Chapter 5: Healing And Talking
Angel crossed the bridge and glanced around, finding what looked to be some snow-capped rocks that looked a bit like a mountain. Finding that to be a bit odd, she then turned and found that there was a giant igloo to her right. She glanced behind her to be sure that her eyes weren't playing tricks on her. "Spring and winter in the same area?" She asked herself. "I don't recall ever seeing this before."
She walked down the path by the igloo and saw a rocky path across a small stream. She walked across that to come to an area that clearly had Autumn or Fall vibes. She spied a ghost nearby with a magnifying glass and went up to him. "Excuse me?" She asked politely.
"Ah, I'm afraid you're too late, miss," the ghost said. "The mystery has been solved. And I must go."
He vanished and she looked confused. "Mystery solved?" She asked before shrugging and turning back around, coming to what looked like an airplane hanger and there was a large plane outside. She glanced around, but didn't see anyone around. "Hmm. Surely whoever owns this wouldn't leave it out unattended like this."
She turned to the hanger doors and saw they were slightly open. She heard a small bark inside and heard someone sigh.
"I know, son. Just hold still," came a rather gruff voice.
"Oh, th-th-those t-t-two int-t-t-truders," another voice said through chattering teeth.
A groan filled the room. "My mouth is sore," a voice whimpered.
Someone else sighed. "Why did those two want the Pineapple Mint anyway?" A female voice asked.
"For something bad, I'm sure," said the first voice.
Angel pushed the door open then, making the people in the room look at her. One was a giant who was holding his mouth as if his jaw was sore while another one looked like a wizard who was shivering, but the thermometer in his mouth was registering that his temperature was a bit high.
Lastly were six dogs, four of them puppies while one was a bulldog and the other was a female dog, all dressed in military uniform. "Oh, g-g-great," the wizard one said sarcastically, still shivering. "A-A-Another o-o-oponent."
"Glumstone too sore for fight," the giant said.
"Certainly a coward's move to fight an opponent who is already hurt," said the female dog, revealing herself to be the female voice Angel had heard mention the Pineapple Mint. She gave the young woman a disapproving look.
One of the puppies looked at Angel and gasped. "Mama! Papa! She has the heart!" He yipped excitedly.
Angel looked confused before realizing he meant her heart pendant. "You mean my necklace?" She asked.
The wizard gasped. "Y-Y-You're t-t-the an-an-angel," he said through chattering teeth.
The bulldog huffed. "No doubt she's with the two that beat us," he said with a growl.
Angel made up her mind and reached into her pack, pulling out a couple healing potions. "Why don't we get you guys feeling better again and then I can ask my questions?" She suggested.
"Why we do that?" The giant asked.
"Because I can't just stand here and continue to let you guys be in pain while I've got the potions that can help you all."
One of the puppies came up to her and he had a bruised arm. Angel kneeled down to his height and uncapped one of the potions, holding it out to him. He sniffed at it for a moment before taking a sip and he perked up, drinking the rest of it and his injuries faded. "She's telling the truth, Mama," the puppy said.
His brothers came up to the young woman and she gave them all potions before one of them took her hand and guided her over to the bulldog and female dog, who looked a bit unsure, but took a deep breath. "Your actions prove what we've heard is true," she said. "Sorry about the gruff greeting earlier."
"It's alright," Angel said. "I'm Angel, by the way."
"Chinook Pilot Saluki, at your service," the female dog said. "This is my husband, Pilot Bulldog, and these four are our sons, the Yankee Yippers. We form the Howling Aces, best flyers this side of the Isles."
The bulldog looked a bit wary, but took a potion for himself, feeling a bit better afterwards and he nodded to his wife to drink it. "The lass is telling the truth," he said.
"May Glumstone have one too?" The giant asked hopefully.
"Sure thing, big guy," Angel said, giving him one of the potions she still had and he gratefully took it. She walked up to the wizard and smiled, giving him one. "Here, this should help with your illness."
He took it gratefully before taking a deep breath, his teeth no longer chattering. "Thank you," he said. "Saluki is right. You really are as good-hearted as we've heard."
"Thank you," the young woman said. "May I ask your name?"
"Mortimer Freeze," he said, taking off his hat and bowing to her politely. She gave a polite curtsey in return.
"I'm glad to have helped, but I have to ask. Saluki, you mentioned two people getting something called a Pineapple Mint. What two people were you talking about and what is a Pineapple Mint exactly?"
"The Pineapple Mint is a special fruit that we guard fiercely and only those that beat us in battle can get one," she said. "But...the Pineapple Mint is also a big part of a recipe called the Wondertart."
"Wondertart bad," Glumstone said seriously. "The two that came took some Gnome Berries from my garden after beating Glumstone in battle."
"I bet the same two came and got my icy sugar cubes after battling me," Mortimer said. "That lady was a powerful fighter. Couldn't really land an attack on her. She just parried and dodged like she had battled me before."
"Same with us," Bulldog said. "She was a tough cookie."
"She switched places with that cup," one of the puppies said.
Angel looked at the pup that had spoke. "Did the cup have a red and white straw?" She asked.
The pup nodded. "Yeah, but how did you know that, Miss Angel?"
"Because he is my nephew and I fear he, his brother, and my sister-in-law are in danger."
The inhabitants looked at each other. "Saltbaker," Mortimer said. "Should have known he'd be behind this."
"No doubt about it now," Saluki said, looking grim.
Glumstone noticed how worried Angel looked. "Saltbaker greedy," he said.
"I'm beginning to see that, but can you guys tell me what the Wondertart really is about. I asked Saltbaker, but he lied to me," she said.
"How could you tell he was lying, lass?" Bulldog asked.
"Because he told me my sister-in-law was his niece, but she doesn't have an uncle," Angel said.
Saluki chuckled. "You saw right though his lies," she said. "Good. Then you already know that he sent your nephews and the lady they are with to fight us and get the ingredients he seeks for the Wondertart."
"Yes," the young woman said.
"In answer to your question, Miss Angel, the Wondertart must be made with the ingredients here on this Isle and handled with care, but those who seek to make it need one very important ingredient. To gain that, they need a ghost and a non-ghost to switch places after eating a special cookie. One they have eaten it, then they have already fallen into a villain's trap," Mortimer said.
"That matches what King Dice told me, but what do you mean by that last sentence?" Angel asked.
"We battled one that switched places with one of your nephews," Saluki said. "Which means that their soul will be easier for Saltbaker to grab when they least expect it.
The young woman felt her heart nearly stop. "You mean...he could already have one of my nephews or my sister-in-law trapped?" She asked. "I could be too late to save them?"
"If the two haven't gotten the last two ingredients they need, then you might still have time," Bulldog said.
"No let Saltbaker have ingredients," Glumstone said.
Angel realized if her nephews and Chalice had already gathered three ingredients, then time was running short. "Can you tell me where they are now?" She asked.
"Go past the waterfall that way and you'll come to the desert," Saluki said, pointing outside and to her left. "They headed that way."
"Thank you," she said.
"Wait!" Mortimer called out and she paused, to which he came up to her and handed her what looked like a snowflake pendant and a small metal stick. "If you need help, tap this snowflake and we'll come to your aid."
Bulldog nodded. "Honor to honor," he said. "You helped us, so we will aid you should you need us."
"Thank you," Angel said to them. "And I'm sorry for my family fighting you."
"Not your fault," Glumstone said.
"He's right," Saluki said.
"Saltbaker tricked them," one of the puppies said.
Nodding, the young woman left the hanger, the others wishing her good luck as she found the bridge Saluki mentioned and crossed over it, coming to the desert that was hot enough to make her feel like it was summer there.
Just then, a rope-and-plank ladder appeared beside her and she grew curious before glancing up to see it led to what looked like a floating castle. Seeing that this would be a great vantage point and hoping against hope that her family was there, she climbed up, moving fast.
After all, time was ticking much more rapidly now.
So Angel met some of the inhabitants. Next up, she meets the King. Will she possibly gain more allies?
Please leave a review, but no flames!
GoldGuardian2418
