Chapter 22
The Natural Mold

The next morning, Hanajima and the Fan Club girls were riding in a blue SUV, heading into the huge dense forest. They found the sign that said "Welcome to the Natural Molden Forest".

"This must be the place," Minami said, "That Honda has something up her sleeve."

Hanajima said, "It's because of what Tohru had for us. Arisa made her leader for this mission. However, Tohru chose not to go."

Mai said, "Better safe than sorry. Plus, we don't have to worry about those Antagony losers, anymore."

Motoko said, "Electric Girl. How far is it to the Natural Caverns?"

Hanajima said, as the SUV stopped. They stepped out, as Hana said, "This way. I have the map in memory. Plus, Dawn gave us the coordinates to a safe zone. If what Tohru said is true, we must stay alert, and remember not to touch anything."

The girls left, as Hanajima went to Dawn, who drove the SUV. She asked, "Aren't you coming with?"

Dawn weakly said, "Too much driving. The battery life meter says I am at 15%. Must recharge soon… Need… energy from… nature…"

She opened the door and carried her to a ray of sunlight. She placed her down on a rock, as Dawn was seated, sitting in a yoga position. She sighed, "Aah… So… good… I must… re… charge…"

Hanajima smiled, "Rest easy. Let's get your batteries fully charged, when we're done. Remember to return to the van, when the sun sets. We'll be in there, all afternoon."

Motoko cried, "Hey, Electric Girl! Move it or lose it!"

Hanajima sighed, "Right. Dawn, make sure you don't leave this spot."

Dawn beeped, "Battery life – 20%."

Hanajima smiled, as she left, "She'll be fine."

XXXXX

The girls went through the huge plants and leaves that were in their path. Hanajima chose not to cut them down, since this area was delicate and newly discovered.

Mio asked, "So, explain to us why we are looking for a treasure cave?"

Hanajima responded, "Because… We wanted to test some secrets behind the caverns. For starters: why it was called the Natural Molden Forest, to begin with. The answers will be inside the cave."

Motoko groaned, "Let's hope so. I hate walking in this intense heat."

Mai remarked, "The weather today in this area is about 82 degrees. No clouds today."

Minami smiled, "Good! Let's hope that robot of ours get enough sunlight for her Energy Saving routine."

Motoko barked, "I'm bored! Why did we listen to Honda, in the FIRST PLACE?"

Hanajima said, "Well, she found the place, first, from an informant, during one of her missions. Sad to say that she chose to back out, at the last minute. Just to be safe, since Tohru's powers are uncontrollable. Who knows what she'd be, if in this land?"

Mio said, "I see."

Minami nodded, "That's a strong point."

Hanajima added, "And… we cannot turn back, since Dawn is sapped of her battery life."

The girls dropped in a thud, in embarrassment. Motoko shouted, "NOW YOU TELL US!"

Hana said, "Follow my lead."

Motoko shuddered, as she remembered the last time they followed Hanajima. She said, "Good. Let's hope we can learn more, in this land."

She turned to Mai, "#2, have your camera ready?"

Mai saluted, "Roger!"

Hanajima said, "Good. Maybe we can learn more, and study it, for many reasons. Should we find it, there's a chance that we may survive."

Minami snapped, "Don't say that! We'll never give in to this mysterious cave!"

They continued to walk, for about two hours. When it was Noon, they saw a small cavern, in the middle of the forest.

"This must be it." Motoko whispered.

Mai smiled, "My first appearance in a cave. I hope we meet some cave hermits."

They stepped inside, as it was dark and spooky. Hanajima lit a torch and lead them down the path, inside the caves. The others were scared by the caverns' cave walls and stalactites and stalagmites. Motoko whimpered in fear, "Is this what the scary caves inside look like?"

Mai said, "I'm scared."

Minami shivered, "This must be an evil witch's cave."

They kept walking, all the way to a cavern door, which acted as a dead end. Hana sensed that there's a way in. The stone door had drawings of three figures, with a wooden sign that said "Keep out".

"How scary," Mio said.

"I wonder if this is the treasure room." Mai thought.

Hanajima ordered Motoko, "You listen to me. Make sure to stay by me, at all costs… but no touching the items."

She explained the drawings, "It's been about two months since the discovery was made. The paint on it is still dry and fresh. It is said that three people entered the room and were turned into mannequins, after stealing a priceless treasure. But that was all a myth. No one knows how they came to be, but it seems weird."

She pushed the door open, as Minami trembled, "Okay, now Electric Girl is indeed scaring us. I want a hot and beautiful body, but not while Prince Yuki ogles at me in a department store!"

Mio said, "With any luck, you'd be taken apart."

They entered the treasure room, which was a huge shrine, full of gold, silver, and jeweled trinkets.

Motoko gasped, "WHOA! Golden and Molden!"

Minami snapped, "Wait! I thought it was a new discovery! Is this a trick?"

Hanajima said, "Tohru and I looked it up. Discoverers tried their hands on this cave, but only to learn that the people that lived here, either disappeared or have left the island. It was confirmed that they fled the island, after the curse got to them. It is hard to say if they are still around."

Mio gasped, "Hold on! Is this a forest or an island?"

Mai shouted, "Yeah! Make up your mind!"

Hanajima said, "It's hard to say. This land, according to the map, is like a huge oval island, but it has a very small terrain, which connects as the only road to the forest. In other words, it's still a mystery."

Mio asked, "Hey, Electric Girl… What about these, up there?"

Hanajima found some tomes, which are small scrolls, above the treasures, inside some small inserts. She pulled out two tomes: The Silver Spell and The Noozle-Luud.

She read out loud, the Noozle-Luud:
"According to the curse, it is called the Noozle-Luud. A weird name, but it is an effective spell. According the legend, the curse may affect you, turning you into a doll. However, depending on who you are, the form of life-size statuette may affect any person, depending on the personality or looks. The curse occurs, whenever someone touches a gold statue, located in the middle of the treasure room. If grabbed forcefully, then the victim will proudly leave, leaving themselves cursed forever.
However, if the gold statue has a marking that says "Made in China", then the curse is possibly done slowly. But that rumor was untrue, since that statue was a mobile doll. It is also a koala."

"Remember that, girls," Motoko ordered the others, "Any gold trinket, we don't touch it."

Mai asked, "And the silver ones?"

Hanajima read, "Hmm… The Silver Spell is somewhat safe.
It is said that once owned by a pure or tainted heart, anybody who would pilfer silver goodies must NOT come back to the treasure area, or shall be frozen stiff, taking the punishment it deserves. You shall take what you like, but once you do, NEVER return to the treasure cave. Depending on the trinket, it can happen for hours on end. Necklaces and crowns have the longest route, heading into at five to seven hours. Rings last up to thirty minutes. Gold trinkets are instant deaths, meaning that you're statues forever. STAY SAFE, AT ALL COSTS!
If you wish to NOT be a mannequin, consult a professional magician, sorcerer, wizard, or shaman immediately."

"Boy, they sure know how to act like safe and courteous folks," Minami sighed.

Mio groaned, "Especially since there's a curse involved."

Motoko said, "Okay, Electric Girl, where is this crown?"

Hanajima turned to the center of the mantle and said, "Over there."

As they walked toward the mantle, Hanajima snuck in and stole a silver necklace. She put the tomes back and went to the others. When they arrived, they saw a mantle that is blank, with two lipstick holders, empty, as well.

"AW, GYP!" Minami shouted, "IT'S GONE!"

"Then… Then that means…" Mai whimpered.

Hanajima sighed, "Someone beat us to it. My guess is that someone else has stolen the crown. I'm afraid it is bad. You don't think the crown had something to do with it."

Motoko giggled, "Well, for the moment, whoever has it will be a mannequin now."

Mio cheered, "Wonderful! Then we can return to HQ and search for the crown thief."

Mai giggled, as she looked at the gold treasures. However, she is having a dilemma… Would she take one or not touch it, as ordered?

Motoko asked, "Those slits there, under the mantle of the crown. What are they?"

Hanajima thought, "I never noticed that before."

She said, as she examined it, "I think it's… lipstick?"

Motoko asked, "Lipstick? Why would there be a lipstick holder in this cave?"

Minami thought, "Maybe the people in the island were women."

Mio responded, "Maybe there was some type of hidden make-up that people hid, inside these caves."

Hanajima spoke, "Sadly, it is. I read that these are the icy and hot lipsticks that turned you into mannequins, but only temporarily… It is said that it can only work on certain places that can mold in shape."

Motoko was astonished, "Unbelievable! Make-up that make you into mannequins. But which one?"

Hana said, "It's color coded. Red makes you move, after you freeze in place, with blue."

Mio snuffed, "Figures. Ice is blue and fire is red – hence the term Icy and Hot."

Minami smiled, "Well, that was amazing. I never knew this cave had such history."

Motoko said, "Oh, Hanajima, let's go. I'm too scared to stay… and I fear that I may steal a gold treasure."

Hanajima smiled, "I understand. We shall report our discoveries to Tohru, once we are finished. For now, let us depart."

She spoke too soon. Mai appeared and asked, "Cool gold trinkets! I love this place! Let's come back soon, and stay here forever!"

Motoko sighed, "No! That is just what the curse wants you to think. We stay here, forever, if we touch a golden item."

Mai smiled, as she held up a golden lucky cat, "Oh. Then, can I keep this as a souvenir?"

Hanajima gasped in horror, "NO! YOU FOOL!"

Motoko, Minami, and Mio shrieked, "NUMBER TWO!"

The cave shook, as Mai asked, "Uh… Is that a bad thing?"

Motoko smiled, "In my words… YES, IT IS! YOU ARE SO STU-!"

The cave flashed light, as Hanajima pleaded, "I TOLD YOU NOT TO TOUCH THE GOLD TREASURES! RUN FOR IT!"

The girls ran off, as Mai dropped the cat. Motoko and Minami caught it, but gasped in fear. Minami threw the cat to Mio and barked, "YOU PUT IT BACK!"

Mio screeched, "NO! I DON'T WANT IT!"

She placed it back on the table, as they ran off from the cave. The shrine shone a huge flash, as they were being caught in it. Mio screamed, as Mai collapsed onto the ground. She screamed, as she held her legs, which were frozen solid.

"HELP!" She screamed.

Mio and Minami ran to her, as Motoko screamed, "NO! COME BACK!"

"Not without Mai!" Minami yelled.

Mio was about to grab her, but her left arm and left leg was frozen. She tried to lift it, but couldn't.

"AAH! NO! I'm freezing!"

Minami cried, "NO! NOT THAT! MOTOKO! ELECTRIC GIRL!"

Hanajima yelled at Motoko, "LEAVE THEM! We must leave, now!"

Motoko then tripped down, nearly hurting herself. But she wasn't hurt. She, too, was frozen in her lower legs. Hanajima saw her and gasped. Motoko cried, "LEAVE ME! I CAN'T MOVE!"

Hanajima shouted, "But… But, I can't! You are with us! The Resistance!"

Motoko bowed her head and said, "No. This is what I am fated for. The Prince Yuki Fan Club is one unit… and we shall die… together."

Hanajima cried, "You can't! We need you! Arisa and Tohru need you! I NEED YOU!"

Motoko smiled, as tears were in her eyes, as her lower body was frozen, "You don't get it… We only joined, just to have peace, and mostly for our prince. But now… it'll never become this way."

Hanajima was in a shaken state, as Motoko cried, "WELL? WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? GO!"

Hanajima nodded, as she dashed off. Motoko then moaned in pain, as her body was completely frozen.

"Prince Yuki… Forgive me… One day… I hope to see you agai-."

She stopped talking. She was stiff and frozen, in a forced pose, and a smile on her face. The others had the same fate. Motoko… Minami… Mio… and Mai… they all became mannequins.

As for Hanajima, she escaped the cave, still in pain. She panted for air, as she tried to get up. The caves shone a bright white light, as she tried to move. But…

Hana examined her right arm. It was stiff. She cried, "The Silver Spell… No…"

She used her left arm and picked herself up. She stood up and rushed to the SUV, where Dawn was lying on the hood. She was tired.

"Hanajima. The sun was blocked at precisely 3:23pm, and could not return… Battery level is now at-."

"I don't care!" Hana shouted, "GET IN! We're out of here!"

"In that case, you drive. My power cells have faded to 65%."

"Deactivate systems, now! And take shotgun!"

"But… What about-?"

"NOW! I'll explain later!"

Dawn stepped inside the front seat and deactivated her energy-saving circuits, to preserve power. Hanajima buckled her in, as she took the wheel. She drove off, escaping the huge island.

Saki Hanajima will go down in Alternate World history to be the first human survivor in the Natural Molden Forest. Of course, she lost few of her allies in the process.

Hours later, Hana could only drive with one arm. Her right arm was stiff as a board, but it had real difficulty on the driving part.

"I better have this arm examined, before I tell Uo." She said.

She then realized, "No… Tohru was the one who… And if she… then, that means…"

She realized that Tohru tricked the other girls to go to the cave, only to be caught in the curse. She was right.

XXXXX

Back at HQ, she removed her blouse and showed her upper body, down to her bra and looked at her right shoulder. It was completely wooden, with a shiny gloss in her. It even had the black nail polish painted on, to look realistic. She held her arm and thought, as she looked in the mirror, in the bathroom, "My arm… It must be that silver necklace."

She looked at the necklace and said, "Perhaps no one should see this… that trinket and my arm."

She removed it from her shoulder, which was detachable, and moaned quietly. She looked at her right arm and cringed, "My body is mutilated… How could Tohru do this?"

She reattached it and said, "I need to know… Tohru is on the side of Chris McLean, isn't she? She only sent me, Motoko, and the others, only to get the crown. But lo and behold, there is no crown! She wanted us out of the way, just for herself!"

She cringed, "She wanted us to die… All of us. Tohru, I'm sorry…"

She stood in place and said, "Forgive me. I now know what must be done."

But then, Zoey appeared from a vent, tired and bothered, "Sorry. I overheard your commotion and I told Cameron and Mike to stay put, seeing you in your unmentionables."

Hana exclaimed, "No, it's fine. But why are you here? Tohru told me that you're dead."

Zoey sighed, "We will tell you… if you put your blouse back on. I'm afraid that it's horrible to explain… But Tohru…"

She cried, "She's joined the DARK SIDE, namely Chris McLean!"

Hanajima gasped, and grew sad, "So… It is true."

Zoey asked, "You know about it?"

Hanajima then put her blouse on and begin to tell the story behind the mission that Tohru gave her.

But for most parts, the worst was yet to come…

Next time, Percival meets Aya, during the time that the girls went to the Natural Molden Forest. It is there that Aya confesses to Percival that she was responsible for giving Tohru her powers.