With the Spellstone in hand, Fox led the two youngsters back through the warp to meet up with Belinda Te. She gasped in amazement as she caught sight of them. "You...you did it?"
"That we did," Fox confirmed. "And now that we've got the Spellstone, we need to get it to the Force Point Temple..." He paused and looked around. "Just as soon as we figure out how to get you and your tribe back home..."
"No rush there," Belinda offered quickly. "When the world is restored, we can get home under our own power. Until then, I will guide my tribe here while my father guides those on the surface. We share Gatekeeper magic, we can communicate if we need to. And..." She lowered her head thoughtfully. "We need to talk about a few things. Apologies for...words not meant, among other things..."
Fox smiled softly. "We'll leave you to that. For now, we'll get back to our Wing."
Once back in Thorntail Hollow, Sunset spoke up. "There are two Force Point Temples," she explained calmly, "the Volcano Force Point Temple and the Ocean Force Point Temple. Two Spellstones of Fire and Water each need to be installed in the two Temples to reactivate them. As this is a Flame Spellstone, we need to go to the Volcano Force Point Temple, which lies somewhere beyond Moon Mountain Pass."
Fox nodded and smiled, pleased to see just how much information she had at this crucial juncture. "That's good, Sunset. And...where is Moon Mountain Pass?"
Sunset frowned. "I...I don't know. That's one area I never got to explore. The Warpstone refused to send Tricky and I there, and the adults refused to give directions to children. It's...it's where the Sharpclaws evolved, as a mutant race as a result of the crash of the world's second moon in ancient times, so it was considered too dangerous for us."
"I should say so!" Fox confirmed hotly. "Still...it looks like we need to go there now. We'll just have to ask for directions-"
"You've got to help us!" one of the Thorntails pleaded as she rushed up to the group. "Those horrible Sharpclaws put out our lovely beacons, and it gets too dark at night!" Her voice choked as she began to cry. "We...we be scared of the dark..."
Fox frowned, and started to open his mouth to say something, only for Sunset to elbow him. "What?"
Sunset glared up at him. "Their eyesight is entirely adapted to daylight. Without the beacons, they're practically blind at night. No judging!"
"Okay, okay," Fox hastened to agree, trying to cool her irritation. "We'll just get those beacons lit-"
Sunset's horn glowed, and fire weeds - special plant formations that burned indefinitely unless extinguished - flew from the tree where they were growing into the beacons. She then snapped her fingers, and each beacon burst into bright orange flame.
"Show off," Fox chided grumpily.
"Like you wouldn't if you could, Dad."
"Oh thank you so much!" the Thorntail offered gratefully before pulling out a key marked with a crescent moon. "Please take this with you. It will help you on your quest. It's the Moon Pass Key, and will open your way through Moon Mountain Pass to the Volcano Force Point Temple."
"And which way to the pass?" Fox asked curiously as Sunset took the key.
"Head out past the old well, and break through the sealed rock wall at the bottom of the slope," the Thorntail told them happily. "Just follow the path from there, but be careful of toxic green gas."
The group followed the path as instructed, entering a new area that was somewhat dark and shadowed, a tunnel filled with odd pink growths. As they moved forward, the ground they were walking on collapsed beneath them, and would have dropped them far below into powerful wind currents and dark green gas if Sunset hadn't managed to seize a strong vine in her magic and used it to lasso the trio and drag them to the other side. Fox gave Sunset a thumbs up for quick reaction and led the way further forward.
Moon Mountain Pass itself was quite dark, the rocky walls dark grey and ominous. Vents shot green gas into the air at odd intervals, and the strange glowing pink growths pulsed and swayed along the edges of the path. No sunlight shone down on the land, leaving the area filled with an odd green glow to illuminate the path.
As they moved forward, they encountered a fortified position high up a slope guarded by Sharpclaws, who proceeded to try and attack the group by bouncing and rolling explosive barrels down the hill towards them. Sunset dealt with this by seizing the first barrel to reach them in her magic and sending it flying back up into the fortified position, blasting the Sharpclaws out of it. The group then waited for the remaining barrels to stop bouncing past before making their way up to the gate...which was unlocked by the Moon Pass Key.
Past the gate, the group made their way into an interior structure filled with heat and lava flows. As the heat flowed over them, Sunset once more was surrounded by a glowing aura, and she let herself hover in midair. "Well, I think this part of the trip just got easier," she purred happily as she waved a hand and floated Tricky across to the other side of a lava pit. "I can't levitate you, Dad, since you're carrying the Spellstone."
"You can still clear a path," Fox offered warmly as he followed along, taking advantage of Sunset's power to take in the sights.
A few flame themed hurdles blocked the path, but Sunset absorbed any fire that actually threatened the group into her aura before they could be harmed, clearing the path to the massive stone temple, built into a cliff wall at the edge of a wide lava pit. A single bridge crossed the pit, sealed with a gate that only opened when Fox presented the Spellstone to it. The entrance of the temple itself was sealed, a quick flame color puzzle breaking the seal and granting entrance.
Once more the Spellstone granted entrance. The interior of the Temple was not as brightly lit...and yet somehow Sunset's aura grew brighter still, to the point she actually had to move away from Fox and Tricky to keep from accidentally burning them. "The flame magic is really strong here," she murmured worriedly. "It's...it's actually getting difficult to control..."
"Then be very careful with it," Fox warned cautiously. "Somehow I don't think the Krazoa are available to rebuild the Temple if you break it."
Sunset froze at the thought. "Y...you know what? How about I...wait outside? Pretty sure you and Tricky can handle the Temple without me, right? And there's a part up there open to the outside where you can call for me if you need help, right?"
Fox blinked in surprise. "Well...if you're sure-"
"Great thanks going out to where I have more control bye!" With that, Sunset flew back to outside the Temple.
Fox stared after her for a time, then shrugged. "Coming, Tricky?"
"Right behind you, Fox!" Tricky declared happily. "It's a pity Sunset can't see the inside of the Temple, though. I've heard it's amazing!"
"Maybe she'll be able to take a look after we've installed one Spellstone," Fox observed thoughtfully. "And if not, there's always the Ocean Force Point Temple."
Sunset floated patiently outside the Temple for some time...and eventually felt the overflow of flame magic subside partially, enough she felt confident entering the Temple safely to investigate. Before she could, however, Fox and Tricky appeared in glowing light at the opposite end of the open air chamber that was the entrance to the Temple. "So how'd it go?" she asked as she floated over to them, touching down lightly on the ground.
"Pretty well," Fox offered easily. "Got new magic for the staff - the Ice Blast - and placed the Spellstone."
"Then it's time to head back out?" Sunset asked thoughtfully, glancing longingly back up towards the Temple.
"We'll be coming back," Fox promised, gently patting her head to reassure her.
I've always thought Moon Mountain Pass was creepy. Though I believe the Walled City had my heart beating at an accelerated rate. (Especially with the boss.)
Also, it's Belina-Te. Not Belinda Te. Auto-correct?
8596986
Disagreement within the game text and official sources. Official sources say Belina, but the game says Belinda.
nice work.
8596987
Not the first time that's ever happened. The instruction book for Mega Man Legends describes Tron as Tiesel's daughter when she's supposed to be his sister.
Heh... I like the joke they did with her at the end of the third key dungeon...
I miss this game. Despite it being an odd mismatch of concepts, it was actually pretty fun.
Then again, that sort of platform-style gaming has always been my preferred type. Comes from being an older gamer.
8597011 I'm gonna hafta agree with you there. When I'm not playing RPG's, platformers are my other choice.
Between the beacons, the barrels and the lava pits I thought Sunset followed the saying of "If fire doesn't solve your problem you simply haven't used enough."
Then the temple happened and she made a pretty level headed mature choice to distance herself from that power.
I've said it before but I love your portrayal of Sunset, this story is one of my favourites of your work.
About to run into the first spirit. Excellent.
Wait. Why do you learn the Ice Blast spell, in a VOLCANO TEMPLE?
8597222
To extinguish flames for fire-related puzzles.
8597224
Ok. But WHY NOT learn it in THE ICE zone BEFORE the FIRE TEMPLE?!
8597243
Because the Ice Zone didn't have any fire puzzles.
Figures Sunset could solve some quests in a snap.
8596987
You sure? I played my game and it says "Belina." Regional difference?
8597243
besides, do you want More ice in a Cold location.
8597424 NO!! Heck, I don’t even want the cold HERE! Seriously, where are all the nice wonderful 70s, 80s, 90S that the democrats have been promising us for years?????! 25 last time I checked.
8597550
lol me, I love the cold. Just wish would snow more the one day down here in Texas.
If I'm remembering right, next up is Fox's first meeting with a Krazoa Spirit. I can already hear that warbled Yautja-like cry...
Poor Shimmy, though. I honestly hope she'll be able to go inside the VFPT when they have the other Flame Spellstone. Personally, though, I prefer the OFPT. The flowing architecture and aquatic puzzles are one of my favorite points in the game.
8597579
Your telling me, I'd wish it would snow now, with how F***ING cold it has gotten over her in Arizona.
8597676
yes.
8597676 Snowed here in Liverpool UK today. It's been bloody cold, 2 degrees celcius, that's 36 degrees farenheit for you strange people who use that scale. 20 mph winds, so windchill made it worse.
8598324
at least you got snow, almost the same temp. just 2 degrees warmer, plus windchill. Not even humid.
Moon Princess Sunset?
8598324
All it does is rain at 45 Fahrenheit in Washington State. Wind isn’t so bad, but I think I’m ready for some dead, dry air.