Enjoy!
The oceans far below New Mushroomton were calm and dark blue. Its raw beauty could be seen for miles, citizens wondering what was just across the sea. What was in the sea. What was going on outside of their world. In that very sea, Steward was picking the fresh seaweed near where the shore hit the rocks, knowing it would be perfect for his friend's spells. His sisters were off grabbing coral for similar reasons, and for fashion accessories. The merman proudly looked at his basket and smiled.
"That should do it!" he sighed.
Just as he spoke, he heard something hit the water. He looked out into the open water, where he saw something drifting. The merman peered as Clara and Luna approached, their baskets and smiles full.
"Are you ready to head back?" the oldest asked.
"Yeah," Luna agreed," We've got everything we-"
"Hold this, please."
Steward handed his little sister the basket and swam quickly to the object. When he grabbed the staff, he immediately got a splinter. He grabbed a piece of loose seaweed from his fin and wrapped his wound. He studied the spinning top and the craft of the handle. His sisters were swimming over, concern for their brother.
"Steward?" Clara asked," What is that?"
"I...I think this belonged to Pierson."
The sisters gasped and asked their brother if he was sure. He nodded, showing the way the top spun and the way the wood was splintered. Just like the legends had told.
"That means-"
"There are people in this area. And they are still practicing magic."
"But it was thrown into the ocean-" Luna said.
"Feel it. The wood is still warm."
They each felt the wood, both getting a splinter. As they wrapped their wounds in seaweed, Steward tried to study the staff closer. But it was just too dark. The three made eye contact as their thoughts processed. The siblings knew there was only one thing they could do.
"We have to go before anybody finds it!" Luna gasps.
The sisters held the baskets close and Steward held the staff tightly as they swam towards the rocks. They went into a sea cave, anticipating to return home. They went straight towards the wall of the cave and sped through, disappearing from the dark waters, being transported across the sea and to their safe home of Westovia.
Gronkin was fast asleep in his chair by the sea. The little gremlin was waiting for the Shelton family to return back from their trip to the sea. They promised to bring ingredients for Pierce's spells and he was to deliver them to the wizard's doorstep. The old gremlin had nothing better to do, so he sat by the sea, snoring and simply waiting. When he heard splashing, he woke up and stretched his back, scuttling over to the shore line. The sisters put the baskets on the rocks for the gremlin to get.
"Looks like you got a lot," he said in a thick Irish accent.
"You could say that," Clara said under her breath.
"I feel like this is more than Pierce is gonna need," Gronkin sighed," but it's-"
Steward gently placed the staff on the rocks. The gremlin looked at the staff and froze. He looked to the merfolk. They were all nervous but they made eye contact with the old gremlin. Gronkin grabbed the staff, his old hands not feeling the pain of the splinters. He looked at the staff, amazed and unsure of what to do.
"Where did you find this?"
"Steward found it just floating in the sea," Luna explained," It came from the cliff."
"That means there's a town still practicing magic," Gronkin whispered.
"We need you to take that to Pierce," Steward said," He'll know what to do in a situation like this. But don't alert everyone and don't cause a panic-"
"AHHH!"
Gronkin ran up the sandy hill, screaming in fear. The siblings sighed and shook their heads. They swam home, knowing that they would hear about this later. Gronkin ran throughout the town, causing everyone to look out of their windows and gasp. The old town hadn't seen a staff like that (other than the one their leader had). The gremlin knew this was a time sensitive subject and that he had to be at the home before anything terrible was to happen.
Once he got to the door, he knocked furiously on the smaller door. He was nervously calling for Pierce, the staff shaking as he knocked. The smaller door opened and Pierce stood before Gronkin. The aging faun, with grey fur and black eyes, glanced down at the gremlin. A smile came to his face, as he was expecting his old friend.
"You've brought the baskets of seaweed and coral?" he asked.
"Oh...I forgot about that. But, Pierce, you should see this."
Pierce's eyes lit up as the staff was placed on the ground of the old house. He knew his own staff was in the corner, but this was not his. By the craft, the old wizard could tell who owned this. Meanwhile, his apprentice, Zale, trotted over to the scene. The centaur knelt down at the sight of the staff, shock filling his green eyes. He pulled back his mane and looked down, then over to his mentor.
"Is this Pierson's?" he asked.
"It has to be," Pierce went over to his own staff," Where did this come from?"
"Steward found it in the sea,by the cliff. This means there's another town and there's people who are still using magic! We can have allies on our mission!"
"Especially if this is relative of Pierson," Zale mentioned," Look, whoever had this staff was clearly new to magic. They still didn't get the right grip in the right places. They were never exposed to magic like their great, great,great-point is, if they're a relative of Pierson, magic will come to them naturally. And we can get them on our side. I'll go in the morning to the town. And I will find the owner."