Animal Crossing In Action: Duo Of Justice
Chapter 30: Duo In Desperation
In the afternoon, Vicki was getting worried about Robert since Allen captured him in her dream. When she saw the dark knight's video, it made her shudder to think about the decision he gave her whether it's her life or Robert's. She only had twelve hours to make a choice before she has to face Allen alone. Suddenly, someone came behind her and put the paw on her shoulder. Vicki immediately turned around and saw Katrina whose eyes were worried, but started to sparkle.
"Come to my shop, there's something I must give you," said Katrina patiently.
"Oh, um, okay..." said Vicki, as she was following Katrina to the fortune-teller's shop right away.
After Katrina gave something useful to Vicki, the mayor sat down at the town tree and started to think about Robert. Serena and Neon suddenly appeared and looked up to Vicki who seemed to be very sad. The dog guardian came up to her and hugged her arm for comfort. The dragon guardian climbed up to her shoulder to accompany her.
"Oh hey guys..." said Vicki quietly.
"Hey Vicki, Neon told me about what happened to Robert..." said Serena.
"That's right," Neon agreed. "Before Robert disappeared in reality, we just saw the whole thing...in your dreams."
"Wait, what?" Vicki asked. "H-How so?"
"Well, you see...we were watching your dreams from the fountain this whole time," Serena explained, as she was pointing at the fountain.
"H-How was that possible? If you guys saw it, then why didn't you com and help us when we were under attack by Allen?"
"About that situation, there was a slight problem..." Neon replied. "When Allen invaded your dreams, he quickly used his power to block us from entering."
"Oh, no way..." Vicki immediately stood up and the guardians quickly moved away. "I only have few hours left before meeting up with Allen at night. So, I still have time to make my own decision. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to go to the Roost to get some coffee!"
As soon as Vicki left the town plaza, Serena and Neon were staring at each other dumbfounded. Although, they were so worried about what choice Vicki had to make, but all they had to do now was to wait and see.
Inside of the Roost, Vicki was staring at the coffee that Brewster made for her. She couldn't help, but to sigh no matter how much she missed Robert. She used to sit next to him, and they both enjoyed their coffee together. Suddenly, Nick and Serenity stopped by and saw Vicki at the table. So, they decided to join her and had a chat with her for just a little while.
"Hey Vicki!" said Nick and Serenity in unison.
"Oh hey guys, what's up?" Vicki asked.
"Oh, we were just checking on you, sis," Nick replied. "I know it's been tough since Robert was captured by Allen."
"Yeah, I just don't know what to do..."
"We know exactly how you feel, Vicki," said Serenity softly.
All of the sudden, Sammy and Jimmy entered the Roost and spotted Vicki and the others at the table. So, they went to their table to interrupt their conversation.
"What's up, geek squad?" Sammy asked. "Hey Silverwing, where's your lover boy?"
"Yeah, where is he?" Jimmy asked. "Uh, what's his name again? Gold...something? Oh yeah, Goldenbridge, correct?"
Vicki sighed heavily. "I'm pretty sure Robert already told you many times that his last name is Goldstein."
"But anyways, why so glum, Mayor V?" Sammy asked.
"Um, why do you two want to know?"
"Let me guess..." said Jimmy. "It's about Robert Schmobert, is it? Did you two have a hard time together?"
"Uh guys, I don't think my sister wants to discuss this with you two," said Nick.
"Hey, nobody asked you, Nicky-boy!" Sammy argued.
"Yeah!" Jimmy agreed.
While the boys were arguing at each other, Vicki quietly snuck away from the group and left the Roost right away. Serenity didn't have anything to say, but to keep quiet about it to herself. All of the sudden, Lorelei and Darren entered the Roost and found the argument between Nick and the Slapjack twins. Then, they glanced at Serenity who sighed and shrugged at them, but refused to tell them of what's going on.
In the evening, Vicki was staring at the golden rose that Robert gave her when they were in their heroic versions back at Club LOL. She smelled the beautiful rose and kissed it, which it reminded her of him. She looked through the window and saw the airplane flying in the sky.
"Oh wow, I wish I would take the airplane to travel the world or the island, perhaps..." said Vicki softly. "If only Robert was thinking the same thing as I am right now, we would've traveled together, and I believe it will be great!"
Vicki put the golden rose on her desk and started to lie down on her bed. She looked up at the ceiling and started to think very carefully. Her choice was to either to turn herself in or Masked Swordmaster would die. She never wanted him to die because he didn't deserve it. So instead, her choice was to turn herself in to Allen, which it was the only way to save Robert's life, and her mind was finally made up already. Suddenly, the guardians appeared inside of Vicki's room, and she was very surprised to see them.
"Serena, Neon, you're here!" said Vicki surprisingly.
"Hey Vicki, did you already make your decision?" Neon asked. "If you have, we're all ears right now."
"That's right, you'll only have five hours left," said Serena, reminding Vicki about the time. "So, let us hear your choice..."
"Okay, I've already made my choice, and here it is..." said Vicki, as she revealed her decision to Serena and Neon.
Five minutes later, the guardians were very shock to hear about Vicki's choice and shouted, "EXCUSE ME?! WHAT?!"
"Well, you guys heard me..." said Vicki, covering her ears with her pillow. "I've decided to turn myself in to Allen..."
"Can't you at least come up with the plan or something first?" Serena asked.
"She's right, you will need a plan right now before meeting up with Allen," said Neon.
"I already have one in my head, guys," said Vicki. "Besides, I'm not going to let Robert die no matter what happens to him!"
"We already know that, Vicki, but..." Serena faltered.
"I'll be fine, Serena. There's no need to worry about me."
While Vicki was still talking to the guardians, neither of them noticed that Nick was standing behind the bedroom door and listening to the whole thing. He was a bit disappointed that his sister chose to take a risk in order to save Robert's life. He quietly went to his bedroom and made a heavy sigh.
Few hours later, Phantom Angel was all alone in the middle of the night. She was waiting for Allen to show up at anytime and anywhere. Everyone, in town, fell asleep in their homes and StarLily became very quiet during the night. Serena and Neon appeared out of nowhere and told her that every human and animal were in a deep sleep. That was until they heard someone's footsteps, and they were approaching to their direction.
"Huh? Nick...and the others?!" said Phantom Angel surprisingly. "W-What are you all doing here?! I thought you guys were asleep already! You shouldn't be here in the time like this!"
"But we just wanted to see you before you go," said Lorelei anxiously. "Even if Allen was trying to spare Robert's life, just don't risk your own life please..."
"She's right, it's got to be a trick," said Darren. "Whether you may know it or not..."
"We already know that Robert is more important to you," said Serenity, "but you two are more important to us than anything in the world! That's why we could hardly sleep..."
"Sister, may I ask you something?" Nick asked. "Is Robert's life means a lot to you than your own?"
"For my sake, yes..." Phantom Angel replied, as Nick broke into silence and felt very disappointed. She sighed heavily after she saw him acting this way. "But do you remember the time when you risked your life to save Serenity from Nightmare Mime and Professor Joe?"
"Huh? Y-Yeah, I do..."
"Then, I will do the same thing for Robert!"
Suddenly, Allen appeared from his portal and Phantom Angel told everyone to leave for their safety. As soon as everyone left, she and the guardians were ready to confront him. Nick, Serenity, Lorelei, and Darren were watching them from behind the building.
"Hello Vicki, have you been waiting for me that long?" Allen asked.
"Where's Masked Swordmaster?" Phantom Angel asked, ignoring Allen's question. "Where is he? Just show him to me!"
Allen sighed. "Fine, have it your way."
Allen clapped his hands as the dark magic orb appeared with Masked Swordmaster inside of it. As soon as it disappeared, he stood up on his feet, but he suddenly collapsed to the ground. The angel gasped with her eyes wide-opened as she quickly rushed to the injured white knight.
"Oh no, Masked Swordmaster!" Phantom Angel cried, as she was starting to shake her ally. "Are you alright? Say something! Anything!"
"Oh, please no..." said Serena quietly, as her eyes were full of sorrow.
"I-It can't be..." said Neon softly.
There was no response from Masked Swordmaster somehow when he was still unconscious. Until Phantom Angel found something on the side of his stomach, she spotted the dark poison crystal which was stuck to his side. She also saw the blood that was slowly dripping from his side and got stained on his shirt. She feared this would happen that she began to cry and scream in agony.
"Allen, you...you murdering madman!" Phantom Angel cried. "Y-You promised me that you would spare his life for mine! But instead, you killed him right away!"
Lorelei fell down on her knees and started to cry in agony. She wailed so loud because her brother was killed by their own childhood friend. Everyone hugged her for comfort, including Darren who wouldn't forgive Allen for killing his best friend.
Phantom Angel moved her face closer to Masked Swordmaster's face, her nose touched his nose, and gave him a kiss on the lips. Her tear fell from her eye and dropped onto his cheek. Serena and Neon were despaired about this that they began to embrace each other. The sorrow wouldn't last until Allen dragged Phantom Angel away from Masked Swordmaster. She was struggling to get his hands off of her and wanted to stay by her ally's side.
"Stop with your hassling already, you fool!" Allen exclaimed. "You already made your choice, am I right?"
"If I would've known better, then you could've taken me from our dreams, not him!" Phantom Angel exclaimed. "Besides, I'm the one who took your journal and other things from the start!"
"Then, you shouldn't have done that before you will get yourself involved with all this! So, let's go...You and me!"
Nick was very furious that Allen grabbed Phantom Angel by her arm very tightly. He wanted to jump out, run to him, and punch his face so badly. But instead, his friends stopped him by holding him when he was in rage.
"Guys, let go of me now!" Nick yelled. "I want to punch this maniac's face for what he did to my friend; and now he forced my sister to turn herself in!"
"But dude, Allen's going to toss you like a ball!" Darren exclaimed. "Just like he did to me once when I tried to save Lorelei!"
"What? Seriously, man?!"
Serena and Neon were very angry at Allen that they were starting to attack him with their own powers, but he blocked their attacks with his spear before he and Phantom Angel disappeared. The guardians and the four humans rushed to check on Masked Swordmaster who was unconscious the whole time. Lorelei was very sad that her older brother was injured and bruised so badly.
"B-Big brother..." Lorelei cried, as she hugged Masked Swordmaster in grief. "Y-You can't die...not like this!"
"There must be some way we can save him!" said Nick.
"But how exactly, Nick?" Serenity asked.
"Just leave everything to me..." said the calm voice, as everyone turned around to see of who it was. It was none other than Katrina whose eyes were sad, but glimmered.
"Katrina?" said everyone in surprise.
"So, you can possibly help him somehow?" Neon asked curiously.
"Yes, there is a chance that I will help him. Just bring him to my shop right away..."
"Right!" said Serena and Neon in unison. They started to teleport Masked Swordmaster to the fortune-teller's shop right away.
It's been over a day since Phantom Angel turned herself in to Allen after he let Masked Swordmaster go and killed him. Robert slowly opened his eyes from blur to clear sight while he was moaning. He found himself lying on the bed inside of the fortune-teller's shop. He tried to get up, but he felt the sharp pain from the side of his stomach. He suddenly noticed that the shard was removed from his side and the bandage was wrapped around his stomach. All of the sudden, he smelled something very horrible as he saw Katrina making a potion where the smell was coming from. After she was done mixing the potion, she approached to Robert and was ready to give him the potion. But the scent of it was disturbing his nose, and he made a disgusted face when he looked at it.
"Uh...if you're planning to give it to me, then I'm going to have to pa-AAHH!" Robert shrieked, as Katrina poked him with the acupuncture needle on his left shoulder and made him drink the potion before she removed the needle. He started to cough a few times after he drank it. "Ugh! What kind of stuff did you put in that potion?!"
"Just only the medicinal herbs and one dried Jacob's ladder that will make you feel better and stronger," Katrina replied. "Besides, if Vicki hadn't saved your life, then you would've been dead by now..."
"Wait, what do you mean by that?"
Katrina's eyes began to sparkle and explained everything to Robert. "Well, you see...I predicted Vicki would choose to sacrifice her life for yours. So, I gave her the item that would save your life. The item is called the miracle lipstick, the color matches her lip color she applied before in her heroic version. I told her to apply it right away before confronting your enemy."
"What does the miracle lipstick do after Vicki applies it?"
"I'm getting to that part right now. As soon as I had a bad feeling you got killed by your nemesis, she kissed you right away before she was taken away... After the kiss, the miracle lipstick took effect on you. So, you should be awakened after one day in the morning, which it is now."
"Oh, and here I thought I was dead..."
"No, you're still alive though...Thanks to the miracle lipstick's effectiveness that I made, it finally saved your life."
"You mean it saved Vicki, and she saved my life..."
Robert got up from the bed right away, and he didn't feel the pain after all. It was all thanks to Katrina's potion, she made for him, he was able to move and felt much stronger now. But Katrina told him to wait, and there's something he must do before he planned to save Vicki. Serena and Neon brought the box to her, and she gave it to Robert. She told him to open it and so he did; inside of the box was the dark poison crystal that was attached to him before. This time, it has no effect on him whatsoever.
"The results are now positive," said Katrina. "I just mixed a couple of potions and tested out your guardian, but they all seemed so negative...Until I mixed the right potion, it looks as though the dark poison crystal has no stand a chance against you. So, this means you will be fine for now."
"Thank you, Katrina," said Robert. "Since I've got my energy back, I'm ready to save Vicki from Allen!"
"And we're coming with you!" said Neon in triumph.
"That's right, I will use my teleportation powers to take us to Emblem, Robert," said Serena. "That way, you will rescue Vicki no matter what!"
"Thank you, guys, I'd really appreciate it!" said Robert happily.
Robert was determined that he would save Vicki from Allen with the guardians' help. He would no longer hold back whenever he saw the dark poison crystal, thanks to Katrina's potion he took from her. He was now prepared to face Allen one last time back in Emblem so he and Vicki would return to StarLily safe and sound.