III - SWORD OF THE BRAVE // Doraemon Fanfic

6 - RACE TO THE TOP

The trio reached the foot of the tower after hours of travelling through the woods.

"Wow! It's so tall," Suneo remarked as the three of them gaped at the tall tower with their jaws dropped.

"See that shining light on the very top of the tree, it's so bright up there? I'm sure that's the place people keep talking about." Gian made an educated guess.

"We should go." Suneo immediately jumped onto the huge trunk of the tree and started climbing, giving Gian the slip.

"Hey, wait up, you bastard! You are not outrunning me to the top!" Gian barked at Suneo, as he starred climbing as well.

Nobita watched the two of them go, and said behind them, "Guys, let me know if you need anything. I'll be waiting down here, okay?"

Suneo said sternly, continuing the climb, "As you should."

Gian, on the other hand, said confusingly, "I still don't get why you don't wish to be the Shirogane swordsman. You might be the only one. But oh well, good for us, I guess."

Since the two were almost out of earshot, Nobita cupped his mouth with his hands to make his voice louder and yelled, "Good luck, guys. Don't give up."

His voice faded away into the clouds and so did his two friends.

He laid down on the ground, putting his arms at the back of his head, and closing his eyes, just to rest them a bit.

Time passed by,
Nobita was waiting down at the foot of the tree. A long rope slowly descended from the top of the tower.

He stood up, eyeing the thread curiously. But his confusion was cleared with Suneo.
"Oi, lazypants. Go fetch me some food and water."

"HEY! WHO'RE YOU CALLING LAZY, HUH?"

"Just do as I said, okay?"

"You guys not up yet?"

"Obviously not," Suneo replied.
Followed by Gian's ruffled gruff voice saying, "This is not some child's play, yk?"

"Alright alright, who's winning?"

Both Gian and Suneo declared together, "ME-!!" As soon as that happened, they started arguing and bickering against each other, during which Nobita took the chance to get some supplies as instructed.

Down by the lake,
While he was fetching some water for the other two climbers, his eyes fell on something shinning underwater.

"That's the floating moon, isn't it?" He whispered to himself. "No, I gotta go. They must be waiting for me."

He ignored it and left with a bucket full of lake water and some fruits.

"YO, SUNEMISI, GIANTOSU~" Nobita yelled out, "I'VE STRUNG IT. PULL THEM UP."

"THANKS!" Gian replied happily while, Suneo complained, "HEY, WHY ARE YOU HELPING HIM? YOU'RE MY SUBORDINATE, REMEMBER?"

He laughed at Suneo's pettiness and the bucket slowly began to ascend.

But suddenly, it stopped for a second. Nobita heard a crackle in the branches and the bucket slipped down and collapsed to the ground with a thud, fruits and water spilling everywhere.

No sooner than that, Nobita heard desperate cries for help. "HELP ME."

Panicking, Nobita shouted out, "WHAT'S WRONG? EVERYTHING OKAY UP THERE?"

"I- I slipped. Help me. I'm gonna fall. Please someone save me... NOBITA~"

Nobita? Nobita flinched on hearing that name. He could not believe his ears. Did he just address me as Nobita. B-But I thought- He does not have his real world memories.