Characters are all property of Albert Uderzo and Réné Goscinny, except for the ones who aren't .

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"We didn't fight the Romans when we were sixteen, did we Asterix?" Obelix broke through the silence they had been sitting in for the past ten minutes. On a bench, in front of Obelix' quarry. The sun was already high up in the sky by the time Manilla had ended her story. It was nearly noon. Manilla and Getafix had retreated to Getafix' hut. They had gone into a detailed discussion of how to perk up Manilla and Bonny's defensive power. In principle, this interested Asterix, but he had a feeling Manilla would speak more freely without him around. They were seeing is as the good preparation to withstand a future attack and Manilla had assured them there was time, Mesmeron was a careful planner and would not rush into action. But Manilla's story had delivered a clear message to Asterix. She was very selective in what she shared with others, and she had her own ideas on how to handle the evil wizard, for lack of a better term. The only problem was that those ideas had not succeeded in removing the threat Mesmeron posed, and that this threat was now quite probably aimed at the village Asterix was supposed to protect. At his friends. He desperately wanted to gather more information about Mesmeron, to understand what he and Obelix were up against, and to find a way to end this story with a long overdue ending. Getafix had wanted to protect him, which he really appreciated, but it díd mean he was now up for a home-field match, and this he did not like one bit. "Vitalstatistix must share this opinion," Asterix thought, a little confused, "But still he ordered for us to stay in the village."

Vitalstatistix had gone to inform the rest of the villagers, and to order them to stay in the village as well. Normally Asterix would have gone to listen too, even if he already knew the story. However, Obelix had started off in the direction of his quarry without even reacting to what Vitalstatistix, so lost in thought that he had probably not heard a thing. So Asterix, half lost in thoughts himself had followed. Consequently they were now completely out of character, in the middle of an adventure doing absolutely nothing. Not even discussing or arguing, both too preoccupied by their thoughts to do so. Asterix was searching for a way to protect the village he cared for from a threat he barely even began to understand. Obelix remark showed his thoughts were elsewhere. Since his own thoughts were not leading him anywhere useful anyway, Asterix focused on what Obelix just asked him. It had sounded like a question, but he knew Obelix did not have such a bad memory. It was probably just an excuse to get Asterix to say something. And it worked.

"Of course we didn't."

Silence.

He was clearly supposed to say more then.

"We got to drink from the magic potion for the first time when we were sixteen." Obelix rolled his eyes at that remark. Yes of course. Obelix had had his first and (until recently) last gulp of potion ten years earlier. "I do not think we had our first fight before we were nineteen, actually," Asterix added, trying to lead the conversation in less sensitive waters. "With the Romans at least, because we had our own quarrels since as long as I can remember."

"You were younger. Getafix let you have a taste before."

That was true. Having a best friend like Obelix, the amazing effects of the magic potions were part of Asterix daily life. A best friend, who, as he already had assumed, had no failing memory at all. Quite the contrary actually.

"You're right. I think it was about a year before that, when I brought him one of the ingredients he had run out of." Asterix had always been curious about the magic potion, how it felt, how it was made. Not because he had plans with it. It was just an amazing beverage, and there seemed to be absolutely no reasonable explanation for it.

"Obelix, Why are you asking me, if you remember better than me?" "So that was your first mission then." Obelix said, not quite answering, but referring to Asterix last remark about the potion.

"Well, yeah. Our first mission," Asterix corrected. "You helped me get it. Remember those little white flowers growing way up in the willow we made that forest hut in?" Obelix eyes lit up as he did remember. Then he said. "I knew you were not that romantic." Asterix was completely thrown of track, he had no idea where thàt came from. "What?" "Well you did not use them for the bouquet then." Asterix continued to stare at Obelix, completely at a loss. "For the spring dance, Asterix, the reason we had to look for flowers in the first place." Obelix shook his head at so much forgetfulness. Then he frowned. "Why did you not tell me that we were on a mission then?"

"It was not meant to be one." He had spotted those flowers completely by coincidence, bored to death by their mothers request/order to make some nice bouquets for the evening. To offer at some of the girls from nearby villages. They were pestered like that before even having reached adulthood. Compared to Phyllis, his late childhood was one completely free of worry and serious problems. This was a good example.

Anyway. Getafix had been very grateful when he brought him those flowers. Asterix had explained it was a complete coincidence, but apparently Getafix considered remembering they were an ingredient, and remembering to carry them upside down (so the juice would not leak from the stems) as an act worthy of a reward on its own. Quite a valuable reward. Asterix had asked if Obelix could have a sip too, but Getafix told him it was too dangerous for Obelix to have any more potion. Because he did not really want to bring that news to his best friend, he had kept more or less silent about his first experience with the magic potion, tuning it down to an every-day event when it was in fact one of his most vivid memories.

"It was more of a coincidence then a mission. Not comparable at all to having to defend your home from a wizardy lunatic. You know our parents would never have let us anyway, not even my dad."

Astronomix had spent a lot of time teaching him how to handle a sword. He did not want to have his son, destined to become a warrior, to rely on one single weapon, even one as powerful as the magic potion. As a result Asterix could handle a sword better than most of the villagers his age. He also knew some less forward fighting tricks, meant to permanently disable someone. Knowledge he very rarely used. He doubt it would be of much help in this adventure. Mesmeron needed to be fought at his own level. Or if it depended on Manilla, not at all. Irritation rose again in his chest.

"I doubt Manilla ever asked Phyllis parents anything though," he mumbled.

"You do not like her," Obelix stated simply.

"It's just, she is stíll keeping thing for herself, she tries to steer us into a direction she thinks is right. Imagine Getafix or even Vitalstatistix holding back on information when they sent us on a new mission. Some of them would surely have gone wrong as well. If we don't get her to give us the whole picture, we might end up doing more damage than good to our friends if we try to protect them." Obelix quite distressed. Which meant he understood, and this made it impossible for Asterix not to go further on his stream of thoughts. "So we do nothing. In the mean time, we give this Mesmeron all the time of the world to get ready, to get to know us, to gather forces. THAT's what I don't like," he finished angrily, kicking away some pebbles in front of him. Bravura immediately went after them at top speed. When she caught them in mid-air, she started to run back to Asterix, to make him throw them again. But as she did, Asterix clearly noticed she was limping. Great. His mood sinking even further, he got up to catch the little vixen and investigate her paws.

"So what do you suggest?" Vitalstatistix walked up to them, and had apparently overheard his outburst.

"Well, we should find a way to handle Mesmeron, not just wait until he faces us."

"I agree. I have told the other villagers to stay in the village, but we can't keep that up forever. The only reason I asked you to stay was that I don't think Manilla or Getafix will appreciate if I send you to investigate."

Asterix hesitated. He had also gotten that message, and he rarely did something that Getafix did not approve of. Normally he would talk to him and try to convince him though…which was difficult at the moment, with Manilla in his wake. "Getafix will be okay with it," he said firmly.

"Fine!" Vitalstatistix looked quite pleased, but he sobered immediately: "But do not confront that Mesmeron directly. It really is too dangerous, and we are not ready to fight until we know more."

"I wasn't planning to confront him. But Bonny mentioned Phyllis could be around Mesmeron. Maybe it is possible to talk to her. She has fought him before. Well, and if she isn't we at least need to know his exact plans, and if we still have time to look for other people who can fight that dark energy he uses."

"Well if there are others, they obviously did not find a way to stop him yet. But we have no other options. When would you be…"

"Right now," Asterix said briskly, not willing to waste any more time.

"Great," Obelix said. "And if we don't find anything, we can at least stock some boars for lunch." He was already on his way when he noticed Asterix was not following, instead exchanging looks with Vitalstatistix. "What?" he asked impatiently. "Oh come on, I know this is not a very appetizing adventure yet, but not eating will not improve that."

"It's not about the boars, Obelix," Asterix said, though he did roll his eyes at the word "boars". He hesitated. It's just that Bonny and Manilla would better not notice that we are ignoring their advice, or they will tell us even less." Another pause. "Manilla is still with Getafix, you could ask Bonny for lunch, she'll think I'm with Vitalstatistix and they don't have to know."

"Ask Bonny for lunch" Obelix squeaked, obviously petrified by the idea. "What am I going to talk about?"

"Well, talk about Idefix. Talk about the puppies. Girls like puppies. And Bravura seems to be limping, maybe you could ask Bonny to have a look?"

"You called your dog Bravùra?" Despite the situation, Vitalstatistix almost choked on this. Asterix threw him an indignant look, but he had no time to reply that is was Obelix who came up with the name, because the name-giver in question was still in distress about the upcoming lunch.

"I'm not sure if I …if I can…" "… Talk?" Asterix finished quickly. "Of course you can, you were doing it just a few moments ago, weren't you. And besides, Bonny already seems to like you." In fact, he doubted that Bonny was able to dislike someone, but there was no need to add that. Obelix seemed to gain courage from the comment. "I'll go and ask her," he cheered, and off he was.

"Well, I'm on my way too then." Asterix unfastened his gourd of potion, took a few gulps and handed the gourd to Vitalstatistix. "You're not taking that?" he asked Asterix, astonished. "I doubt it will help me much anyway, so I'd rather not risk losing it. If Mesmeron is after the magic potion, the last we should do is help him get it." Vitalstatistix looked very doubtful, so Asterix added: "I'll stay out of sight."

"You do that. And don't be gone too long. If you are not back before dinner, I'll send out…"

"I'll be back," Asterix interrupted. "I just hope to find Phyllis."

"Manilla seemed to think that she was quite a danger herself."

"I don't believe that," Asterix said firmly. "We are looking for a way to get rid of her worst enemy, why would she not be willing to help? And If Mesmeron really controls her, then we'll just have to find a way to remedy that. I don't believe she will help him out of her own will."

"Good luck then," Vitalstatistix said. As Asterix left, he headed home, spotting on his way a very red in the face Obelix that guided Bonny towards lunch. At least that part of the plan seemed to work out as Asterix predicted.