Jesse and Rueben shared puzzled expressions wondering how a flower was capable of speaking, "Hmm... You're new to the underground aren't cha?"the rose spoke, Jesse simply nodded. "Golly, you must be so confused. Someone ought to teach how things work around here!" Rosiel continued, his bright smile never leaving his face as he talked. ",I guess little old me will have to do. Ready? Here we go"
Darkness seemed to engulf Jesse's surroundings, the only things visible were Rosiel, Rueben, Jesse, and a line of five red glowing hearts. One of them was seemingly larger than the rest. The young male stared at them both alarmed and amazed. ",See those hearts? That is your health, the very culmination of your being!" He seemed to relax a bit once Rosiel explained that it was normal. "Your health starts off small. But it can grow strong if you gain a lot of LV" Hearing this a thought came to Jesse What do you need more health for? Everyone here is so nice. "What's LV stand for? Why, love, of course! You want some love don't you?" Rueben nodded and let out a happy squeal at the mention of the word 'love' making Jesse chuckle. "Don't worry I'll share some with you"--Rosiel winks before continuing--"Down here, love is shared through... Little white 'friendliness pellets'" Five white pellets seemed to appear around Rosiel. "Are you ready? Move around catch as many as you can!" Jesse sprinted and caught all but one "friendliness pellet" and stumbled backwards. Glancing at his health he saw that only one quarter of the largest heart remained glowing while the other seemed to be completely black. If it wasn't for the white outline of the hearts they would've camoflouged perfectly with the surrounding area. Rosiel's face changed from a friendly smile to a very demonic one. "You idiot! In this world, it's kill or be killed! Why would anyone pass up an opportunity like this!?"
Rosiel laughed maniacally and formed white pellets around Jesse completely blocking any possible exits. "DIE." Rosiel said, waiting for Jesses' death. All Jesse could do was watch as the pellets closed in on him and Rueben. The young pig squealed, frightened, while Jesse clenched his eyes awaiting the blow, but it never came. When he opened his eyes he saw that Rosiel was gone and a woman seemed to be standing infront of him with fire surrounding her hand and a fireball floating above her palm. The woman had white wavy hair that appeared to have small beads in it, yellow googles, simple white horns resting atop her head, a brown perhaps tannish jumpsuit, brown flowing cape decorated with snowflakes, tan slippers and pajama bottoms. "Who are you?" asked Jesse confused that a stranger had randomly rescued him from certain death. "My name is Harper, I am the caretaker of the Rubri Realm" she spoke in a caring tone. "Nice to meet you Harper my name is--" Those where the last few words he said before passing out due to the low health he had.
"What happened?" Jesse said looking around rubbing his head. He was in a lavender colored bed with matching lighter purple walls, there was a desk with a lamp to provide light since there seemed to be no windows. Next to his bed side Rueben lied asleep on a rug that matched the same color scheme as the rest of the room. "Well as long as Rueben's with me, I don't mind where I am" Jesse said quietly, petting the small pig's back. He walked over to the desk and noticed two plates with two slices of pie and a note under each. Jesse read both and learned that the slices were butterscotch-cinnamon pie, one for Rueben and one for himself. Seeing as he had not eaten all day, he decided on eating the slice. Once he was done, he looked at his health; it was back to normal. "Oh, you have woken up. Did you have a good rest?" Jesse turned to the direction of the noise and saw that it was Harper. "Yeah, thanks for saving me back with Rosiel" Jesse said smiling genuinely.
"Your welcome. And if I recall correctly I didn't quite get your names the first time" Harper spoke glancing at Rueben who was sleeping peacefully on the rug.
"Oh, right. Well my name's Jesse and this is my friend and companion, Rueben" he continued.
"It is a pleasure to meet you Jesse and Rueben" Rueben woke up not long after Harper finished speaking. "Would you like to follow me to the living room? We could talk a little more there"
"Sure why not" Jesse spoke following Harper.
In the living room, Harper told Jesse about the different things that happened when Harper had to pretty much carry him all the way home. The most interesting story --for Jesse-- was one about how Harper crossed paths with a ghost and her pet ghost cat. According to Harper their names were Cassie Rose and Winslow. Jesse was allowed to explore the house freely but nothing seemed interesting besides a staircase that seemed to lead to a basement. After a while of exploring, Jesse thought that it was about time he starts finding a way out of the underground. He tried asking Harper, but she would brush off ghe question and continue reading a book titled "72 Uses For Snails".
"Well it's been nice of you to let us stay here but I do believe I should be on my way home" Jesse said picking up Rueben and putting Rueben's slice of pie in his inventory.
"Home? But I thought perhaps this could be-- that you could stay, here..." Harper said her once happy expression taking a slight turn.
Jesse stopped for a moment. Harper had been the only real "family" he's ever had. He decided to stay for a while longer.
"Okay, mom" Jesse spoke a bit sleepily not realizing he had just accidentally called Harper his mom.
"Well if that's what your comfortable calling me then go ahead. You should get some rest my child"
Jesse walked upstairs to get some sleep. No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't get some sleep. There seemed to be a female voice in his head saying things like You have to leave now, This isn't a wise idea, Go to the basement. Curiosity got the best of him and he carried Rueben and went to the basement, there he was met with a very long hallway that seemed to be leading somewhere. Harper seemed to be standing there.
"You wish to return 'home' do you not?" Harper said.
Not knowing what to say, Jesse simply nodded his head.
"Ahead, lies the end of the Rubri Realm, a one-way exit to the rest of the underground" she explained "I am going to destroy it. No one will be able to leave again"
"Now, be a good child and go upstairs" Fear washed over Jesse he wouldn't let Harper destroy the exit.
"Every human that falls down here meets the same fate. I have seen it many times. They come. They leave. They die" Harper spoke a bit darkly "You naive child... If you leave Rubri... They... Ivor... Will kill you"
Harper hurried to the exit, but Jesse caught up to her.
"I am only protecting you do you understand? Go to your room" Harper spoke "Do not try and stop me this is your final warning."
Jesse remained in the same spot not showing any signs of leaving from that spot any time soon.
"You want to leave so badly?" Harper pauses to sadly laugh "You are just like the others"
"Harper?" Jesse spoke finding his voice finally.
"There is only one solution. Prove yourself, prove to me you are strong enough to survive" Harper spoke.
Once again, the room turned dark and five red hearts appeared in front of Jesse while a row of twenty white hearts appeared in front of Harper. She summoned a couple of fire balls and launched the attack towards Jesse. The attacks brought his health down by one heart and a half. Jesse refused to fight Harper though, when it was his turn to attack Jesse chose to talk to her instead. This continued for a good while but it had no effect, but Jesse was determined to stop the fight. The more he reasoned the more the attacks slowed down, eventually they avoided him completely.
"Fight me or run away!" Harper said seeing that Jesse wasn't going to attack. She launched two rows of fire attacks
"I am not fighting you. Please stop this" Jesse spoke bearly dodging the attack. Harper stayed quiet before replying
"How pathetic... I can not save one child" Harper spoke silently, Rubri was back to its usual colors. "If you truly wish to leave Rubri, I will not stop you"
Jesse smiled, he succeeded!
"However when you leave, please do not return. I hope you understand" Harper continued sadly making her way to open the door.
Jesse went towards the now open door followed by Rueben. Before he left he turned to see Harper slowly make her way to close the door. He sprinted just bearly making it and hugged Harper. Surprised at first Harper stood still before she returned the hug. "Goodbye, my child" Harper spoke letting go of Jesse. "Bye, mom" Jesse said before continuing to the Neupris Realm.
YOU ARE READING
Minetale: Story Mode
Adventure"What's your name?" "..." "Jess? That's a nice name." And then he awoke.
