Disclaimer: I own nothing. This is a fanfic written for entertainment only.
A/N: Sorry for the late update. OTL
Italic words – Thoughts/thinking
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SUPER DRIVE
Chapter 3: The Adventure Begins
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"What?"
"You heard me," Witch Princess said. "I said you three have to find her pets in order for her to get her memory back. Is that so hard to understand?"
"No…of course not," Mark replied. "It's just…"
"You're nuts," Vaughn cuts in. "Completely nuts. Her pets are in the stable, except for the pig which is in Mushroom Island. You're saying that for Chelsea to get her memory back, we have to get all her pets here? What we should do with them after that?"
"You're such impatient young man, Vaughn," Witch Princess shook her head in disappointment. "Why won't you just be a good boy and listen to what I wanted to say first?"
Because I'm not like the no-brainer spiky blondie over there. "Hmph. Fine," Vaughn grunted. "Go on and tell us what we actually have to do for her memories to come back."
"That's more I like it," Witch Princess said. "I'd like you all to know that her pets are not in the stable…and in Mushroom Island either…No, let me finish first," Witch Princess raised a finger to shut the silver-haired cowboy from opening his mouth. "It's complicated to explain. Let's just say that because of the magic the brat used, her pets are scattered in different dimensions."
Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "That story sounds familiar."
Mark nodded. "I have to agree, Witch Princess. It sounds like one of the plot of an anime I watched in television."
"Oh, shut up. I'll turn you into a teddy bear if you ask anymore question about it," Witch Princess glared at Mark.
"Uh, sorry," the blonde apologized, retreating back to where he stands before.
"Pardon me, With Princess," Will interrupted. "You said that her pets are scattered in different dimensions. How can we ever retrieve them back? "
Witch Princess turned to the blonde in white outfit. "Have you forgotten who I am? Such thing is easy for someone like me," Witch Princess smirked.
"Uh-huh," Vaughn said in sarcasm tone. "And Chelsea ended up like that because of you."
"How many times have I told you? It's not my fault! Blame it on my bratty niece! Jeez! Learn to listen to what people say, you," Witch Princess snapped.
"You can take us to different dimensions then?" Mark asked.
"Of course!" Witch Princess answered him. "But there's one condition for my 'travel through dimensions' magic to work."
"And what is that-so called condition?" Vaughn asked.
Witch Princess frowned at the silver-haired man. "Oh, it's easy. You will have to volunteer yourself to travel," Witch Princess said and scanned the three man's reactions to her words. "What I mean here is you're travelling on your own will, not because of someone pushing or telling you to do it," she explained more when she saw the 'lolwut' expression from the men.
Stupid rules. "Oh yeah? Then who do you suggest going?" Vaughn asked, getting irritated by the condition Witch Princess told him. "It'll take times to find people, because we have to inform them about the situation first."
"He's right," Will added. "I'm afraid that Chelsea's condition might get worse if we delay the search for her pets."
"Who says about finding people?" Witch Princess raised an eyebrow. "There are already candidates for the search here."
The room went silent. The men blinked and Witch Princess gave out a 'Hoo-boy' expression.
"What the-," Vaughn were the first to break the silence.
"You don't mean-," Will followed him.
"We're the one who's going to go?" Mark added.
"Ding-dong," Witch Princess smirked. "Do you see any other people here? No? Then yah. You three are the candidates."
"Oh my. I never thought of that," Will commented, his face showed a more relaxed expression.
"Yeah. That's really easy-to find the person to go to the adventure, I mean," Mark said.
"Yap. So go get-"
"Stop right there," Vaughn cuts Witch Princess's words. "Do you think I'm going to agree about this? There's no fucking way I'm going to do that!" Actually I don't mind, but…
Witch Princess turned to face the silver-haired man. "So you're saying that you rather see Chelsea to be in this condition forever? Remind me again who was pushing me to cure her?"
Vaughn fumed. "I didn't expect that that is the way to cure her!" he told her. "Why don't you try to go to towns and find someone else to do it? I doubt there's no one will say 'No' to your request."
"And you just complaints about the times finding the people for the search," Witch Princess sighed.
"Shut up," Vaughn snapped.
"Um, Witch Princess," Will cuts in. "Why don't me and Mark go?" he asked, turning his head to the other blonde-haired man in the room.
Mark nodded. "I have no problem with that. In fact, I'm volunteering myself to go."
"I have no objection as well," Will add.
"I know both of you will volunteer," Witch Princess said. "But the problem is we need 3 people to go."
"Why three?" Mark asked.
"…That's complicated and I hate explaining," Witch Princess replied. "To make it short, each person has to find one pet at a time."
Will's eyebrows furrowed. "Are you saying that we're going on a separate search?"
"Oh, no. That's not what I mean," Witch Princess answered. "Agh. It seems that I do have to explain it. Okay, listen carefully now. The journey you're going to go will involve 4 persons. Each person is responsible with an animal. For example, Mark is responsible for the pig."
"Pig? Why pig?" Mark asked, clearly not happy with the things that Witch Princess had just said.
"Hush," Witch Princess snapped. "What I mean here is being responsible to an animal means that that person will be the one who's going to catch it when you found it."
"What will happen if the person who is not responsible for the animal catches it?" Will asked again.
"Then you can say goodbye to Chelsea's memories," Witch Princess replied. "There. That wasn't so hard to understand, doesn't it?"
"You-," Vaughn, who was keeping quiet for a while speak. "You seemed to be very relaxed telling us something important like that. Can't you tell us more? At least provide us with more information on the animals! Like which animal should we focus on and all!"
Witch Princess smirked. Gotcha. "We? What do you mean 'we'? I thought you're not going, Vaughn?" she purposely stated the silver-haired man's name in her comment.
"Again, shut up," Vaughn grunted. "Fine. I'll go. Happy?"
Mark and Will stared at each other's faces before turning their head to the silver-haired man.
"Are you sure?" Mark asked. "You did hear that Witch Princess said that one have to volunteer to participate in the search. You don't have to do it if you don't want to."
"Shut up, Spikey," Vaughn replied coldly. "Do you see anyone forcing me to go? No? Then that means I go on my own will. The end."
Mark twitched. He really can't be nice on me, can't he? "I'm just asking, no need to be rude, damn it. I wanted to make sure that you are really volunteering because if you're not, it might bring harm to Chelsea."
Vaughn glared at him. "Are you saying that I'm going to cause her harm?"
Will who was standing beside Mark sensed the tension between the two men and immediately moved in between them. "Maa…maa…calm down everyone. There's no need to fight. At times like this we have to cooperate, not fighting with each other."
Vaughn and Mark exchanged glares for a couple of seconds before Vaughn turned his head away from the blonde-haired man. "Hmph. Fine," he said.
Will turned his head to Mark and smiled at him. Mark sighed. "Very well," he said, raising his hands in defeat. "You're right. We shouldn't fight at times like this. Sorry about that, Will."
"Glad that we all understand it," Will replied and smiled again. "I'm sure we will do fine in the search if we cooperate with each other."
The three men turned to face Witch Princess when they heard she gave out a loud yawn. "Done?" she asked, rubbing her eyes. "You're wasting my time but hell, I'll tell you the important things now. Listen up," she added. "You," she said, pointing to Mark. "You're responsible for the pig. You, Prince, are responsible for the horse. And you," she pointed at Vaughn. "The dog."
"How did you arrange such matter?" Mark asked, still feeling unhappy about the fact that he is responsible for Chelsea's pet pig. Pink pig, no less! Agh!
"I don't. You did," the woman simply answered.
"What?" the three men chorused.
"Forget about that. The last pet, the cat, will be Chelsea's responsibility. Memorize that."
"Chelsea too?" Will asked.
"Why, of course! Isn't that obvious she's coming with you?" Witch Princess answered.
"I know you're not blind," Vaughn interrupted, being sarcastic as usual. "Can't you see that she's unconscious? There is no way she can walk in that kind of situation!" I'm starting to wonder if she's really a witch or just some pathetic, idiot woman who's head being screwed up by her failed magic.
"If you came up with such thinking again I'm going to curse you," Witch Princess glared at Vaughn. "And who said anything about letting her go in that state?"
Mark's face brightened. "You can cure her?"
"Of course I can," Witch Princess replied. "However," her expression turned serious. "Be warned that she will not be the same Chelsea you all know, now that her memories are gone."
Will twitched. She will not remember me? She will not remember all the times we spent together? My heart ache to know such unpleasant thing.
"Yeah, sure," Vaughn added. "Just go and wake her up with you stu…magic," he said, resisting the urge to say 'stupid' after hearing the older woman's warn about cursing him. Hell no I'm going to be cursed by her. Still, Chelsea won't remember me? Shit. Why do I feel angry hearing that?
Witch Princess walked towards the bed where the rancher of Sunshine Islands lay down. "Pssh. Okay, okay. Sheesh," she replied. Everyone's been worried about you're not going to remember them, Chelsea. You're lucky.
The older woman closed her eyes and began chanting. Vaughn, Will and Mark stood next to each other, silently observing her working on her magic.
Mark frowned. I have to be calm, though hearing that Chelsea will not remember me when she wakes up hurts. Damn it. I swear I'm going to cure you, Chelsea.
Minutes later, the older woman stopped. "There," she said. "She will wake up anytime now."
The three men moved closer to the bed, staring at the unconscious brown-haired woman laying on it. Some seconds passed and Chelsea's eyes fluttered opened. She blinks for a while and sat up on the bed, staring at everyone's faces.
"Chelsea!"
"Chelsea!"
The brown-haired woman continued blinking her eyes. She looked around her, at Will, Vaughn and Mark's faces and at Witch Princess.
"Uhm…," she began to speak. "Who are you? What are you doing in my house?"
Vaughn frowned. She really doesn't remember…God damn it!
Witch Princess observed each of the man's expression and saw the mixed expression on their faces. Her expression changed to sad, knowing that the men are probably disappointed that the rancher doesn't remember them all. She moved closer to the rancher, changing her expression to soft, happy mood. "Hello, Chelsea," she said, smiling at the younger woman. "How do you feel?"
"Eh?" Chelsea was dumbfounded. "Oh…ah. I…I'm good, thank you," she replied, smiling back at the older woman.
"I'm glad to hear that," With Princess said, still smiling. "Do not be afraid of us. We're not bad people," she added.
"I don't," Chelsea said, still smiling as well. She lifted up her face to the three men who was standing in front of her. "I don't think any of you as bad person. You have that tender, caring expression when you saw me woke up minutes ago. Still, I don't know why you seem to be so sad. Did something happen?"
Mark clenched both his hands, telling himself to be calm when he heard what the rancher is saying. Will faked a cough and Vaughn pulled the tip of his hat down to cover his eyes. Witch Princess turned her head behind. She sighed. You guys are not helping. "Ah, do not worry about them, Chelsea. They're fine. Oh, I know," the older woman stood up. "Let me introduce you to them."
"Great idea!" Chelsea replied, standing up beside the older woman. "Oh, I'll introduce myself first. My name is Chelsea Springfield. Nice to meet you!" she said and grinned.
Will smiled at her behavior. Although her memories are lost, she doesn't seem to change. She's still the same old Chelsea I knew.
"Let's begin with the blonde in white here," Witch Princess said, pointing to Will. "This is Will. The cowboy is Vaughn and the blonde in blue jumper is Mark."
"It is a pleasure to meet you, my lady," Will said as he shake accepted the hand Chelsea offered him.
"Nice meeting you as well, Chelsea," Mark smiled as he shake hands with Chelsea.
Chelsea blinked when Vaughn didn't accept the hand she offered. The silver-haired man just stared at her for a while and turned his face away.
"Oh, don't worry about him," Witch Princess cuts in. "He's not really used talking to other people."
Chelsea stared at the silver-haired man for a while before smiling. "Oh, it's not a problem. I'm sorry if I offended you, Vaughn," she told him.
Why do you apologize? Vaughn stared at the rancher who was talking with the blondes and witch. His expression changed. You're still the same clueless woman I used to know. Shoot. Why am I smiling?
"I'm called Witch Princess," Witch Princess introduced herself. "Now that you know all of us, I have a favor to ask you."
The three men gave the older woman a 'WTH-That was fast!' look and she replied with 'We don't have time, damn it!' look.
"What is it? I'm happy if I can help with your problems," Chelsea replied immediately.
Vaughn sighed. You are really something. Naïve as always. Even without your memories you are still the same!
"You see…They lost their pets and they need help in getting them back," Witch Princess explained. "But the problem is that their pets are lost in different dimensions. You have to travel to various dimensions to retrieve one."
That's cheating, Witch Princess! Mark resisted the urge to shout the words he's thinking. You can't just tell her that! She's not going to believe about different dimensions are actually exist!
"Is that so…," Chelsea replied. She moved her hand up to her chin. "Hm…It sounds hard, but okay! I'll help!" she grinned.
The three men sweatdropped. You're kidding, right? She doesn't even ask about the 'different dimensions' stuff and immediately agree on helping us?
"Um…Chelsea," Mark said, hesitated if he should ask the question or not. "You…you did notice about Witch Princess saying 'different dimensions', right? Uh…don't you, like, going to question her…or us about it?"
"Why should I?" Chelsea asked, head tilted to the right a little.
"What do you mean 'Why should I?'?" Will added the question.
Chelsea grinned. "I believe in ghost and aliens. Different dimensions are just a small matter," she said happily.
Vaughn pulled the tip of his hat down again. She's a total idiot as well. That was new. Or maybe I just didn't know that she loves such kind of things before her memories were gone.
"I know about it," Witch Princess said, indicating the 'it' as Chelsea's beliefs in ghost and aliens. "That's why I'm not worried about spilling the beans to her. Why do you think she came a lot to visit me before?"
"Eh? Visit you?" Chelsea asked.
"Oh, nothing. Ignore that," the older woman grinned, changing the subject. "You're going to help them then?"
"I already said I will, Witch Princess. A promise is a promise," she replied her.
Witch Princess nodded. "Very well. Then you are all ready," she said. "Witchkin, I know you're eavesdropping outside. You may come in now," Witch Princess shouted at the door of the rancher's house that is open.
"How did you know?" the little girl said as she showed herself to the people in the house.
"Because I'm a better witch than you are, of course," Witch Princess said. She turned to Chelsea. "That's Witchkin, my niece. She's going to help you in the search."
"Eh?" Chelsea screeched. "I can't take a little girl on the journey! Who knows what danger lies within each dimensions?"
Witch Princess patted the rancher's shoulder. "You've been taking this was too serious, Chelsea. Relax. She can take care of herself. You guys can't go on the search without her anyway. You will need her as a navigator," said and then turned to face Witchkin. "You will do this, right?"
Witchkin turned to the brown-haired rancher. The rancher smiled at her and she twitched. It's my fault after all. "Of course I'm going! Why do you think I'm here?" she bluffed.
"Very good! Then you're all ready," Witch Princess said. "Now…"
"Wait!" Mark cuts in.
"What now?" Witch Princess asked, annoyed that someone stopped her.
"Uh, sorry…I just…I just want to know what will happen to the islands…I mean the people on these islands. Will they notice that we're gone?"
"What a dumb question! Of course they will! But don't worry," Witch Princess answered. "I'll explain it to them. If that's not working, the good-for-nothing Goddess will handle that matter."
"Oh, okay then," Mark nodded. "Oh, don't we have to pack our things first? It is a search party after all. We might need some items that can help us in our search."
"There's no need for that," Witch Princess shook her head. "If you need anything, just ask Witchkin. She'll take care of it."
"Are you sure?" Vaughn suddenly asked. "I don't know if I can trust the person that led to this event happened."
"Hey! It was an accident!" Witchkin retorted, defending herself.
"Uh-huh," Vaughn replied back in his usual sarcastic tone.
"Cut it already," Witch Princess snapped. "God damn, you're wasting my time, again," she added. "Let's just get this over with, okay? Come gather around me, everyone."
Everyone moved closer to Witch Princess and did exactly what she told everyone to do. They formed a circle where Witch Princess stood in the middle of the circle. After everyone's comfortable with their position, she started chanting and minutes later, white lights emerged from under Will, Mark, Vaughn, Chelsea and Witchkin's feet. The light slowly crawled to the upper part of their body.
"Vaughn," Witch Princess called the silver-haired man. Vaughn lifted his head from staring down at his chest where the white light is now. "Try not to choke Witchkin on your journey. You guys will have to depend a lot on her on your search for the pets...and also to get back here," the older woman added.
"Hmph," Vaughn replied and disappeared with the others as they're completely engulfed in the white light.
Witch Princess watched as they disappeared from her eyes. "Do you know what the other reason that only you three are chosen for this? It's your love for Chelsea. Only those with strong feelings towards Chelsea can make the 'travel through dimension' spell works," she said it to no one. "But still, I wonder if you're able to cope with the events that happens in other dimensions? Ufufufufu…this will be interesting."
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A/N: The longest chapter for now. XD Tell me what do you think about it. =3