A Hero, A Team, and a Story [BOOK ONE]

Chapter 4: The Archives

The trio finally arrived in front of a castle-like building, with towers straight up like a rocket. This was the Spire Library, home of books and Alchemist Cookie.

"Woah, this is just like the castles from my brother's story books!" Pen stared upwards. I think that he would like this more than him though... Pen thought to himself. Alchemist Cookie started to open the doors.

"Now, a fair word of caution, beware of my brother. He's always just-" Suddenly, a hiccup interrupted Alchemist. "That's him."

"He-ey! It's hic my little sis, and she's brought friends!" A red haired vampire spoke, laying down on a couch "You brought them to hic bore 'em to death?" Alchemist looked at him in disgust as Cloud and Pen entered.

"Pen, Cloud, this is Vampire Cookie, my brother." Alchemist sighed. Vampire waved pitifully, trying not to spill his glass. "Vampire, this is Pen, and this is Cloud."

"I'm hic slow, not deaf, sis," Vampire waved his arm around, holding the glass, as Alchemist rolled her eyes, "Get it right."

"Well sorry. Anyways, guys. Follow me, you could get lost here easily." Alchemist signaled for Pen and Cloud to follow.

The trio got deeper into the library, looking around. They searched row after row after row to find what they needed. No luck. Suddenly, they saw a shadowy figure running from the other side of the bookshelf. They seemed to be holding an armful of books.

"Hey-! After that person!" Pen yelled. This seemed to alarm the figure. The trio chased them row after row. Finally, it stopped at bookshelf 08.

"I think they lost us- oh hey, the book we needed!" Pen tried to pull the book from the shelf, but someone pulled against him. "Hey, this is my book!" he exclaimed. He kept trying to pull, until the shadowy figure lost their grip.

"Drat, the book! Well, off to raid another library." The shadowy figure complained.

"Now hold on a moment there! Come back around this way to our side, we need to have a word with you!" Cloud tried to sound tough, but it really was too cute.

"Why should I? You'll turn me over." The figure said.

"No we won't, we swear! We just wanna see who you are, so get over here!"

"Okay, if you say so..."

The figure dropped the books, much to Alchemist's dismay, and came over to the other side of the shelf. They donned a cloak and pale face, their body just a stick

"Take off the cloak." Alchemist demanded.

"Fine, you ask too much of me," the figure took off their cloak to show a less than pleased stickman, "The name's Henry. Henry Stickmin. I was the one pillaging your books."

"Oh, well I'm Pen, the Hero! Can you join our team?" Pen questioned.

"No, I don't wanna," Henry turned his head, "Okay, fine."

"New team member acquired! Now, let's read the book!"