A/N:Gradually making my way,the huge parts take off next chapter.
Towards Canal's Electronic Shop...
The weather had apparently betrayed it's attempt to remain equatorial as a small blistery feeling now filled the air,while the teens that now also comprised of Arceila made their way down the sidewalk with occasional noisy traffic rising from certain parts of the neighbourhood.But Wendy barely payed any mind,as the sight of the shop came within view and she still felt uncertain about things.
"So it's agreed,the Huntsman had to use the skulls sometime around when you guy's parents were still young,right?"Josh piped up confirmingly.
"Yeah,"She replied with careful concealment of what was on her mind."We need to find out exactly where they are,first of all and then I guess the next important thing to getting them back would be to find out how they work."
"Just so long as we keep them at a distance from one another."Cole added fastidiously,making it a point to catch her eyes momentarily."That's the key element,if their too close together they'll annihilate all magical creatures."
"Do you suppose he's going to just give you it?"Arceila asked Wendy with a bit of doubtfullness hinted in her voice,from where she was between her and Cole as they approached the shop just a few feet."He doesn't seem like the type who will just give out whatever you need whenever needed."
"Don't worry,Arc,"she chuckled reassuringly."Fu Dog is very negotiable."
A minuter or so later...
"Nope,Nata,Non,Nein or in it's more commonly used English form...NO!"
"But,Fu Dog.You don't understand."Wendy tried once again,her eyes and voice flooding with desperation now."We don't just want it to fool around in the past with,we need it for...um,for...a History Assignment that is..."
"Due tomorrow."Josh finished for her expediently."It's worth over half of our overall grade and though we study,it's just too hard to try on our own."
"That's why they call them study groups,kid."Fu Dog replied back,though his eyes were still reflecting heavy obstinance as he turned to go into the back to handle certain matters."Trust me,they really do help if you actually join."
Wendy sighed in defeat and glanced over to see Cole staring somewhat haughtily at her."What?We gave it everything and he's still not buying it."
"Whenever you guys are ready to stop lying through your teeth and ready to try a slightly different yet more effective method,I'm right here waiting."
"Alright."She placed her hands on her hips and said with a little more challenge to her tone."Let's just see how more persuasive you are,Cole."
They watched as he began up behind the retreating dog and just when Fu was about a half a foot from the door frame,the hooked front of a staff was struck down right in front of him but without so much as lighting up.In turn his eyes took on the appearance of dinner plates and his teeth began a very muted chattering noise,as he stretched his wrinkled face up just enough to see Cole propping himself up against his staff with just an arm on the very end casually.
"Here's the deal,pooch."He told him coolly,not even turning his ebony eyes his way until he went on."You fork over the Time Travelling gadget,keep a tight lip about us even ever being here and run like today was your last."
A very ghastly expression crossed Fu's face,as he began to stutter."Uh...yeah I better go...go get the Time Travelling thinga-ma-bob and I uh..."
Wendy watched,notably displeased,as the next second he scampered away into the back room."You know,"she told Cole as she moved alongside him to wait for Fu Dog's return."Sometimes I find it hard to believe were related."
"Yes."Cole gave small smirk as he returned his staff to a smaller size,saying as he did with harmless jactitation."But even so,it does pay off once in a while."
"True that."She agreed with a roll of her cerulean eyes.
"Here,"Fu Dog stated in a bit of a muffled voice from the deep blue necklace type device clamped in his muzzle,disposing it in Wendy's palm when she got down to a lower level to recieve it."But don't do anything you might regret like wiping yourself out of your existance or becoming your own grandparent."
"Thanks."She told him with a smile.
"We should probably be going now."Arcelia suggested a bit suddenly,zipping up the zipper of her white jacket as a heaviness picked up in the wind.
As they all filed out of the shop,Wendy couldn't help but to cast a concerned and lingering look over at the Sharpi as he hopped onto a stool that was behind the glass counter;he was not yet over the passing and it saddened her to see him like this.So before tagging along with the others,though it was somewhat not to her lip's liking but to her heart's desire,she went over to just the front and before he turned,she planted a peck right on one of his temples.
"We'll be back,Fu.Please tell everyone not to worry."The dragoness promised him in a soft voice and left before he could utter out a single word in response.
Back near the same spot in Central park later that afternoon...
The four had agreed to meet at the same point where the still unexplained and only partly clear premonition had happened,Cole and Arceila had talked alot that afternoon and he had finally agreed to let her come.Yet as the two moved along and the other two came in to sight,he couldn't fight the temptation and finally found himself taking her in for all she was worth,racketed with resolute now apexing,he reached out and hailed her gently by grasping her wrist.
"I..."he found his sentence trailing involuntarily,as she turned her dark but very pretty imbued face in his direction."I...don't think you should go,Arcelia."
For a brief moment,she appeared to try to act as if she thought he were joking but the next she took on a more requistive approach."Why is that you say it's alright with you one minute and then the next your totally againist it,Coleton?"
"I'm not against letting you go,"He told her in a perfectly calm voice,though his eyes reflective some trouble."It's only because I feel it'd worry your mother too much if we both left,that note isn't going to be enough to satisfy her."
"Just like that."Arceila's voice rose,rare anger tinged her words."You're doing it again and I hate it!I absolutely hate it when you tell me every other little thing that's going on and,I,likewise.But when it comes to hardly an aspect of your past which I know mostly involves the Huntsclan,then you just shut down."
"That's just it,Arceila.It's the past."Cole felt himself become less patient now that she had turned argumentative but he was trying not to leave her on a bad note,trying hard to avoid this like he had once before."It's just a part of my past you weren't involved in and since the Huntsclan is involved...well,the best thing to do in times like this is to go where your needed most and it isn't that I don't want you to come,"he lifted a square hard and ran the front tips of his fingers through some of her shimmery raven hair,telling her through a geniune show of now fonder appraisal."I need you to understand my reasons,please."
The two stood still for the longest time,Cole stared as long as he could bear to into the depths of her umber eyes and then some.She had once been a rather reluctant girl,he'd known that from the start but since he'd been around her,he could feel her confidence growing steadily a bit each new day they had spent together.Especially the last few weeks and yet he couldn't find the confidence to see her involved in this part of his life,often fraught with danger beyond any person's dreams.It wasn't what he wanted her to see anymore then she had to.
Finally,she tore her eyes away from his and fell into his arms,clutching herself close to him only long enough to whisper in a struggling voice."We'll talk about this later,right now,go do what you must and return safely...I love you."
Not struck by the fact that she had just told him the three words that Cole had known for a little while were real only without audiablity but by the fact that she had reacted so hastily and was now hurrying away,he could only watch after her.He didn't want her to feel this way but he didn't resent not letting her stay.Though,he silently promised her he would return as quickly as possible.
"I'm guessing their farewell could have gone better."Josh observed from across the way,turning back to Wendy more with a heartening smile."But that doesn't have to be us,Wen.I'm all for keeping the lines of communication open and if this is what's important to you right now,then it's important to me too."
"Thank you."She told him with gratefulness low in her voice as she finally turned away from looking at a scene she wished she could alter,allowing a clever smile to cross her cordate features."Don't think that means I'm not going to get right back on track as soon as I return,because no matter what we are competing."
"Can I hold you to that promise?"He asked her faintly,starting to lean forward.
"Go see how she is tommorw."Wendy cut him off on purpose as Cole started over towards them and she pushed Josh back,not wanting to make a scene in that moment either."And make an excuse of some kind to my dad and aunt if you can.I don't want to worry them but I just couldn't tell them the truth."
"No worries."Josh replied back confidently,respecting her wishes.
She gave a nod and then turned with some eagerness to her brother."Ready?"
"As I'll ever be,"Cole awnsered half-heartedly but then asked her with staidness flittting his tan visage."Did you remember to set the coordinates correctly?"
"November the 3rd 2006."
"Hey,man."Josh extended out his hand to Cole,saying optatively."Good luck."
There was a slightly maladroit moment where Wendy held her breath but at the sight of Cole returning the gesture,she released it with semi ease."Thanks Josh."
Letting one strap of her backpack drop as she searched her pockets and finally came up with the Time Traveller,she gave Josh a tight but quick hug and started back a ways with Cole on her other side.Then,just as they were dissolving away into a bright flash of orange,Wendy recalled something and managed to dig out of the opposing pocket that wasn't inside out a tiny pink and silverish braclet.
"Catch!"She hollered out to Josh and chucked it to him where he caught it with both hands,making eye contact with her momentarily."It's my Dream Charm,u-"
And they were gone.Gone to an unknown past to commence in an event that,if they were not careful,could destroy the not only magical creatures,but humanity.
LP