Earthbound: Champions of the Future

Chapter Three

~ Naoma Trudeau's POV ~

Evening had already fallen when we finally arrived in the town of Fristerburn. It wasn't even really a town; it was one large road edged with buildings on either side. "It's as unspectacular as I see it is in textbooks." I commented. "Enigma really want to use this place?"

"Maybe they thought that hiding in a small town would be good cover." Syo suggested. "Anyway, there's no way we can fight anyone now. We should get some rest for the night and continue tomorrow."

I dragged myself into the hotel and paid for a room without really paying attention to what the receptionist was saying. I trudged up to my room and threw myself onto the bed. Syo flew out of my scarf and gently closed the door behind me. While she was whizzing around madly looking at everything, I noticed a phone on the tableside. I stared at it for a few moments and sighed before picking it up and dialling a certain number.

"Trudeau residence, how may I help you...?" the voice on the other side asked: Rebecca. She was quieter than usual. They must have already noticed that I was gone.

"Hey, Rebecca. It's just me." I said.

"N-Naoma?!" she gasped. "Where are you?! Are you alright?! I'll send the Flewick Army Corps to pick you up right now-"

"R-Rebecca-!" I interrupted. "I'm perfectly fine, okay? I just need to tell you about where I am and why..." I launched into the whole story, even the bit about me sneaking out of the house to check out Ironbark. I knew it would land me in serious trouble, but it was necessary to make sense of the whole story. When I was finished, Rebecca was stunned into silence. She didn't respond for a full two minutes. "R-Rebecca...?" I stammered. "I-I know it's a lot to take in, but it's the truth..."

"... I see." Rebecca squeaked. I could tell she was biting back tears, which made me close my eyes. They were welling up with my own tears of guilt. "I-In that case... I shall await your return home."

"H-Huh?" I gasped. "You... You're letting me do this...?"

"You're a young woman now, Naoma." Rebecca said. "I can't order you around like a child anymore."

"But... what about Romeo?" I asked. "Cierra? And... And my father? They must know by now, right?"

"Well... yes." Rebecca replied. "They are well aware of your absence, mostly because Romeo told us as soon as your father returned. However, I shall come up with an excuse for your absence. Yes, your father won't be happy..."

"... but this is something he can't stop me from doing." I added. "I've had enough of being locked away from the outside world." Pause. "Listen, Rebecca... Thank you so much for covering for me."

"No problem at all." Rebecca replied. "But, you need to make it up to me, and there's only one way you can do that..."

"H-Huh? Wh-What do I need to do...?" I asked, suddenly slightly scared of what she would suggest. I always got the feeling Rebecca was one of those people who had another side to them.

"You meet a nice young partner on your travels and introduce me to them once you get back~!"

I almost did a spit take. "R-R-Rebecca-!!" I stammered, feeling my face burn bright red. "I-I'm hanging up now...!" The last thing I heard was her laughter before I slammed down the phone. I was right about her having another side; a hopeless romantic side. Then again, she is a big fan of romantic novels. When I was younger, I'd find them scattered on her desk before she hid them away in embarrassment.

"What happened? Is something wrong?" Syo, who was floating nearby, asked. "Did... things not go well...?"

"N-No, we're fine." I responded. "Let's just get some sleep, okay...?"

I threw myself into bed and stared up at the ceiling, hands behind my head. Syo fell asleep almost instantly. She was snoozing away on the edge of the pillow, curled into a tiny ball. Her wings twitched slightly as she snored. I watched her for a little while as I struggled to sleep, nervousness taking a hold of my senses. I had no idea what was going to happen tomorrow, and that's what frightened me the most.

~ ~ ~

I opened my eyes slowly as they adjusted to the sudden blinding rays of the sun. I admit I panicked at first, not knowing why I wasn't in my own room. The events of the previous day returned to my memory slowly as I prepared for the day ahead. Syo was still sleeping. I sighed as I stared at her still, minute form; she must be one of those people who liked to sleep in on mornings. I used to be one of those people, but when you're on a mission to save the world, you need to drop habits like that.

I watched Syo for a few more seconds before poking her in the side. A large screech escaped her lips, which led to her rolling off the pillow and landing on the floor with a thud. "N-Naomaaaaaaaaa!!" she screamed. "Someone's out to get meeeeeeeee!!"

"Relax, Syo," I said, lifting the small nymph from the floor. "I just woke you up because we need to get going. It's past eight already."

"Okay..." she whined. "Just don't poke me next time..."

I sighed and left the hotel, frowning as the sunlight burned overhead. I lifted my hand to my forehead to block it from my sight so I could see where I was going. "So where are we going?" I asked.

"In Fristerburn, there is a place called Silver Crypt." Syo explained. "It's like Ironbark Quarters back in Flewick; only this time, it's likely we'll run into some of Enigma's workers here."

"... These people are going to be adults, right?" I asked. "How am I supposed to fight off potentially strong and burly people? They'll flatten me in no time at all!"

"You have the staff! You'll be fine!" Syo encouraged. "Just have some determination!"

I groaned as I followed Syo's lead towards this 'Silver Crypt'. A black van was parked right outside, a guy in a black suit sat inside. He seemed to be dozing off the sleep until he saw me. "H-Hey!" he cried, jumping out of the car and rushing towards me. "This is no place for kids to be hanging around! Go home!"

"Who are you?" I questioned. "Are you working with Enigma?"

The man gasped. "H-How did you know about us?! The boss told us we were to operate in secret!" He reached into his pocket and pulled out a knife before charging in my direction. I flinched, not knowing how to react. By instinct and pure desperation, I pulled the staff from it's place on my belt and swung it in front of me. Somehow, it extended and managed to deflect the incoming attack. "Whoa..." I muttered as I stared at the weapon in my hands. "This thing is retractable...?"

I heard a yell from in front of me; the guy was being punched in the face several times by Syo. "Now...! Get him while he's distracted...!" she shouted.

I nodded and jumped forward, not quite knowing what I was doing, and hit the guy on the head with the edge of the staff. He went tumbling to the ground, unconscious. At least, I hoped he was unconscious. I'm too young to go to jail for murder....!

"Great!" Syo clapped. "Now we can proceed!"

I stood in front of Silver Crypt, gripping the silver staff tightly and swallowing down my nerves and wishing myself the ultimate luck as I stepped inside the dungeon.

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I actually have nothing to say here for once so bai

AceAttorneyFan over and out!