The Protagonist
By. Jaroberts251
Chapter seven: FOUR HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE
Hey everybody this is your boy, Jaroberts251, and I'm here to bring you the newest chapter of my trilogy, 'The Protagonist', and I like to say in this chapter our heroes will be going through some difficult team building exercise set-up by Spirit Guardian, so y'all will see how our heroes work as a team, while they use all their smarts, strength, and friendship to pass the test. Now let's move on to the story...
Spirit Guardian had just decided that she'll be training our four heroes to help them become a real team in order for them to be able to defeat a great new threat called, The Antagonist alliance, made of the four most powerful enemies they've ever faced in their lives.
"If you, children are willing to take the task please allow me to test your abilities with some kind of test." Spirit Guardian said.
The boys looked towards one another and Finn asked, "are you guys alright with a test right off the bat?"
"I hate surprise test." Wirt wined a bit.
"Same goes for me, but if it'll help then we have no choice." Dipper said willing to try.
"If Dipper's in then I'm in too." Steven stated.
"Don't worry guys I can handle it if we have to fight or need strength." Finn said wanting to take one for the team
With that the three turned to Wirt to see if he'll change his mind. "What about you Wirt?" Dipper asked.
"Hmm, I still don't know." Wirt replied.
"Come on man, what's the worst that can happen?" Finn asked.
"Death or a lot of horrible pain." Wirt answered.
"Don't worry if we help each other we can pass this test with ease and none of won't die. Besides if anyone of us get injured I can heal you guys." Steven said telling Wirt there is nothing to fear.
"Woah you can heal people, is that true?" Wirt asked.
"Yeah it true and I can vouch for him and also Steven is really good for defense." Dipper implied, trying to help Steven out.
"See with that extra boost nothing can get in our way." Finn stated.
"If you guys have a lot of faith in this I have no choice, but to accept to and try my best to help." Wirt stated.
With that said, Steven turned towards Spirit Guardian and said, "alright we accept your test."
"Just as I predicted, the first test will be to bring me a leaf from the tallest tree that touches the clouds." Spirit Guardian explained.
"But how do we find this tallest tree?" Dipper asked.
"Follow your heart and it will lead y'all towards the right path and then find where the winds feels weak." Spirit Guardian replied.
"That doesn't make sense." Wirt complained.
"It's a riddle and we have to try and figure it out, isn't that right your Guardian Spiritness?" Finn asked.
"That is correct my child this riddle was your first hint and now on word to your first test. Once completed meet me back here towards the second test." Spirit Guardian explained.
"Sure thing we'll be on our way." Steven said. "Let's go you guys." He added taking off walking into the woods.
"Right Steven." The others replied, following behind Steven.
With that the boys were off as they went into the forest for the thing they were sent to receive by Spirit Guardian. The four of them walked through the forest as they each kept their eyes out for the tallest tree that could touch the clouds.
They all continued to search for about an hour as they search each thing they could possibly taken for the tree turned out to be mislead leading.
"Ugh, Steven how long have we been searching?" Wirt complained.
Steven pulled out his phone as he checked the time and said, "well it's 7:38 so we've been searching for about an hour or two."
"Okay that it I give up." Wirt said, stopping and sitting down on the ground.
"Hey don't give up, Wirt we got to find that tree." Steven replied.
"Guys we've searching for that tree for about two hours and thirty-eight minutes and we haven't been able to locate it, so for all we know this tree that so high that it could the clouds couldn't even exist and Spirit Guardian only do this to annoy us." Wirt stated.
"Come on Wirt, why would she agree to teach us to be a good team if she just trying to annoy us that doesn't make any sense." Finn replied.
"Well I don't know about you guys, but I think we should head back and see if we can get out of these whole team building thing and see if we can just go after the Antagonist Alliance before they get any stronger." Wirt said.
"I don't know Wirt because Spirit Guardian said that they already stronger than they once were when they were solo, but I think we should stick with Spirit Guardian's training path because I think we need to learn how to watch each other back or else will be destroyed and if that happens I don't even think that they would nice enough to give us proper graves." Steven replied.
"If that what y'all think then y'all can continue to waste your time on your own, while I stay here." Wirt said, still sitting
"Come on Wirt, you took a vow that you would travel along side us." Dipper said.
"Yeah I agreed to travel along with y'all in hope to put an end to this, but this training doesn't count so technically I'm not breaking my vow." Wirt replied.
With that Steven, Dipper, and Finn gather into a group huddle as they began to have a private discussion about their situation.
"Okay guys what are we going to do?" Steven asked.
"I don't know, but we got to think of something because I think we won't be able to pass this test without him." Dipper replied.
"Since we don't have any of options, I think no other choice, but to grab him by his feet and drag him along." Finn suggested.
"Finn. We can't do that to Wirt because he is our friends and friends should never force friends into doing something they don't want to do." Steven replied. "And besides I think I got an idea on how to get him to move." He added.
"Okay Steven, what's your idea?" Finn asked.
"Just follow my lead on this and I'll show you." Steven said.
Next, the three of them separated them from their huddle as they turned their attention towards Wirt, who was still sitting on the ground.
"What? Why are y'all looking at me? Wirt asked.
"You see Wirt, me and the guys been thinking and we decided that maybe that you're right, that this whole thing could be just a trick and we think we should just get out of this whole thing." Steven said.
"Yeah we did." Dipper agreed.
"Hmph, we totally did and you were right Wirt." Finn added.
Hearing that, Wirt got up from the ground as he said, "finally y'all came to your sense now come on let's go because this is enough wasting our time."
"Hang on a minute before we do go I think we should do one last check just to be sure." Steven replied.
"Uhh why, we already discovered that this whole thing is a trick so why waste even more time?" Wirt groaned.
"Just to be sure because it always better to be safe than sorry." Steven replied.
"Fine, but just one last search, deal." Wirt said.
"Deal." Steven agreed.
After that deal was struck, Steven turned away from Wirt as he began thinking about what to do.
'Okay like Spirit Guardian said to follow your heart and it will lead you to what you're looking for.' Steven thought.
Steven closed his eyes and placed a hand his heart as he began to listen it for the answers. Next, like he wasn't in control of his body, Steven summoned his pink shield and launched like a frisbee into the forest.
"Okay Steven, what was that all about?" Dipper asked.
"Umm, actually Dipper I don't know myself all I did was listen to my heart to find the way." Steven replied.
"Well maybe it trying to tell you something try launching another." Dipper said.
"Alright." Steven replied.
With that Steven listen to his heart once again and just like before something took over Steven causing him to summon his shield and launching it into the same direction as the first shield.
"It went in the same direction as first one." Finn said. "Hey Steven, I think your heart is trying to tell us to go that way." He added.
"Thanks Finn, but I kinda figured that out the moment the second shield went in the same direction as the first one." Steven replied.
"Oh uhh okay cool." Finn said now blushing embarrass.
"Well let's go see where it went." Steven instructed.
"Alright." Dipper and Finn agreed.
The three boys took off in the direction of Steven's two shields as they were walking off Wirt gave off one last sigh then began walking after them.
(Five minutes later...)
The four boys continued to walk through the forest until they arrived at wield open field with a hill that held very enormous tree that went very high in the sky that they couldn't see the top.
"Man look how high that tree is." Steven said amazed by the tree.
"It way bigger than my treehouse that I live in back in Ooo." Finn added also amazed.
"Yeah it's pretty big, but how are we sure that this is the tree we're looking for?" Dipper asked.
Steven walked up the hill to the tree where he found two marks on that appears to be made by his shield.
"Guys, look I found two marks that were left by my both of my shields." He pointed out.
The three of them joined him and saw the marks that were forced into the tree by the shields.
"Awesome we found it then." Finn said.
"I guess it actually did exist." Wirt implied.
"You see why I said it better to be safe than sorry, now let's get to work." Steven said.
"Okay, but how do go about getting the leaf?" Wirt asked.
"Good question." Steven replied, trying to think of something.
"That an easy one let's climb this tree and get that leaf." Finn said ready to start.
"Climbing...but I wasn't the best rope climber in gym." Wirt said softly to himself.
"Guess you're right Finn, but I think you and Steven should handle this because Wirt and I don't look like we'll be able to keep up with y'all." Dipper stated.
"You're not giving your giving yourself enough credit Dipper, we managed to save our world like twice and stopped two of the Antagonist alliance members." Steven said wanting Dipper to have more faith in himself.
"Yeah I guess you're right Steven, if we can do that then we can obviously be able to climb this tree and get that leaf." Said Dipper now getting pumped to do the task.
"I guess I'll stay down here and watch you guys." Said Wirt.
Finn placed his hand on Wirt's shoulder, "This has to be done with all of us so no man should be left out or left behind." He said.
"Okay I'll go, but I'm not sure about this." Wirt replied.
"Don't worry you'll be fine." Finn said, then giving Wirt a smile of secure.
With that the four boys went on to do their mission as they began climbing the tree with Finn going first, Steven coming up second, Dipper following in third, and Wirt taking in a deep breath before heading up last.
The four them continued to climb the tree for a few minutes until they reach a large branch, where they decided to stop and take a break from climbing.
"Okay is everybody alright?" Steven asked.
"I okay just a little tired." Dipper said.
"Well tired from climbing and I'm also I lasted this long." Wirt added.
"Yeah I'm tired to climbing this tree reminds me of that I had to climb a tree to get my Frisbee, but that was way worst then this." Finn implied.
"Really what happen?" Wirt asked curious.
"As I was climbing I stopped to catch a break, when this talking squirrel came to talk to me, then he made me a curse apple causing me shrink down making my climbing for my Frisbee even longer. Next, I met a cult of talking animals that was trying to stop me for some reason I didn't know. Then they capture me and held me as prisoner for about a couple hours, but I talked the squirrel that caused me to shrink with the apple to break me out so we can escape to together and he agreed too, so we got my Frisbee and then we escaped." Finn explained.
"Man that sound pretty crazy and that all happened in just one day." Wirt said.
"Yep." Finn replied.
"That sounds crazy even for me, so Finn when we get out of this dimension can you remind me to come visit your home of Ooo." Dipper said.
"Yeah can you remind me too Finn because I would like to see it as well." Steven agreed.
"I might as well come along as well to so I can see what a non-normal world that full adventure would looks like." Wirt added.
"Sure thing y'all are all invited to come to my world, but after I show you my world I would like for y'all to show me y'all worlds." Finn said.
"You got it I would be delighted to show y'all around Beach city and other place." Steven agreed.
"I can show you all the mysteries of Gravity falls, that nobody except me, my sister, Steven, and my Grunkle Stans know about them." Dipper added.
"I could show you my world, but I don't think you'll probably like because it won't be as exciting as your world." Wirt said.
"Wirt I won't care about that and besides I always wanted to see a world, where there are more humans living there anyway." Finn replied.
"Alright I'll show you around my world, but in order to do that we've got to be able to escape this dimension first." Wirt said.
"No problem we'll be able to escape, but first we need to complete this task first." Finn replied.
"By the looks of it I don't think we'll have to go any longer." Steven said.
"Why you say that Steven?" Finn asked.
"Just look up there." Steven pointed.
Finn, Wirt, and Dipper all looked up in the direction of where Steven was pointing as they soon saw a branch full of leaves.
"Awesome we almost done good eye Steven, but how can we get it?" Wirt said.
"I can just climb up and retrieve one." Finn suggested.
"That a good idea Finn, but if we go with that it won't be a team training exercise and it would be more like you doing all the work, while we just watched so we're going to need another idea that will work for all of us." Steven said, then began thinking. "I got it." He stated.
Dipper, Finn, and Wirt all looked at him and Dipper asked, "what did you think of Steven?"
"Okay what if we form a human tower to get the leaf that way none of us get left out." Steven said.
"A human tower that also a good idea, but what if the person at the bottom accidently slips and the entire tower goes falling off the tree." Dipper pointed out.
"Yeah I got to agree with Dipper on that." Wirt agreed.
"It won't happen if we choice the right person for the job to be the balancer." Steven said.
"I'm with Steven, if we manage to choice the right person, then everything will be okay and besides I don't you two brainy acts coming up with any ideas." Finn added.
"Well that because were find with your idea Finn." Wirt said.
Dipper nodded his head in agreement.
"Alright well I'm not doing my idea anymore, so Steven's idea is the only thing we can do to accomplish this mission and we gonna have to do it." Finn said.
Wirt groaned, "ahh, fine let's get going."
"Yeah Steven. Who goes where?" Finn asked.
"Well the strongest should be on the bottom so that should be Finn, next Wirt, then me, and finally Dipper should be on top." Steven said. "So are y'all going to be okay with that?" He asked.
"Yeah I'm cool with that." Finn replied.
"Alright I can handle that." Wirt agreed.
"It only obvious that we go in that order." Dipper added.
"Okay good, then let's get into position." Steven said.
With that the four of them got to where they supposed to be; Finn kneed down allowing Wirt to get on his shoulder, next Steven climbed on top Wirt's shoulders, and last Dipper climbed on top of Steven's shoulders. After they were all in place Finn used the strength that he could conjure in his leg to stand up as he left the three of them high up.
"Okay Dipper try to get reach for the leaf." Steven said.
"Alright Steven I'll try to get it." Dipper replied.
Next, Dipper made some attempts to grabbed the leaf. The first time, he reach for but unfortunately his arm wasn't long enough to get it. His second attempt Dipper tried to stretch his arm out even longer and he realized he was still a few feet away from the leaf. Then an imaginary light bulb appeared over Dipper's head as he began to have an idea.
"Hey guys I can't reached the leaf but I got an idea how to get." Dipper said to the gang.
"What is it Dipper?" Steven asked.
"It risky, but I think Finn should start hopping up and down, so I can get more chance of getting it." Dipper said.
"I'm sure about that Dipper." Steven replied.
"Yeah Dipper that a crazy idea and it also dangerous at this height." Wirt said.
"I know Dipper, your idea is so crazy that it just might work." Finn said.
"Wait what? Finn, you're not actually thinking about doing it are you?" Wirt asked.
"Sorry Wirt, but I think we should do it no matter the risk." Finn replied.
"Okay Finn now start hopping as high as you possible can." Dipper said.
"Sure thing Dipper." Finn replied.
"Hold on because I don't think I'm comfortable with-" Wirt said, but got interrupted by Finn starting to hop
Finn was hopping up and down on the tree branch a high as he could to give the group as much attitude as possible. As Finn continued to hop, Dipper continued to make reach for the leaf, but each attempt he was getting a little closer and it ended in him not being close enough. Then after one more jump Dipper was able to touch the tip of the leaf.
"Guys I was able to touch the tip of the leaf just one more jump and I'll have the leaf." Dipper stated.
"Okay dude." Finn replied.
Next, Finn jumped once more and this time Dipper was able grabbed the leaf.
"I got the leaf- woo." Dipper started but interrupted that Finn was losing his balance and the human ladder start to shift from side to side.
"I told you this could be dangerous." Wirt said as they continued to shift back and forth.
"Whoo- don't worry I got it." Finn replied.
Finn managed to regain his balance of the human tower as he stood up and said, "alright I think I got it together now." Next suddenly there was a loud cracking sound noise that caught everybody attention.
"Uhh, what was that?" Wirt asked.
Finn looked down to see that the there was a crack in the branch and that they were on the side of the branch that about to break off.
"Umm, guys." Finn said.
"Yeah Finn." The three of them replied.
"Brace yourselves." Finn said.
"Why you say that Fin-?" Steven started, but got interrupted by the entire branch snapping off and the four began falling to ground.
"AHHHHHH!" They all screamed.
As they all scream continued to fall Steven got an idea.
"Hey guys I got a plan on how to survive this fall." He said.
"Then what are you waiting for do it already!" Wirt yelled.
"Okay just hold on tight to me." Steven ordered.
Finn, Dipper, and Wirt did as they were told and on Steven as tight as they could. When seeing hold on, Steven started to concentrate, next Steven's gem started to glow as a pink light surrounded the four boys placing them inside the a large pink bubble. The bubble hit the ground hard form a small creator in the ground. Next, the bubble popped to reveal all four boys sitting on the ground as the they still onto Steven.
"Are you guys okay?" Steven asked.
Finn, Dipper, and Wirt, all looked around as they began to check to see if they're okay.
"Besides see my whole life flashing before my eyes in less than ten seconds, yeah I think that I'm okay." Wirt replied.
"Yeah I'm okay." Finn said.
"I'm good too." Dipper said. "Nice job surrounding us in that bubble Steven." He complemented.
"No problem." Steven replied.
"You summoned that bubble?" Finn asked.
"Yeah I did it kind of like one of the many powers that I told you that I have." Steven said.
"Well that an very cool power you have Steven." Finn said.
"Thanks Finn." Steven replied.
"Alright I know Steven's powers is cool and all, but don't forget that we're on a mission, so who got the leaf?" Wirt asked.
"Don't worry I got the leaf." Dipper said.
Dipper pulled out the leaf out of his pocket and the gang started to look at it as they looked at it they notice it was an Autumn orange color with the shape looking like the leaf was from the Canadian flag.
"Okay we got the leaf now let's go back to Spirit Guardian, so we can finish the mission already." Wirt said.
"Right." They agreed.
With that the four of them got up and took off running back where they left Spirit Guardian. Once they made it back to their campsite they found Spirit Guardian hovering in the air as she was mediating.
"Spirit Guardian, we're back." Steven called out.
"Y'all back so soon just as I predicted, did y'all retrieve the leaf from the highest tree that could touch the cloud in the sky?" She asked.
"Yes we did show her Dipper." Steven said.
"Sure thing, Steven." Dipper replied.
Dipper pulled out the leaf from his vest and presented it to Spirit Guardian, who began to look at it. Once she looked at it she smiled as she said, "it's the right leaf congratulation Protagonist."
"Thanks it was a lot of hard work, but us being heroes we didn't give up and sure there was sometimes, where we thought this whole thing was a trick, but we just followed our heart and they lead us to where we need to go." Finn replied.
"Well I can see and since y'all completed the first task now it time for the second test." Spirit Guardian said.
"Okay before we get to that I have ask, does this involve us having to search for something?" Wirt asked.
"Actually Wirt it doesn't." Spirit Guardian answered.
"Well then tell us already." Wirt said.
"Other then tell y'all it would be better if I show y'all." Spirit Guardian said. "Follow me." She added, then started walking away.
As she was walking away the four boys gave each other a look at one another before Steven shrugged his shoulders and they decided to follow her. The five of them walked down the path in the forest until they all arrive at an area in the woods that had a large lake spread across the area.
"Alright Protagonist, this is where your next mission will take place." Spirit Guardian said.
The four boys looked confused and Dipper asked, "okay Spirit Guardian what give why did you bring us all the way out here?"
"As I said earlier, this is where your second mission will be taking place." Spirit Guardian said.
"Okay, but what do you expect us to do for this mission fish or something?" Wirt asked, confused.
"No nothing like that all I want y'all to do is see if y'all can skip a rock across the water five times and try to hit a fish with it." Spirit Guardian said.
"Seriously you can't possibly think we can do that because that is impossible." Wirt said.
"Are you sure about." Spirit Guardian said.
After that was said, Spirit Guardian picked up a small pebble and tossed it toward the water. The pebble skipped across the water exactly five times and hits a fish in the head causing it to past out as it float above water.
All the boys' eyes widen as they stood there in amazement as they were surprised what just happen. Spirit Guardian turned back to see the looks on their faces and she smiled as she said, "I see that y'all are impressed by what I did, but now that I showed y'all, now it your to show me that y'all can do it," handing them each a pebble.
"Umm… Spirit guardian it was awesome that you were able to do that, but unfornately I don't think we could do that as well as you." Steven said, speaking for the group.
"Yeah." The others agreed.
Spirit Guardian chuckled and she said, "now, now don't be doubting yourselves already because he didn't even it a chance."
"Well we don't even need to try to know we can't do that." Wirt spoke out.
"Oh come on give a try at least give it a try and who knows maybe you'll be as good as me." Spirit Guardian said.
"I'm not sure that we'll be as good as you." Wirt replied.
"Alright I see what you mean you're afraid of trying some best you having doubts that you'll be any good and you'll let your friends down." Spirit Guardian said.
When hearing that, a light blush glowed on Wirt's cheeks and he said, "t-t-that's n-not tr-true."
"Oh really then prove me wrong try to figure out away to do as I just did." Spirit Guardian said.
"Fine I'll do it just to prove you wrong." Wirt replied.
Wirt walked up to the lake and tossed towards the water, the pebble only manage to skip across the water four times before going falling completely in the water. When seeing that Wirt realized what just happened to him and he turned his attention back to Spirit Guardian and he began to ask questions.
"You used what I fear the most against me, didn't you?" he asked.
Spirit Guardian chuckled and said, "yeah I did, but only did it because you didn't have faith on yourself and look you made your rock skip across the water four times that very impressive."
"Yeah I guess you're right." Wirt replied, rubbing the back of his head. "Well since I was fooled into doing this, you guys might as well go too." He added, looking at the others.
"Okay then I'll go next." Steven said, stepping up.
Steven stepped in front, he tossed his pebble towards the water, but his only skipped across the lake five times before falling into the water.
"Oh man that was so close just needed to hit a fish." Steven said, sadly and place his head down in disappointment.
Dipper patted Steven on the back and said, "it okay Steven don't worry about it we all have those moments where we so close to something, but yet we're so far from it."
"Okay then I won't worry about it then." Steven replied.
"Good now let's get watch back as I take a try a this." Dipper said.
Steven did as he was told and moved out the way as Dipper took the spot. Next, Dipper started to calculate the angle and how he should shot it. After he was done Dipper tossed his pebble and it only skipped across the lake three time before falling into the water.
"Dang it, what could've went wrong my calculation were on the mark." Dipper said, angrily.
After that, Dipper moved over to Steven and Wirt, who were standing to the sides as they waited for everyone to have a turn. Finn moved in front of the lake as he started to thinking about his situation.
'Okay my friends has failed and I'm the only left with a pebble, so that means this whole tell is riding on me, but hey no pressure.' He thought.
With that Finn was getting ready to throw his pebble, but before he could Finn hear Dipper calling out to him.
"Finn wait." Dipper said.
Finn turned to look at Dipper and asked, "what's up Dipper?"
"I figure out my calculation were correct, but the problem was I didn't have the much need arm strength to make it work." Dipper said. "But you so before you throw your pebble make sure you're in a good pitcher stance and then twist your wrist in the progress, okay." He added.
"Alright I'll try." Finn replied.
Finn got into a comfortable pitcher stance and as just as he was about to throw he twisted his wrist and let go of his pebble. Finn's pebble skipped across the lake five times and it hit the top of a fish causing it to go unconscious.
"I-I-I did it. Guys I did it." Finn said, excitedly.
Finn turned around where he was tackled into a group hug by Steven, Dipper, and Wirt. The four of them hopped up and down as they were happy that Finn was able to get the complete the challenge with success. Spirit Guardian watched how they were acting and she felt so happy for them.
'They used each other advice in order to complete their challenge. They are getting better as a team, so it time for me to send them on their way, but only way to do it.' She thought.
Spirit Guardian walked up to the boys, who were still celebrating Finn's accomplishment, and she said, "congratulation on your success, hero."
All four boys turned their attention to Spirit Guardian and Steven said, "yeah well it was hard considering that each of us had only one pebble, so that means we had really rely on one another to get past that challenge."
"That good to see that y'all are relying on each other, that the making of a good team." Spirit Guardian replied, happily. "But now sense those two challenge is out the way, now it time for you to process on to your final chances." She added, getting serious.
"Wait there's another challenge?" Wirt asked.
"Why yes there is because have you ever heard of a two challenge series, it won't make any sense now would it." Spirit Guardian said.
"Yeah she right Wirt, it wouldn't make any sense." Finn agreed.
"Okay, but what would it be this time something even more difficult than the first two?" Wirt asked.
"Not at all, but it does involve you using the leaf you from the tree and the fish that Finn knocked unconscious." Spirit Guardian said.
"Okay I got the leaf." Dipper said, pulling out the leaf from his vest.
"I'll go get the fish." Finn said, then jumping into the lake.
Next, Finn came hopping out the water hold the fish that he knocked unconscious with the pebble in his mouth.
"Okay now that we got the items what do you expect us to do with them?" Steven asked, curious.
"Well you crispy the leaf by streaming it over some hot magma, next you cut open the fish open and placed the leaf towards the center of it's body." Spirit Guardian said.
"Alright is there anything else we need to know?" Finn asked.
"I'll explain the rest after y'all finish the first part." Spirit Guardian replied.
"Okay about the first part where are we going to magma to crispy the leaf?" Wirt pointed out.
"Over down that path there is volcano and just at the bottom there is a small pool that still has that inside it from it's last eruption, so go down that way and you'll find it." Spirit Guardian explained. "But it could be dangerous so I suggest you take a partner." She added.
"No need to worry about that SG I'll go with him." Steven said.
"I'm afraid you can't go with him Steven." Spirit Guardian stated.
"Wait why not?" Steven asked.
"Yeah why not?" Dipper repeated.
"Because this whole training section was supposed to be about y'all working with each other as in changing up the usual routine." Spirit Guardian explained.
"But Spirit Guardian I won't be able to do this part without Steven because who will be able to contain the leaf when it catch on fire?" Dipper asked, worried.
"I guess that mean you'll have to hand the leaf over to someone else and let them go with Steven, while you stay back and help the other." Spirit Guardian said.
"Okay I guess that could work." Dipper replied.
Next he looked over to Wirt and said, "here you go Wirt, you go with Steven while I stay here and help Finn cut open the fish."
Wirt denied the leaf and replied, "no Dipper, you hold on to it we'll bring back the magma," then turning to Steven and added, "come on Steven, let's go."
"Okay Wirt." Steven replied.
With that Steven and Wirt walked off down the path leaving Finn and Dipper alone with Spirit Guardian.
After Steven and Wirt were gone Dipper placed the leaf back in his vest and walked over to Finn, who was taking the fish out of his mouth, and he said, "Finn let's just get started on cutting that fish open."
"Sure thing Dipper let's get to it." Finn agreed.
(While they do that let's move to Steven and Wirt)
The two boys were traveling down the path to directed to them by Spirit Guardian had pointed them towards as they were walking there was a bit of an awkward silence between the two of them, so noticing the silence Steven tried to break the silence.
"Okay Wirt all we have to do is arrive at these lava pool and gather the fire of the magma." He said, trying to break the silence.
"I know and for some reason I'm a little excited about it." Wirt said trying to hold in his excitement.
"How come?" Steven asked wanting to know.
"Well I kind of never did anything extreme like this before so I'm excited and half nerves about it." Wirt replied.
"You did said that you were born with a normal childhood that would mean doing anything like this would caused those kind of emotion to rise up." Steven said.
"I know that." Wirt replied.
"Okay, well anyway we're here." Steven said.
Wirt looked a head to find that they had arrived at the bottom of the volcano that Spirit Guardian had sent them to.
"Alright now that we're here let's find the lava pool." Wirt suggested.
"Okay." Steven said.
With that the two of them began walking around the volcano until they arrived at a large pool of molten lava.
"Well we found it now let's get us a sample of this lava so we can take it back to the others." Steven said.
"Okay, but wait Steven how are we going to get the sample because it lava can burn you down to the bone if you touch it one time." Wirt asked.
"Like this Wirt." Steven said.
Next, Steven hovered his hands over the lava and he began to concentrate and a small pink bubble form in between his palms as it contained a small amount of the lava from the pool.
"There we go some lava from the lava pool." Steven said.
"Nice job Steven, you can make your bubble small as well as big." Wirt said.
"Yeah there a lot of things I can do with my bubble, but there no time to explain let's get back to the group." Steven replied.
"Sure thing, Steven." Wirt said.
With that Wirt and Steven took off running from the volcano as they headed back to the gang.
(Back with the group)
After cutting the fish open, Finn and Dipper were sitting around as they were waiting for Steven and Wirt to return as they waited Dipper got bored from waiting and decided to start a conversation.
"Hey Finn." He said.
"Yeah Dipper." Finn replied.
"I was wondering if you can tell about other adventures you had experience." Dipper said.
"Alright Dipper, how about I tell you about the time that me and Jake made a bet about if I could handle going through the dungeon of the Crystal eyes." Finn suggested.
"That sounds interesting go on." Dipper replied.
"Alright well a friend of ours sent me and Jake to hammer down warning signs around this well that lead to the chamber of the Crystal eye, after we were finish I thought it would be a good for us to explore it, but he wasn't ready for it so I told him that I'll just go without him and he thought I wasn't capable to make it through without him or his powers, so we made a bet saying that not only would I be able to make it through the dungeon but I could retrieve the Crystal eye without him. After the deal was made I hoped down the well and started to go travel through the maze thinking it would be total cakewalk, but I was wrong as there to been challenges that could never pass without the help of Jake and all lead up to me being captured by these angle that tried to eat me and I meet back with who came down in the dungeon after me and was also captured by the exacted same angle. But in the end we made up and worked together and escaped from being eaten then we made to the end where we to the room that held the Crystal eye, but we weren't able to retrieve it because of the security defenses anyway we learned that two heads were better than one." Finn said.
"Wow that was an interesting story Finn." Dipper said.
"Yeah and there way more than that like this one time I-" Finn started before being interrupted by someone calling out to them.
"Hey guys!" the voice said.
Finn and Dipper looked over to see Wirt and Steven were running towards them, while Steven was hold a small pink bubble filled with red magma in his hand.
"Guys, you're back already that must've been easy." Finn said.
Steven and Wirt stopped in front of them and Steven said, "yeah it wasn't that hard to find the lava pits and get the lava wasn't it Wirt."
"Yeah it wasn't, but was a bit little nerving to hold Steven by the legs as I dangle him into the lava pit without accidentally dropping him in the process." Wirt answered.
"Alright well we're just glad y'all made it back, now that we're all done let's go tell Spirit Guardian." Finn said.
"Okay." Steven and Wirt agreed.
The four of them headed over to find Spirit Guardian again meditating underneath a shady tree.
"Hey Spirit Guardian." Finn said catching her attention.
"Yes Finn?" She asked.
"Steven and Wirt have returned from their mission and they brought the lava as per your requested." Finn said.
"That good, but have you and Dipper successfully cut opened the fish?" She asked.
"Yeah we did." Finn answered.
"Nice just as I predicted, now it time for the second half of the final test, so in order to put do it all you for have to do is place all the elements you gather in all the previous test together." Spirit Guardian instructed.
"Okay make sense, but how exactly do we do that?" Steven asked.
"It simple all y'all have to do is lay the opened fish out, next you place the leaf in the center, then you covered lava obtained from the pit over it." Spirit Guardian explained.
"Alright that should be easy." Wirt said
With that the four boys began following their instruction; first Finn placed the cut opened fish on the ground, next Dipper took the leaf out of the ground and set it inside of the fish, then Steven hovered the bubble of lava over all the other two items as he made the bubble causing the lava to go pouring all over the leaf and the fish.
"Okay good work you guys." Wirt said.
"Yeah now I just wonder what does collecting these items and then combining them have to with anything?" Dipper asked.
"Well everything has it purpose maybe this stands for something in this universe." Steven said.
"Yeah it probably mean something, so maybe we should just stare at it for a second maybe it'll do something." Finn suggested.
"Okay, but I'm not sure about this." Dipper replied.
The four boys just stood there as they began watching the weird combination they had just made as they was trying to see if anything would happen to it. While, they were watching it a large hawk like creature came from the sky and snatched their strange combine off the ground and flew away with it.
"Hey that creature just stole our fish!" Finn said.
"Don't worry about that heroes, it all a part of the test." Spirit Guardian stated.
The four boys turned to Spirit Guardian and Steven asked, "Spirit Guardian, what do you mean this is all a part test?"
"It mean the same as I said it, now I want you four to bring me the egg of that creature." She said.
"Hang on I sick of all these challenges, now tell me what exactly are we gonna accomplish by hunting down this bird and taking it's egg?" Wirt asked.
"It a major and final part of your training and when you accomplish it I can explain the secrets of how to defeat your enemies and then I have to leave." Spirit Guardian responded.
"Wait what do you mean you have to leave?" Steven asked.
"My body isn't meant to be in this dimension, so I'm quite weak at moment and to sustain energy I meditate like y'all saw me doing, but I'm still getting weak and I have about a hour worth of time left in this dimension before I get taken out of this universe by force and I won't be able to come back for a while." Spirit Guardian explained.
"Well if we only got an hour to get that eat then we better get moving there is no time to waste let's go you guys." Steven said.
"I'm with you Steven." Dipper said.
"Yeah let's get going." Finn agreed.
The three of them looked at Wirt, who rolled his eyes and said, "find I'll go, but I'm only going to put an end to this whole training section."
"Alright we're all in agreement let's go I saw the bird fly south follow me." Steven said, then taking off running with the other three following behind him.
Next, the four boys were running down the path that Steven pointed out. As they running they looked up in the trees, where they spotted the exact same bird that stole their fish sitting in it's nest as it was eating the fish.
"Hey it the bird and it's eating our fish." Steven pointed out.
"Good now that it consumed the fish all we have to do is wait for it to lay an egg and then we take it." Finn said.
"Hold on guys I don't think it will be that easy." Wirt implied.
"Wirt is correct, according to my studies it take up to apparently 24 hours for a bird to lay an egg." Dipper added.
"24 hours! We ain't got 24 hour just 1 hour until Spirit Guardian has to leave I don't know what y'all got planned on how to get home, but I would liked to know what she would have to say." Finn said.
"Okay guys maybe we don't have to wait long." Steven stated.
"What do you mean, Steven?" Wirt asked.
"I means is that since that bird ate our fish maybe it will cause the bird to reproduce it's egg a lot faster." Steven explained.
"That could be a possibility, but in science that seems highly impossible." Dipper said.
"Well that maybe the case in our universe Dipper, but remember we're in an entirely different place, so just about anything could possibly happen." Steven replied. "So I think we should just wait an see what happens, what do y'all think." He suggested.
"We're stuck between a rock and a hard place right, so what else can we do now." Dipper said
"Well it looks like we won't be heading home any time soon, so what choice do we have." Wirt implied.
"Yeah I'm with you, Steven" Finn added.
"That the spirit guys, now let's get to work." Steven said.
With that the four boys started turned their to the bird as they began to watch for anything to strange to happen to the bird.
(Time skip to ten minutes)
The boys were now sitting in the bushes as they were now bored out of their minds as they were still waiting.
"Alright now I'm completely bored." Wirt said.
"Yeah me too." Dipper agreed. "Hey Steven, how long have we been sitting here?" He asked looking at Steven.
Steven pulled out his phone to check the time and said, "about ten minutes."
"Ten minutes! It feels like we've been out here forever, but it has only been ten minutes!" Wirt said, frustrated.
"Yeah looks like it." Steven replied.
"That's it I give up!" Wirt said.
"Oh come on Wirt don't be like that." Steven says.
"No Steven I have had it with this whole 'training session' because we've been running around this whole mysterious forest that we have no clue where to go just for some women, who we never met a day in our lives, saying we are some choose one that were brought together to defeat some alliance that may or may not being formed to take over the multiverse." Wirt said, taking a seat on a rock.
"Hey look Wirt, I know this maybe strange to you, but you have to listen Spirit Guardian haven't given any of us a reason to not trust us, so if we just follow her instruction it only because we're very trusting people and we see the good in everybody and you need to start open up to new people as well." Steven explained.
Wirt didn't reply as he just let out a sigh.
"Yeah Wirt and just to remind you that the alliance is made of four of our greatest villains and they're all the reason why we are in this dimension in the first place as they tried to annihilate us one by one, but instead we found each other and then Spirit Guardian came to give us the boost we need to defeat our enemies and get home." Dipper explained. "You do want to get home don't you?"
"Of course I want to get home, but I just don't want to be wasting time by doing stupid stuff like, pick a leaf from a tree, hitting fish in the heads with rocks, collecting magma from a lava pit, or watching a weird looking bird lay an egg." Wirt said.
"But Wirt all this stuff was simple team building exercise." Steven replied.
"Really how you know they actually worked?" Wirt asked.
"Well in collecting the leaf, we became a human ladder which mean we had to rely on one another. In hitting the fish with the rock, we all struggled in that, but Dipper combined his brains with Finn's strength which not only got us pass that challenge, but also showed great teamwork. Then collecting this lava, I trusted you to hold me as I dived into that pit of lava and if that doesn't show real trust then I don't know what does." Steven said.
"Huh, I don't know if that is really consider trust because even if I did drop you, you could've probably could've survive being a Crystal gem and all." Wirt pointed out.
"Actually, I won't have." Steven said.
"Wait you wouldn't have?!" Wirt asked.
"Yeah because even though I'm a Crystal gem, I'm not a type of gem to withstand heat like that and plus I'm also half human, so my flesh is completely smooth and squishy that mean if I get hurt with a serious attack that mean it'll hurt bad just like a regular human." Steven explained.
"Oh I'm sorry I didn't know that about you." Wirt apologized.
Steven smiled and he patted Wirt on his back. "Don't sweat I'm the first Crystal gem you have ever seen, let alone being the first half human/half gem person, so this is something you'll get use to as we get to hang out more the longer the four of us are in this dimension together." He said
"Yeah I guess so and you know I-" Wirt started before being interrupted by Finn.
"Guys sorry to interrupt the friendly moment but we got a Code: Condor." He said.
"Code: Condor?" Steven and Wirt asked, confused.
"Yeah that means the bird just laid it's egg. Oh we didn't tell you guys, well me and Dipper decided to have a code for when the bird lays the egg and we decided to call it, Code: Condor." Finn explained.
Steven and Wirt looked up at the tree to see the bird up in it's nest as it was now sitting on a rainbow colored egg.
"Okay that's great y'all could have given us a heads up when deciding this and plus why didn't says something like, Code: The stork has delivered it's egg or Code: Eggdrop?" Steven asked.
"Because we thought Code: Condor would be more cooler, but hey before we get off of track here, we got to retrieve that egg and bring it back to Spirit Guardian." Finn said.
"Oh yeah let's get to it, so Wirt are you in this or what?" Steven asked, looking back at Wirt.
"Yeah I'm up for it." He replied, getting up from the rock.
"Alright we're all in this, so what's the plan you guys?" Steven asked.
"Well we just need to figure out how to separate that bird from it's egg and then one of us could go up there and get the egg." Dipper said.
"That make sense, but what are we going to use to lure the bird away from it's nest and it's?" Wirt asked.
"I don't know... hey wait a minute, Steven do you still have that bag full of sandwiches that Spirit Guardian gave us?" Dipper asked.
"No I kind of left it with Spirit Guardian because I thought it would be more safer there, but I did put a couple of extra sandwiches in Finn's backpack just in case we got hungry." Steven replied.
"What when did you do that?" Finn asked.
"Nevermind that now, what I need to do is for Steven to take one of those sandwiches out." Dipper explained.
"Alright." Steven said.
Steven reached into Finn's backpack and pulled out a sandwich in plastic bag. "I got it out Dipper, now what do I do?" He asked.
"Now tried to get the birds attention and when it come at you for the sandwich I want you to put the sandwich in one of your bubbles and throw it as far away as you can." Dipper said.
"Okay I gotcha." Steven replied.
Steven stood up as he walked out in front of the tree with the sandwich. As he was walking, he pretended not to notice the bird was watching him. Steven stopped in the field as he started taking the sandwich out of the plastic bag and look like he was preparing to eat it.
"Oh boy it's time for lunch, I just hope tries to steal my sandwich." He said.
Steven closed his eyes and he was about to take a bite of the sandwich, while he did the bird stared at the sandwich and started craving it. The bird couldn't hold itself back as it got off it's egg and swoop out of it's nest and headed for Steven's sandwich at full speed.
"Steven look out here it come!" Dipper, Finn, and Wirt warned.
Steven looked up from his sandwich to see the bird heading towards him as he just sat there.
"Steven, what are you doing didn't you hear us?" Dipper asked.
"Yeah I here y'all, but I want it to get closer." Steven said.
"What do you mean you better throw that thing away, while you still can." Finn said.
"Just wait for it." Steven replied.
"Come on Steven I think it close enough now release the sandwich already." said Wirt.
"Wait just a little closer." Steven replied.
Dipper, Finn, and Wirt all watch to see what Steven was preparing to do, while the bird continue to head towards Steven. The bird was just a few feet away from Steven when he said to himself, "Gotcha now."
With that Steven placed the sandwich into a small pink bubble and summoned a lot of strength as he throw it far away into the forest. Seeing the sandwich being thrown away the bird immediately flew off after it a high speed.
"Alright guys it's gone now." Steven said.
They came out of bushes as walked up to Steven and Dipper was the first to say, "Nice job Steven."
"Great job dude." Finn added.
"Yeah that was awesome Steven." Wirt agreed.
"Oh thanks guys, but we can celebrate later because by the looks of it, it won't take that bird very long to retrieve that sandwich, so let's get that egg and get out of here." Steven replied.
"Yeah, but how are we gonna get that egg?" Wirt asked.
"Have no fear Finn Mertens is here." Finn said. "Since this tree isn't as big as the one we puck the leaf off of I can just climb up and get before the bird gets back."
"Then what are you waiting for Finn go get that egg." Wirt ordered.
"Here you go." Finn said.
Wirt hopped in surprised as he looked to see Finn hanging upside down from the tree as he was now holding the egg. "Man that was really quick." Wirt said.
"Well I told you that the tree wasn't really that high and we're kind of in a hurry here." Finn replied hopping of the tree branch and lands on his feet with the egg still intact.
"Oh yeah anyway good job now let's get this back to Spirit Guardian quickly." Wirt said.
"You heard him team let's hurry up and get's this egg to Spirit Guardian and quickly." Steven said.
"Yeah Steven." Finn and Dipper agreed.
After that said, the four of them headed off to back to the lake they last left Spirit Guardian.
(Transitions back to the lake)
Back at the lake, the sun was starting to sunset Spirit Guardian as sitting on a rock as trying to prepare a fire as she was thinking.
'It getting late those warriors better because I don't thinking my body can withstand this world's atmosphere very long.' She said, starting to cough.
"Spirit Guardian." A voice said.
Spirit Guardian looked up to see all four boys heading towards her and Finn was carrying the egg as she started to smiled. "You're back and I see you obtain the egg." She said.
"It was a little hard on the count that we had to distract the mother bird, but in the end we got it." Steven replied.
"Congratulation for completing all my task I've assigned you four, now it time for me to show y'all the reason why I need y'all to get all that stuff." Spirit Guardian said, started to cough.
"Spirit Guardian are you okay?" Steven asked, worried.
"Yeah I'm fine just my body can't stay in this universe atmosphere not much longer, so I need to get what I have very quickly, so I can send y'all on your way." Spirit Guardian said, weakly.
"Okay, what do you have to tell us then?" Finn asked.
"In order for me to explain I need your to crack the egg and pour the yolks into the fire I have prepared." Spirit Guardian said.
Finn did he was he was instructed and cracked the egg on his knee and pour the yolks into the fire causing the flame to glow blue as smoke began to rise out . "As you may know that the Antagonist alliance is a seriously dangerous force and y'all maybe a stronger in teamwork, but y'all need to stronger in power that why years ago ancient ancestors of this universe predict something like this would happen, so in order to insure that justice prevail they created four sacred items that would help the four chosen ones in their fight for victory." Spirit Guardian explained.
"Four sacred items? What are they and what do they do?" Dipper asked.
"The Sacred items: the sword of fire, the Bow and arrows of air, shield of lightning, and the scythe of earth. When obtaining these items you'll get the obtain power of the element mentioned in the name and your power will be increase like never before." Spirit Guardian started to cough even harder.
"No wait you're say that we're suppose to get superpower or something?" Wirt asked.
"Well I call them energy booster, but I guess you call the superpower." Spirit Guardian said.
"Okay so how do we find them, like is there an ancient map you're gonna give to us." Dipper asked.
Spirit Guardian reached grabbed Steven's necklace and tapped it making it glow bright like a flashlight. "Your necklace will be your guide to find them and since they are scatter across this world it'll probably take some time to find them all, but when you get close enough all of your necklaces will light as you continued to get closer to them." Spirit Guardian explained.
"Alright with this information I think we're gonna have a good chance of defeating the Antagonist alliance." Steven said, happily.
"Glad to here that you have good faith in you and your friends, but just a little piece of advice, the more days past the more your enemy will continue to get stronger, so y'all need to continue to get stronger yourselves." Spirit Guardian said.
"Don't worry I'm sure we will Spirit Guardian." Steven replied.
"Good I'll be on my way now." Spirit Guardian said.
"What will we ever see you again?" Steven asked.
"Don't worry y'all see me again, so don't worry about." Spirit Guardian answered. "Until then see you later warriors."
"Bye Spirit Guardian." the four of them replied.
Spirit Guardian smiled as she waved goodbye to them. A strong wind blew and Spirit Guardian slowly faded away into nothing until she was gone. But even though she was gone they could feel that she was still near them and they all knew she will be watching over them guiding them on their journey.
"Alright guys since she gonna, what should we do now?" Finn asked.
Steven looked at his necklace and he said, "We need to get going."
"Why Steven?" Dipper asked.
"I don't really know, but it feel like we won't get very far if we just stay here." Steven said.
"Okay, so where do we go?" Wirt asked.
"I think we should go this way." Steven said, pointing down a path
"Alright if that what you think then it would be best if you lead the way." Dipper said.
"Okay I guess, so then follow me." Steven replied, walking down the path.
Dipper and Wirt started following Steven as Finn stay back to say, "And off we go as our real journey begins." Then he ran off to catch up with the group.
End of Chapter seven
Okay you guys that is it for Chapter seven of my trilogy, "The Protagonist," I know it's been a while since I worked on this story, but I got a little busy writing my others stories and my laptop caught a virus last week but I cleared that up. Anyway I glad I manage to upload this chapter before New Years tomorrow and I got a poll on my profile for those of you who want me end this Love Pentagon with Steven and the girls, so make your vote for the girl that should win. Until next my name Jaroberts251, signing out. Peace and stay tuned.
