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Untitled Document
Pianto looked long fully at the piece of paper, now sitting
on the kitchen table, Bankton had used to copy down the translated text. His problem
was a grave one indeed. On one hand, he had the key to finding a lost treasure.
Or possibly, something greater. On the other, he had his life. And it would be
illogical and foolish to just get up and run away all of a sudden. He just didn't
know what to do.
He jumped off the chair and walked out the door.
A walk would help to clear his mind.
He walked down the street, deep in thought.
It was still somewhat crowded, though not as much as earlier. His owner would
not be home for a few hours. He passed gloomily by the chocolate factory, looking
down at the ground as he often did when in thought. The sweet smell of chocolate
filled his nostrils.
"Why so gloomy?" Pianto looked up in sudden
surprise to face a Skeith. He was old and blue and wore a tattered shirt. A
cane lay next to where he sat. He was, without a doubt, a homeless pet.
"Oh... nothing," Pianto replied. "Well something
must be wrong," the Skeith pressed.
"Well," the Gelert hesitated. Should he really
tell this pet his problems? "I've got this opportunity," Pianto began. "It's
an opportunity to do something very cool, but very scary. And I don't know if
I should take the chance on this opportunity or not."
As Pianto finished, the homeless pet was nodding
understandingly. "You know, I had an opportunity once," the Skeith began, "A
friend of mine, a Kiko, approached me about starting up a store; a store that
made and sold nothing but chocolate. He offered me a full partnership. All I
needed to do was give him my last 200 Neopoints. And do you know what I did?"
Pianto replied with a shake of his head. "I turned him down. And do you know
where that chocolate shop is now?" The Gelert again replied with a shake of
his head. "That's it." Pianto turned to face the looming, castle-like chocolate
factory.
"Everyday I sit out here and wonder why I didn't
take that opportunity. Because, you see, if I had, I could've been sitting in
there instead of sitting out here."
"Thank you," the Gelert replied, otherwise speechless
from the Skeith's story. As he turned to leave, Pianto dropped all the Neopoints
he had on him, 245, into the Skeith's cup.
***
The dawn sun was just beginning to rise in the eastern sky as Pianto finished
packing what he could into his backpack. It was jammed full of supplies, from
food to a small hunting knife and rope. He placed a letter, which he had written
the night before, on the dinner table for Mason to find when he awoke. It told
where Pianto was going (or at least, where he thought he was going) and that
he would be back in a week or two.
The Gelert wondered in the back of his mind
if his owner would even notice. His plan wasn't entirely formatted. Food would
be a major problem. Pianto could only pack enough for a few days. He knew this
adventure would be a long one and would probably be dangerous. But the Skeith's
words kept echoing in his head. "I could've been sitting in there instead of
sitting out here." Pianto couldn't let this happen to him.
So, with a heavy heart and nothing but the pack
on his back and his wits, Pianto stepped out into the early morning light.
"YOU!" Pianto turned, startled, to the sight
of the Cybunny from whom he had stolen the plushie from the previous day. Pianto
tried to run. But this time, the Cybunny was ready. She jumped ahead of him
and cut him off.
"Where is my plushie!" the infuriated white
Cybunny demanded.
"What plushie?" Pianto asked coolly, trying
to pass her. But she wouldn't allow it.
"Don't play dumb! You know, the Rainbow Usul
Plushie you stole from me yesterday!"
"Oh, that. I tore it apart," Pianto lied, still
talking in a cool, sly tone.
"You what?!" The Cybunny's face began to turn
red with anger and Pianto became a little worried that she might pass out or
have a heart-attack.
"Now, if you'll excuse me." Pianto ducked under
the Cybunny's arm and began walking, fast but not running.
"Oh no you don't!" the Cybunny shouted after
him, moving to catch up.
"Look," the Gelert said, now becoming annoyed
with his pursuer. "I'm going on a trip and I probably won't be back for a few
weeks. When I get back, I'll buy you a new one."
"No way!" the Cybunny replied, dissatisfied.
"If I let you walk away I'll never see you again! I'm coming with you!" This
caused the Gelert to halt in his tracks and turn to face the Cybunny.
"You can't come with me! Where I'm going is
very dangerous and a princess like you wouldn't last a day!"
"I don't care!" was the response. "I'm not letting
you walk away! Besides, I'm a big girl and I can handle myself." At that moment,
Pianto realized that if this conversation carried on any longer, he would be
late for the ferry.
"Whatever," he finally relented. "Just, stay
out of my way princess." Pianto turned to continue his walk towards the docks.
The Cybunny hurried to catch up.
"And my names not princess, it's Marana." And
the two of them began their journey towards the docks. Yet neither of them knew
what adventure the two of them were in store for. And what an adventure it would
be.
To be continued...
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