Love Lasts Forever
Chapter 11: The Quarter Mile
Previously on Love Lasts Forever: Hamtaro and the Army of the Rainbow faced their enemy, The Shadow Leigons, who are led by Glacier. Hamtaro and Glacier talk about the rules, and the Hamtaro is challenged by Glacier's brother, Mace. To Hamtaro's horror, Mace has the power to turn into a fearsome, giant black cobra! As Hamtaro is almost killed by this brutal beast, a lightened orb formed by Harmony forms around him. Using the blinding dust that Harmony gave him, Hamtaro blinds the snake and strikes. Now, Hamtaro has to run back to the city, gather some of his friends, and follow the path to the peak of Mount SkyLight to the Temple of Heaven.....
The black cobra screamed in pain. Hamtaro jumped back as the fallen form of Mace fell dead. Hamtaro was pretty shaken. He hadn't ever really KILLED somebody or something before! Hamtaro then watched as Spat came running over, covering his arm with his other one. Hamtaro noticed that one of his arms had a small, but hollow cut inside it, and it was bleeding openly. Hamtaro also noticed that the fur around it wasn't turning gray. Spat said, "Hey, it's not grey because I'm already dark and untrustful enough, Hamtaro." Then, Hamtaro realized that Spat didn't say his usual "pfpth" after each sentence. Hamtaro and Spat fought through the crowd, and reached the city.
Spat's arm was bandaged, and Hamtaro sat on one of the couches in the rest house with the few hamsters that were there. Bijou was talking in a corner with Pashmina, Sandy and Penelope. Bijou looked up, noticed Hamtaro was back, and was over hugging Hamtaro before you could say, "Hi". She let him go, and said, "You're okay! I'm so happy!" Hamtaro saw that she had a sort of worried expression on her face. He smiled and said, "Hey, you don't need to be worried. I'm okay." Bijou was too happy to remove her expression.
Spat came over and said, "Hamtaro, what about this Scepter of Heaven's Light...quest....thing?" Hamtaro looked up and just when he was about to ask, "How did you know," he said, "You're right. We should gather some people and set off for the path." Bijou was the first one to agree to come, and then Boss, Daisy, and Spat agreed after. They decided that the first thing to do was gather supplies. Bijou and Daisy went to get a sack with which they filled food and bottles of heated and cold water. Hamtaro and Spat went to go get a bag which they filled with blankets and weapons. Then, they all met at the beginning of the path, and set off.
The path was a really pretty one. The trees' branches bent over it like a canopy, and when the light shone through, it provided shade and good warmth at the same time. There were tiny herbs along the roadside, in which you could pick these, wash them in a stream that always went along the path, and eat them or use them when you cook. It was usually filled with the sounds of birds and the rustling of the trees. Hamtaro and the group enjoyed it here. Soon, it began to become late in the afternoon, and the path was filled with a warm glow. The day was still nice but there was a disturbance in the air. Boss said, "There's something wrong here, man." Hamtaro knew it, too. The day was still as nice as ever, but the birds were quiet and the grass rustled no longer. Even the sun's rays felt cold. Hamtaro felt the presence of something else. Then it hit him.
"Guys," he said, "get down!" The group hid swiftly and quietly under a few rocks, and some hid under hollow spaces under roots. Then, like a eagle, out of nowhere, swept down Kamikuro, who turned into Glacier just as he hit the ground. Glacier looked around for a moment, and Hamtaro could see his piercing blue eyes. Hamtaro frowned for a moment as Glacier rolled his eyes, and walked over to a rock. From this rock, he pulled out a hamster Hamtaro hadn't met, who had hazel fur and deep brown eyes to match. Glacier said, " Allor, what are you doing here?!" Allor winced sadly. "Sorry," he said rather impishly. " Bah," Glacier said. "Have you seen a group of hamsters walk by?" Allor bowed softly and said, " No, captain." Allor walked off down the trail, and Glacier transformed into Kamikuro again. He launched off the ground and flew back down the trail.
Hamtaro lifted his head from behind the rock he was hiding behind, and quietly whispered, "Okay guys, it's safe." Everyone came out from their hiding places. Ten minutes later, they reached a fork in the road. "This is bad," Daisy said sadly. They didn't know what to do. Then, all of a sudden, a small creature Hamtaro hadn't noticed, said, "You wish to know which way to go?" It was a rather tiny creature, about half the size of Hamtaro, with small kangaroo-like legs, a long tail that was like a lizards, and the body of a mouse. It stood on it's hind legs and was all jumpy. It said, " If you want to know which way, you have to solve my riddle. Ready?" Hamtaro nervously nodded. The mouse said:
What stands tall and upright
is brighter than light
and heals pain as
dark as night?
It was tricky. Hamtaro thought about it. No one else knew. Then, Maxwell's words flashed in his mind: The only way to heal a living victim of the staff is to gather the nemesis of the weapon, which is the Scepter of Heaven's Light...Hamtaro then asked, "Is it the Scepter of Heaven's Light?" The mouse smiled and said, "That's.....RIGHT!" Everyone sighed. Then, the mouse said, "Go to the left. There are no more forks, so just keep going straight. Oh yeah, stay off of the dirt road beside the paved road, no matter what there is. It will lead you to distress." "Thanks," Hamtaro said, and they kept going. Soon, they saw a sign that said, You're now a quarter mile closer to the Temle of Heaven."
Next time on Love Lasts Forever: Glacier's found out about their passing by the fork in the road. Now, he has a plan to tempt them toward the dirt road. A plan that will lead them toward a trap...and maybe a loss.....I only said maybe.