//------------------------------// // 8 - A chance to change. // Story: Living where the crossing life leads // by Warioexpert //------------------------------// All around her the walls popped with colorful murals. Staring out from one wall was a collection of posters containing strange characters she didn’t recognize. Another of the walls was adorned with a detailed display of different insects. The final two walls were completely hidden behind a small mountain of memorability, and a large black rectangle connecting to a tower of strange boxes on shelves. Looking them over; the names Nintendo, Playstation and Microsoft seemed to pop up frequently; while a single black box with the label, ‘Sega’ was carefully nestled in a clear case next to the pile. ‘’What... is this place?’’ she slowly said aloud, her voice echoing surprisingly well in the huge room. Twirling about to better look at whatever struck her fancy atop the golden tables, she stopped every once in awhile to look at a different oddity. Having finished looking over a strange gold ball with metal wings, she tossed it over her shoulder as her interest was peaked by a large vial filled with a green liquid; a scratching noise coming from inside. Casually lifting it for a better look, she gave a disgruntled look when she couldn’t make-out anything in the green slime. “Maybe if...” Giving the vial a few good shakes, a satisfied grin spread across her face when she heard movement within, knowing she’d showed whatever was held within a lesson . No sooner did she stop shaking, her smug look turned to a scream as a monstrous creature slammed into the glass by her hand, loudly screeching a blood curdling sound. Quickly letting go, her mind registered that it probably wasn’t the best idea to drop the glass container containing the dangerous looking creature. Fumbling to catch it, she collapsed to the ground with the vial held mere inches from the floor. Trying not to think of by the otherworldly being; with large fangs and mushroom-like body ramming the glass with bared teeth; relief washed over her as she placed the vial back in place. “What in Celestia’s name is that?!’’ she said as she backed away from the freaky container, and the angered contents. Noticing the small printed sign next to it, labelling the creature as a Metroid, Twilight gave herself a mental note not to mess with another without a suit of armor. Managing to explore the rest of the room without something else trying to jump her, she finally collapsed atop the comfiest object she could find. “Phew...” Twilight exhaled as she wriggled around to try burrowing deeper into the downy goodness, before a sense of foreboding made her pause in her attempts. “Where’s Jack?” she questioned aloud as she lay on her back, staring at the upper edges of the room. Even at a first glance everything seemed fit into place with each other in this room, the ceiling above was painted a clear blue resembling the sky, with a white sun painted in the center. Bordering the top of the walls was painted in a brick patterns with shades of blue that accentuated this texture, bordered by the occasional green bush and clouds with eyes. “I wanted to cuddle... Spike would always cuddle when I felt sick...” Pouting, Twilight placed a hand to her head as stars painfully ignited behind her horn. “Oww... what a headache,” she grumbled, while rubbing her forehead, “I shouldn't have used that light spell.” Curling up in an attempt to avoid the pain, her foot kicked something from table beside her onto the floor. Weakly turning to see what it was, her eyes started to sparkle as something inside her clicked. “This is so... Twilightlicious....” “Guuhhh...” Jack grumbled, feeling a cold chill shoot down his spine. Uggg, what was that feeling? It's like something.... unspeakable has happened, he thought to himself. “...And then I asks ’em. Why is Seismos cave supposed to be closed mister mayor? And then he says to me that it was because of the last time we were there and then I remembered to myself what happened. I tell ya, it wasn't pretty. Except for that archeological dame that was with us at the time, she was pretty, anyway...” Resetti droned on as Jack and Alfonso patiently listened to the boring explanation. "How long has he been talking?" Alfonso whispered, making the life return to Jack's glazed eyes. "30 minutes..." he quietly responded, smacking himself wide awake, "...I think." “...Then I tells' that dame. Hey! I walk through ground like you walk through air, sweets! And wouldn't you believe it, she actually laughed. And you know what they say, best way to a girls heart is through her funny bone...” Resetti said, crossing his arms with a dopey smile on his face. "I think my ears are bleeding," Jack whispered. Cocking his index and thumb, he pretended to slowly pull the trigger to emphasize his boredom. "I don't know how much more I can talk. He can't have more stories to tell... Right?" Alfonso whispered, before chuckling lightly at the impression. "I hope so," Jack said forebodingly to Alonso, before motioning towards the cave entrance with a nod. "I'm gonna sneak in, keep the groundhog busy." Before Alfonso could protest, Jack silently stalked into the cave, while Resetti continued to reminisce. Alfonso was left to his boring fate, with a claw reaching towards the place Jack had departed. For Twilight... he thought, while Resetti took a deep breathe. ...All for Twilight... “Grrah!” Jack grunted as he pulled himself through the small tunnel entrance to the cave “Ugh... I hate that crawl... Makes me wish I was a snake...maybe even Snake himself...” he thought aloud as he dusted himself off, taking a moment to reorient himself. He smirked in the dark as he reached into his pocket and pulled out an oil lamp. Good thing I came prepared this time, before lighting a match stick off the wall. After igniting the oil he made his way back into the cave. Looking around, he could see cave crystals that shimmered different colors with the light of his lamp. “Woah... I never noticed all these crystals the first time I was here. No wonder I kept stubbing my toes all the way down this tunnel...” he grumbled stepping over them cautiously after giving some of them a kick. Jack stopped for a brief moment before taking another step, shivering as he felt another cold chill down his spine. “Uggg, there it is again! Did I catch Twilight’s dang sickness?” Quickly shaking his head, he shrugged it off and picked up the pace until reaching the dome-like opening of the caves main chamber. “Hmph... At first this place was awesome. Now it just brings back bad memories,” he said aloud. “Memories of what?” a familiar voice asked from the darkness. ‘’Ah!’’ Jack jumped with a loud yelp, before recognizing the snickering that soon followed. ‘’Seth! Is that you?’’ As Seth walked into the lamp light, his laughter slowly quieted down. ‘’In the flesh,’’ he finally said, tipping back his cowboy hat and readjusting the pickax on his shoulder. “Grrrr! What are you doing here ya dingo?” Jack interrogated with clenched fists. Seth kept smirking, although with a vein visibly popping on his forehead. “Wolf... I'm a wolf. And I'm here looking for some cave crystals for my pad” “Oh... cool, why didn't I think of it?” Jack pondered while rubbing his chin, but quickly snapped out of it. “Gah, I don't have time for this, I’m on a mission” “Eh? what kind of mission?” Seth asked with a tilt of his head, before Jack marched toward the glowing lake. Jack stopped for a moment, looking back at Seth. “Hmmm, I could just say I'm looking for something for Twilight... he could be of some help looking for it. Nah... he’d probably hog all the glory. Wait! The fudge do I care?” “Uhh... Jack? Are... are you monologuing?” Seth’s ears dropped with a freaked-out look on his face. “Umm. Mmmm. Wait? What!? No!” Jack retorted covering his mouth after realizing he had been thinking aloud. They both stood there, staring at each other awkwardly for what felt like hours. “Sooo.... You need my help?” Seth finally said, breaking the silence between them. “Yeah, I suppose I do...” Jack answered back. “Sure, But you have to tell me what it is” Seth said with a wink as he regained his cool composure. “Fine” Jack rolled his eyes with a cross of his arms. “And then we found the giant Seismosaurus bones deep within the cave, And you would not believe the size of it! not even I could fathom to what a beauty of nature that was-” Resetti went on with his back turned leaving Alfonso to listen with a glazed look. “......” “But.... as much as a scientific discovery that dino was... we couldn't risk pulling those bones out, the entire infrastructure of that dome has only stayed stable because of the perfect shape its taken. If anything were to tamper with it, the whole thing could come tumblin down, so we left,” Resetti said before knocking the side of his helmet. “Dang! I forgot to get that dame’s phone number didn’t I.’’ ''...........'' “So that is why no one is allowed to enter Seismos cave anymore. I know you guys like adventuring, especially you Jack. But it's my job to keep you away from danger. Got it!” Resetti said with finality before the sound of Alfonso’s snores broke the silence “Huh?” Quickly turning his head, Resseti’s eyes popped comically out of his head as he saw Alfonso sleeping right on the spot with a bubble of snot stuck on his nose “Hey! What the!? Where’s Jack!?” He questioned the sleeping gator as he looked around frantically, he then glared at Alfonso. “Waaake up!” he shouted at the sleeping gator with flailing arms “........” The snot bubble popped on his nose before waking up “Mmmm.... Five more minutes...” Alfonso said lazily before opening his eyes to see Resetti’s red steaming face. “Gggaaahh!” he roared right into the gator’s face. “Aaahhh!” Alfonso responded as he tripped backwards over his tail. Jack and Seth both paused as they felt the ground shake, bits of rock and sand fallingl from the ceiling. “Awww fudge...” Jack swore aloud. “Resetti?” Seth deadpanned as he looked over from a nearby boulder “Yep. We better hurry before Alfonso spills the beans... which should be right about now,” Jack said while squinting his eyes to better scan the area. “You had Alfonso stall him!” Seth scowled at him, “sure he’s expendable, but that lizard couldn’t keep a secret for the life of him.” “He's my best friend you mutt! Give me one example of a time Alfonso couldn’t keep a secret!” Jack challenged before seeing the toothy grin on the wolf’s face. “Is it true you fainted when you walked into the girl’s washroom by accident?” “Hey look!” Jack exclaimed, ignoring the question as he pointed at the Seismosaurus skeleton. In the back of his mind he made sure to 'discuss' that incident again with a certain loose lipped reptile. As they both looked they spotted a black briefcase balanced precariously atop the fossilized dino’s skull. “How the heck did it end all the way up there? Didn't you say she lost that briefcase the last time she came in here?” He looked inquisitively at Jack, waiting for an answer as they walked around the lake. “Yeahhh... about that,” Jack said while carefully avoiding the wolf’s eyes. “It’s a long story. How about you get the bag, and I’ll tell you how it got there. Deal?” Looking up at the briefcase, and then to the stone floor beneath, Seth shot Jack a look of disbelief. “I’m not climbing that thing. You’re the one that’s related to monkeys, you do it!” “What did you say! I thought you wanted to help Twilight!” Jack said through grit teeth. “Just stating the facts, Blather did say you had a connection to them. Just scamper on up there and get the suitcase.” “Why you!” Jack shouted before he was cut off by a sudden tremor. “Oh fudge!” “Jack!” Resetti’s voice bellowed through the chamber as the ground exploded at the other end of the lake. The mole shortly popped out of the hole as he looked left and right for Jack. “Uh-oh... You better climb quick monkey boy. Resetti gonna bust you good when he catches you,” Seth snickered. “I ain’t going down alone you mutt!” Jack snapped back at Seth. “There you are! Wait until I get my hands on you! You’ll be shovelling manure til’ your nose falls off!” “Later,” Seth said innocently before vanishing behind some nearby boulders. “Aw fudge! I’ll get you for this ya throw rug!” he shouted after the departing wolf. Getting a running start, Jack managed to grabbed onto the seismosaurus’s bony tail as he started to scale the skeleton. “Hey! Wait up you punk!” Resetti shouted from across the lake before diving back into his hole. Judging from the raised trail of dirt, Jack didn’t have long before the angry mole reached him. “Hmm! Hurrr! Grah!” Jack grunted and growled as he frantically climbed. He finally slowed down when he reached the base of the skull, a thought processing in his head. “Wait.... What Am I doing?” he stopped right there as he looked around at the height he was at. “Why am I risking my skin like this? This is stupid!.... I should just go back home,” he said while looking over at the briefcase. “Twilight wouldn't mind. Right?... she doesn't even know that I'm here right now. Then again...” The image of the sick mare emerged in his thoughts along with a familiar, but annoying, voice. “So?... aren't cha gonna grab that?” it said, “Twilight’s probably waiting for ya.” Huh? Hey, it's you again, Jack thought back. You're that same voice in my head from last time... who are you again? Amidst his own thoughts, he subconsciously adjusted his grip to the side of the dino skull. The voice gave a small chuckle, “well... that’s a good question. Hmm. What was it I called myself last time? Oh yeah! Lets just say that I’m your conscience...” You mean that little voice in your head that tells you right from wrong? Sounds really cheezy, Jack smirked, to stifle a laugh. Alright, Mr. Conscience, what are you bothering me for now? “Jack, isn't it obvious? There’s someone in need, and it's your duty to help,” the voice scolded. ”And if you don’t help, I’m sure there are a few memories I can dredge up of a certain honeybear to help make-up your mind...” Gah, fine I get your point... But is it really worth all this trouble? I mean I'm dangling off a-, he paused for a moment to look down. “Eeep!” Jack’s pupils shrunk in fear, before clinging tightly to the wall. “Yes it is worth all the trouble. Think about this for a moment. Twilight is another galaxy away from home, and all she probably has to remember her friends is that briefcase,” the voice said as it started to fade. “And you know more than anyone else what it truly feels like to be alone...” Feeling those words sink in Jack slowly nodded his head. "Yeah..." “Jaaaack!” Nearly falling off the skeleton from the sudden shock, he glared downward to see who had interrupted the soul searching experience, before swallowing nervously when he saw Alfonso had decided to once again cause him some trouble, judging from how Resetti slapped the flat edge of his picaxe against his palm. He then saw something that had him scrambling once again for a handhold. Resetti placed his tool the side and climbed out of his hole. It was such an odd thing to see him standing out of his hole, and that he was also about Alfonso's height. “Be careful up there kid! You’ve almost got that case!” Resetti shouted to him before holding a thumbs up. ‘’Hey! Don't call me a kid ya fat-’’ Jack stopped himself from yelling as Resetti’s words finally sunk in. For the first time he wasn't scolding him for something, in fact, the old tunneler was encouraging him. ‘’Uhh... okay?’’ Jack held out a thumbs up as he made his way along the side of the dino’s skull. Alright, so I'll just... reach out and. Grunting from the exertion, he stretched his arm towards the case, managing to brush it with his fingertips. Go figure. Hanging on for dear life; and the case is literally within reach. “He’s almost got it!” Alfonso cried from below, earning a slap upside the head. “Keep shouting like that and you'll make him fall! Bad enough that jaw probably can't hold Jack's weight!" "What did you just say?" Jack questioned from above when he finally got a grip on the case, "I could've sworn you just said-" The words caught in Jack's throat as a creaking noise filled the cavern. " ... How much does Jack weigh again Alfonso?” Resetti asked, following the falling trails of dirt with his eyes. “He tipped the scale at 200 pounds last time..." Alfonso answered monotonously, "...guess all that general labour bulked up his muscles." “Oh...kay...” The two of them stood silent for a few seconds, staring up at Jack from the ground. The soft padding of paws on stone mingled with the creaking as a third member joined the two. "So I was just passing by the cave entrance, minding my own business I tell you, when the strangest noises come out." Seth started to explain to Resetti, before gasping loudly when he looked up at Jack dramatically. "Omigosh! I'm just now becoming aware that Jack may fall to his doom by a coincidence I had no part in." Both, Resetti and Alfonso, gave Seth a look before he continued. "If only some suave, passionate, and sensitive wolf, because only a wolf will do, was able to break the news to Twilight that Jack final words were to hold her and comfort her in his stead." "I'm not dead ya mongrel..." Jack called down. "I can still hear his voice in the wind," Seth said while wiping a false tear, before a piece of stone fell from the strained skeleton and bonked him on the head. A large bump started to appear between his ears as Alfonso and Resetti quickly high fived. “Serves you right!" Jack gloated before a sudden crack sent him scrambling for a foothold. The dislocated lower jaw smashed to pieces against the ground as Jack managed to hold onto the fossil's eye socket with one arm, the other still holding tightly to the briefcase's handle. "Jack!" Alfonso cried out, "hang in there! We're coming to help." ‘’Quite the predicament he’s gotten himself into...’’ Seth observed before crossing his arms. Trying his best to think of a way to be the hero, he kept getting distracted by the odd looks Resetti was directing towards him and Alfonso.. ‘’What?’’ Seth finally said defensively, receiving no answer as Resetti started to stretch. Jack stayed there dangling by his arm atop the Seismosaurus, sighing as he waited for the three to come up with a plan. He almost expected the three stooges to cause more trouble before managing to actually help. Well Jack. You never thought you’d find yourself hanging for dear life atop a giant fossil. Trying to get something for a stupid girl that crash landed into your world from another dimension... but in a twisted turn of events, here you are. And you have no idea how it could possibly get any worse he then heard another crack. There it is, he thought with rolled eyes before glancing by his hand. Creeping along the eye socket, a crack slowly widened as the aged bone started to give out, before finally snapping off. “Aaahhh!” Jack shouted as he plummeted like a stone. As Jack fell, Resetti quickly grabbed Seth by the shoulder. “Hey kid! Ever wanted to fly?” “What do you mean fly-ahh!” Seth shouted as Resetti grabbed him by the scruff of his neck and spun around before tossing him like a hammer, sending the wolf into an uncontrollable spin as he soared. Hissing through his teeth, Resetti placed a paw to his back as he watched his living projectile smash into Jack. Scrambling for a grip on something, Seth latched onto the briefcase, his momentum dragging the two screaming flyers into the icy waters of the lake. With a magnificent splash, the two belly flopped in while Alfonso reflexively rubbed his stomach sympathetically. Rolling his eyes at the gator, Resetti quickly waddled to the lake edge. ‘’Jack! Seth!’’ he shouted, growing anxious when bubbles stopped breaking the surface. Joining him at the lake edge, Alfonso shielded his eyes as he looked for a sign for either of them. “You don’t think they-” resetti silenced him with a head chop, before pointing at a silhouette in the water. A brief moment passed before the silhouette approached them, slowly rising out of the water. Taking a gasp of air, Jack finally broke free of the water, dragging the dazed wolf by the shoulders. The briefcase knocked against the back of Seth’s head as Jack pulled him, the handle clenched firmly in Jack’s teeth. ‘’Jack! You're alive!’’ Alfonso jumped for joy before rushing towards his best friend. Letting the unconscious wolf drop muzzle first into the sand, Jack pulled the handle from his mouth with trembling fingers before pushing the slimy handle into Alfonso’s grip. “Hold. This.” Being sure that the gator wouldn’t drop it, Jack wrapped his arm under his armpits before shouting, “ so! Freaking! Cold!” He started shaking furiously as he finished, his skin taking a bluish tint as the water sapped the warmth from his body. Alfonso made some flustered motions as he tried to decide what to do next, while Resetti simply stared at Jack's scowling face with a bemused look. "Hmm... pffft! Bwahahahahaha!’’ Failing to keep a straight face at the fact Jack looked like he had been chucked into a freezer, Resetti knocked on his picaxe while keeling over in laughter. Jack scowled in response, before silencing the gator next to him, who had thought it a good idea to join in, with a cold glare. "Eh, hehe...do you need something warm. Jack?" Giving a sheepish grin, Alfonso hurriedly cowered behind the briefcase, just incase Jack decided to get violent. “U-Uh. Anyway. Don't you want to thank Mr. Resetti for saving you?” ‘’W-Wait! It was y-you who t-threw Seth at m-me? Why would y-you do t-that?’’ Jack stuttered from the cold as he spoke. "Well he seemed like the softest choi-" "N-not that, you-you-gah! Alfonso! Come here and m-make yourself useful!" Pinning the breifcase between himself and the surprised gator as he tried to sap some body warmth. “Uh, Jack? You know I'm cold blooded right?” Alfonso said awkwardly. “F-F-FUDGE!” Jack swore as Resetti forced himself not to laugh again. Regaining his composure, Resetti sighed before closing his eyes, "because you risked your life to help your friend. It takes a lot of guts to climb up a giant dino skeleton, but it takes even more to do it for a girl you got the hots for.’’ "..." Jack stood there seemingly frozen in his feet, a wall-eyed look on his face. "...What?" "Alfonso told me all about how much you wanted to help a dame out, even if it meant getting past me to do it. You deserve some respect for that kid... no. Jack." Jack's expression became more distant as the mole patted him on the shoulder, while making his way to his hole. Watching him give a quick salute, and a wink, Jack repositioned his arms around Alfonso's scaly throat as Resetti dived into his hole. “Alfonso! What have you done!?’’ he roared into the gator's bulging face as he shook him violently. “Do you even know what would happen if rumors spread?" ‘’B-But I told him not to tell anyone! I swear on my scales I did!’’ Alfonso managed to choke out. “Why do you think he would keep a secret like that! Even you couldn't!’’ Jack grunted back as the muscles in his arms flexed. “Jack... Air... Breathe... Choking...” Alfonso coughed as his face started turning blue. “Grrrr....” Jack growled, before letting the gator go. Collapsing in a heap, he gasped as the colour returned to his face. Meanwhile, Jack's eyebrows knit together as he massaged her forehead. ‘’....Alright... are you sure you told him not to tell anyone?’’ Jack looked up at the gator as he kept hugging the briefcase. "Absolutely positively!” Alfonso hurriedly replied, crossing his heart with a claw. “Hmph...” Jack grunted before shrugging his shoulders “Fine then, as long as he promised. I’ll talk to him some other time to make sure.” he said while offering Alfonso a hand up. Yeah... talk... “I’m sorry Jack...” Alfonso said as Jack patted his back. “It's okay Alfonso,” Jack said as they began to walk, “at least it was better then him finding out what she really is.” “Yeah, it’ll be worth seeing the smile on Twilight's face’’ Alfonso smiled as they began to walk toward the cave entrance. “Guh... ow...” Seth groaned painfully, a he lifted his muzzle out of the sand. Playing dead had paid off, he'd heard something interesting. Did I just hear them right? What was that monkey talking about. What she really is..?