Chapter 20 - A Path Once Taken
The next day was met with unearthly sounds coming from Bookshire's office in the form of low
groans and mild puking. Amy had apparently partaken of Anthony's gift, and ate the entire
contents of it in one sitting.
"Amy," Bookshire said, talking to Amy as she flushed the toilet she puked in, "perhaps next
time you'll learn not to eat too many sweets."
Rosie, Knothole's grandmotherly nanny, was also there, and was breaking out a bicarbonate
solution for Amy to take. "Ach! What was Anthony thinking giving you that box of candy? I
swear, the lad may be the Gamemaster, but..."
"Hey, ease up, Rosie!" Anthony said as he walked in to check on Amy. "I was only trying to do
something nice, and I THOUGHT she knew better." Anthony said that last part while giving a
stern glance towards Amy. "Besides, if I knew she was going to do that, I would have gotten
something else!"
"Well, why didn't your psychic powers tell you?" Bookshire asked.
"I can only casually sense strong emotions, and I'm polite enough NOT to read peoples minds
without their permissions! Her wanting to eat the entire box of candy doesn't exactly qualify
as a strong emotion, unless she's a chocoholic!"
"No..." Amy said weakly, "I just have a sweet tooth...urp...oh...no..." Amy quickly relifted
the lid and added another offering to the porcelain god.
Anthony winced at that and turned to Bookshire and Rosie. "I got to get going. Make sure she
stays out of the sweets and doesn't ask anybody going to Minoc to get another box of what I got
her."
Anthony left the office to the sound of another toilet flush and met up with his group. David
was checking his hoverbike while Chris was talking with Megaman about the journey. Sonia
appeared to be comforting Sonic who was, at the moment, rubbing his eyes as if he had been
crying again.
"So...I guess Chuck talked to you then," Anthony said to Sonic as he walked up to the
hedgehogs. "Feel any better?"
"Yes...thank you, but...how did you know I wasn't alright yesterday?" Sonic asked Anthony while
looking at him with slightly red rimmed eyes.
"Sonic...you should know better than to lie to someone who can sense strong emotions to the
contrary. I figured Chuck might be able to help..."
"...and he did," Sonia said. "He should be able to work with Megaman without getting misty
eyed from seeing Rush."
"Good to hear that," Anthony said, then turned towards the other members of the group. "You
guys ready to go?"
"Affirmative, Anthony," Megaman said, as Rush converted to jet mode.
"Then lets move out!"
Sonia climbed on David's hoverbike with David and Chris climbed on Rush with Megaman. Anthony
then activated his jet sled as Sonic revved his legs, and the six of them sped off towards
Sonic's old kingdom.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ride towards the kingdom of Mobara, as it was called, was uneventful at best. Many of
Anthony's group were still keeping an eye out for sentries as they went, but so far no enemy
bots were spotted.
"Man, this is boring!" Sonic said. "I was expecting at least one swatbutt encounter, but so
far, nada!"
"What do you suggest we do to entertain ourselves on this trip, Sonic?" Anthony asked. "Play
cards at 80 MPH? Unless you like high speed 52-pickup..."
"Well...you're all riding high speed vehicles, and I've got my speed..."
Anthony caught on to what Sonic was saying, and turned to the others. "Hey guys, I could use a
speed test on my jet sled here while we're on route and Sonic's looking for some fun. You guys
want to drag?"
"I'm DEFINITELY in!" David said. "You don't mind, do you Suni?"
"No way! This should be fun!"
"Why not? Rush could use some exercise!" Megaman said.
"I'd better hang on tight then," Chris said, then noticing clamps attaching to his feet from
Rush's back.
"Those should help as well, Chris, but hang on to me anyway!"
Anthony saw everyone ready and said, "Alright then...ready...GO!"
The six of them sped off at top speed. David maneuvered into Anthony's tailgate area to get a
speed check of his jet sled. It was holding steady at 120 MPH, and David was not impressed.
Rush was falling behind at 115 MPH.
"That's all that sled can do, Anth?" David asked then turned toward Sonic. "Hey, Sonic, let's
show these outworld guys what we can do!"
Sonic and David then started to go at triple speed, leaving the psion and the bot in the dust
going close to 300 MPH. Anthony and Megaman kept their speeds at maximum, and eventually
caught up to the two of them, but only because they were stopped and waiting at an open area
several hundred miles ahead. As it happened, it was a good place to camp and recharge, since
the sun was beginning to set.
"Anth, you need to tell the Doc to get that thing out of first gear," Sonic said as Anthony
stopped and deactivated his vehicle, reverting it to basic platemail. Megaman also stopped to
give Rush a rest.
"First gear, huh?" Anthony asked. "How fast was I going?"
"Looked like a top speed of 120 MPH. Not bad for a portable unit, but still not good enough
for Sonic and I," David said as he turned toward Sonia. "How'd you like the ride Suni?"
Sonia wasn't listening. She was looking around at the surroundings with a strange look in her
eye. Anthony could sense strong emotions in her: sorrow, fear...it was almost as if she
recognized the place.
"Sonia, what's wrong?" Anthony asked.
"It's..." she started to say, and then started to cry. David realized what was wrong and
started to comfort his distraught girlfriend.
"Guys, I think we may have hit an area she has tried to forget. I think it was here that her
fiancee Brent was killed by Packbell many years ago."
Anthony understood, and started to set up the camp as Sonic and David tried to comfort Sonia.
He then turned to Megaman and said, "We should probably set up watches tonight just in case of
trouble. Can you take watch and recharge at the same time?"
"Afraid not, I still use energy while active. I could probably take half the night without
problems."
"OK, I'll take the first shift then, since I can use my psionics to scan for trouble, and
you'll take..."
"Anth!" David spoke up. "Better let me take first shift and you take second. Something tells
me I'll be up with Suni for a while yet, and I want those robot friends of yours at top energy
if we run into trouble."
"Speaking of recharge," Chris said, opening a supply pack from the back of David's hoverbike,
"I'll get supper started...Sonia, will you be alright?"
Sonia nodded, still being embraced by David.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anthony was woken up around 2 a.m. for his shift. He managed to get the equivalent of a full
nights sleep using a new power he tried, but expected to be even more sleepy the next evening.
"My turn? Thanks, Davie. I heard Sonia still crying when I dozed off, how is she?"
"Sleeping right now. I guess memories of Brent still haunt her, poor girl..."
"Good thing she has you, Davie. Have a good sleep."
Anthony stood up to observe the surroundings while David turned in. Even though it was pitch
dark Anthony managed to keep his powers on full alert, allowing him to sense every movement in
the immediate area. It was quite an experience, being able to sense the slightest breeze, the
movement of forest animals, the presence of someone coming towards the camp...
That last one caught Anthony's attention immediately. He used his clairvoyance ability to
"look" in the direction and catch a glimpse of someone sneaking up to the camp. He also sensed
that, whoever this was, was focused on him and looking for him.
Anthony turned towards the stranger just as the stranger came within 20 feet and took a good
glance using a low-light vision power to reveal the stranger to be a black fox, obviously
female, in thief's garments. He then sent a telepathic message that surprised her out of her
wits...
*Is that you, Sandra Nightweaver?*
The fox walked up to Anthony, quietly to avoid waking the others, and eyed him carefully.
"That is my name," Sandra whispered, "but how did you know?"
*I've seen you in the fanfiction of my world, the same ones which mention your friend Ryan. By
the way, just think of what you want to say to me and I'll pick it up telepathically, since I'm
guessing you don't want to be seen yet.*
*Quite correct,* Sandra thought. *I suppose you figured out that I came to see you.*
*Wasn't too hard, seeing how focused you were on me when you arrived. Care to explain why?*
*I'm providing my services to you for when you arrive in Mobara.*
*Providing? That's not like you...usually you ask for something in exchange, like money or
other valuables. Why the freebie?*
Sandra smiled. *Let's just call it payment for services you have already rendered...*
*Ah...repayment for saving Ryan's life.*
*That...and because I'm curious to see the new Gamemaster of Arcadia in action.*
*Very well...find someplace outside camp to bunk for the night then make an appearance tomorrow
morning. I'll tell the group of your coming when you arrive.*
*Alright, see you tomorrow then...*
Sandra quietly returned to the solace of the forest, and Anthony returned to guard duty. He
managed to pick up one final thought from Sandra that made him seethe...
*Rather talented for a guy that looks like an accountant...*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning saw the group getting ready to leave. Everything from camping equipment to
rechargers were loaded back into David's hoverbike. Anthony asked Sonia how she was doing, and
then started keeping an eye out for Sandra.
"Yo Anth, we're all ready here! What you looking for?" Sonic asked, tapping his foot in
impatience.
"One moment, Sonic, I'm expecting..."
Suddenly from out of nowhere, Sandra jumped into the middle of the group and surprised everyone
except Anthony.
"...her. Shall we get going, Sandra?"
"Whoa, whoa! Time out, Anth," Sonic said, eyeing Sandra suspiciously. "What's she doing here?
Ryan isn't with our group and I doubt you had enough Mobiums to pay her off!"
"Actually, she's offering her services as payment for us helping Ryan at Minoc," Anthony said,
then looked at Sandra with a sly smile. "Didn't realize you were THAT close, Sandra!"
Sandra smiled back. "Why else am I giving you the freebie?"
"Well you owe me anyway for the accountant crack you gave as you were leaving the camp last
night."
"You sensed that, huh, Gamemaster?"
"Yes, and call me Anthony. I don't like being called by my title by my allies."
"Very well. Let's get going!"
"Anth..." Sonic said, shaking his head, "I hope you know what you're doing..."
Everyone climbed on their respective vehicles, with Sandra stepping on Anthony's jet sled with
him, and they continued toward Mobara.
The next day was met with unearthly sounds coming from Bookshire's office in the form of low
groans and mild puking. Amy had apparently partaken of Anthony's gift, and ate the entire
contents of it in one sitting.
"Amy," Bookshire said, talking to Amy as she flushed the toilet she puked in, "perhaps next
time you'll learn not to eat too many sweets."
Rosie, Knothole's grandmotherly nanny, was also there, and was breaking out a bicarbonate
solution for Amy to take. "Ach! What was Anthony thinking giving you that box of candy? I
swear, the lad may be the Gamemaster, but..."
"Hey, ease up, Rosie!" Anthony said as he walked in to check on Amy. "I was only trying to do
something nice, and I THOUGHT she knew better." Anthony said that last part while giving a
stern glance towards Amy. "Besides, if I knew she was going to do that, I would have gotten
something else!"
"Well, why didn't your psychic powers tell you?" Bookshire asked.
"I can only casually sense strong emotions, and I'm polite enough NOT to read peoples minds
without their permissions! Her wanting to eat the entire box of candy doesn't exactly qualify
as a strong emotion, unless she's a chocoholic!"
"No..." Amy said weakly, "I just have a sweet tooth...urp...oh...no..." Amy quickly relifted
the lid and added another offering to the porcelain god.
Anthony winced at that and turned to Bookshire and Rosie. "I got to get going. Make sure she
stays out of the sweets and doesn't ask anybody going to Minoc to get another box of what I got
her."
Anthony left the office to the sound of another toilet flush and met up with his group. David
was checking his hoverbike while Chris was talking with Megaman about the journey. Sonia
appeared to be comforting Sonic who was, at the moment, rubbing his eyes as if he had been
crying again.
"So...I guess Chuck talked to you then," Anthony said to Sonic as he walked up to the
hedgehogs. "Feel any better?"
"Yes...thank you, but...how did you know I wasn't alright yesterday?" Sonic asked Anthony while
looking at him with slightly red rimmed eyes.
"Sonic...you should know better than to lie to someone who can sense strong emotions to the
contrary. I figured Chuck might be able to help..."
"...and he did," Sonia said. "He should be able to work with Megaman without getting misty
eyed from seeing Rush."
"Good to hear that," Anthony said, then turned towards the other members of the group. "You
guys ready to go?"
"Affirmative, Anthony," Megaman said, as Rush converted to jet mode.
"Then lets move out!"
Sonia climbed on David's hoverbike with David and Chris climbed on Rush with Megaman. Anthony
then activated his jet sled as Sonic revved his legs, and the six of them sped off towards
Sonic's old kingdom.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ride towards the kingdom of Mobara, as it was called, was uneventful at best. Many of
Anthony's group were still keeping an eye out for sentries as they went, but so far no enemy
bots were spotted.
"Man, this is boring!" Sonic said. "I was expecting at least one swatbutt encounter, but so
far, nada!"
"What do you suggest we do to entertain ourselves on this trip, Sonic?" Anthony asked. "Play
cards at 80 MPH? Unless you like high speed 52-pickup..."
"Well...you're all riding high speed vehicles, and I've got my speed..."
Anthony caught on to what Sonic was saying, and turned to the others. "Hey guys, I could use a
speed test on my jet sled here while we're on route and Sonic's looking for some fun. You guys
want to drag?"
"I'm DEFINITELY in!" David said. "You don't mind, do you Suni?"
"No way! This should be fun!"
"Why not? Rush could use some exercise!" Megaman said.
"I'd better hang on tight then," Chris said, then noticing clamps attaching to his feet from
Rush's back.
"Those should help as well, Chris, but hang on to me anyway!"
Anthony saw everyone ready and said, "Alright then...ready...GO!"
The six of them sped off at top speed. David maneuvered into Anthony's tailgate area to get a
speed check of his jet sled. It was holding steady at 120 MPH, and David was not impressed.
Rush was falling behind at 115 MPH.
"That's all that sled can do, Anth?" David asked then turned toward Sonic. "Hey, Sonic, let's
show these outworld guys what we can do!"
Sonic and David then started to go at triple speed, leaving the psion and the bot in the dust
going close to 300 MPH. Anthony and Megaman kept their speeds at maximum, and eventually
caught up to the two of them, but only because they were stopped and waiting at an open area
several hundred miles ahead. As it happened, it was a good place to camp and recharge, since
the sun was beginning to set.
"Anth, you need to tell the Doc to get that thing out of first gear," Sonic said as Anthony
stopped and deactivated his vehicle, reverting it to basic platemail. Megaman also stopped to
give Rush a rest.
"First gear, huh?" Anthony asked. "How fast was I going?"
"Looked like a top speed of 120 MPH. Not bad for a portable unit, but still not good enough
for Sonic and I," David said as he turned toward Sonia. "How'd you like the ride Suni?"
Sonia wasn't listening. She was looking around at the surroundings with a strange look in her
eye. Anthony could sense strong emotions in her: sorrow, fear...it was almost as if she
recognized the place.
"Sonia, what's wrong?" Anthony asked.
"It's..." she started to say, and then started to cry. David realized what was wrong and
started to comfort his distraught girlfriend.
"Guys, I think we may have hit an area she has tried to forget. I think it was here that her
fiancee Brent was killed by Packbell many years ago."
Anthony understood, and started to set up the camp as Sonic and David tried to comfort Sonia.
He then turned to Megaman and said, "We should probably set up watches tonight just in case of
trouble. Can you take watch and recharge at the same time?"
"Afraid not, I still use energy while active. I could probably take half the night without
problems."
"OK, I'll take the first shift then, since I can use my psionics to scan for trouble, and
you'll take..."
"Anth!" David spoke up. "Better let me take first shift and you take second. Something tells
me I'll be up with Suni for a while yet, and I want those robot friends of yours at top energy
if we run into trouble."
"Speaking of recharge," Chris said, opening a supply pack from the back of David's hoverbike,
"I'll get supper started...Sonia, will you be alright?"
Sonia nodded, still being embraced by David.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Anthony was woken up around 2 a.m. for his shift. He managed to get the equivalent of a full
nights sleep using a new power he tried, but expected to be even more sleepy the next evening.
"My turn? Thanks, Davie. I heard Sonia still crying when I dozed off, how is she?"
"Sleeping right now. I guess memories of Brent still haunt her, poor girl..."
"Good thing she has you, Davie. Have a good sleep."
Anthony stood up to observe the surroundings while David turned in. Even though it was pitch
dark Anthony managed to keep his powers on full alert, allowing him to sense every movement in
the immediate area. It was quite an experience, being able to sense the slightest breeze, the
movement of forest animals, the presence of someone coming towards the camp...
That last one caught Anthony's attention immediately. He used his clairvoyance ability to
"look" in the direction and catch a glimpse of someone sneaking up to the camp. He also sensed
that, whoever this was, was focused on him and looking for him.
Anthony turned towards the stranger just as the stranger came within 20 feet and took a good
glance using a low-light vision power to reveal the stranger to be a black fox, obviously
female, in thief's garments. He then sent a telepathic message that surprised her out of her
wits...
*Is that you, Sandra Nightweaver?*
The fox walked up to Anthony, quietly to avoid waking the others, and eyed him carefully.
"That is my name," Sandra whispered, "but how did you know?"
*I've seen you in the fanfiction of my world, the same ones which mention your friend Ryan. By
the way, just think of what you want to say to me and I'll pick it up telepathically, since I'm
guessing you don't want to be seen yet.*
*Quite correct,* Sandra thought. *I suppose you figured out that I came to see you.*
*Wasn't too hard, seeing how focused you were on me when you arrived. Care to explain why?*
*I'm providing my services to you for when you arrive in Mobara.*
*Providing? That's not like you...usually you ask for something in exchange, like money or
other valuables. Why the freebie?*
Sandra smiled. *Let's just call it payment for services you have already rendered...*
*Ah...repayment for saving Ryan's life.*
*That...and because I'm curious to see the new Gamemaster of Arcadia in action.*
*Very well...find someplace outside camp to bunk for the night then make an appearance tomorrow
morning. I'll tell the group of your coming when you arrive.*
*Alright, see you tomorrow then...*
Sandra quietly returned to the solace of the forest, and Anthony returned to guard duty. He
managed to pick up one final thought from Sandra that made him seethe...
*Rather talented for a guy that looks like an accountant...*
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The next morning saw the group getting ready to leave. Everything from camping equipment to
rechargers were loaded back into David's hoverbike. Anthony asked Sonia how she was doing, and
then started keeping an eye out for Sandra.
"Yo Anth, we're all ready here! What you looking for?" Sonic asked, tapping his foot in
impatience.
"One moment, Sonic, I'm expecting..."
Suddenly from out of nowhere, Sandra jumped into the middle of the group and surprised everyone
except Anthony.
"...her. Shall we get going, Sandra?"
"Whoa, whoa! Time out, Anth," Sonic said, eyeing Sandra suspiciously. "What's she doing here?
Ryan isn't with our group and I doubt you had enough Mobiums to pay her off!"
"Actually, she's offering her services as payment for us helping Ryan at Minoc," Anthony said,
then looked at Sandra with a sly smile. "Didn't realize you were THAT close, Sandra!"
Sandra smiled back. "Why else am I giving you the freebie?"
"Well you owe me anyway for the accountant crack you gave as you were leaving the camp last
night."
"You sensed that, huh, Gamemaster?"
"Yes, and call me Anthony. I don't like being called by my title by my allies."
"Very well. Let's get going!"
"Anth..." Sonic said, shaking his head, "I hope you know what you're doing..."
Everyone climbed on their respective vehicles, with Sandra stepping on Anthony's jet sled with
him, and they continued toward Mobara.