It was midnight and Noah had to force himself to not cry and wake up his teammates. The memories coming from Sam were emotionally devastating to Noah.
"Sam. We can't stop. Every time we have we lost something or someone."
"Grovyle shouldn't we at least bury them?"
"...no Sam. We already lost the rest of them. I'm not losing you too."
"...I'm sorry."
The sound of footsteps emitted as the telltale sound of running sounded around Noah. As the memory finished the light coming from Sam finally dissipated leaving Noah with an empty feeling and a full notebook. This strange occurrence was completely recorded and Noah decided that later on it they would have a meeting. Finally getting to bed Noah closed his eyes...
"UP AND AT EM ITS MORNING!"
"Ugh"
"Mmrr"
"Hm?"
"(Sigh)"
With those eloquent responses the group rose from their sleep and made their way to morning cheers
"...SMILES GO FOR MILES!" The guild chanted before breaking off
Chatot approached the group
"Good morning! Today's task is a special one! Since Noah's...addition to the task room I've noticed that his combat effectiveness has been reduced somewhat so today's task is to find or build a replacement."
"Isn't there anything pressing to do?" Flare asked
"Well I was supposed to have you four put on sentry duty but as Noah and Sam don't know anything about the subject only Flare and Stitch are able to take over on that front. So for today I'm sending Sam and Noah to Mt.Bristle to find something." Chatot explained
"Are you sure? I don't think I can punch a rock and come out on top." Noah said
"That's why Sam is coming with you. He is a fighting type and has the advantage against most creatures up there. Hop to it!" Chatot said as he waved the duo off
One hour later
"Alright so Sam do you have any advice? I'm not exactly used to fighting without my hammer"
"I don't really have any. I just sort of punch things and it works."
"I remember that business with Drowzee. You were flying around throwing haymaker after haymaker."
"That was in the heat of the moment. Besides isn't the point to find you something so you don't have to fight without."
"True. Screw it if we don't find anything I'll just use a sling or something since I used to use one for fun."
"A sling?"
"Yeah. It's a bit low tech but I've seen what it does to pumpkins. I have no doubt that it's a good weapon"
"Then why not just use the sling?"
"It covers range but other than my tiny pocket knife I'm at a loss if they are too close for the sling and too far for my knife"
"No I mean why haven't you used it yet. I understand the up close thing but why haven't you used it yet?"
"...that's umm a good question. One I can't answer. Anyway let's go!" Noah said pulling out his sling and sidestepping the question
They entered the dungeon and the walls shifted around them until they were on an open path with an item ahead of them which Noah picked up and showed off
"...a brick tied to a stick? Why is this here?" Sam asked
"Don't know. My guess is someone got creative. Oh well. It'll work until the brick breaks at least so I doubt it will even make it out of the dungeon. Anyway I see a few of those rock things on the path ahead so eyes up" Noah said as he stashed the weapon and readied the sling
"Ok I'm going to rush in and distract them. I want you to hit them from range with your sling. Do you have anything for ammunition?"
"I have...a bunch of rocks. I can use them."
"It will work but they won't be as strong as something made of metal. Do you have anything like that?"
"Nope. I usually travel as light as I can."
"Flare said the treasure bag is weightless"
"Really? Damn I really gotta start going off this worlds logic or something. Anyway here we go!"
Sam ran forward and drew the attention of the two creatures as Noah began winding up as Sam struck first and knocked back one of the creatures with an aura charged punch before getting hit with a fist full of sand in his eyes. The rock creature prepared to strike when a crack sounded through the air, his ally had been knocked down by something the creature couldn't see. While distracted Sam grabbed one of its arms and put his palm through the rocky arm causing it to shatter. A rock weakly hit Sam in the side
"SORRY!" Noah shouted
The creature tried to capitalize on the distraction and got a very weak punch off before Sam punched its head and knocked it out. With the two creatures knocked out Noah walked up to Sam
"Oh my god Sam I'm so sorry! Are you ok?" Noah asked
"I'm fine. It was more annoying than anything. Good hit on the other one though."
"Thanks. I'm a bit rusty it seems."
The rock creature twitched and on reflex Noah slammed the brick down on its rocky head breaking the brick instantly
"...fuck. Well there goes that."
"It's fine. Good reflexes though."
"You know I don't think we've ever had a chance to talk just the two of us. How are you holding up Sam?"
"I don't really know. I've been thrown into a world I don't understand in a body that isn't mine without many memories. The only thing I have to go off of is anything you've told me. So I'm handling it as well as I can I guess. What about you?"
"Well it's interesting. I'm somehow supposed to be this great disruption in the world and change something so you, Grovyle and probably the rest of the guild can save the world somehow. Honestly I think I'm pretty screwed altogether."
"How so?"
"I had around 17-ish years left before I completely froze but it's like gone now. Yet I'm not fixed ether, I can't even tell what day I'm going to freeze on anymore and that scares me. What if the time gears hurt me or something? If I'm unlucky I might end up freezing on the spot or something if I get too close to the damn thing. I just feel like every time I'm out in a dungeon I'm gambling with my life. It's weird here."
"..."
"And every time we push forward I feel this giant sense of dread. Like I'm not supposed to be here. Hell I'm even scared of what happens if we do save the world. What is it going to cost to change the future so drastically that you two win the fight? How much blood exactly am I going to have to shed just to get there in the first place? Sam I don't have a place in this world like you do. I'm just some guy who wanted to visit the states and got dragged into this."
"...then why are you even fighting?"
Noah looked at Sam with a confused expression
"I saw how you ran to join us when Drowzee was fighting us. If you knew it would have been ok then why did you bother helping us?"
"..."
"I'm not talking to the air Noah"
"I couldn't just leave you guys there. What if Something actually happened?"
"You know nothing would have."
"How do you know that? Now that I'm thinking about it why are you so dammed confrontational and tactical lately? Normally you're just quiet and reserved."
"...I don't know. But stop changing the subject. Why are you even here? You know this mission is only to waste time and get you equipment."
"Because maybe I like being hero for once. Because maybe if I give it my all to my last day I can finally see the moon rise and the sun rest after decades of nothing. I would pay any price for this to never happen again to people I love or otherwise. I'm not content with slowly withering away in that fucking hole of a room. I'd rather chase the sun until the day I die. I have been given the chance of a lifetime. The chance to be a real hero. You want to know why I'm doing this? I'm doing this to spite the world. To spite everything and everyone who said I'd die worthless and alone. I hate them. I hate them so much that I want to be as kind as I possibly can be so I never even have to be even close to resembling them. I carry that hate with me every day and every blessed night. And if this "Dusknoir" is some sort of asshole god then I'd rather spit in his face and fall down into hell then ever letting someone like that control my life again." Noah stopped and took a moment to breath after his rant
"...Noah I'm sorry"
"It's fine Sam. But I think that a few memories or at least your old personality is bleeding through." Noah said
"Now that you mention it... I think I remember something. Why is the only thing I'm remembering about candy?"
"Maybe it's important to you? Like maybe you and Grovyle used to raid old candy shops or something." Noah said
"Maybe... but since it's been brought up..."
"Sam I don't know if I have any. And if I do it's OLD. But I'll look around in my food pouch and see if I-what the hell? Why is my edibles pouch full of candy? Wait there's a note here from you! You must've slipped em in during the car ride!"
"Really?! What's it say?"
"Thanks for the save back there and I'm sorry we have to leave you like this but we need to do this alone. But I left some of my favourite candy in your bag! I hope you enjoy!- Sam and Grovyle. Aw you two even left a parting gift for me. That's sweet. But anyway here you can have some since you did technically give them to me."
Sam unwrapped a purple grape candy and as soon as he ate it a huge smile was plastered on his face
"That good? Huh I guess they really were your favourite. In that case just take the lot of em." Noah said grabbing a fist full and dropping them inside of Sam's treasure bag
"Thank you! I know this isn't much but this really means a lot to me. Right now I might not have my memory's but that doesn't mean I can't make new ones."
Sam's joy had gotten to Noah as they progressed through the dungeon and even he smiled at Sam's new attitude.
"Hey Sam?"
"Yes Noah?"
"Have you ever tried using that "aura" stuff to enhance your movement?"
"How so?"
"Well what if you did that thing but all over your body and try to make it go outward? Like try to use it to push away something that's threatening you."
Sam thought on it for a moment before making an attempt to try the new move. An explosion of force shoved Noah to the ground
"Sorry sorry! I didn't think it would be that strong."
"No that's great if you do that when something is about to hit you. Can I try something?"
"Sure"
"Ok I'm going to hurl a rock to the right of you, I want to see if this will deflect the rock. If so than you can just blast projectiles out of the air!"
Sam agreed and Noah threw a rock only for it to blast away as soon as Sam used the move
"And just like that-"
Sam fell to his knees heaving and breathing heavily
"Sam! Are you alright?!" Noah asked rushing over and helping Sam to his feet
"I'm fine. I think I just over did it." Sam said in between wheezes
"If you say so. So how about we call it here? I'm getting a bit sick of seeing only rocks. And besides when we get back to town I'll see if I can make a spear or something."
"Sounds good. Let's go home."
And with a flash of their badges they were gone
Although disappointed Chatot took the failure well
"What do you mean you didn't find anything?!"
As well as he could anyway
"Chatot there was nothing there other than a brick haphazardly tied to a stick. And that broke the second I tried to use it. But don't worry, I'll figure something out."
"Well regardless of the success someone made a request for you specifically."
"Who?"
"I did. I need your help." Roserade pleaded
"Ok shoot. If it's difficult and not urgent however I might need a day to get the team together."
"It's my bouquet cloak. It was stolen! I need your help to get it back! I'm willing to come with you if I must."
"...well what say you Sam? Think the three of us could handle this?"
"Yeah. Just give me half an hour to rest."
"Alright then. After a short break we'll be off to find your cloak!"
"Thank you so much Noah!"
"Don't. It's literally my job and I'm not the only one helping."
"Are you and the little one an item or something?"
"Roserade. He's a kid."
"And?"
"...Roserade what the fuck is your major malfunction? You come to US in your time of need and insinuate I sleep around with children?"
"I was just-"
"I was just bullshit. If you ever insult me like that again I'm going to grab you by the hair and drag you through sandpaper until we finally find out where the plant stops and the meat begins."
"...I'm sorry"
"Roserade you need to take a step back and reevaluate exactly what it is you are telling people. The very idea of such a wretched thing makes me want to die. Now do you really want our help finding your cloak?"
"Yes"
"Then don't step out of line like that again. I'm going to pretend this was a faux pass or however you say that and let it go but you better not slip up like that again or I'm done and doing my best to block you out of my life. Now prepare yourself. We got a good 30 minutes before we can head off"
Roserade awkwardly shifted in her spot as Noah walked to his room to wait with Sam
"...has that wood pole always been there?"