Mystery dungeon Story part 12

chapter 12 - whole hearted memories

After a good night's rest Leo, Mirage, and Lilly went to check the request board to see if there is any rescue missions in the abandoned garden. In the center of the board a request, written in blue, read "HELP! I'VE GOTTEN LOST IN THE ABANDONED GARDENS. -ALOMMALOALAH."

Leo grabbed the request he began to speak "It's time to get going."

"Leo have you realized that they spelled Alomomola wrong? This is probably a trap." Mirage whispered to Leo, knowing that if she spoke out loud the town would start to worry.

"Even if that's the case we still have to go anyway, Uxie told us that the fate of the world depends on this. I think I was brought here for a reason Mirage, and because of that we have to go to the Abandoned Garden no matter what. If there is one thing I've figured out is no matter how far space, time, and reality take me, you will always be my best friend. Mirage, we have to go forward, I don't want you and your world to disappear." Leo said wholeheartedly. This sparked something in Mirage a realization that never occurred to her. Leo trusted her completely, where she used to see naiveness it has slowly been turned into loyalty and courage.

"Hey Mirage, I know that it will also be hard for me also to go to the Abandoned Garden, it has been the one thing that prevented me from visiting my mothers grave for all this time. Leo is right, this world deserves more than being a memory. I might be young but you guys have been my only friends who didn't abandoned me, and I wo-o-ont abandoned you guys. Let's get going." Lilly said. Another realization came to Mirage, Lilly and Leo knew how dangerous it could be, but they fully trusted her and trusted Uxie directions.

Mirage sighed then spoke up "Lilly, Leo, no matter if it's a trap or not you guys will at least be by my sides at all times. I've realized that all of us have changed since we first met each other, and this whole time both of you stood by my side. Leo do you remember that day when I found you by the lake."

"Yes I remember that day very well since I kind of lost most of my memory up until that point." Leo responded

Mirage continued "I was there looking for any trace of my parents since there was a spike in disapearences, which to me meant I could finally find the culprit who made my parents disappeared. Leo, when you screamed that day I thought someone was disappearing, which was why I was so quick to accuse you Leo. After a while when we created team Hopefinders and that made me slowly gain hope, not only to find who did it, but to bring back my parents. Leo, you resparked my hope and I thank you for that, and if there is any place where I could find traces of my parents it's at the Abandoned gardens."

"Hey Mirage, if possible can I say hi to my dad before we leave. It has been awhile since I have seen him, and we are soon going to the place of my mothers grave. If I am able to, I would like to let him know that I am going to visit mothers grave. Would that be okay?" Lilly asked.

"That would be alright, lets head over there now so that we might now waste time." Mirage told her. Lilly, Leo, and Mirage went to Lilly's house. They came to the door and Lilly's dad, Arcanine welcomed them inside.

"Lilly, how has it been being on team Hopefinders, have you've been enjoying yourself." Arcanine asked.

"Yes dad! I've had so-o-o-o much fun! I've got something to tell you dad! Something very important." Lilly emphasized.

"Lilly I am glad you are having fun, I did of course have my doubts and worries, you are young and so energetic but I'm glad your okay. So you said you wanted to tell me something important Lilly, what do you have to tell me." Arcanine was curious about what Lilly had to say.

"Well dad, team Hopefinders took a rescue mission in the Abandoned Garden where mom's grave is. I was wondering should I say hi to mother for you? It has been 3 years since any of us has said hi to her. I wanted you to know and if there is anything you would like to tell mother." Lilly, after expressing her thoughts started to get her mind ready for anything that her dad might say, but what her dad was about to say she wasn't expecting.

"Lilly, my daughter, can you allow me to come with you and team Hopefinder? I've been longing to visit my wife every day, yet when that mystery dungeon formed it felt like I was seperated from her again. I want to tell her you finally fulfilled her dream." Arcanine had tears running down his eyes, an expression that showed his somber longing, waiting for the day where he could see his wife again. A loneliness he held in for a long time, finally being released when a bit of hope entered his mind.

"Sure you can come, I know Lilly has the exact same desire as you do, and I feel it would just be wrong to keep you from seeing one you love, which has been absent in your life for so long." Leo said, he noticed that in himself he also longed for something, he longed for this world to be protected, he longed to stay in this world as much as he could; and yet he knew that will not be the case.

Team Hopefinder and Arcanine started out for the Abandoned Garden. Though right before they left Arcanine grabbed some flowers, a beautiful bouquet of blue. The group started to head out and after a while finally made it to the entrance of this dungeon, full of broken memories. Floor after floor Team Hopefinder and Arcanine finally made it to the peak of this mystery dungeon. Waiting at the top was Lilly's mothers grave, Arcanine walked over and placed the flowers down.

"Lilly my wife, I want to apologize to you again for not letting you start a rescue team. Every day I've been longing to see you but fear came over me, I was to scared to reenter into that dungeon, to scared to face the struggles there were, but my daughter finally gave me enough courage, she reminds me of you; active, and adventurous. If you could seen how she grown you would be so proud. Every day I wondered if I made the right decision to let her join a rescue team. Please let that be enough for you to forgive me and for me to forgive myself. I love you and that will never change no matter how far you might be from me." Tears were now going down Arcanines face, so much so that not all of them dried up some even falling far enough to touch those blue flowers. Blue flowers that came from the ruin which he first met his wife Lilly.

Lilly, Leo, and Mirage slowly looked around for the Alomomola that sent the request. When they turned around there was a white ball of energy, they looked up a little bit and to their surprise they found Cutiefly flying high above them, laughing maniacally. "How Ironic, little team Hopefinders will disappear in the exact same spot, in the exact same way as that little Hisuin Zorua's parents from team DZZ. Have you heard of them?"

Mirage was furious with Cutiefly's mocking, but the white ball of energy was charging to quickly they were about to fail.

"Your Time Is Close, You Will Be Destroyed, Activating Wipe Out."

This ball of energy started to burst, team Hopefinders were frightened. All of a sudden a figure jumped in front of them and took all the force, letting team Hopefinders be able to escape from the dungeon. They kept running, but Lilly recognized the figure all to well, no matter how quick he disappeared, because of that her heart sank. She finally whispered, "father?!" she knew that he took the blow for them, and let them escape. A sad feeling came over her, one she felt when she lost her mom, but it came back and 10 times stronger than ever before. Her usual cheery expression completely gone.

After running for a long time, team Hopefinders got tired and decided to take a rest. They were in an unfamiliar place, near an unfamiliar dungeon, but they knew there was no other choice but to go forward.