The hotel room looked like a hurricane had just swept through it. Shubman, who had conveniently managed to forget his packing duties despite being reminded a whopping twenty times, was now in a frantic rush to throw his belongings into his suitcase.
They were about to leave for a new city, gearing up for an upcoming match, and time was ticking away mercilessly.
After what felt like an eternity of stuffing clothes haphazardly into his bag, Shubman finally zipped it shut with a sigh of relief. But as he took a step back, he felt something hard and unfamiliar beneath his foot.
"Oh, what now?" Shubman muttered as he stooped down to pick up the object. It was the black box he had completely forgotten about, the one the old man had given him as they were leaving the previous city.Setting the box down on a nearby chair, Shubman couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity. He'd barely given it a second thought since receiving it, but now, with a moment to spare, he found himself drawn to it.
Gently opening the box, Shubman's eyes widened as he beheld the contents inside. Nestled within the velvet lining was a breathtaking ring, its surface a mesmerizing blend of purple and black hues. It was unlike anything Shubman had ever seen before, and he found himself entranced by its beauty.
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(Shub's ring)
"Hello," a voice suddenly spoke, causing Shubman to jump in surprise. He looked around the room, searching for the source of the voice, but found no one."Who the hell are you?" Shubman demanded, his heart pounding in his chest.
"I'm Plagg," the voice replied, its tone cryptic and enigmatic.Shubman's mind raced with questions, but before he could voice them, the room was filled with a blinding flash of light, and everything went dark.Shubman blinked in confusion as the darkness receded, revealing a tiny creature floating before him. It was unlike anything he had ever seen before, with large green eyes and tiny wings fluttering behind it.
"Plagg...?" Shubman stared incredulously at the tiny creature before him, his mind struggling to comprehend what he was seeing. It was like something out of a fantasy movie.
"What type of creature are you?" Shubman asked, his voice laced with awe and disbelief."I'm not a creature, you buffoon! I'm a kwami!" Plagg retorted, his tiny arms crossed indignantly."A what now?" Shubman's confusion only deepened.
Plagg sighed dramatically, as if he couldn't believe he had to explain himself. "A kwami! I'm a magical being that grants powers to chosen individuals. And you, my friend, are one of the lucky ones."Shubman's jaw dropped in astonishment. This was beyond anything he could have imagined. A magical creature, a kwami, standing right in front of him? It was like a dream come true."But why me?" Shubman asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Plagg shrugged, his tiny shoulders lifting in a nonchalant gesture. "Who knows? Maybe you've got a spark of greatness hidden inside you, waiting to be unleashed. Or maybe fate just decided to throw you a curveball. Either way, you've got powers now, kid. And it's time to learn how to use them."Shubman could hardly believe what he was hearing. Powers? Him? It seemed too good to be true. But as he looked down at the mysterious ring in his hand, glowing softly with an otherworldly light, he knew that this was only the beginning of an incredible journey.
"C-Care to explain what all this is... Pl... Plagg?" Shubman stammered, his mind still reeling from the revelation."I'm a kwami of destruction. I will provide you power to destroy anything. And since, uhh, well, how old are you?" Plagg inquired, his tiny voice tinged with curiosity."Uh... 23. How does it matter?" Shubman replied, still trying to wrap his head around the situation."Ohh, this time Master chose young adults. Last time, my last owner was a 15-year-old kid," Plagg explained matter-of-factly.
"Master... a 15-year-old?" Shubman repeated, his disbelief growing with each passing moment."Shhhh, let me explain. Sit and listen carefully, kid," Plagg said, his tone firm yet oddly reassuring.Shubman obeyed, taking a seat on the edge of the bed, his eyes fixed on the tiny kwami before him. He had a feeling that his life was about to changePlagg cleared his throat dramatically, his tiny wings fluttering behind him as he prepared to share his wisdom. "Alright, listen up, kid. You've got a lot to learn, and I've got a lot to teach you. But don't worry, I'll make it quick. I've got places to be, you know?"Shubman raised an eyebrow, amused by the kwami's sassiness. "Places to be? Like what, a mouse hole?"
Plagg shot him a glare, his green eyes narrowing into tiny slits. "Hey, watch it, buddy. I may be small, but I've got a big personality."Shubman chuckled, finding himself oddly drawn to the tiny creature's feistiness. "Alright, Plagg, I'm all ears. Lay it on me."
"Good. Now, first things first. You've got powers now, thanks to yours truly. But with great power comes great responsibility, as they say," Plagg began, his tone turning serious.Shubman nodded, his expression grave as he absorbed Plagg's words. "Got it. Responsibility. Check."Plagg nodded approvingly. "Now, onto the important stuff. Your powers. You've got the power of destruction at your fingertips, kid. You can make things go boom with just a snap of your fingers."Shubman's eyes widened in amazement. "Boom? Like, explode?"
"Exactly," Plagg confirmed, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "But remember, with great power comes great responsibility. You've got to use your powers wisely, or you could end up causing more harm than good."
Shubman nodded solemnly, the weight of his newfound abilities sinking in. "I understand. I won't let you down, Plagg."Plagg smirked, his tiny lips curling up into a sly grin. "Good. Because if you do, you'll have me to answer to. And trust me, you don't want to mess with a kwami on a mission."Shubman laughed, feeling a surge of excitement coursing through him. "I'll keep that in mind, Plagg. Thanks for the heads up."
Plagg waved a dismissive hand, his wings fluttering behind him as he prepared to depart. "Don't mention it, kid. Just remember what I said, and you'll do just fine. Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got some cheese to hunt down."And with that, Plagg disappeared in a flash of light, leaving Shubman alone in the hotel room, feeling more exhilarated than he had in years. He may not have fully understood the extent of his powers yet, but one thing was for sure—his life was about to get a whole lot more interesting.
