Please take my word, I had problems to deal with. But these problems are now gone! Sorry, again! I am really annoying! I know! It's okay if you have no faith in me! I shall try to continue my efforts on this story! Now for writing, and less exclamation marks!
PHASE 36
Lies and Tea
(As the dark clouds gather closer, and closer, the sky starts to shoot out bursts of light. Soon afterwards, the rain begins. Soon, the roads of Koopa City are wet, and slick with the falling rain. But the rain is not the only liquid spreading over the deserted road. With a quick slash, Malpix shreds through a Koopa. Its head falls off, and, in a twisted sense, comically rolls down a small incline in the road. Malpix continues on his way, dodging through abandoned roads and alleyways. With another burst of lightning and thunder, Malpix grins. The force beyond light and darkness had come…and it was Malpix…)
(Far, far to the east…)
Wes: You don’t know where his house is, do you?
Celistar: I think it's in the Almoth Plains...
Wes: That’s GREAT. The Almoth Plains are only about 100 miles north of here.
Jonas: Erm…Wes…that’s not good at all, in my opinion.
Wes: I’m being SARCASTIC. I’m being sarcastic, because this is utterly-
Celistar: Wes.
Wes: What?
Celistar: I’m not annoyed yet, but you wanted to come on this trip. So you shouldn’t complain.
Wes: …
Celistar: Anyway…there’s no way we can head north now. We’ll have to…continue to the east…through the Melkor Hills…
Jonas: But Cel…we’re heading into the Sub-Conian Jungles, and-
Cel: I know! I know! But…I’ve thought of something.
Wes: What?
Celistar: That professor…E. Gadd…he lives near here....not in the Almoths... He helped my dad and my uncl…my dad countless times. He’ll help.
Wes: He’s still alive?
Cel: Yes. He hasn’t done anything important recently, but…
Jonas: I think I, erm, see his house!
Celistar: Yeah, that’s definitely his house.
(Professor E. Gadds house is a giant version of his head. Wes scowls)
Wes: You’ve got to be kidding.
Cel: He might have some issues, but he can definitely help.
Jonas: Erm…
(After a few minutes of walking, they reach the house. Cel knocks on the door.)
E. Gadd: I’m coming, just wait a- Agh!
(Loud crashing sounds come from inside. Wes facepalms. A few seconds later, the door slams open, nearly smacking Jonas in the face. He falls back a little and lands on his back. E.Gadd pulls the door back, and peers at the trio suspiciously.)
E.Gadd: Who’re you?
(Jonas gets up with a groan, and brushes off the dust.)
Celistar: Hi…E.Gadd? It’s me…Cel…
(E.Gadd opens the door a little bit more, and gasps.)
E.Gadd: Why…it is you Cel! It’s been so long. And…who are your…friends?
Cel: This is Wes…and this is Jonas…we’re kind of on a journey…
E.Gadd: So you are! I must say, my house is quite far out in the wilderness. Come inside!
(Everyone comes inside, and takes off their backpacks. Wes collapses into a chair. Jonas stands awkwardly in a corner. E.Gadd goes into a small kitchen.)
E.Gadd: Anyone like some tea?
Wes: YES.
Jonas: Erm, no thank you.
Cel: No…Wes, you like tea?
Wes: Yeah. It’s…an old favorite of mine.
(There’s a moment of silence, before E.Gadd comes in with a tray. Despite Cel’s and Jonas’s replies, he still brings two extra cups. Jonas nervously takes a cup. Cel smiles, but still refuses tea.)
E.Gadd: Now then, I have to ask…is everything okay over at the castle?
Cel: Yes...why do you ask?
E.Gadd: Well, I haven’t heard a lot from the castle, and last I heard, there was some odd trouble at the castle…
Cel: No...everything’s fine.
(Wes coughs loudly. Cel glares over at him.)
E.Gadd: Oh. Okay. After what happened with Mario, I was worried about you and Peach…how is she.
Cel: Just…great. As I said. But, um, professor, we need some supplies…we’re on a journey to the east.
E.Gadd: Are you going…to Sub-Con? You’ll have to pass through the Shivering Mountains…and later, through the sweltering jungles. Why, the only peace you’ll find in that land is the Otapuku Meadows…oh, er sorry. (He looks over at Jonas.)
Jonas: It’s…erm…okay. It’s a troubled land, I can’t disagree.
E.Gadd: Yes…I’ve heard of the recent political troubles over there. …May I ask why you are going there?
Cel: …Well, for multiple reasons, but mostly, as you said, there are problems over there. My…ah…friend here, has asked me to help, and I actually, I kind of needed to leave the castle for a little bit.
E.Gadd: Hmm…I know you are Mario’s daughter, but are you sure that-
Cel: Yes.
Wes: Really, don’t doubt her. You wouldn’t believe-
E.Gadd: Hmm…I don’t know what I would or would not believe anymore. Why, I swear someone else lives in this house. Every time I go into my library, I find more and more of my books either gone or with pages ripped out. It’s rather disturbing…
(Another moment of silence follows.)
E.Gadd: Aye, well, you’ll want to stay the night. We can discuss this tomorrow. For now, you should take your time, and relax.
Cel: Thank you very much professor.
(Night soon comes, and all is quiet in the southeastern Staph Fields. Soon, however, the peaceful night would soon become chaotic…)
TO BE CONTINUED