Back to the Beginning
[You have arrived]
After being sent through the portal by the Temporal Guardians of the Light Realm, Arlene entered her home with haste. Not turning back to see those who lurked behind her. Their gazes staring daggers into the back of her wavy brunette hair.
The front door creaked closed behind her as she stomped her boots on the ‘welcome home’ mat in the foyer. Her eyes adjusting, as she carefully removed the rare transfiguration box out of her heavy-duty backpack keeping her gas mask still intact.
Ecstatic to share its power with her husband, the Archeologist padded through the house, her boots covering the wooden floorboards in mud with every step. The metallic box had a luminous blue glow that danced across the walls of her home. As she cautiously navigated the hallway without lifting her gaze from the box.
Purely guided by her feet, she took a turn to the right which revealed a stairway to the science workstation in their basement.
She excitedly walked towards the downstairs laboratory door, clutching the Celestial Orb box in her hand. Knowing she'd find Arnold down there.
As soon as she entered the room, he looked up from his work, his eyes widening with excitement. "Arlene, you're home, sweetheart. What is that?" pointing towards the glowing transfiguration box in her hands, his voice filled with wonder. A smile reached her eyes whilst handing him the box.
Arlene: "I retrieved it on the trip I took back to The Desert Caves of Elyria.”
Arnold: “The cave we didn't get the chance to explore fully when we met?”
Arlene: “I thought I'd surprise you, that's why I just told you I'm going on a research adventure. I think it might be the key to unlocking the secrets of The New Aracadia City you're building."
Arnold's eyes lit up as he carefully examined the box. “The Deserts of Elyria, where the cave is filled with luminous crystals and glowing insects” He prompted cheerfully.
Arlene: “Yes darling, the cave seemed to have an ecosystem of its own. It's fascinating.”
Arnold: “I was informed that the former president of Elyria didn't want this to be written in the historical records. That's why I went down there years ago. I had to find out for myself! After that static war in Pavement City, this cave held the cage that held Malakie The GREATEST and the orb that the Temporal Guardians took away from the Willobridges Shelter Warehouse. Which is possibly this blue orb in here if you ask me.”
Arnold's ears perked upward, “This is marvelous, good hunting my lotus flower! Together we are unstoppable, see I told you!”
“Yes you did” she kissed his forehead “I'm going to scrub up” and left him to unravel what they truly discovered.
After hours of research, he finally yelled down the passageway. "Arlene, this box has the power to unlock all the possibilities we've been dreaming of! We can use it to create a New NEW Aracadia City, just as you suspected! A place where everyone can live in harmony!"
Arlene's face glowed with excitement. As she brought him a hot cup of tea "I have to tell you about the experience I had in the caves," she said, pulling a chair close to him and proceeding to tell her husband about the Temporal Guardians and how they warned her of taking care of the Celestial orb and the consequences she agreed to.
He sipped his piping hot tea and listened intently. The conversation was concluded by him stating they needed to call his business partner over and tell him about everything.
They'd been working towards this goal for years together and Pedro was more than just a BP but also a close friend to the Maximus family. She felt no need to disagree with her husband.
Arnold called Pedro without hesitation and filled him in on what had transpired over the past few days. But as Arnold shared the news with Pedro, he heard a flicker of something other than excitement in his friend's voice. Pedro insisted on coming over and seeing the orb for himself. The couple told him he is welcome to join them for a midnight dinner.
Pedro's smile could be heard through the phone “I'll bring Meriella with me to keep Em company.”
Arlene yelled into the speaker over her husband's shoulder “No need for that, let the kids rest for now.”
“Very well” Pedro hissed and the call ended.
At his arrival he was ushered quietly into the dining room where the glass table was prepared with a traditional Sunday feast.
Pedro: “So where is this orb you spoke of?”
Arnold: “It's downstairs. I believe this orb is the breach we need to expand technological advancements in the New City we building. The orb acts as a power source that fuels anything you connect it to. If we combine our skills we can create everything we imagined.”
Arlene: “But there is a catch! The guardians that allowed me to take it was very stern on the use thereof. I believe if we trace historical events back to the Static War we can find the rest of the source's energy in its origin state.”
Pedro: “Excellent work my comrades. My late father would be utterly astonished by your contributions towards his city. We should celebrate.”
He lifted a glass “here's to new beginnings.” They cheered and enjoyed their meal. Pedro's smile seemed to hide a darker intent, and Arnold's instincts began to stir.
After dinner Arnold decided to tell his friend that his wife needed to rest and they would catch up tomorrow. Gently gesturing that Pedro needed to leave, placing his hand on his back, escorting him towards the front door.
Arnold's mind reeled with possibilities of his wife being caught in breaking a promise with The Temporal Guardians. The way she described their glowing celestial eyes, their armour made of ground up bones. Their Iron Void spears had the same ethereal glow as this orb. Worry crept under his skin seeping into his spine. Everything in him that once operated in the shape of discovery and innovation now bent to shield and protect his family from the unknown no matter the cost.
Pedro slyly grimmed “Surely you wouldn't let me leave without seeing this discovery that is about to answer all our prayers.”
Arlene naively answered “Well follow me, it's right this way.” He pushed past Arnold and followed Arlene, his eyebrows triumphant dancing down the hallway.
The orb on Arnold's science workstation pulsated alongside sensory observation tools and a centrifuge.
“Ahhh I see Arnold already did the hard parts. Well done my dear friend. I could just kiss you!” Pedro exclaimed as he grasped the orb in his steady hands.
Arnold ran over, grabbed the orb and placed it safely back down , covering it hastily with a cloth. “Well, dear friend, that's not the hard part yet. So let's call it a day.”
Pedro glanced at the orb one last time with a glare of malice in his eyes and left the Maximus home without a word.
