The Crystal of Everlasting Part 1

Arden was chasing Daren and Nathan all over her house.

"You two get back here, so I can mess you up!!" she cried. The boys she chased just laughed. They had wrecked Arden's 8th grade science project, which took a long time to complete. Arden had been very angry lately. The new year had been around, she had been 14 years old for a day now, and Arden really wanted to start 1899 right. Sadly, Ratigan, Daren, and Nathan did not want that. Because of the day before, Ratigan had tried to launch an attack. When Arden tried to kill him, he survived again.

"I'm gonna turn you into Swiss cheese!" she yelled. Daren and Nathan then stopped in their tracks. They turned and looked at her.

"Arden...are you stupid?" asked Daren. Arden glared.

"Do I look stupid?" she asked with a glare. Nathan smirked.

"Well, now that you mention it..." he replied. Arden went a very ugly shade of red. Her eyes turned red, and she charged toward Nathan. Nathan scurried away. As they chased, Hunter Basil, Dr. Dawson, and Hiram were coming in with groceries.

"What are you three doing?" asked Basil.

"I'm chasing these crazy-in-the-heads for wrecking my science project!!" replied Arden. Dr. Dawson looked confused.

"Crazy-in-the-heads?" he asked Basil. Basil looked at him.

"You know children these days. They say the strangest things these days," he replied. Dawson nodded. Arden still chased Nathan until she tripped on a nail on the ground and collapsed. She held onto a table as she tried to get back up.

Nathan laughed and pointed as Arden came to her feet. Arden was shaking with anger.
"GET OUT!!" yelled Arden. Nathan disappeared out of the door. He stood out his tongue, and after calling her "crazy", he left.

Arden smoothed her red plaid dress and turned and ran to her room to redo her project. She took out a book and started reading. As she turned the pages, she noticed on one of the pages, there was a page that had a picture of whitish purple crystal hanging on a piece of string. Arden looked at it and read about it. The book said:

The Crystal of Everlasting is a powerful gem. The gem has the power to make its owner invincible to any attack, including arrow shots, sword stabbing, being burned, ect. Also, this gem slows the aging process.

Arden started shaking! She hopped up and went wide eyed.
"HOLY CHEESE AND CRACKERS!!!" she yelled. She started jumping up and down.
"OH MY GOD!!!" she yelled. She had just realized that this was the reason her greatest enemy kept surviving the attacks she inflicted on him.
"This crazy talk! Wow-ee!!!" she kept thinking. She had to do something.
"The book could be right. What is this is it? Is this the reason? Holy moly!! I've got to find out for sure! But to do so, I'll need some back-up!" she said to herself.

She rushed out to Hunter's house and banged on the front door.
"HUNTER, YOU GET YOUR SORRY TAIL OUT HERE!!!" she yelled. Hunter was out with her ten seconds later.
"What'd you need?" he asked. Arden grabbed his shoulders.
"I need back-up! I've found out why Ratigan keeps on surviving my attacks! He has the Crystal of Everlasting!!" she gasped. Hunter was speechless.
"Really? What is it exactly?" he asked.
"According to the book: The Crystal of Everlasting is a powerful gem. The gem has the power to make its owner invincible to any attack, including arrow shots, sword stabbing, being burned, ect. Also, this gem slows the aging process."

Hunter was astonished.
"Really...again? What do you want to do now?" he asked.
"Well, I was thinking that we sneak into Ratigan's lair and get it from him, so that he doesn't again! I bet that's what helped him survive his fall off Big Ben during the Flaversham Case,"

Hunter went wide eyed.
"Really...again twice? You know, I wondered about that" he replied.

Arden and Hunter got Olivia to help them as well. They were all set. Now, all they needed to do was set up.

March 31st, 1899

Arden and Olivia met up after school, telling Hiram they were going to play outside. Hunter said the same to his mother. Hunter came in spy garb. He wore camouflage shirt and pants and his hat was camouflage as well. Arden and Olivia came out with black leather loves. Black skimpy shirts revealing the stomachs, camouflage pants, black bows in their hair, with rocks and slingshots in their pockets. Hunter was astonished.
"Wow! You shall go to the ball," he said.

Arden laughed at his joke and then, Olivia pulled out a list.
"Now, we must check off what we have," she announced. Arden and Hunter nodded. Olivia took out a pencil.
"Okay, now, I have food so we can check that off. Water, Arden?" she continued.
"Check,"
"Snacks, Hunter?"
"Check,"
"Grappling hook, Arden?"
"Check,"
"Clown, Hunter?"
"CLOWN?!" asked Hunter.
"Just pulling a funny, Hunter," giggled Olivia. Hunter glared.
"That's not funny," he replied. Arden rolled her eyes.
"Okay, enough fooling around," she said. Olivia and Hunter looked at each other. Olivia stood out her tongue. So did Hunter. Arden glared.
"Oh, stop it! Are we gonna go or not?" she protested. Olivia and Hunter stopped and stared at her.
"Good!" said Arden. "Now, let's go!"

They got on wooden boards and off they soared through the mud.