Key of Souls: Twisted Wonderland

Chapter 12: The Dwarfs' Mine (Part 1) - Dangers from Within

3rd POV

After stepping through the Dark Mirror, the three teens and Grim were transported somewhere in the woods and up head was a small, yet sizable, adorable cottage; which was decorated with cobwebs and moss.

"So this is the Dwarfs' Mine...It used to be prosperous thanks to magic crystal mining but...", Deuce began to summarize.

Dawn, who was surveying the area said, "We should be able to find at least one magic crystal that hasn't been dug up." At that moment, she felt something grab onto her right leg and looked down and saw Grim trembling in fear.

"Uuuuhh... Feels like something could jump out...", Grim said with tears. Dawn bent down and picked him up in her arms hoping it will ease him a little; she even found this place a little scary since it was nighttime.

"Oh, there's a house back there. Let's go ask them about the mine.", said Ace as he notice the cottage ahead on the path.

The group now started walking up the path and headed towards the small cottage. Once they arrived, Deuce knocked on the door to let their presence known and opened the door. "Good evening... I guess it's abandoned. It's a mess in here.", said Deuce as he, Ace, Dawn, and Grim entered the cottage. Inside the cottage was a fireplace with a big pot hanging inside, an old, wooden, table with chairs with the whole place covered with dust and cobwebs.

Grim jumped out of Dawn's arms so he could look around inside the place, just then he had a brief encounter with a cobweb."Puwah! I got a spider web in the face... Peh peh!", he said.

Ace took a closer at the chairs and table and noticed, "Aren't the tables on the small side? Are they for kids? One, two... There are seven! So many!"

While looking around, a loud howl of the wind was blown from outside, "Aaahhh!", she shrieked which started the guys.

"Calm down, it was only the wind.", Ace said as he gave her a deadpan look.

"Haha... Sorry, my bad. This place was just making me a bit scared.", said Dawn with a bit of a sweat. "Huh?", she noticed that she was holding on to something with her right hand, she looked to her right and saw that she was holding Deuce's hand as he noticed this as well, and the two of them heavily blushed at the same time and they both drew their hands back to themselves.

"S-s-s-sorry, I just reacted without thinking!", stuttered Dawn with embarrassment.

"I-It's okay! You were just scared so, naturally, you want to hold someone's hand! Not that I don't mind!", Deuce hysterically said while trying to reassure her. Ace and Grim couldn't help but snicker after seeing this little scenario.

After composing himself, Deuce quickly changed the subject and said, "This was probably a lively home when the Dwarfs' Mine flourished."

"They did what they had to. After all, magic crystals are found inside coal. For now, let's just go check it out.", Ace said once he was done looking around. After spending some time in the cottage, the group decided to leave and proceeded onward until they came upon an opening, which they assumed was the entrance of the Dwarf's Mine; the entrance was dark and not a speck of light was showing inside.

"W-we're going in that pitch black hole!?', Grim nervously asked as he hid behind Dawn's leg.

"Are you scared? So lame.", taunted Ace with a smirk.

"Naanh!? I'm not s-scared at all! I'm taking the lead! You guys follow me!", Grim declared as he stepped in front of the group and walked inside taking the lead while the three teens followed him.

The interior of the mine was a sight to behold, as the inside of the mines was a deep tunnel and the walls were decorated with different kinds of gemstones. As Dawn looked around in marvel she asked, "I wonder which of these stones is the magic crystal we're looking for?"