Mighty Aftergame: Quest for the Deep Power Stones

Chapter 3: A quest begins!

The journey to Cypress Island was an uneventful one, with Trip and I just looking out the window, while Ray just played on his game gear. We could have gone by dragon flight, of course, but Trip has been avoiding taking that form ever since the, uh...'mistake' with Ray. So, we flew there by jet, touching down a quaint little country airport on the edge of the there, we were escorted to a long, stretched out luxury limousine, which drove us from the airport out into the open countryside.

"Ohh, look at all the really big houses!" Ray exclaimed, looking out at the countryside in amazement. "It's like something out of an old-timey movie!"

Trip and I looked out the window, and were amazed with all of the large manor houses, with large marble columns columns, whitewashed walls, and large windows on houses as large as palaces, Each surrounded by vast, well-maintained gardens, and rows of poplar and cypress trees. We saw islanders in old-fashioned clothing walk by, women in dresses right out of the last century, and men wearing only derbys, top hats, and jackets that looked like they belonged in a museum. Clearly, the inhabitants of Cypress Island of an aristocratic bearing, and genteel manners far different than what we were used to.

After quick car ride, we arrived at a beautiful Southern-style manor, with six large oak trees lining the road up to the house. Getting out of the car, we made our way up to the door of the great house. The servants quickly saw us in, and we were ushered into a grand study, filled with more books than I had even seen in one place before, and several long tables and chairs. Seated at the far end of one of the tables, was our host; a tall rabbit islander with yellow and white fur, a long brown southern gentleman's longcoat, and a brown stetson on his head.

"Well, howdy Y'all! welcome to mah manor house!" The rabbit gentleman greet us us, tipping his stetson to my wife. "Mighty Armadillo, such a pleasure to see you again, suh! Please, have a seat and some refreshments, and we cain get down ta business!"

"Baron Beauregard Rabeau, it's a pleasure to see you again." I reply, shaking his hand. "This is my foster brother Ray the Flying squirrel, and my wife, Trip the Sungazer. "

"Hello, lad... good ta see y'al again." He inclined his head towards Ray, who nodded politely back."Last time I laid eyes on Y'all, ya was knee high to a grasshopper!"

"Hello Baron." He smiled and waved. "Nice to be back here again."

"And it is always a pleasure to have such a fine young lady in this house." Beauregard kissedmy wife's hand in a gentlemanly manner. "Such esteemed beauty has not entered these halls, since the passing of mah beloved wife, Lulumae."

"T-thank y-you, Baron R-Rabeau." Trip stuttered out, her face turning beet red.

"All right Rabeau, you can tone down that Southern Charm, a bit." I grumble at him. "You brought us here for business, not pleasure."

Trip looked at me with a questioning expression, inclining her head towards Beauregard..

"Oh, Baron Rabeau here is the hereditary governor of the Cypress islands baronet, his family has ruled this island since almost the time of the last great Gaia event." I explained. "He is also the founder and owner of Baron's fried chicken, the largest fried chicken restaurant chain in the world!"

"Years ago, young Mighty and fellow Chaotix solved a mystery at one o' my poultry farms." The Baron explained "They uncovered a bunch o' saboteurs hired by a rival chicken company, an' probably saved our restaurant from bankruptcy."

Still confused, my wife gestured to the metal arm under the barons coat.

"Oh, she's wondering about your metal arm." I explain to Beauregard."She was wondering why you had it replaced."