Chapter 3 Pledge
It was morning and the whole unit is ready to set out for their first hunting. They reached the fields of angry giants, where Gigantus will appear rare and the fields where some huntable animal located.
Ashton and the army hide at the bushes and wait for their prey to settle down. A family of Kacheek, where a species of animal that looks like and elephant but without a huge pair of ears and trunk.
"We'll slowly approach, then we charge and attack." Ashton whisper to his three comrade.
They slowly walk over the bushes and the Kacheek in front of them is chewing the grass as if nothing will be happen. They'll never knew they'll be food soon.
"3...2...Now!" The whole unit started to attack and the Kacheek was alarmed and start to run away, but with the huge body of his, they can barely run fast.
The Patapons chase after it as they keep attacking their 'food'. Soon, the whole family of Kacheek fallen and the Patapon happily bring the food to their hideout and feast.
"Yay food!"
"Feast feast!"
"Party!"
The three seems happy but Ashton just wondering how can he fight over his enemies with him alone. He don't even know his enemies status and who the heck they are. Some more he doesn't know anything about the seven Archfiends.
Ashton quietly leave the barrack and went into the fields all by himself. He sat on a rock cliff where he can see the scene of the fields.
'How am I suppose to win the war? I can barely hunt and hit a critical. Add on with these low ranking spear. How to fight?'
*sigh*
"You just like to have your personal time and sitting alone doubting yourselves aren't you?"
Phelium came and sit beside him, again.
"How come you always find me when I'm alone?"
"Because you always sit alone and start to depress."
"Let it be. I am what I am thinking."
"Then what is the thing you're thinking? Weak? Unable to fight back? Barely can hunt? Rusted or low rank spear? Weak comrades? You haven't start the journey and you're already doubting yourself and your comrades."
"..."
" *sigh* Ashton, I know the journey is hard, but you can't give up just because you're weak. Everyone has different abilities and weaknesses."
"Maybe my weakness is that I like to doubt myself."
"So are you going to let it continue to grow in you? Do you seek help when you're ill or you let it destroy your body?"
"..."
"Look Ashton."
Ashton lifted his head up and saw far below there's a new born Mochichi just started to learn how to walk. The bird stood up, try to balance itself but fell down. It open it's eyes and saw a butterfly and it's curiosity started. It chase the butterfly but whenever it stands and walk, it'll falls. Although it hurts a little but it didn't stop the bird from getting a closer look to the flying creature it's chasing.
"Ashton, are you going to be like the Mochichi who let its curiosity drive him not to give up, or you're gonna know yourself fall down and hurt and give up?"
"...Alright, I get it."
Ashton took a deep breath and relaxed.
"No matter how weak I am, I have to do it, isn't it?"
"To do or not to do, that is your choice."
"Alright, I'll do it."
"Seems I'm able to convince you to swear."
"Swear what?"
"To take Uberheroes pledge. You have to swear that no matter what happen you'll help the Patapon to claim back what is theirs and do what is right. Here."
Phelium took out a scroll from his cloak and hand over to Ashton.
Ashton opened and read in silence.
'The Patapon is in danger. I take the-"
"If you take it, read it out loud so that I can witness it."
Phelium didn't look at him but enjoy the great scene in front of him. Ashton turn to Phelium and look back to the scroll. Full of questions swimming in his mind.
"..."
"If you don't want to, it's okay. I won't force you and you may leave any time. You have the right to choose."
Ashton silence for a while and he stood up, holding the scroll in his hand opening wide and face to Phelium. Before he do or talk, Phelium smirk as he know what is the choice Ashton has made.
Ashton started to read it out loud,
"The Patapon is in need. I take the place as an Ubehero, so that I may guide them to their rightful destiny.
As it has been time and time before, I brandish the holy drum and will use it only for good, to help the Patapons save this endangered world.
Whatever challenges may await us, whatever danger may befall us, I shall call upon allies from parallel worlds,and never abandon the fight.
This is my pledge."
The word on the scroll glow in red and there's a spear mark marked on his scarf. The scroll has burned on it's own and ashes blew away by the wind.
"Good, I see that you're prepared."
"Sort of."
"Wanna fight a round?"
"Huh?"
"Yarida based right? If you don't know how to handle your spear right, how could you fight? Go get the weapons and I'll challenge you a round."
"What if I win?"
"I you win, I'll give you a prize. BUT, if I win, you have to clean up wherever there's a meal or feast. Deal?"
"I'll go get the weapons."
"I'll take that as a yes. I'll wait you here."
Ashton came back with two spear in his hands. Both critical spear.
Phelium took one and tell him the rules and the instruction.
"This is how it works, whenever one falls consider lose. The winner gain one score. In one day,the highest scorer wins. As long as your back touch the ground for more than 3 seconds or your weapon leave your hand more than 3 seconds, you consider lose."
"Let's get it start then."
"As you wish, starting we will put the spears in the middle and when start both of us will grab the spear we want and fight. But today is the first time, we'll only play one round. And since it's the same spear, we'll just start the 'game' then. Ready?"
"Ready."
"On my count, 3..."
Ashton held his spear tightly.
"2..."
"Go."
Ashton charge towards Phelium but Phelium only dodge and lift his spear up as Ashton jumped and swing his spear to Phelium. It blocked and Phelium swing his spear above Ashton but Ashton manage to duck it.
Both of their spear clash again each other while Ashton trying to attack and Phelium's blocking all his attacks. Phelium used a hand to grab Ashton's spear and swing him to the other side. Ashton manage not to fall with his back and land on his hands and feet. There's a distance created in between him and Phelium. Phelium rested his spear on his shoulder while Ashton trying to catch his breath after all the stamina used on attacking.
"Com'on Ashton, show me what you have."
"You'll see."
Ashton jump high and raised his spear above his head and clash against Phelium spear, blocking him, and push him backward. Phelium jump backward and Ashton just jump toward him and clashes his spear with Phelium.
"Why wouldn't you attack?"
Ashton asked as he keep trying his best to get his spear on Phelium while his mentor easily blocked his movement.
"Because,"
Phelium blocked and in a movement, he swing his spear and easily knock the spear off Ashton's hand without hurting him. The spear fly backwards and stick to the ground.
"If I attack, you would have lose."
" *sigh* Guess I lose, this round."
"Yup, we had a deal did we?"
"Deal is a deal. Let's go back."
"Happy cleaning~"
They went back to the barrack and Phelium speak in a loud voice,
"Everyone! Good news,"
Phelium took Ashton's scarf and show them the spear mark.
"He took the Uberheroes' Pledge."
Ton,Chin and Kan happily run toward Ashton and carried him up and throw him up.
"Yay!"
"We have a Hero by our side!"
"The world have hope!"
"CHEERS!"
Phelium could only sit aside and see four of them happily celebrate with the Yarida. Hoshipon flew beside him and says,
"It's seems you're the only one who can handle him."
"That's why you come and find me, isn't it?"
Hoshipon could only chuckle in his statement.
"Yeah, you're right."
"I knew him so long but I feel kinda sad that he forgets me. It takes a very long time to build and it's gone within a day."
Phelium's smile turned into a opposite one. His heart feels like a rock smash into it and crushed when he think of his long close partner forgets him and everything they went through.
"I know how it feels Phelium, there's something you can't change. What has happen is already happen, just let it be then."
"Too bad, it's already happened. If only I've put a little more effort, everything could be 180 degree upside down. Almost everyday I ask for his forgiveness. Without him, this world wouldn't have the first miracle."
"Forgiveness means letting go of the past. Do not dwell in the past, do not dream of the future, concentrate the mind on the present moment, for you need to focus on what happening right now and make sure the events in past won't happen again this time."
"...Yeah you're right. I never thought I'll be council by an old star, haha."
"Old doesn't mean anything, knowledge and wise is the important one."
"Thanks."
Phelium again sits beside the pond and skipping stones.
Right until he heard footsteps behind him,
"I never knew your depression is more serious than me,"
He turn and look, it was Ashton. He was shocked to see him here and started to feel warm in his heart as he was glad that Ashton found this place. They could build up a new bonding together as partner again in this place as their private chat room.
"Shock huh?" Phelium said and could only smile a little while Ashton sat beside him.
"Miracles huh?" Ashton asked.
Phelium chuckled.
"Yeah, miracles."
"They say miracles are past."
"...It's true, I won't deny that."
"So, what happened?"
"Huh?"
"The past, mind to share?"
"Why you want to know?"
"You know, like the Mochichi today, curiosity."
"Drives you to know more about me huh?"
"You can say that."
"...Previously, I told you there are four Uberheroes that sealed the Seven Archfiends right?"
"Yeah, and you say I'm one of them."
"True...and one died,"
"..."
"It's also true."
It was the first time for Ashton to see Phelium feeling sad and depressed. He could never think that the Phelium he saw previously could be in this mood.
Phelium continued,
"He is another Yumiyacha. But he's a Pingrek."
"Pingrek?"
"Pingrek is a class where one uses staff to heal and guard, high ranked Pingrek may strengthen the whole unit. It's consider dangerous because firstly it may cause a lots of negative effects, secondly it can cause one's health lowered. It's body is weak and defense is low."
Ashton nodded his head as understanding the explanation.
"In the great war, the four heroes and the other Patapons fight and almost came to an end to win but suddenly they awaken the seven beast and the whole results just went opposite."
Phelium took a deep breath and continued on.
"While the whole team trying to protect the Pingrek, you and the other two fallen. The fourth Uberhero knew with his strength he won't do much on attacking."
"So..."
"So he sacrifice himself to heal and strengthen the whole unit."
"... I see."
"I know you don't remember it, it's okay you don't have to force-"
"What's his name?"
"huh?"
"The Pingrek Uberhero, what's his name?"
"...Jade."
"Well at least I don't remember his face or attitude, but at least I want to remember his name."
"Haha... I think he'll be happy to heard this."
Phelium pick up a stone and throw, it skipped and hit on the pillar.
"H-How you did it?"
Ashton was amazed about his accuracy.
"Erm... correct angle and force. You wanna try?"
Phelium hand him a stone that pick up rom the floor.
Ashton tried but it straight sink to the bottom.
"You need to throw from side, not above the head, try again."
Ashton swing his hand from the side and throw the rock, it skipped once and sank.
"It work!"
"Not bad for second attempt."
"You always came here to skip stones?"
"Kinda."
"I guess it takes time to do it well."
"Everything takes time Ashton. It's only depends on you whether to use time to do it."
"Any plan for tomorrow?"
"Same, the deal we had. It gonna be a little serious this time."
"I'll try my best."
"Good."
"Not only in that but I swear that I'll do all I can to strengthen the Patapons and myself for the coming war. I can't let the same thing happen around the people besides me, although I forget the situation during that time, but I'm glad I forgotten."
"Jade will be worry like hell if he's still alive right now. He never stop worrying but somehow he manage to calm him self."
"I hope I can do that."
"What do you mean?"
"Everyone have problems isn't? Everyone have a past, some may forgotten, like me, some may remember it. No matter how they still have to solve it, about how to solve it's depends on the mind set and perspective. Jade have the courage to overcome himself, although he was very worried. He was able to put his life and everything onto his comrades' hand."
"He's a joyful one. Having a joyful and positive mindset is good."
"It's not easy to have one. To be able to put down something so important onto someone you're able to trust."
"Means you have to learn it."
"Yeah yeah, whatever."
The conversation pause and the sound of dripping water calmed their hearts and thoughts, right until Phelium asked.
"So, you able to trust them?"
"... I have to convince myself. They trust me with their lives and I have to trust that they'll fight with me till the end."
"It takes faith then."
"Yeah, a faith that are able to bring the Earth back to life."
Both of them smiled.
Once again thank you guys for reading. :D
Do review because I don't know if something went very wrong or what. :|
