The Fire of Centopia- Mia and Me Fanfiction

Chapter 3

"Flap faster. Come on...ugh." Mia groaned as Mario fell out of the sky, again. Mario groaned.

"You make it look so easy!" He whined. Mia put a comforting hand on his shoulder.

"Don't worry. It just takes practice. Now, let's try again." Mia grabbed his arm and dragged him up, and pulled him up into the air.

"Flap your wings." He obliged, squeezing his eyes closed as he flapped his wings quickly. Mia soon let go of his arm, but he didn't notice.

"You're doing it!" Mia cheered. Mario realized that Mia wasn't keeping him up anymore. He faltered slightly, but then continued flapping his wings. A huge smile adorned his face.

"Yes, finally!" While he celebrated, he accidentally stopped flapping. He plummeted toward the ground. Mia sped down toward him and caught him right before he hit the ground, and gently placed him on the ground. He immediately started jumping up and down.

"I actually did it! I flew!" He cheered. Mo and Yuko, who had been sitting in a nearby tree, watching, flew down to them.

"Can we go now?" Yuko asked impatiently, crossing her arms over her chest. Mia laughed.

"Sure. Onchao, let's go. " They flew toward the Blackwood Forest, and Mia occasionally pointed out landmarks to Mario. Mario took in the aerial view of Centopia with childish wonder in his eyes.

"And that's Polytheus's Island. Never go there, unless you want to lose something because of Polytheus's "great bargains". And over there," Mia pointed to their left. "is the Elven Crater. It looks more impressive from above, doesn't it?" Mario drew in a sharp breath.

"This is all so beautiful! I can't believe that you get to come here all the time."

"Yeah, it is beautiful. That's why I help protect it. I love Centopia. I can't imagine losing it to...anyone." Mia sighed. Mo and Yuko nodded in agreement.

A few minutes later, they arrived in the clearing near Blackwood Forest. Mia looked around, but saw no caves.

"Where's the Crystal Cave?" Mia asked. Yuko flew over to a boulder. The boulder had intricate golden markings over it. Yuko lightly traced over them, before she seemed to find something.

She pressed her hand against the boulder, and a hairline crack started opening. It traveled down the entire height of the boulder. The boulder slid open at the crack, like two sliding doors.

Mo immediately flew inside, and Yuko turned toward Mia and Mario.

"Well? Come on!" She eagerly darted inside, and Mia met Mario's eyes and shrugged. Mia turned to Onchao.

"Stay here, boy. I don't know what kind of traps there might be inside, and I don't want you to get hurt." Onchao neighed indignantly.

The traps can't get me! I'll sense them before I can fall in them.

"Please Onchao, stay here." Onchao nodded reluctantly.

Mia and Mario followed Yuko and Mo inside.

Mia gasped as she took in the sight before her. The cave was exactly as Yuko had described it. The cave wall, floor, and ceiling were all made entirely of crystal. Crystals also hung from the ceiling like mini chandeliers.

"Wow." Mario breathed as he, too, took in the beautiful sight. He wasn't paying attention to where he was flying, and he almost ran into a tree. The tree had crystals hanging from it's branches, just like Yuko had said.

"So, how're we going to find the crystal we're looking for? This place is basically crystal heaven!" Mo asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"I think I found it." Mario was staring at something behind Mia, and she followed his gaze to a boulder with a round glowing orange crystal nestled in it that pulsed like a blazing fire.