#(also i think tiny woods sounds better in explorers oops)

[perenlop]

Oh the PSMD music playing during the Latios cutscene is such a nice touch

[nataliedanovelist]

GF - Timestuck AU: The Power of Mabel ch.6

While fighting over a time machine so one twin can win a pig or the other can win the heart of a girl, Mabel is left stranded in a snowy forest with no time machine and no brother. Oops.

ch.5 - ch.7 (finale)

~~~~~~~~~~

The air was still quite nippy and crisp, but the afternoon sun sparkled on the white snow and made the atmosphere pleasant to stand in if the Main Sequence Star was shining directly on a living organism, like it was on Stan from where he stood on the porch. He sighed tiredly as he dug into his hoodie’s pocket for a fresh cigar and lit it with his Zippo-style lighter. He knew he probably shouldn’t smoke with a kid in the house, but after the few days he’s had, he needed and had well earned a smoke-break.

The door opened and Stan hid his cigar by his side, his right arm glued to his hip to hide the newcomer on his left, but when he saw it was an adult, he relaxed and took another puff. “M’trying to quit.” He mumbled.

Ford snickered. “Yeah, it looks like you’re trying really hard.”

“Don’t be shitty.” Stan said casually.

“Mind if I lend one? I can replenish you in a few minutes.”

Stan stared at his goody two-shoes of a twin and handed him a cigar and the lighter. “You smoke?”

“Not often. For a celebration or after a long day.” Ford answered as he lit his borrowed cigar. “Maybe twice a month. Thrice?”

“Huh.”

Ford looked down at the lighter in his hand, and he was surprised when he recognized it. He can clearly remember seeing the tiny silver box in a store and thinking Stanley would like it as a Only One More Year of High-School present. “I gave this to you.”

Stan smiled as he took it back and pocketed it. “Yeah, it’s a good lighter. Only needed to change the flint a few times.”

“Hey guys!” A small voice called from inside the house. “Do you like vanilla or chocolate?”

The twins looked at each other, smiled, and called back. “Both. Both is good!”

“Both it is!”

Stan chuckled and shook his head. “Knucklehead… I knew she had to be family just by looking at her!” He bragged proudly.

“I suppose I was too distracted by the fact that a cold girl was at my doorstep to recognize the family resemblance.” Ford reasoned, shrugging. “I wanted to make sure I did the right thing. I didn’t exactly feel like getting arrested for kidnapping.”

Stan barked a laugh. “Yeah, you got a good point.” The conman yawned and stretched his arms over his head. “Guess I’ll head out tomorrow.” He mentioned offhandedly.

Ford stared at him, a little saddened and disheartened by this fact that was news to him. “You’re leaving?”

“I mean, yeah?” Stan equally stared at his brother, confused and not daring to be hopeful, but still. “What?”

“I just…” Ford hesitated and busied his mouth by taking a hit of his cigar. With everything that has been said and how well he and Stan have been communicating, he really didn’t feel like ruining it now. He relaxed his shoulders and said with his eyes on the snowy woods. “I was really hoping you would stay.”

Stan looked dumbfounded, like a child discovering candy for the first time, but he looked away and down at the porch floor. “Oh.”

“I’ll of course be taking care of Mabel until Dipper comes back in time for her…”

“He might not.”

“We got over our grudges. They can do the same.” Ford said firmly. “Still, you have a point. Dipper might not be able to come back. Regardless, whether it’s for a short time, a long time, or for the rest of my life, I will take care of her. I might not be the best for her, I can acknowledge that…”

“C’mon, Sixer, don’t be like that.” Stan scolded lightly, giving a sympathetic look to the nerd. “What else can you do, y’know? There’s no way in hell you’re gonna give her up, I’ll kidnap her and run away to Canada before I let you…”

Ford laughed and waved a hand as he smiled. “No no, I promise I won’t.”

“Good.”

“The point is, she loves you. Clearly. And it takes two, and I’ll be busy with my research, especially once the snow melts and the anomalies become more active in the spring and summer, but…” Ford bit his lip. This was a bad idea. If he makes it seem that the only reason why Stan needs to be here is because of Mabel, if or when she’s gone, then Stan will have no reason to stay. And there were many reasons why Ford wanted Stan to stay.

Despite how much of a social-cripple Ford was, he knew that Stan was homeless. His frequent traveling and how full his car was right now was enough proof of that. And Ford hated that for his brother.

But there was another, bigger reason why Ford wanted Stan to stay. So he better just say it.

“Do you know why I went to Backupsmore?” Ford asked.

Stan’s facial expression darkened as he looked away and he shrugged. “Cuz I fucked up your project?”

“No,” Ford answered plainly. “I may not have been accepted into West Coast Tech, but there were so many other colleges that wanted me. I could apply to Yale or Harvard or any college from New York to California and instantly be accepted.

“But I didn’t.” The author added grimly. “Stanley, when you left… When you were gone, I was a mess. So many days I just lied in bed without meals or sleep. Ma was hysterical. I failed most of my exams and only barely scraped a C in the ones I didn’t fail. My GPA dropped significantly and I even lost my Honor Roll. Thankfully my past grades were enough to let me graduate with a 3.2, but my clean record was stained and a lot of prestigious colleges didn’t want me.

“All I wanted at that point was to get as far away from Glass Shard as possible. Luckily there was a small college outside of San Francisco that practically accepted everyone and had a wide range of studies to offer, so I applied and was accepted by graduation day.”

“Good for you.” Stan grunted.

“No! The point is, I…” Ford groaned, feeling like he was failing, but he had to try. “I understand if you don’t want to stay. I understand you have your own life and things you want to do, and I can live without you again if I have to, but… I really, really don’t want to. Yes, I know that part of growing up is going in different directions and being independent and all the other bells and whistles, but it doesn’t have to be. So, if you can tolerate living under the same roof as me again, and if you’re okay with it, I want to offer you a job.”

Stan raised an eyebrow at the six-fingered man. “What kinda job?”

“The committee gives me monthly boosts so I can continue my research. As long as I prove to them once a year that progress is being made, I have a good income coming in. It is a big job, exploring the large woods, climbing mountains and waterfalls, combing the lake, mapping the Enchanted Forest, and hunting down monsters and anomalies to learn more about them. I’ve always managed to make it out of trouble alright, but… I need a partner, and I want to keep it in the family.” Ford smiled at the last sentence.

“What are you saying?” Stan sneered, not daring to believe, not daring to hope, but that stupid smile Ford had…

“I’m saying I want you to do this with me, Stanley.” Ford said matter-of-factly. “I can share the grant with you after bills are paid and groceries are purchased. We can renovate the small room on the ground floor to be Mabel’s bedroom and you can have the entire attic as your own space.

“I know it’s not sailing around the world, but… Please. Will you give me another chance?” Ford pleaded with a soft smile.

Stan grinned and shook his head. “Shit, Sixer, you’re a better salesman than me.” He looked him in the eyes. “Okay. Yes. I’ll stay.”

Ford’s cheeks puffed with happiness as he smiled, his lips pressed together, and he looked ahead, happily daydreaming his future. Being surrounded by weirdness for a living was amazing by itself; doing it with his twin and raising their niece together on top of it was better than anything he could have imagined.

Stan was watching him and laughed good-naturedly, then held out a hand to him. Ford blinked at it like a startled owl, but then returned the smile and sealed the deal with a high-six.

Both brothers stood contently outside with their cigars for a minute, but then heard a bowl clatter on the floor. Mabel must be making a mess in the kitchen, which was fine.

What wasn’t fine was the sound that followed of a body falling on the floor.

Ford raised an eyebrow and called calmly, “Mabel, are you alright?”

They both expected a quick “yeah, sorry, I’m okay,” and maybe an explanation to follow, like she tripped getting down from a chair or something. But there was no reply.

“Mabel, sweetie?” Stan hollered, trying not to sound mad or scared or anything but cool-under-pressure, but this voice trembled with fear.

Still no answer.

Ford and Stan quickly discarded their cigars and bolted inside. Racing like children for cookies, they soon stood at the doorway of the kitchen and were horrified to find Mabel sprawled on the floor on her front, her hair scattered over her face to hide her expression, and her legs and bottom-half of her body slowly fading.

Literally. Fading. Mabel was fading away. She was disappearing like a stain on cloth.

“MABEL!” The men screamed and were immediately on their knees beside her. Ford scooped her up into his arms and felt her pulse and looked over her.

“What happened to her?!” Stan cried out. “Pumpkin, what’s wrong?!”

Ford’s eyes widened in panic as a horrifying realization slapped him in the face. “Mabel… You changed history.”

The tired girl nodded with her eyes closed. “If… If you guys had a fight… and never made up… in my timeline, then I guess…” Mabel paused to yawn tiredly. It didn’t hurt, but she was really sleepy now.“I guess that timeline doesn’t exist anymore, huh? I guess I don’t exist anymore.”

“WHAT?!” Stan yelled and took Mabel’s hand and squeezed it. “We have to do something! You’re family! You’re… We can’t just let you d- not exist!”

Ford held Mabel tighter and closer to his warm chest, making her smile. She swore she could hear his heartbeat. It was too fast. She would have to fix that. Poor Ford was also shaking like a leaf. Mabel could fix that, too.

“I’ll exist.” She smiled up at her uncles. “In a few years.”

Ford bit his lip. He shouldn’t ask this, it was probably dangerous to learn about the future, but the worst was already happening. What else could possibly happen that was worse than losing his girl? Ford couldn’t help but ask, “When?”

“August 31st, 1999.” Mabel’s eyes dazzled. “You’ll meet Dipper, too.” She shifted her eyes to only Stan and whispered, “Did you know you were there? You came to see us when we were born?”

Stan’s eyes watered as he smiled at the new piece of information. “I did?”

“You did. I came out first. You were so proud when I kicked the doctor in the jaw.”

Stan made a watery chuckle and wiped at his eye. “That’s my girl.”

“Dipper came next. He was blue. Umbilical cord wrapped around his neck.”

“Was he okay?” Stan asked.

“He was fine. You knew he would be. You never doubted.”

“I never will, pumpkin. I swear.”

The fading is now much worse. It was spreading over Mabel like a virus. Her legs were hardly visible to the naked eye, and even her shoulders were losing color. This Mabel is almost completely gone. 

Ford, pressed for time, bit his lip as tears flooded his eyes and he cupped Mabel’s cheek and cradled her. “I… I can’t let you go! We just started to become a real family! Wh-What am I going to do without you?!”

Mabel smiled and used the free hand not holding Stan’s trembling hand to caress Ford’s jaw and lower cheek, then cupping his face so her fingertips grazed his sideburn. “It’s okay, really. I’ll see you again, and next time it’ll be when both of you come to see us. Totally worth it.” 

Ford held his breath, and shut his eyes, a tear escaping from each eye and sitting comfortably in the corners of his windows to his soul. Stan hiccuped a laugh and rubbed her hand between both of his. Both of them were doing everything in their power not to cry. 

To that, Mabel laughed and said, “Boys are stupid. It’s okay to cry.”

The cursed power of Mabel. Making people be honest and breaking dams.

Ford curled into his niece, his face sloe to her heart, and cried gently. He wasn’t ready, but he didn’t think he could ever be ready for this.

Stan laughed with tears streaming down his face and he kissed Mabel’s tiny fingers trapped in his hold, then held their hands close to his bowed forehead and just focused on feeling her pulse between his palms.

It only lasted another minute.

Ford was mortified when his chest sank and his arms were empty. He threw himself back and stared at his lap and felt sick to his stomach to find his little girl missing.

Stan’s hands also clasped together and he squeezed tightly, his fists against his trembling lips as he cried.

The genius who always seemed to know what to do didn’t have a damn clue what to do with himself. He growled in his throat, squeezing his eyes shut and gritting his teeth, then let out a painful howl and moan that most definitely disturbed birds and made a deer or two gallop farther away.

Ford removed his glasses and held his knees, sobbing his heart out. Stan blinked his tears off his eyes, resulting in them rolling down his face, as he watched his brother completely shatter to pieces. He had seen him upset before, sure; all those years of bullying, of Pa’s outbursts and sometimes physical punishments, hopelessness that he was actually worth something. You don’t spend seventeen years with a person and not see them break every so often, granted the blessing to help them put themselves back together again.

But Ford didn’t need Stan to swoop in and fix it. There were no bullies to punch or parents to stand against or jokes to crack that would make this okay. All Stan could do was throw his arms around him and bury his face into Ford’s shoulder and cry, too. 

So that’s what they did on the kitchen floor for over an hour.

~~~~~~~~~~

Dipper blinked to try to see, but all he saw around him was inky blackness for miles. His heart raced as he looked around for his sister. “Mabel? Mabel! Mabel, answer me!”

The boy scrambled and collapsed out of a portable potty at the fair. He blinked his eyes rapidly to adjust to the sunlight, scurrying off his hands and knees, clutching the warm time-machine in his hands. Wendy was still admiring her price and Robbie was still sulking, and Waddles was still trying to get away from Pacifica.

That didn’t matter! Mabel was stranded back in time! But how far back?! When was Mabel?! Dipper started jamming the button, but the machine wasn’t working, and it was soon swiped from him by a black-gloved hand.

“Mason Pines,” A gruff voice commanded above him and Dipper looked up to find two new guys with that Blendin guy. The two other guys were muscular and guarded with high-tech armor. 

“You are under arrest for violating the Time-Traveler's Code of Conduct and for jeopardizing the timestream.” The man labeled as Dundgren stated as serious as death.

“Do you have any idea how many rules you just broke?!” Blendin squawked. “I’m asking. I wasn’t there with you. It was probably a lot, right?”

“Wait, wait please!” Dipper begged as the two members of the Time Paradox Avoidance Enforcement Squadrent each grabbed the boy by an arm. “My sister! She’s still back there! We have to get her!”

“You have the right to remain silent.” The man labeled as Lolph informed robotically. “Anything you say can and already has been used in the Court of Time-Law.”

“Let me go, Mabel needs-...” And Dipper and the three time-travelers were blasted forward in time.

~~~~~~~~~~

In the endless space of time, Dipper was levitated off the ground by a giant baby using the power of his forehead-hourglass to trap him in a baby-blue field. Members of the the Time Paradox Avoidance Enforcement Squadrent circled the two, and Blendin stood with his arms crossed over his chest and smiling smugly as the kid who caused so much trouble was getting what he deserved.

“You and your sister have broken the eternal laws of space-time.”

“I’m sorry!” Dipper cried out, trying to fight the energy circling him, but it was futile. “I’m sorry! Do what you want to me, just help my sister!”

“Your sister does not require help, nor do you require punishment.” Time Baby informed as he held his feet. “You are lucky the events that occurred do not change anything drastically. However, your timeline has shifted and therefore this reality’s version of you and your sister are no longer viable and will cease to exist.”

“What?!” Dipper squeaked and looked down at his body to find his legs disappearing. “No no NO! What’s happening to me?!”

“You and your twin sister will be born again on August 31st, 1999, but too many things are different in your timeline for this version of you to continue to exist.”

“W-W-What did I do wrong?! What did I change?!” Dipper cried out as his whole body was drained of color. “What changed in our timeline?!”

“Your uncles have amended their bond thirty-four years ahead of schedule. As unfortunate as this is, your sister miraculously delayed the plans of Bill Cipher by an entire millennia.”

“What uncles?!” Dipper asked, panicked as the fading reached his neck. “Who’s Bill Cipher?!”

“If you wanted the answers you sought out, you should have been patient.” Time Baby scolded. “We all get the answers we seek… in time.”

“P-P-Please!” Dipper begged as he appeared as a ghost. “Please! What did Mabel do?!”

Time Baby cruelly stayed silent, testing Dipper’s strengths, but he was dying, anyways. Might as well.

“She met the Author of the Journals. Your missing uncle.”

Dipper’s eyes widened. “Mabel…” He rasped, and then he ceased to exist.

[gedachtenextracten]

The Wonders of Autocorrect (chapter 7) - a rookie blue ff

(previous parts - read on AO3)

Uncle Zac and Olivia were the only ones at home. Uncle Zac had offered to babysit Olivia and had convinced Kathryn and Jeff, Holly’s parents, to go out for dinner, just the two of them. Zac invited Bill in for a drink, but Bill said he had to get home soon so he didn’t have the time to sit down and chat. Gail and Holly brought Gail’s bag to Holly’s bedroom, leaving Bill and Zac to talk. When they came back downstairs, Bill was preparing to leave.

Bill squeezed Gail’s shoulder in goodbye. “Bye Gail. Be good. Bye Holly.” He shook Uncle Zac’s hand. “It was nice to see you again.”

“It was. We should meet up sometime. Now that I have met your daughter, I realised I haven’t even met your wife yet. Nor your son! We really should catch up.”

Bill promised he’d let Zac know when he was free so they could go for lunch some time. He waved the girls goodbye as he walked out the door.

“How do you know my father?”

“We shared a bed once. A long time ago.” When he saw the look on Gail’s face, he laughed. “A bunk bed. Now, off you go! You should both get some sleep. We’ll be leaving very early in the morning.”

As Gail followed Holly up the stairs, she grumbled. “What a non-answer.”

“You’ll find out,” soothed Holly. “Uncle Zac likes to act all mysterious, but he’s not very good at keeping it up.”

By the time Gail had found her toothbrush, Holly had already brushed her teeth and returned to her bedroom. She was huddled under her covers when Gail came in.

“Can you turn off the light?”

“Yeah, sure.” Gail eyed the bed and hesitated. “Um, Holly? Do you have a sleeping mat for me?”

“My bed is big enough to fit us both.” Holly lifted the covers and patted the space next to her. Why would Gail even need a sleeping mat? Oh. Holly’s face fell. “Oh. Unless—I thought—We’ll be sharing a tent tomorrow. I just—I  assumed it wouldn’t be a problem. I’m sorry. I should have checked with you.”

“Oh.” Gail stood still, thoughts running through her head. “Okay.”

“If it’s the gay thing that is bothering you… I will not feel you up in your sleep, I promise. I won’t even touch you.”

Gail raised an eyebrow. “You tell yourself that. As if you could stay away from this.” She gestured to her own body.

“It’s not the ‘gay thing’. I don’t mind in the slightest. I just didn’t want to make you uncomfortable… I tend to cuddle in my sleep.”

Holly grinned. “Are you admitting you can’t stay away from all of this?”

“Now, scoot. I need more space than that.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Holly was relieved. For a second, she’d thought Gail was repulsed by the idea of sharing a bed with her.

“Shut up and sleep, nerd.”

Holly giggled.

Gail shuffled closer to her. “And hold me. I’m cold.”

______________

The door busted open, nearly jolting Gail off the bed.

“Wakey, wakey!”

“Oh, God,” Gail rubbed her head. Holly hadn’t even moved yet.

Olivia sing-songed. “Not God, but Liv. You need to get up!” She poked Holly. “Holl?” Another poke.

Holly pulled the sheets up higher and grumbled incoherently.

“Liv,” pleaded Gail. “We’ll be down soon. I promise. Just let us get up in peace, yeah?”

Olivia darted out of the room. Gail heard her high-five her uncle. “Good job, kid.”

Gail grabbed her phone to see what time it was. Not even 6 AM. She groaned. And another message of Andy. She dropped her phone and nuzzled back under the covers, only to be woken by the blaring of Holly’s alarm.

Holly took her phone and shook it. The alarm went silent. She rolled over and her gaze met Gail’s. “Hey.”

“Morning, nerd. I hope that’s not representative for every morning at the Stewart’s. I’m not sure if I can marry you if it is.”

Holly smiled. “I would marry you if that meant I got to see that bed hair every morning.”

Gail slapped her shoulder. “Not funny.”

“Not trying to be.” Holly rolled over and swung her legs over the bed. She stretched her muscles and yawned. “Time to get up, honey.”

“Uhhh. Fine.”

They brushed their teeth and changed into their hiking gear. Gail tried to pat down her hair, but it wouldn’t stay that way. It didn’t help that Holly kept running her hands through Gail’s hair to make it stick up again.

Uncle Zac and Olivia were busy making breakfast and packing food for their trip. Jeff was more or less awake as well, seated at the kitchen table and nursing a big cup of coffee. He handed mugs to Holly and Gail as well.

Gail readily accepted the mug. “Thanks, Jeff.”

“Trust me, you’ll need it.”

Gail shot Holly a look. “You said it wouldn’t be that bad.”

Holly waved her doubts away. “It won’t. Uncle Zac is fun.”

“Thanks, little niece.” Zac clasped his big hands around their shoulders. “Maybe put some food in you, so we can leave, yeah?”

They sat down at the table and started eating their breakfast. Before long, Uncle Zac announced they should take off. He and Jeff put all of their stuff into his car, before ushering the girls inside as well.

Gail claimed the back seat, so that she could nap while they drove. Holly agreed to ride shotgun, on the condition that she had full reign over the music. Gail shrugged. She had her ear plugs, so she didn’t really mind.

______________

Uncle Zac didn’t seem to mind who was in control over the music either. He belted out the songs, whether he knew them or not. Mostly off-key, of course. And loud enough to penetrate through Gail’s ear plugs. After an hour, she gave up trying to sleep and decided to spend her time munching on the provisions Zac had put together.

Holly had been observing her in the mirror. “I can’t believe you can put away that much food.”

“Hey!” Gail sounded offended. “I’m hungry!”

“How are you still this lean? That’s not fair.”

“I run.” Gail started munching on a cookie. “Not only from my problems, but in the physical way too.” She held out the package for Holly. “Want one?”

Holly declined, but Uncle Zac made an attempt to take one.

“Not you.” Gail pulled back and scowled. “You’re the whole reason we’re on this trip.”

“I’m also the reason there we even have cookies.”

“That’s fair,” Gail coonceded. “You may have one.”

Holly laughed. “Gail…”

“Okay. Two then. But that’s all you’re going to get, Zachary.”

Uncle Zac just laughed.

______________

Gail was deleting another string of messages when Holly appeared behind her and hugged her around the waist. She put her chin on Gail’s shoulder and peered at her screen.

“What are you doing?”

Gail dismissed it with a shrug. “Nothing.” She turned off her phone.

“Still mad at her, aren’t you?”

“Yes.”

Holly hummed and pulled her closer against her. “I finished putting up the tent. We’re leaving soon.”

“Leaving?”

“On our hike,” Holly supported. “That’s like, our sole purpose this weekend.”

“Oh, right. We should put on our boots.”

Holly turned around and started walking back towards their camping site, when Gail grabbed her by the hand.

“Wait for me, nerd. I don’t want to get lost in these woods.”

______________

Uncle Zac was looking at the steep hillside in front of him, contemplating whether to go around it or climb it.

“So, Holl, what do you reckon?” he asked, looking over his shoulder at the girls.

Holly opened her mouth to answer, but Gail interrupted her.

“I think we should go around them.”

Holly laughed. “Come on, Gail. Where’s your sense for adventure?”

“I left it at home,” she deadpanned. “Oops.”

Holly took Gails hand and pulled her forward. “Come on, lazy.”

“I liked ‘honey’ better.”

Uncle Zac winked at her. “I bet.”

Gail stuck out her tongue. “Don’t mess with me, Zachary.”

“Your girlfriend is quite rude, Holly. I like her. You should tell me how you met.”

“Do you want the real version or the one that’s appropriate for children?” Gail asked.

Uncle Zac held up his hands. “Woah. The latter, please.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “There is no PG version.”

“There is. I remember a lot of curse words were involved in the first one.”

Holly sighed. “Fair enough.”

They climbed the hill through the woods. While walking, Gail told uncle Zac an exaggerated version of the story they’d told before. She didn’t hold back from adding a few elements now that Holly couldn’t contradict without them being suspicious.

“So, we finally met up in person, and Holly brought this huge basket with all sorts of food. She even had a blanket with hearts on it!” Holly elbowed her in the side. Gail didn’t care. She was delighted by the opportunities when Holly was not able to protest. “And then she whipped out a candy ring and asked me to be exclusive.” Holly sighed.

“I should have known that Holly would be instantly smitten,” was all Uncle Zac said when she finished the story.

Gail nodded in agreement. “She’s such a sap.”

This, Holly could protest to. “Am not!”

“Are too.” Gail said absentmindedly. Her attention was drawn by a concrete construction a bit further down their path. “Hey look! Can we go there?”

Gail led them to a hillock covered in moss and bushes. A concrete wall protruded from the side and led to a tiny bunker, with one single doorway. They put down their backpacks and went to explore further.

Gail peered inside. “There’s only junk inside.”

“That’s not too exciting.” Uncle Zac entered the bunker after her. He lifted some of the metal scraps and threw them away. “When I was in Europe, we visited bunkers from the World War. They’re much bigger than this thing. Sometimes even the trenches are still there and you can walk around in them. It’s quite impressive. I can’t imagine how bad it must have been for the soldiers.”

“I visited them too. One of them was underground. It was meant for an entire regiment, but barely fitted our tourist group. I think it must have been horrible,” Gail admitted. “Have you been?” she asked Holly.

Holly shook her head. “It sounds depressing.”

Uncle Zac agreed. “But it’s definitely worth a visit. Hey, maybe you should go to Europe together some time. Like on your honeymoon.”

Gail and Holly looked at each other.

“I think war memorials are not exactly what one would want to visit on their honeymoon,” Gail drawled. “Then again, Holly is such a nerd that she just might.”

“Shut up.” Holly laughed. “I would, though.”

“Not that I don’t like your banter, but can I interest anyone in having lunch?”

Gail lit up immediately.

“There’s an open place a bit further down, we could go there?” was Holly’s suggestion. She looked at their surroundings. “It’s a bit mouldy here.”

“Yeah sure.” Uncle Zac left the room and walked back to where they’d left their backpacks.

“I hope it’s not too far away!”

“It’s not, honey. You won’t die of hunger.”

“I might die of thirst first.”

Holly winked at her. “The thirst is real, huh?”

Gail huffed. “Har har.”

“Aw, don’t be mad. Let’s go.”

“Before I murder you, cook your body and eat it,” mumbled Gail.

“Now you want to eat me too? Honey, you’re so sweet.”

Gail threw a leaf at Holly’s head. “You’re lucky your uncle is out of earshot.”

“I’m lucky you can’t throw for shit. You would make a bad lesbian.”

“Why’s that?” Gail sounded offended. “I’d be great!”

“Don’t kid yourself. You wouldn’t even make the softball team.”

Gail rolled her eyes. “Way to stereotype, nerd.”

Holly smiled. “Come on. Uncle Zac might just eat all of the sandwiches.”

Gail squealed and hurried past Holly. “Stay away from my backpack, Zachary!”

______________

“You were right. This spot is beautiful.” Gail looked in awe. They had found a dry fallen tree trunk to sit on, at the edge of the wood. Now that they were seated, not even the sound of their own footfalls could be heard. They could hear animal sounds and even the soft breeze rustling through the trees. They could smell the damp leaves that covered the forest’s ground. It was a nice day, the sun setting high. They let the rays of sunlight dance across their faces while they ate. The silence was only broken by them asking each other to pass water or sandwiches.

“I know.” Holly smiled. “Uncle Zac and I used to come here quite often, before he moved.” She stood and took a few steps forward, before taking a seat on the grass-covered ground.

“Good times, huh, kiddo?”

Holly hummed in agreement. She leaned back on her hands and closed her eyes to resume her blissful sunbathing.

Uncle Zac stood and walked to the other side of the open spot, where he examined one thing or another. Holly opened one eye to peer at Gail and beckoned her over.

“I can’t leave the shadow.”

“How come? Are you a vampire? Should I call you Gaildward? Gella?”

Gail threw a twig at her. “No. Unless sunlight makes Edward turn into a lobster instead of a glitter fest. Since when do vampires not go up in flames in the sunlight? At least I burn.”

“Good on you. Now take the bottle of sunscreen and come here.”

Gail took the bottle and plopped down next to Holly. She took the bottle from her and massaged the sunscreen into Gail’s back and shoulders. Meanwhile, Gail applied some on her face and arms.

“Did you know that you have to apply 30 ml of sunscreen to be protected? That’s like, half a small tube. Oh, and did you know that some people are allergic to UVA or UVB? Being allergic to UVA is more annoying though, they even burn through glass.”

Gail gave her a look. “Um, no? How was I supposed to know that?”

Holly shrugged. “I think it’s interesting.”

Gail shook her head. “I will never understand how you fit all these things in that big brain of yours…” She smiled. “… Nerd.”

“You really should find me a new pet name.”

“Nope. Not gonna happen.” Gail let herself fall back and crossed her arms behind her head.

Holly looked at her friend. She’d been enjoying today. She dreaded the moment they’d have to return home. Luckily, they still had the rest of the afternoon and tonight to enjoy themselves. She sighed.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.” Holly stayed quiet for a while. “It’s getting late. It’s almost time to go back.”

______________

“I get that you like this hiking stuff,” said Gail. “I’m just wondering why you drive all the way down here, to these woods, when you could also drive to the city and walk down the streets and do some shopping while you’re there.”

Uncle Zac stopped from trying to light the fire and studied her expression for a few seconds. “I honestly can’t tell if you’re being serious.”

Gail grinned at him but said nothing.

“She’s not. Earlier, she told me she was enjoying today.” Holly sat down next to Gail and handed sodas to her uncle and Gail.

“Hey!” Gail swatted at Holly. “Way to rat me out!”

They were seated on big branches placed around a stack of smaller branches and twigs. Uncle Zac was trying to light the fire, but had had no luck so far. It didn’t help that Gail was distracting him and messing with him throughout his attempts. Holly hadn’t been talking much ever since they’d arrived back at their camping site. She looked very tired and pale. She’d said she needed to lay down for a bit, entered their tent and stayed in there for quite some time. Meanwhile, Gail and Zac had made the preparations for their dinner and collected wood to start a fire. Holly reappeared shortly after they’d started trying to light the fire, looking better after she’d had gotten some rest. Gail had teased her for only waking after all the work had been done, so Holly had offered to fetch everyone drinks for the night.

“Are you feeling better?”

“Yeah. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.”

Gail didn’t look all that convinced, but she let it slide. “Your uncle is the worst. He has zero survival skills. We were lucky that you were there too or we probably would have gotten lost in the woods and been mauled by bears.”

“There are no bears here,” said Zac indignantly.

“I am aware. That’s how lost we would have been,” she shot back.

Holly shook her head. “What am I to do with the two of you?” she sighed. “I like babysitting Olivia and her friends better.”

“Hey!” they both cried out.

“At least they play nice.”

“I can play nice.” Gail stood up and walked over to Zac. “Give me that.”

Gail got own on her knees and blew on the smoldering twigs and leaves. Within minutes, they burst into flames. Gail looked very pleased with herself, while Zac looked at her disbelievingly. “Why didn’t you tell me you could do that?”

She shrugged as she added some sticks to the fire. “It’s more fun to watch you squirm.”

“Aw. That’s mean.”

“You’re a big boy, Zachary. You can take it.”

“You should teach me instead of making fun of me.”

“I could do that,” Gail agreed. “But it’d be less fun.” She took a bigger chunk of wood and put it in the flames.

“Aw, come on.”

“How come you can’t light a fire when you go on hikes all the time.”

Zac looked sheepishly. “Um.”

“Because it’s my job,” Holly chimed in. “Though Uncle Zac is notorious for accidentally setting things on fire.”

“I have not touched another pizza box ever since the accident.”

“Ever since the second accident, you mean?”

“Ehh…”

Gail laughed. “What happened with the pizza boxes?”

“Um, fire.”

“He opened them above a candle, didn’t notice it until smoke started circling up and the first flames appeared.”

“I put it out!”

“Using my coke!”

“Coke isn’t healthy for you anyways.”

Holly rolled her eyes. “And then you did it a second time.”

“Not my fault.” Zac crossed his arms. “I told you to put the candles away.”

“I did!”

“Yes, but not far enough.”

Holly sighed. “You’re a pyromaniac.”

“Am not.”

“He definitely isn’t,” Gail agreed. “Otherwise, he’d have managed to put these sticks on fire, too. Wasn’t that hard.”

“Ugh. What was I thinking, going on a hike with the two of you. I should have known you’d team up. Next time, I’ll bring back-up too.”

Holly laughed. “Looking forward to it, Uncle Zac.”

Zac smiled at her. He got up and ruffled her hair. “Me too, kiddo. Let’s cook some food.”

______________

“When you said ‘cook some food’,” Gail started, ‘I really thought you meant ‘cook’ it. Not ‘hold it above a fire until it’s crispy and charred.”

“Well… At least all the germs are dead now.”

Gail wasn’t convinced.

“You can be the cook and I’ll tell a story,” Zac suggested.

“Yeah, I’ll take that offer. Except if your stories are as bad as your camping skills.”

Zac waved her concerns away. “I am a great storyteller. Right, Holls?”

Holly stood. “I’m going to get some more water. Does anyone else want another drink?”

“Hey.” Gail pulled her back down. “You stay here. Let me get that.”

“But I’m on drinks-fetching duty.”

“I know. But you’re also tired. I can do it.” Gail stood up and got the drinks out of the cool box.

“Thanks.”

“No worries, nerd. I’ve got your back.”

Holly smiled at her.

“How are you feeling?”

“I’m alright. Don’t worry.”

Gail bumped their shoulders together. “I am allowed to get worried, girlfriiiiend.” She lowered her voice. “And I really like that you can’t protest to anything I say today without giving us away. It’s great fun.”

“For you,” Holly added. “I’m the one who keeps getting embarrassed.”

“Aww. I can embarrass myself too, you know.” Gail looked up. “Hey, Zachary!”

“That’s a good start,” mumbled Holly.

Zac turned around. “What?”

“Do you want to hear the story about me decorating Holly’s room with rose petals and paper hearts?”

Holly shook her head and buried her face in her hands.

______________

The fire was steadily burning lighting the darkness of the night. The light was dancing on their faces, making them glow. It kept them warm enough to not need a jacket. To Gail’s delight, Zac had opened a bag of marshmallows which they had been roasting in the fire. They’d mostly been sharing them between the two of them, since Holly didn’t want to upset her stomach. Gail felt as if she’d eaten half her weight in marshmallows already. Her stomach would have to cope.

“So Holly, how’s badminton going?”

Gail looked at Holly in surprise. “You played badminton?”

“How did you not know that?” laughed Zac. “Have you been too busy doing other things to talk about these things?” He frowned. “Actually, the rose petal thing would have taken quite some time. Especially the part with the ceiling.”

Holly shrugged “It just didn’t come up yet. Maybe because I quit.”

“You quit?” Zac was taken aback. “What happened?”

“I had a wrist injury.”

“When was that?” Zac turned around to pick up another log.

“Um, three months or so ago? I slipped on the bath mat after my shower. But no worries, I’ll start again after the holiday. I’ve been running instead for now.”

Gail giggled and whispered to Holly “You hurt your wrist? Holly…that’s bad news for our sex life.”

“I heard that!” said Zac, at the same time that Holly turned as red as a beet and hissed “Gail!”

Now it was Gail’s turn to blush. “I’m sorry.”

Zac shook his head and shivered. “There are certain things I don’t need or want to know.”

Holly nodded. “Agreed.”

“Let’s never talk about this again.”

Holly nodded again. “Agreed.”

“Well. You gals can stay up if you want, but I’m off to sleep.”

They bid Zac goodnight and watched as he went to his tent and disapeared inside.

“Is he gonna fit in that tiny thing?” asked Gail.

“Probably. He can always leave his feet to stick outside.”

“Holly… I’m really sorry about embarrassing you like that. I just wanted to tease you a little, I didn’t mean for your uncle to hear.”

“I know. It’s alright.”

“No, it’s—I’ll try my best to not say things like that again.”

Holly sighed. “Gail…”

Gail already missed the ‘honey’.

“It’s okay, really. I make these jokes too, remember? It’s just…” Holly fell silent.

Gail nudged her. “What?”

“I think I may be reading into it too much.”

Gail was puzzled. “What do you mean?”

Holly sighed. “It’s not that I mind you saying these things. It’s just—I’m a seventeen year old baby gay. It’s hard not to wish that someone would actually mean all of that when they say it to me instead of it only being a joke.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Holly looked away, to avoid catching Gail’s gaze.

“I, uh—” Gail was at a loss of what to say. She did like Holly. A lot. More than she liked most of her friends. And, as she’d realised before, she felt comfortable around Holly, and she wanted to be around her. But did that mean she had feelings for Holly? And did Holly’s confession mean that Holly liked her? Like that? She wasn’t sure, it was all so confusing.

Holly patted Gail’s leg before standing up and saying “Don’t bother. It’s alright. Let’s go to bed.”

______________

Gail laid awake in the dark. She could hear the rustling of the leaves even though Holly was breathing loudly next to her. She’d been trying to fall asleep as well, for what felt like several hours now. No matter what she tried, her mind kept going back to Holly’s words. Gail tossed and turned before remembering Holly was lying next to her and waking her would mean she’d ask what was wrong and Gail would have to talk. She was not ready to talk. Not yet. Gail sighed and reached out to her phone. She pressed the start button until the screen lit up. No bars, but that didn’t matter to her. Gail opened her conversation with Holly and started reading.

______________

Holly stirred. She opened her eyes and blinked a few times against the light. She stretched out her arms and yawned. Then she noticed Gail wasn’t in their tent anymore. Holly reached for her sweater and pulled it over her head. Then she put on her boots and opened the tent flap. When she peered outside, she saw uncle Zac and Gail talking over their breakfast, wrapped in blankets against the chill of the morning. She got out of the tent and walked up to them.

“Hey.”

“Morning,” Gail smiled back and opened her blanket for Holly. Holly gratefully sought cover underneath it. She rubbed her hands together and blew on them to get warm again.

“Did you sleep well?” asked uncle Zac.

Holly nodded. “I’m starved though.”

He handed her a lunchbox. “Eat up, young lady. After you’ve finished, we’ll pack up and leave.” Holly opened the lunchbox and took out some sandwiches. Uncle Zac went ahead and started taking down the tents.

Gail was looking at Holly. Or maybe more like staring at Holly. It made Holly a bit uncomfortable. “Have I spilled something? Am I chewing too loudly?”

Gail shook her head but stayed silent. She looked pensive as she tried to find the right words. “What you said last night, what did it mean?”

Holly frowned. “About me wishing someone was into me and wanted me?”

“Is that someone me?”

Holly didn’t really want to respond, because she didn’t know how Gail would react. “Yeah.” Holly pretend to be focussing on dissecting her sandwich.

“Hey, lunchbox. What if—what if it’s not just about making stupid puns for me either?”

Holly looked confused. “It’s not? Then what—”

“I just—I really like you. That’s all I really know. And I have been thinking tonight, and reading our messages, and…” Gail fell silent.

Holly decided to push. “And?”

“I think a big part of me does mean it. The jokes, the puns, the casual remarks.”

“But?”

“I—I really like you, Holly. I mean that. I like being with you. I know I say you do, but you’re the only person that never annoys me. And I want to be with you.”

Holly smiled bashfully.

“But I feel as if I’m still a bit broken right now, and I want to be the best I can be for you, and I just don’t know how.”

“Gail,” Holly leaned her head on Gail’s shoulder. “Don’t you know you’re already the best in my eyes?”

Gail looked at Holly through her eyelashes. She nuzzled her nose in Holly’s hair. ‘Holly—"

“Hey, cutiepies, hurry up. I packed the car, you should put away your plate so we can go.”

Gail and Holly scrambled upright, startled. They’d been so occupied inside their own world that, for a moment, they’d forgotten they weren’t alone.

“You can finish your sandwiches inside the car.”

“No need, uncle Zac. I’m not hungry.”

“Aw. Living on love instead of food, are you?”

“Something like that.”

They got up, Holly still carrying her lunchbox and Gail carrying the now folded blanket to the car. Before they got in, they took a last look around.

“I will miss this,” said Gail, much to Holly’s surprise.

“Weren’t you complaining about the lack of comfort yesterday?”

“I can’t recall anything like that,” Gail answered cheekily. She got into the car and beckoned Holly to follow.

“Ready?” asked Uncle Zac as Holly fastened her seatbelt.

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go then.”

Slowly, he backed the car out from the spot between the trees and drove up to the dirt road. As the sun set higher, the trees made room for fields and then for houses. They were the only car passing in either direction for several kilometers. After an hour or so, their signal strength reappeared, and uncle Zac decided to call ahead to say they were on their way back home.

“Hey, Zac. What’s up?”

“Hey, Jeff. I’m on the way back. Should be home in about an hour.”

“Oh, good. Kathryn is out with Olivia, but I’ll be home. Did the girls enjoy themselves?”

“Your daughter and your daughter-in-law? I left them in the woods. Left some water too. They should still be in once piece. I think. Unless the bear got to them, but I don’t think so.”

“Isaac.” Jeff said sternly. “If you ever abandon my daughter and her girlfriend, I will personally hunt you down and feed your dead body to the forest animals.”

Gail’s eyes widened. “Your uncle’s name is Isaac? Not Zachary?” she whispered to Holly. In the background, Zac was talking to Jeff, promising he would never ever let anything bad happen to his little girl, nor any of the other members of the family.

Holly shrugged. “Yeah. But we’ve always shortened it for as far as I can remember.”

“I have been calling him Zachary for the whole trip!”

Holly grinned. “I know. That was funny.”

Zac ended the call. “Whew.” He wiped his forehead. “I think Jeff was ready to kill me.”

Holly looked pleased. “Dad’s always got my back.”

As they neared the city, Gail’s phone chimed with one message after the other. Gail ignored the first ones, but Holly nudged her to look at them. Gail didn’t want to, so she gave her her phone and the instructions to delete anything Andy sent.

“Gail, you should read this.”

“I don’t care.”

“But Gail—”

“I don’t want to know what Andy writes.”

“It’s not Andy, it’s Nick.”

[fenneckitsune]

Marina.

Marina was obtained through an auction from the forum game thread ‘dungeons and a dragon’ where the object was essentially like twitch plays pokemon, where multiple people controlled the actions of one dragon. Below the read more is her story from the thread itself.

There comes a time in every young dragon's life where they must set out on their own. After all, few dragons remain in the lair they were hatched in. So, after receiving gifts from her parents and taking her own personal affects, she set out. As she walked down a dirt path, she saw before her a fork in the road. Her parents had told her she'd find someone who could open the gifted box for her somewhere, but she forgot where... Which way should she go? After several moments' consideration, she decides to go straight, to the little town. The town is cute, with little dragonmade structures lining streets in which dragons go about their business. Some stand behind booths, harping their wares, others drag wagons full of unique wares, others still converse with one another in the streets. Marina's attention is first drawn to a stall containing a variety of fish and shells, and then to one with something shiny resting on the counter. Next she notices what seemed to once be a gnarled tree that's been shaped into a structure of some sort, and hanging above the doorway is a sign upon which a picture of a cat is sloppily painted. Finally, she notices a colorful tent with designs embroidered on the thick cloth. She pays little mind to the fish stall, and gives the one with shiny objects and the tent only a passing glance as she heads to the structure with the cat on the sign. Cats were good. Clearly that was the most important place to go. Inside the structure was surprisingly well lit by what seemed to be some bioluminescent fungus, and a variety of creatures played in pens. There sat a desk off to the right, but it seemed unmanned. Marina's attention is drawn to the pen full of creatures. Inside are a variety of small animals, and though she has to think for a moment, she recognizes each from her studies and what she's seen around her first lair. Inside the pen she sees a Leopard Coralclimber, a Coral Basilisk, an Emerald Cave Jewel, and a Brush Dodo. It's a strange grouping but a wide variety of animals. Still, the owner is nowhere in sight. Marina takes a moment to glance around for an owner, but these creatures are just too cute! She cannot resist the urge to stick her paw into the pen, just to touch one animal. Her fingertips brush the Coral Basilisk's feathered back and it shies away, wings fluttering and making a clucking and squawking fuss. Immediately from a doorway (if the hole in the upper wall could be called that) a little Fae sticks her head out. "Spot, shh-- oh. What are you doing?" "I just wanted to pet one..." Marina answers the fae, looking just a bit guilty. "Hm. Well. You are just a hatchling. I suppose I'll let it slide." The fae says before climbing from her hiding spot. Marina can see that she's a fairly plain, amber and brown colored fae, but carries a number of bags on her. The fae continues, "Were you looking for work or to buy something?" "What jobs do you have?" Marina asks of the fae. The fae seems to size up Marina for a moment. "Well, familiars always need food and I can hardly go out hunting it myself, so I could use someone to go out and catch bugs and maybe a couple of small animals for me. I could also use a courier to take familiars to dragons in other places. Beyond that, well, you'd have to look elsewhere for work." The fae adds that she would pay 100 treasure for every food point brought back, or 1,000 treasure for each familiar delivered if taking a courier job. Marina decides that she'd do the hunting job for the fae. The fae explains that she's got four familiars in the shop, and each of those need at least one food point, but three is ideal. She then hands Marina a map with a couple areas circled, indicating good hunting spots. On the map are mostly areas Marina has at least looked at before. There's the woods visible from the fork in the road, the base of the cliff, and a field just on the other side of the town. It's a hard decision to make. Every region surely has its benefits and appeal. However, after staring at the map for a good long while, Marina finally decides to head to the woods. She bids the fae farewell, and makes her way out of town and down the road to the edge of the woods. The woods are lovely. Sunlight peers through leaves, speckling the ground, and the trees stand tall and straight and strong. Marina hears birds sing and sees the occasional bug skitter across the ground, and she swears she even saw the tail of something small as it pranced off through the bushes. It's no contest what Marina should do. She hasn't the strength to take on anything directly - even large beetles are scary to such a little dragon! She sets about digging a hole, moving rocks and twigs aside (and finding the occasional bug, which she quickly catches) before covering the hole with leaves. She retreats into some bushes to watch her trap, waiting for anything to come along. She'd nearly dozed off, her eyes having just closed when she heard a sudden commotion! She rushed to the now uncovered pit and looked inside. She had caught a cottontail rabbit! Even though by now the light of day is fading, Marina finds herself pondering her choices. While in town, her choices seemed easy, her path clear. Now that she had ventured out into the wilderness some, though, she wanted more. The rabbit and bugs would be fine in her bag until she needed them. What was the hurry? Though, now that she thought about it, she was starting to feel a bit hungry, too. Maybe she'd eat some of the rations she was given by her parents. Once she decided what to eat, she pulled out her map and peered at it in the fading light as she debated on where to explore. She sat down with her dried jerky for a quick dinner and looked her map over. The cliffs other places were tempting, but she already was in the woods. It might be easier to just stay here to explore more. Once she had finished eating, Marina put away her things and began following what seemed to be a path carved by other feet passing through in the past. As the light faded further, she began to realize just how dark nighttime could be when a canopy of leaves blocked out the stars and moon and she found herself slowing so as to avoid tripping over exposed roots and rocks. Marina had come this far into the woods already, and doubted that she could find her way back even if she tried. And even though the thought of just sitting and waiting for another to pass by crossed her mind, she decided against it. She continued walking, her pace little better than a crawl as she made her way along, trying to keep to the barely visible path that lied ahead of her. Around her she could hear the night coming to life with the hoots of owls, croaks of frogs, and chirps of crickets. Somewhere off in the distance, she swore she could hear the burbling of a stream. If it weren't so dark and creepy, it might almost be relaxing to just listen to the sounds of the woods. Then she heard a twig snap. At the sound of a twig snapping, Marina turned to face whatever it was that stepped on it. She breathed a sigh of relief when standing before her, apparently frozen in fear as it gazed up at her, was a little Glowing Pocket Mouse. She dismissed it with a small laugh, but then something occurred to her: this mouse certainly was a long way from home, out here in the woods. She leant in closer to study it, wondering if maybe she'd found some woodland variety, but she barely got the chance to really inspect it before it skittered off into the undergrowth. She turned to resume her travels, but in that next instant found herself face to face with a Serpenta. Oops. She turned and ran without a second thought from the Serpenta, paying little heed to where she was going and trying just to put as much distance between herself and the creature. Suddenly the ground beneath her feet seemed to vanish and an instant later she found herself sprawled out on smooth stones, with water splashing against her. She stood and shook, for whatever good it would do while she remained in the apparent creek. She looked around. It was so dark. She didn't know where she was. She thought she saw a light out in the distance, but it was a tiny floating thing. It could be the Pocket Mouse again, but then again it could be a traveler with a lantern... She stood in the cool water for a few moments, watching the light bobbing along in the distance as she considered her options. Eventually she decided that she would follow the creek. It seemed the safest of her options. Marina plodded along through the water, letting the pull of the current and the slivers of moonlight glinting off the surface guide her. Now and then she would stumble on slippery stones, but as she carried on she began to get a feel for how to move. She didn't know for how long she'd walked, but the sky had begun to turn purple as the sun rose somewhere off in the distance. It was as the sky lightened further that she saw ahead of her a spring, the origin of the creek. She slowed to a stop to take in her surroundings in the improved light, and finally noticed the growling of her stomach and ache of fatigue in her legs. She waded through the creek towards the edge of the spring where she finally climbed out of the water. The grass was soft beneath her feet. She took her recently caught rabbit out, deciding that it really was worth more to her to eat now than it was to return to the fae for a reward. With her belly full and soft morning light peering through the trees to warm her, Marina felt herself quickly drifting off. When she woke, a strange dragon was peering down at her with curious pale eyes. "Hello." Marina greeted the little dragon standing above her. Immediately the dragon twittered, a sound between surprise and delight, as she pranced away without a word. She stood about twenty feet away, near the other side of the spring, looking at Marina. Marina climbed to her feet and shook off her sleepiness and the grass and looked at the other dragon. "Please don't run away! Come back!" Marina called out to the other dragon, whilst remaining standing where she was. She was wary. What if following the other dragon led her into a trap...? The strange dragon trotted back to Marina, stopping just a few feet away before wiggling playfully, spinning, and bounding away again. Perhaps she wanted to play? Marina took off after her. Once the strange dragon saw that Marina was giving chase, she took off running. She was quick, but stopped now and then to allow Marina to catch up. She ran up a small hill, darted around trees, and through bushes until finally coming to a stop upon a boulder. Upon the boulder were scratched symbols. It looked like the drawing of someone young. Quite possibly the strange dragon's work. Marina stepped closer to peer at the boulder, when suddenly a light from beneath her caught her eye. She stepped back and the light faded. She looked down, noticing for the first time that there was a line of symbols in the dirt as well.

Marina pressed her paw onto the pawprint, and it lit up. It was the same soft light as had caught her eye before, but when she looked up to the strange dragon she saw her shaking her head. Apparently that was not the right symbol. When she removed her paw again, the light faded once again. She looked at the symbols a moment, her attention torn briefly between the flower and the drop. Well, water was her element so what could it hurt to step on the raindrop? She lifted her paw and pressed it onto the raindrop symbol. It lit up like the paw print, just a faint light that faded once she removed her paw. Again, the strange dragon shook her head. The dragon sat and watched her curiously. Marina confidently pressed her paw onto the flower, almost certain that this was surely the correct one! Again, however, it lit up faintly only to fade when her paw was removed. The strange dragon seemed to sigh, shaking her head again before leaning down to repeatedly tap the carvings on the rock's face. "Hey! Look there! Look more closely!" her actions seemed to say. There really was one more choice now, though. And yet, Marina was determined that the paw was what she should step on. So again she placed her paw there, a look of determination in her eye as she stared up at the strange dragon as if to say "HA! I KNOW this is the one!" The strange dragon smacks her own paw to her face and drags it down with a look of exasperation. She sighs, and just stares at Marina. Like before, the paw lights up with just a faint light that fades when her paw is removed. Weird. That really should've worked. Well, what hasn't she tried yet? The sun, of course! She planted her paw onto it, and finally there was a different result. The light beneath her paw had a pleasant green tone and glowed brighter than any of the previous illuminations. When she removed her paw, the light remained.

After having the sun light up differently, Marina took a look at the stone carvings again. She had it! She was sure she understood how this puzzle worked! With confidence she pressed her paw onto the pawprint now. Like the sun, when she removed her foot the pawprint was lit with a green light. The strange dragon smiled down at her, pleased that she had apparently realized what to do now.

Lo and behold, after the paw print came the flower! When she pressed her paw to the flower symbol and removed it, it too retained a green glow. It seemed that there was only one real decision left, then!

The strange dragon remained on the rock, but sitting beside her now was the box Marina's parents had given her at the start of her adventure, the lock on it now clearly undone. Had she taken it while Marina was sleeping? Was it magic? Was it really the same box? Who cared that the strange dragon seemed to have unlocked the box? It was unlocked! Marina could finally see what was inside! She clambered up onto the rock beside the other dragon and lifted the lid of the box. The first thing that catches her sight is a letter that reads "Dear Marina, if you are reading this it means that you have managed to pass the trial of a guardian! Congratulations! We're so proud of you! Inside this chest are a few items we thought would help you as you go off to explore even more exotic locales and discover more about the world. Good luck out there! Mom and Dad" Inside the box were a number of items: Field Manual, Scholar, Discipline, Aid, Hydro Bolt, Major Health Potion, and a Cleansing Elixir.