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div style="max-height: 999999px; padding-left: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"Chapter VIII p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongHerro! Gorenponiboyee is not avairabru right now./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongGPB: Hey, what are you doing?/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongRandom Japanese Guy: Uh.../strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongGPB: (Hold out his staff). Get the buck off my stage before I bucking get some bucking bucker to buck you the buck off!/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongRJG: (Does not have to be told twice)./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongGPB: Ah...Sorry about that. And please excuse my language, but I kinda have a thing against the following things: Mexicans, Japanese, Racists, Lists, Hippocrates, and Irony. So, since this is the end of the intro, THE FIC IS THE THING!/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongThe only things owned are OC(s), which belong to their appropriate owners./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"The light died down and Paul, Tristan, and Fluttershy were back to sitting on the couch. Paul looked down at himself, only to notice that his outfit was a little different. Instead of his signature track outfit, which he wore still even though track and school were over, he was wearing a brown pair of jeans, a blue, long sleeved T-shirt, and, on his belt where the saddlebags were, were to two large, brown bags, each with his Cutie Mark stitched to the side. "Hm...interesting." He shot a hand into the left bag and, sure enough, there was the potion Zecorah had him make./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Tristan eventually fell out of his trace. "That...was...A-MAY-ZING!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Rubbing his ear, Paul asked, "Gee, Trist, have a good time?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Have a good time? It was awesome! I went to Equestria! And, I met my favorite pony of all time!" He did the cliché fanboy half-faint, on to wake up and convulse on the ground, chanting, "Omigoshomigoshomigoshomigoshomigosh..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul chuckled as he turned to Fluttershy, who was holding onto her cheek. "And how was Angel?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hm? Oh, yeah. He's fine. Just a...little annoyed at me for leaving so suddenly."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh, Shy?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yes?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What's wrong with your cheek?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, uh...nothing. Just a...scratch."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul placed his hand over hers, moving it down to reveal not a scratch, but a gash. "Oh my gosh, Shy! What happened?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It's...nothing new. It's just...one of the...new cats I got. They aren't quite...trained yet."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He rubbed her cheek. "I'm sorry, Shy. But...I suppose that...this is actually a good thing."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She looked at him strangely, as if she expected him to hurt her more. "How?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Well, you're becoming more solid there. So...maybe the spell is beginning to fade. These tasks might actually doing something. As mean as it sounds, I'm glad you got scratched."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She faked a smile. "Yeah, I guess it's...kind of a good thing." Her pendant then began to glow to give them their next task:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emComfortable? Why not take a chance? Life is too short not to dance. But not at any place and time, but at a place with celebration's chime./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul's eyes shot open when he heard these words. "I...I have to...what?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It sounds like...we need to dance."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"His cheeks went red. "W-We? Uh...where are we supposed to do that?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"At that point, Tristan jumped up and said, "The wedding!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""The...the what?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""The wedding. My buddy, Lance Misely, is getting hitched...uh...hold on a sec." He pulled out his own cellphone and had the following conversation:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em*RING RING* Hello?/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hey, Lance!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Tristan! Hey, buddy, how's your friend Paul doing? You said he was acting oddly."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, he's doing better now. Must have been some head cold."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Good to hear. So, what's up?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Well, I need to ask a question."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Ask away."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...heh...when...exactly are you getting married again?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"...Wow...Some friend you are."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hey, sorry. I've...had a lot to focus on at the moment."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Such as?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Trust me, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Knowing you, probably not. Well, if you really don't remember, the wedding is...tomorrow."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Really?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"No, I'm getting married last September. Yes, tomorrow. You actually forgot?'/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Look, I'm sorry. I've had a lot to think about lately."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Yeah, yeah, I heard."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, is there any chance that Paul and his..." He turned to Paul and Fluttershy. "...girlfriend could come as well." This made the two of them blush profusely./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"I don't see why not. The more the merrier, as I always say."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I thought you always said 'castigat ridendo mores?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"/ememDo you even know what that means?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...no."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"/ememIt means 'One corrects problems by laughing at them' in Latin. Come on, you know me."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yeah, I do. Well, I guess I'll see ya around. Oh, and say hello to Sarah for me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"/ememWill do. See ya!"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Tristan shut the phone and put it back in his pocket. He turned back to Paul and Fluttershy and said, "Yeah, the wedding is tomorrow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Sounds fun," Paul said with fake joy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, this is so exciting!" Fluttershy jumped up with real joy. "I love weddings."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Shy, we can't even get you out of the basement, let alone to a wedding."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I guess we'll have to find a-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Suddenly, they heard the front door slam open and shut. "Where is he?" the same menacing voice of his father asked. He had seen Tristan's car out front and, after giving it a nice "bump," pulled into the garage./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"The three of them looked at each other in terror. Tristan knew enough about Paul's father to know that if he was mad, who you were didn't matter. He himself had a burn mark that ran the length of his back because he happened to "be in the way." "Guys, we are beyond screwed if we don't get out of here."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul frantically looked around the room, but the only practical way out was the stairs. Unless.../p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He ran over to one of the small half-windows, threw it open, and whispered, "Quickly, through here!" He boosted Fluttershy up before climbing through himself and helping Tristan through. He shut the window before climbing out of the hole and running to Tristan's car./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh MAN!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Your dad killed my CAR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul face-palmed before continuing with, "Drive now, complain later. It's...a...scratch!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""But...my baby...my precious baby girl..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""TRISTAN! GET IN THE CAR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"They ran over to the slightly dented car and hopped in. Tristan turned the key in the ignition as Paul looked out the back window. His dad was running out the door. "Tristan. If it's not too much to ask, GET US THE HECK OUT OF HERE!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He obliged with one foot slamming onto the gas petal, launching them down the driveway, hooking a left turn, and driving as fast he could legally, heading for his house. There, they would be safe from the wrath of Paul's father./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"On the ride, Paul turned to Fluttershy. "Are you okay?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yeah, I'm fine." She rubbed her cheek a little more before asking, "Why does he hate you so much?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He sighed before bowing his head. "Do you promise not to tell anyone?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Of course."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""This goes for you too, Tristan."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hey, why would I betray you?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul bowed his head. "Okay...but prepare yourself."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strong~Flashback, about seven years ago~/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Sitting on the deck at a pond was a younger Paul. He loved to just sit down here and think about things. Such as, what a great lunch his mom and grandma had made for them. Campfire pizzas were the best thing since sliced bread whenever they made them./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Suddenly, he heard the sound of the golf cart come around behind him. Turning, he saw his father driving it around the pond, down "Bug Ally" (narrow path were there is practically nothing but bugs), and into the woods towards the cemetery back away from the water. Loaded on the back, where the golf clubs should be, was a gun and an ax./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Curiosity over came him, and he began to follow him back through the trees. When he reached the old pond cemetery, he saw something about his father that would change his view of him forever./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Standing there, in front of one of the stones, was a blind-folded man. Surrounding him were six men, five of which were wearing masks. The sixth one was his father, the gun aimed right at the man. "So," he began, "Do you have it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I have no idea what you're talking about."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Really? The wooden pendant? The one that can never burn? The Moses Amulet?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""No. I don't."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He walked up and grabbed the chain around the man's neck. "Then, what, pray tell, is this?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It's nothing."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Really? It looks a lot like the Amulet." He ripped the Amulet off and put it around his own neck. "And, just so you know, I'm not a fan of lies." He lifted his gun an shot the man in the throat. "But now, I'm fine."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul was shocked. He had never seen his father do anything like that. He little more than yelled at him and his siblings. But...shooting a man didn't seem like him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"The men began to crowd around him, gawking at the Amulet. He laughed and said, "Men...it's as good as ours now."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"While they were cheering, Paul was trying to come up with a way to punish them. Looking around, he saw the gold cart with the ax still in the back. He had only used an ax ever once, but he knew it was the only way to do it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Stealthily, he grabbed the ax and walked over to one of the large trees. Using all the strength he had, he began to hack at it. It took him some time, but he eventually got through it enough that he could just push it over. With a sudden burst of strength, he pushed it over and onto a few of the men./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"They all began immediately to move it off of their comrades. In the panic, Paul dashed to the dead man, took off the blindfold, threw it over his father's eyes, stole the Amulet, and then ran off towards the campsite. He knew that he would be safe there./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"A knife flew through the air and cut across his back. As much as it hurt, he had to keep running if he was going to survive. He was never the fastest kid before he started track, but he could move fast if he wanted to./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strong~Present~/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I got back to the campsite and put the Amulet in my bag. I kept it under watch ever since."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Tristan was just pulling up in his driveway as the story was ending. When he turned the car off, he turned around with a suspicious look and asked, "How do you expect us to believe that?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul smiled as he reached under his shirt and pulled out a pendant. "Because this is it. I've kept me ever since."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What is it for?" Fluttershy asked, looking at the intricate designs inscribed on the Amulet with great interest./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Legend has it that, somewhere on Earth, there is a flaming lock that opens the gates to Eden. This Amulet is supposed to be the key. It's made of the same material as the burning bush that God spoke to Moses through. I can't let him get there."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Why not?" Tristan asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Do you know what's in Eden?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...no."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""The Tree of Eternal Life. I can't let someone like my father get his hands on any of the fruit of that tree. Or anyone for that matter."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Why not? emEternal life/em man! That's everyone's dream."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""There's a time for everything and everything dies. Eternal life on Earth would be a torture to anyone. And as much as he deserves it, I can't let that happen to him."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"They got out of the car and up to the double bed guest room. "Well, since the wedding is tomorrow, I guess you're going to have to stay here tonight. And, don't worry about dress clothes, I'm sure I can find something."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul cocked an eyebrow at him. "How are you going to have a dress for Shy?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...that's for me to know and you not to find out. At least, I hope not. Anyway, it's late. You two should be getting to sleep. I have some stuff to take care of." He walked out of the room and closed the door silently./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul sat down on one of the beds. "So, tomorrow we have to dance."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Why do you sound so down about it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""To...to be honest...I've...never dance before, let alone with anyone."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Never?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Never."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She walked to stand in front of him and held out her hand. "Then come on."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What are you going to do?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I'm going to help you dance."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""You've never danced on two feet before."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Then I guess we'll learn together."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul hesitated before taking her hand and standing. While he kept her one hand, he wrapped his other one around her waist. She put her other one on his arm. Slowly, they began to sway back and forth as they practiced for their performance the next day./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongChapter Complete. Wow, this one was long by comparison to what everything else is going to be most likely. Well, it depends how deep I decided to get into the task. And, I want to thank Lankore and Voltzs for letting me use their OC's. Sorry, Lankore. I guess I threw a fast one at ya. Anywho, RR AND ADIOS!/strong/p
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div style="max-height: 999999px; padding-left: 10px; padding-top: 10px;"Chapter VIII p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongHerro! Gorenponiboyee is not avairabru right now./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongGPB: Hey, what are you doing?/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongRandom Japanese Guy: Uh.../strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongGPB: (Hold out his staff). Get the buck off my stage before I bucking get some bucking bucker to buck you the buck off!/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongRJG: (Does not have to be told twice)./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongGPB: Ah...Sorry about that. And please excuse my language, but I kinda have a thing against the following things: Mexicans, Japanese, Racists, Lists, Hippocrates, and Irony. So, since this is the end of the intro, THE FIC IS THE THING!/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongThe only things owned are OC(s), which belong to their appropriate owners./strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"The light died down and Paul, Tristan, and Fluttershy were back to sitting on the couch. Paul looked down at himself, only to notice that his outfit was a little different. Instead of his signature track outfit, which he wore still even though track and school were over, he was wearing a brown pair of jeans, a blue, long sleeved T-shirt, and, on his belt where the saddlebags were, were to two large, brown bags, each with his Cutie Mark stitched to the side. "Hm...interesting." He shot a hand into the left bag and, sure enough, there was the potion Zecorah had him make./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Tristan eventually fell out of his trace. "That...was...A-MAY-ZING!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Rubbing his ear, Paul asked, "Gee, Trist, have a good time?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Have a good time? It was awesome! I went to Equestria! And, I met my favorite pony of all time!" He did the cliché fanboy half-faint, on to wake up and convulse on the ground, chanting, "Omigoshomigoshomigoshomigoshomigosh..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul chuckled as he turned to Fluttershy, who was holding onto her cheek. "And how was Angel?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hm? Oh, yeah. He's fine. Just a...little annoyed at me for leaving so suddenly."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh, Shy?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yes?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What's wrong with your cheek?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, uh...nothing. Just a...scratch."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul placed his hand over hers, moving it down to reveal not a scratch, but a gash. "Oh my gosh, Shy! What happened?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It's...nothing new. It's just...one of the...new cats I got. They aren't quite...trained yet."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He rubbed her cheek. "I'm sorry, Shy. But...I suppose that...this is actually a good thing."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She looked at him strangely, as if she expected him to hurt her more. "How?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Well, you're becoming more solid there. So...maybe the spell is beginning to fade. These tasks might actually doing something. As mean as it sounds, I'm glad you got scratched."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She faked a smile. "Yeah, I guess it's...kind of a good thing." Her pendant then began to glow to give them their next task:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"emComfortable? Why not take a chance? Life is too short not to dance. But not at any place and time, but at a place with celebration's chime./em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul's eyes shot open when he heard these words. "I...I have to...what?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It sounds like...we need to dance."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"His cheeks went red. "W-We? Uh...where are we supposed to do that?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"At that point, Tristan jumped up and said, "The wedding!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""The...the what?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""The wedding. My buddy, Lance Misely, is getting hitched...uh...hold on a sec." He pulled out his own cellphone and had the following conversation:/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em*RING RING* Hello?/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hey, Lance!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Tristan! Hey, buddy, how's your friend Paul doing? You said he was acting oddly."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, he's doing better now. Must have been some head cold."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Good to hear. So, what's up?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Well, I need to ask a question."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Ask away."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...heh...when...exactly are you getting married again?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"...Wow...Some friend you are."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hey, sorry. I've...had a lot to focus on at the moment."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Such as?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Trust me, you wouldn't believe me if I told you."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Knowing you, probably not. Well, if you really don't remember, the wedding is...tomorrow."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Really?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"No, I'm getting married last September. Yes, tomorrow. You actually forgot?'/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Look, I'm sorry. I've had a lot to think about lately."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"Yeah, yeah, I heard."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, is there any chance that Paul and his..." He turned to Paul and Fluttershy. "...girlfriend could come as well." This made the two of them blush profusely./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"I don't see why not. The more the merrier, as I always say."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I thought you always said 'castigat ridendo mores?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"/ememDo you even know what that means?"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...no."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"/ememIt means 'One corrects problems by laughing at them' in Latin. Come on, you know me."/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yeah, I do. Well, I guess I'll see ya around. Oh, and say hello to Sarah for me."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"em"/ememWill do. See ya!"/em/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Tristan shut the phone and put it back in his pocket. He turned back to Paul and Fluttershy and said, "Yeah, the wedding is tomorrow."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Sounds fun," Paul said with fake joy./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh, this is so exciting!" Fluttershy jumped up with real joy. "I love weddings."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Shy, we can't even get you out of the basement, let alone to a wedding."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I guess we'll have to find a-"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Suddenly, they heard the front door slam open and shut. "Where is he?" the same menacing voice of his father asked. He had seen Tristan's car out front and, after giving it a nice "bump," pulled into the garage./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"The three of them looked at each other in terror. Tristan knew enough about Paul's father to know that if he was mad, who you were didn't matter. He himself had a burn mark that ran the length of his back because he happened to "be in the way." "Guys, we are beyond screwed if we don't get out of here."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul frantically looked around the room, but the only practical way out was the stairs. Unless.../p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He ran over to one of the small half-windows, threw it open, and whispered, "Quickly, through here!" He boosted Fluttershy up before climbing through himself and helping Tristan through. He shut the window before climbing out of the hole and running to Tristan's car./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Oh MAN!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Your dad killed my CAR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul face-palmed before continuing with, "Drive now, complain later. It's...a...scratch!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""But...my baby...my precious baby girl..."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""TRISTAN! GET IN THE CAR!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"They ran over to the slightly dented car and hopped in. Tristan turned the key in the ignition as Paul looked out the back window. His dad was running out the door. "Tristan. If it's not too much to ask, GET US THE HECK OUT OF HERE!"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He obliged with one foot slamming onto the gas petal, launching them down the driveway, hooking a left turn, and driving as fast he could legally, heading for his house. There, they would be safe from the wrath of Paul's father./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"On the ride, Paul turned to Fluttershy. "Are you okay?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Yeah, I'm fine." She rubbed her cheek a little more before asking, "Why does he hate you so much?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He sighed before bowing his head. "Do you promise not to tell anyone?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Of course."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""This goes for you too, Tristan."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Hey, why would I betray you?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul bowed his head. "Okay...but prepare yourself."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strong~Flashback, about seven years ago~/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Sitting on the deck at a pond was a younger Paul. He loved to just sit down here and think about things. Such as, what a great lunch his mom and grandma had made for them. Campfire pizzas were the best thing since sliced bread whenever they made them./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Suddenly, he heard the sound of the golf cart come around behind him. Turning, he saw his father driving it around the pond, down "Bug Ally" (narrow path were there is practically nothing but bugs), and into the woods towards the cemetery back away from the water. Loaded on the back, where the golf clubs should be, was a gun and an ax./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Curiosity over came him, and he began to follow him back through the trees. When he reached the old pond cemetery, he saw something about his father that would change his view of him forever./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Standing there, in front of one of the stones, was a blind-folded man. Surrounding him were six men, five of which were wearing masks. The sixth one was his father, the gun aimed right at the man. "So," he began, "Do you have it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I have no idea what you're talking about."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Really? The wooden pendant? The one that can never burn? The Moses Amulet?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""No. I don't."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"He walked up and grabbed the chain around the man's neck. "Then, what, pray tell, is this?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""It's nothing."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Really? It looks a lot like the Amulet." He ripped the Amulet off and put it around his own neck. "And, just so you know, I'm not a fan of lies." He lifted his gun an shot the man in the throat. "But now, I'm fine."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul was shocked. He had never seen his father do anything like that. He little more than yelled at him and his siblings. But...shooting a man didn't seem like him./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"The men began to crowd around him, gawking at the Amulet. He laughed and said, "Men...it's as good as ours now."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"While they were cheering, Paul was trying to come up with a way to punish them. Looking around, he saw the gold cart with the ax still in the back. He had only used an ax ever once, but he knew it was the only way to do it./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Stealthily, he grabbed the ax and walked over to one of the large trees. Using all the strength he had, he began to hack at it. It took him some time, but he eventually got through it enough that he could just push it over. With a sudden burst of strength, he pushed it over and onto a few of the men./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"They all began immediately to move it off of their comrades. In the panic, Paul dashed to the dead man, took off the blindfold, threw it over his father's eyes, stole the Amulet, and then ran off towards the campsite. He knew that he would be safe there./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"A knife flew through the air and cut across his back. As much as it hurt, he had to keep running if he was going to survive. He was never the fastest kid before he started track, but he could move fast if he wanted to./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strong~Present~/strong/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I got back to the campsite and put the Amulet in my bag. I kept it under watch ever since."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Tristan was just pulling up in his driveway as the story was ending. When he turned the car off, he turned around with a suspicious look and asked, "How do you expect us to believe that?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul smiled as he reached under his shirt and pulled out a pendant. "Because this is it. I've kept me ever since."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What is it for?" Fluttershy asked, looking at the intricate designs inscribed on the Amulet with great interest./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Legend has it that, somewhere on Earth, there is a flaming lock that opens the gates to Eden. This Amulet is supposed to be the key. It's made of the same material as the burning bush that God spoke to Moses through. I can't let him get there."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Why not?" Tristan asked./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Do you know what's in Eden?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...no."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""The Tree of Eternal Life. I can't let someone like my father get his hands on any of the fruit of that tree. Or anyone for that matter."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Why not? emEternal life/em man! That's everyone's dream."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""There's a time for everything and everything dies. Eternal life on Earth would be a torture to anyone. And as much as he deserves it, I can't let that happen to him."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"They got out of the car and up to the double bed guest room. "Well, since the wedding is tomorrow, I guess you're going to have to stay here tonight. And, don't worry about dress clothes, I'm sure I can find something."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul cocked an eyebrow at him. "How are you going to have a dress for Shy?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Uh...that's for me to know and you not to find out. At least, I hope not. Anyway, it's late. You two should be getting to sleep. I have some stuff to take care of." He walked out of the room and closed the door silently./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul sat down on one of the beds. "So, tomorrow we have to dance."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Why do you sound so down about it?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""To...to be honest...I've...never dance before, let alone with anyone."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Never?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Never."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"She walked to stand in front of him and held out her hand. "Then come on."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""What are you going to do?"/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""I'm going to help you dance."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""You've never danced on two feet before."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;""Then I guess we'll learn together."/p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"Paul hesitated before taking her hand and standing. While he kept her one hand, he wrapped his other one around her waist. She put her other one on his arm. Slowly, they began to sway back and forth as they practiced for their performance the next day./p
p style="max-height: 999999px;"strongChapter Complete. Wow, this one was long by comparison to what everything else is going to be most likely. Well, it depends how deep I decided to get into the task. And, I want to thank Lankore and Voltzs for letting me use their OC's. Sorry, Lankore. I guess I threw a fast one at ya. Anywho, RR AND ADIOS!/strong/p
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