no use torturing him like this.. " Desperately, the human doll tried to tow her from Narcius. On the other hand, she didn't seem to listen. Maybe if she wanted to, it would be good for Narcius- he felt dizzy now.

"What you said? Here, here! Eat Mint's Super Fist! Eeaagghh-" She still made it to launch a new name for this final attack.

"What's happening here? Oh, my! Narcius! Mint! Rue?"

Middle-aged woman came out of the room and stopped the wrestling. It was a woman with pink hair, her hair was a little longer than the last time Rue saw her three months ago. She was wearing blue sleeveless turtle-neck shirt and baggy pants. It was Mira! And the important thing, she looked totally fine, not even a scratch. She was startled of how Mint tackled Narcius.

The three soon got their insanity back. They stood up in a row, bowing their heads like some naughty children who got caught doing crimes by their mother. Though Mira didn't think so. Instead of torturing their minds with hours of lecture, she'd rather stay quiet and smiled.

"Mira, what is this THING doing in your room? I thought he did something to all of you! " Mint complained with all of her efforts, once Mira asked the reason of the fight.

"THING? I'm no thing, MONSTER BRAT! Mira, look! I'm bruised!" Narcius punched Mint's arm. Mira really got a headache seeing them once they started to argue, except Rue- nah, who could ever be angry to a nice, polite, and calm dolly boy?

"Alright, alright.. Mint, I thought we all ever met Narcius in Carona Forest. I know, Mint, it wasn't a pleasant experience for all of us, "the mature woman quickly added the last sentence to prevent Mint from cutting her words with unstoppable complaints, "Klaus, Elena, and Prima were sleeping when you both came, so I had Narcius open the door, and-"

"Mira had you? Wow, are you a servant now? Hee-hee-hee-hee!" Mint let out an evil tehee, tried to reach Narcius's back from behind of Rue. Rue positioned himself between Mint and Narcius, exactly to diminish any chance of fight, then he realized these dirty-mouthed people would never stop even if The Great Wall of China separated them.

"Tch! Shut up!" Narcius pulled Mint's hair from the front of Rue. The awkward moment when Rue got trapped by their hands that passed from his hind and front. Rue rolled his eyes, showing a bored face. Didn't Mira ever thought about what kind of disaster would happen if she tried to mix two stubborn brats in a team?

Mira smiled motherly to the teenagers before her. "Exactly, Mint, Narcius is on our side now.. He's a part of our team."

"NOOOO! How did this disaster happen? " asked Mint with a high-pitched voice. Yes, she had declared it as disaster.

"I saved this family from monsters at the Carona Forest, you hear! See? Now I'm a hero!" Narcius put high-pride-tone in his voice. Mint slipped her tongue out to scold, "Hero? Funny, a Porcupine Hero.. You'll be infamous among babies-" she was cut when suddenly a shrieking voice bursted out of that room.

"Ruuuuueeee! Miiiiiinnntt! YOU'RE HEEREE! KYAAA, I miss you so much! " Elena, the pinkish-orange haired girl, jumped out of the room and hugged her favorite friends at once. She wore a pink shirt and creme short pants, so describing her personality. She looked as happy as 5 years old girl who found her long lost puppies. Narcius jumped aside, shunned himself from Elena and showed disgusting face. Since he joined this family, Elena and Prima were like his worst nightmare. They screamed, they smarted, they cried, they laughed, they played, they whined- everything they do made his head spin really fast.

"(Dang it, Elena.. You're killing me! Gasp..)O-okay, Elena.. I mm-miss y-you too.." Mint was severely choked.

"..." Rue couldn't breathe properly, he looked nervous and pale blue. 'Stop exaggerating, Elena.. Eggkkhh..'

"I really really really really really really miss you two! I thought I'd never see you again! Boo hoo hoo.. ('Geez, she came to my palace two weeks ago with Prima and Rod, and she's already missed me?' thought Mint) Oh, oh, have you seen 'Narcy' Narcius? He's our new shop assistant!" ("Hmph!" Mint held back her laugh) Elena let go of Rue, then grabbed Narcius who was skulking away, "We found him in the swamp of Carona Forest, got attacked by Pollywogs.. Poor Narcy.. He didn't have money to buy food and hadn't eaten for 3 days, so Mom and Dad helped him. Right, Narcy?~ " Elena told them everything she knew. Narcius's mouth hung opened, couldn't stop every fact that Elena blabbered about. Then, everyone, except Elena and Narcius, bursted in laughter. The old man from the end of the aisle came out of his room to see drastic change happening between Mint and Narcius, but when the spunky princess glared him, he quickly returned inside.

"Why do all of you laugh? Oh, I know! Narcy's hairdo is really funny! He looks like a cute porcupine! Cutie cutie Narcy..~" Elena pinched Narcius's cheeks happily. Narcius was speechless. His face was all red. He couldn't yell at Elena because besides her mother was there too, Elena was the one who carefully took care of him.

Mint nudged at the speechless Narcius and whispered, "You look cute with her.. Huh? Huh? What do you think?" Narcius gaped open, furiously whispered back, "You.. I'll rip your dirty mouth after this!"

Mira, still laughed a little, asked them to come into the room. "Alright, kids.. Come in before other guests feel disturbed by your laughs.." No Mira, if only you knew, one old man was praying to God to save his life from a demon-eyed teenage girl.

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So, after a good shower and some snacks, Klaus, Mira, Narcius, Rue, and Mint sat on an old and dusty carpet in the room. Prima and Elena was playing at the town, they didn't want to get involved in adults' business. Although Prima was around hundred years old, he still felt that he was a cute little boy.

The room was a little dark, just mere rusty simple candelier hung at the roof. There was a creaky double-seat sofa at the corner of the room, so lame and ugly. Mint bet that whoever sat on that sofa, that lucky person would collapse together with the sofa and suffer from fleas a day after.

"So, how are Mode Master and Psycho Master doing?" Mint started a conversation with Narcius whilst Klaus was still trying to find something in his suitcase.

Narcius gazed the ceiling, "Just call them Karwyn and Kirielle, Princess.. Well, Karwyn is working in East Heaven's library right now. I bet you don't know, huh, a lamehead like you visiting library- err.. (Mint glared him)" Narcius chuckled nervously, "I'm just kidding, Princess.. Oh, yea. Kirielle opens fashion boutique in a city, in another kingdom." The faces of his fellows appeared in his mind, somehow he missed working with them. Unlike them who finally did what they wanted, Narcius was stucked babysitting Prima and Elena. He got no ability to get a job easily or build a business of him. Ever tried working at the dock by moving the chests, but that sucked since he barely got enough money to buy foods. He was once accepted to be cleaning staff in Carona Hotel, unfortunately he yelled at a guest and got fired. At the tavern, he washed dishes, no, he dropped a pile of dishes until Annette forced him to work free of charge.

Klaus finally found something, then took out a dingy paper roll- Mint guessed it was ancient script. He held it carefully, to avoid the possibility of squishing that to dusts- old papers are always prone to minor damage.

"I got this from my close friend, Roger, may God always bless his soul in heaven. He gave it to me before he died, he was suffering a serious disease. Roger's son wasn't interested in [relics], that's why he trusted me to do research or even to find this [relic].." Klaus showed a sad face, Mira comforted him by laying her hand on his shoulder. Klaus met Roger at ancient materials exploration, since then they did the ancient script and treasure hunt together until Roger married his wife. But still, nothing could ever erase Klaus's memory about his old friend. Roger's death was predictable since he had been suffering from the disease for years, that didn't mean Klaus wouldn't feel terrible.

"His son must be a moron for ignoring [relic], " Mint whispered to Rue. Rue raised his shoulders, didn't comment anything.

"The [relic] is called [Relic] of Elements here. As Prima had told you, it's Valen's. And this paper is Valen's letter to his mysterious apprentice or doll- I still don't have any idea who this person was- to guard this [relic]," Klaus began opening the roll gently. Wisely he cleared throat before reading it out loud.

"My dear Applesweet, when you read this letter, maybe my friends have caught and killed me. Athenacius was suspicious about my experiments in Western Desert, I'm afraid he would find where I hid 'it'. Fortunately, I could seal my lovely Dewprism until your friends come to resurrect me someday. I order you to take care of 'it', my sweetest Applesweet, and do whatever you can to create the Dolls of Valen, I left some fragments of Dewprism to work them on. I trust you, my Applesweet, you are the best I ever had. Yours, Valen."

Klaus ended reading the letter with a tensed face. Exactly, all faces in the room were tensed, even Narcius who once on Valen's revival side when he served for Ruecian. Especially Rue, he loathed Valen and his fate as one of Dolls of Valen more than everything in this world.

"Man, I think Applesweet naming was a joke!" Narcius commented, he was folding his arms before his chest.

"No, it's not a name.. " Rue replied plainly. Everybody looked at him curiously. Mint almost touched Rue's left cheek with her nose tip for staring him too close, she was damn curious. Rue felt her breath on his face, his cheeks blushed a little.

"M-Mint, don't sit too close.." Rue squeaked. He was nervous.

"Oops.. Sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry sorry!" Mint looked as red as Rue. Then, everybody was staring at them. Situation was awkward for Rue and Mint.

"Puh-leaassee! Don't bring your love life here, brats! Psshhh.. This is discussion about [relic]!" Narcius talked out of the silence.

"WHAT? NO! SHUT UP! " Mint and Rue yelled together. Narcius was startled. 'Tch.. They are surely a couple,' said Narcius in his mind, a little puzzled.

"So, why do you think so, Rue?" asked Klaus. His right hand shifted his glasses to the right place. "W-what? Mint and I are only friends.. Mint! Say something.." said Rue nervously. Mint nodded her head rapidly, convincing the others. She was too ashamed to say a word.

Klaus, Mira, and Narcius gazed at each other before suddenly bursted in laughter. Rue and Mint looked each other, confused. "W-what? Don't you guys trust us?" Rue mumbled desperately. Mint had already covered her face in maximal frustration and embarrassment with two hands.

"Rue, we trust every alphabet of your words. But, what Klaus meant was how you could be so sure about Applesweet name.. That's all.." Mira explained in a motherly tone. Narcius couldn't stop laughing, he held his stomach and keep laughing.

"BWAHA HA HA HA! You two amuse-Ouch!" Narcius couldn't continue his sentence. Mint's backpack flew to his face before he could do anything about it. "Shut up, Porcupine. You sure are lucky because I didn't throw you with Arc Edge!" Mint tried to hold back her expletive words. Her eyes were fierce and her cheeks blushed heavily.

"I mean, Narcius is right.. Um.." Rue stopped because Mint looked at him sternly, "I-I mean- not about that, Mint, ugh- that Applesweet naming is a joke. Maybe it was a codename given by Valen. I don't think this Applesweet person was a doll. Ruecian and Ruenis called me Brother, but Valen called the dolls as this person's friends. The biggest possibility is that Applesweet was an apprentice of Valen. The MOST trusted apprentice.."

Klaus nodded while his hand gripped his chin. He considered Rue's theory and agreed about it. "Rumours said that Valen had a lot of apprentices, but all of them-except one person-betrayed him. Athenacius and friends were probably behind this betrayal. But, actually they were afraid of Valen's evil ambition and the creation of Dewprism. I think, Applesweet was that loyal apprentice.."

Everybody in that room agreed.

"This is ridiculous! How could those apprentices leave such a precious [relic] like that? " Mint blamed Valen's apprentices.

"No, Mint. It was not about that, it was about Valen. Valen's ambition was to rule the world by himself- alone! They were afraid they were nothing but the tools. Used tools will be destroyed into pieces.." said Rue, his voice was a mix of hatred, sadness, and anger.

"Rue.. We understand," Klaus nodded, followed by Mira. Rue smiled to them, including Narcius. Narcius was surprised but he knew that he shouldn't protest that smile. Rue always considered Klaus and Mira as his parents. Maybe Valen as the creator called him 'son', but that evil magician was no father to him. Elena and Prima could be really annoying many times, but they were almost like his sister and brother. And Mint, she was bossy and impolite, but she was his bestfriend and best partner.

"So, do you have a plan what we're gonna do?" Mint asked Klaus. Her eyes fulfilled by spirit. Klaus smiled, he glanced someone besides who was ever full spirit like Mint.

"Unfortunately, no. I have no idea about what to do first. I mean, I don't even know about this town.. I don't know where to start." Klaus scratched his head which was full of confusion. Mint sighed, she thought this would be easy. Finding Dewprism was tough, but they had all the clues they needed. [Relic] of Elements was too mysterious, nobody talked about it, and the only clue they had was a piece of stinky paper!

"Ruenis said something about Ephlesia City.. Maybe we should go there, " Rue talked to everyone in the room. Klaus shooked his head.

"Nobody knows where Ephlesia City is.."

Mint and Rue looked each other worrily. That was really confusing. If folks of Lacquer didn't know, it'd be almost impossible for strangers like them to know better.

"But, Ruenis was really certain about Ephlesia City.. He can't be wrong.. " Rue couldn't hide the disappointment.

Klaus chuckled, "Oh, I don't mean there is nothing such as Ephlesia City. The [relic] is indeed in Ephlesia City, Rue. But, magic had sealed that place hundreds of years ago, preventing everybody to reach that place. It's almost like Atlantis, it was there, it's still there, but nobody could go there.." Klaus got up and walked to Rue who was completely puzzled, "Cheer up, Rue. We still have plenty chances.. I'm sure, we can work together and find it.. Um, I wonder why you are so determined. Is Claire alright?"

Rue shooked his head and smiled, "Claire is fine, this got nothing to do with her. I'm just afraid that Valen is trying again to come back by using this [relic]. I don't know for sure, but what if-"

"If it's true, then we'll kick his stinky ass and send him to the deepest hell for good!" Mint clenched her fist right before Rue's eyes. Rue was startled but soon regained his mind. He kept quiet for a while until...

"Thank you, Mint. You are the best partner.." Rue smiled frankly. Mint couldn't help it and she stuttered all of a sudden.

"R-r-r-r-re-a-a-a-ll-y-y?" Everybody was staring at them, for the second time this day. Narcius shooked his head, disgusted.

Narcius shouted, "Hey, you two! Go get a room! Not another romantic scene, man!"

Rue and Mint yelled back, "SHUT UP, NARCIUS!"

"See? See? They yell together! What a couple!" Narcius laughed at them.

"Alright! I think, tomorrow we'll try to find some informations about anything related to magic from townfolks.. Rue, Mint, you're tired. Go to sleep, just relax and have a good dream tonight before we have no more time even to sleep. I have a feeling that this journey will be really really complicated and hard, " Klaus finally decided what they were going to do the next day.

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Awriitee.. First, I want to say thanks to ReLiC AnGeL! Thank you thank you thank you! ^^ I will try to complete my fanfiction, so keep reading, okay?

Everybody, please review my story.. I really appreciate every single word from you.. =D See you in the next chapter! ~SassyRabbit