Chapter 10

The Book

Alice P.O.V

Marucho is a prince! Wait what I thought he…eh…how?

"Dan, Shun, did you guys know about this?" Runo asked frantically.

They were silent unable to utter a word. Dan was simply a stone from shock and Shun was just simply silent. I guess they didn't have a clue either.

"Hey Dan and Shun, want to explain how you guys met Marucho?" Julie asked eagerly crowding around Dan to get him to answer.

"How did we meet?" Dan asked. "How do I explain this….." he sounded like he was struggling to give the best answer.

"We found him washed ashore on a beach where we liked to play when we were kids. He was pretty hurt and looked a bit clueless to where he was. We took him in to heal, gave him all the food and water we could. It seemed that he only remember what his name is and where he was from but nothing else." Shun answered instead.

"So are you saying Marucho doesn't even remember who he is?" Ace asked.

"We're not sure. When we offered to take him he refused." Dan said. "He told us he lost his parents and felt all alone in his home land so he wanted to stay with us."

"And you guys just let him?" Ace asked.

"Well why not he seemed harmless." Dan said in defence.

"Ummm….ever heard of running away." Ace said. "And how could you miss him being a prince?"

"Well how should we know we were kids at the time and there was nothing released about a missing prince." Shun said.

"Guys stop now is not the time." Baron said.

"Its fine Baron they are all just a bit shocked from learning this." Runo said to Baron.

I thought for a second. It wold make perfect sense that Marucho ran away. He didn't seem to want to come in the Kingdom in the beginning but Marucho is pretty responsible he shouldn't be the type to run away from responsibilities. I wonder why he left. It sure is a mystery.

"The reason may be because of us." The queen sighed sadly. "I knew that on that very day we pushed him too hard."

"We may have pushed him too hard to the extent he ran away. Every day it was lesson after lesson not even a second to rest." The king said looking down. "Maybe we should have given him some freedom, but if we did that than he would not have been able to fulfill the role of a king of this kingdom."

"Don't worry." Dan reassured the king and queen. "Marucho is not the type to run away from responsibility."

Everyone in our group nodded in agreement. Marucho is a responsible and kind kid. There is no way he would run away. He must have a reason. A reason he can't come back to this kingdom. Could he be threatened by someone or something else? Hmmmm….what could have caused him to run away from his family.

"For now why don't we go back and check on Mira and them. And at the same time ask Marucho for his reason?" Runo suggested.

"Sure but let's not forget we have to hurry and go to the Deep Blue Cove before the Vexos figure it out where it is. I suggest we split up." Ace said. "One team will stay here and learn more about the area while another team heads to Marucho and Mira."

"Sounds good." Dan said. "I guess Shun and I will definitely head back since we were the ones to find Marucho first and known the longest. He may finally tell us." Shun nodded in agreement.

"I'll go with you guys I'm a bit worried about Mira." Baron said concerned. Ace nodded with Baron and said he wanted to come as well.

"Well than that leaves the girl's in the castle and you boys to head back." Julie said.

"Ok…be careful. If anything goes wrong just call us. And don't head to Deep Blue Cove without us. Learn all that you can and wait for us." Dan said.

"Gotcha." Runo, Julie, and I said at once.

Marucho P.O.V

I sat next to Mira who was looking into her locket. I didn't ask about it since she had a said expression on her face. I just wished that the Alice and everyone would be back soon. Just being here makes me feel so uneasy. The car suddenly rumbled causing me to fall off and chair and face planted into the ground.

"What's going on?" Mira stood up alarmed holding the table for support.

"I have no idea." I pushed myself up rubbing my head. I then heard the sound of metal ripping above us. I looked up to see the roof ripping and outside revealed a stringed hooded man with the 3 of the Vexos members.

"Hi Mira." The hooded man said

I looked at Mira who stared at the man angrily. "Hello father" was all she said.

"Father?" I cried next to her.

Shun P.O.V

I sure hope it was ok for us to leave the girls like that. Well not that I'm worried. When those girl's start to fight they are like a different people. We suddenly felt a rumble from outside. It felt that something was being moved. We quickly ran to the end of path to see the trailer getting pulled away. I quickly scanned the window to check if Mira and Marucho were still inside and unfortunately they were. And worse the Vexos were inside with them.

"Maru…!" Dan shouted but I quickly grabbed him and hid, dragging Baron with me as Ace followed.

"Shun, what are doing?" Dan asked pushing my hand away.

"Stay quiet if we get caught it will be more then trouble." I said in defense.

"But we can't just leave them." Baron said.

"We won't. I'll follow them and see where they are headed. You guy's head back to Alice and them." I said.

"Wait then how will we find you?" Dan asked.

"I'll head back for you guy's. I doubt that they will go to the Deep Cove. I'll just follow them to their base. Try to find any weaknesses while I can and head back before sun down." I said.

"And if you don't come back?" Dan asked.

It was quiet for a bit. I closed my eyes and thought things through. It is risky. I know I could get caught and may not go back but I'm the only one capable of following them without being seen. My new developed technique will keep me hidden and if Alice found out about this she would panic like crazy. I answered. "There is no way I won't come back." I have to come back to lead the way. I was about to jump off until I felt someone grab him by the hand. I turned around to see Ace.

"Wait I'm going with you." Ace said.

"Why?" I asked in a curious tone. It's odd for him to help me. 'What is his purpose?'

"Because I'm going to keep you out of trouble. And if things look bad I'll stay behind and give you a chance to escape." Ace said.

"Why would you do that?" I said facing the determined sounding boy.

"Because if things get bad we will need your strength." Ace said. I looked at him confused.

"Don't get me wrong. I am stronger than you when it comes to strength, but right now, Alice needs you." Ace said. "She is carrying a lot on her shoulders. You need to make it back to reassure and support her that everything will be ok. Only you can do that at the moment."

I looked at him surprised. He actually believes that? Alice is pretty strong but I guess…she does need encouragement sometimes.

"Whatever, just don't pull me down." I said turning away, pulling out my sword. I concentrated and slowly chanted some words. After finishing the spell I slowly saw that my body turned invisible along with Ace's.

"Whoa, what did you do?" Dan asked looking very enthusiastic.

"A spell I learned, it makes our body invisible and allows us to move as fast as the wind." I explained.

"Cool…" Dan and Baron said in awe.

"Dan, Baron….protect the girl's alright?" Ace said to them. They gave a nod that reassured us. We looked at each and nodded. And soon took off like the wind.

Alice POV

I flipped through many books that the castle men took out from the library. Runo was still looking through the selves for more information. Julie went to the back and tried to find some old books in the archives.

I closed the book I was reading and sighed. There isn't anything directly on the Deep Cove. It repeatedly tells us to avoid dangerous bakugans such as terrorclaw's, siege's, and a whole lot more." I said. There has to be a safe way in somehow. Julie came running from the back with a tiny notebook in her hand.

"Look guys, look what I found." She said running to the table where I sat. Runo climbed down the ladder and approached us.

"What is it?" Runo asked studying the tiny book carefully.

I looked at the book carefully and examined every aspect I could. It as old which was a given. Strings were used to bind the book and the paper looked like old scroll paper. There weren't any patterns on the book besides on the front cover that had a strange symbol.

'Alice…' I heard. I flinched at the voice. I looked behind me but there was no one there. It didn't look like Runo and Julie were calling me. I then looked at the book. I slowly thought to myself that books shouldn't talk, right?

'Alice!" I heard. This time I jumped out of my seat. "Who's there?!" I called.

"Alice? Are you ok?" Runo asked.

"I heard a voice." I said.

"I didn't hear anything." Julies said placing her hand around her ear and trying to listen carefully.

I look to the book in Julie's hands. "Julie try opening the book." I said.

Julie tried to open it but it would not open for some reason. I slowly took the book from her hand and observed the book carefully. I tried to turn the cover when I suddenly heard a sound. It was the sound of rushing water and a singing voice. A gentle singing voice. Suddenly I felt the book shake and then I saw the book glow in an aqua blue color.

"Alice…" I heard again. "Come…"

Without another thought I turned the cover. It opened! The glowing light became brighter to the point we were blinded by the light.

When the light died down I rubbed my eyes gently trying to recover from the flashing light. I then looked at the book again but there was nothing written inside. Nothing not a single word. Runo quickly grabbed the book from my hand and flipped through the pages.

"What is this? There is nothing written inside!" she shouted.

"Oh no, it's not a book just a place I was sealed in." I heard. The voice sounded like a male. A young male with a high voice. But it was not the sound of the voice I heard. I looked around the room.

"Who's there?" Julie asked.

I felt a tap on the shoulder. I turned to find a little boy floating behind me. The boy had light red eyes. Short blue and black hair. He wore royal clothing in the color of light purple and white.

"Hello…my name Preyas, former prince of the Deep Cove." He said.

We stayed silent as we looked at the floating boy trying to hold back our scream.

"Oh and I was a Bakuagn. Nice to meet you girls." He said smiling.