“Huh?” I say, a little surprised.
As the Raybird flies away with Oki and the ophidia in its grasp, Maka, Ramsey, and I are still entrapped in the massive creature’s wind vortex, which allows no room to escape. It’s causing tremendous shock waves to shoot out around the surrounding areas, cutting down trees as they spread before beginning to dissipate. I have no idea how much longer I can hold my breath, as my lungs ache for a single breath that isn’t filled with debris. As fast as it came, it suddenly vanishes. I gasp in a breath of fresh air.
“Huh?! Wait! Wait! Wait!” Maka cries, panicking. “…Airborne?! Are we airborne?! This can’t be happening! This can’t be happening! This isn’t looking good!”
“Alright! We’re so high it’s almost like I can touch the sky!” I stretch my hand out, hoping to grab something.
“Shut up, Fukai! This isn’t alright! Maka is right, this isn’t looking good! What the hell are we supposed to do?! Damn it!” Ramsey begins to survey the landscape, frustration furrowing his brow. Being the brains of the operation, Ramsey starts to weigh his options. As he looks down, the surrounding trees begin to fall, one by one. “Damn it! This isn’t good! This is not going to work! Maka! Do you have any id-?!” Ramsey, frustrated, looks to Maka for help.
“Oh god! Oh god! Oh god! Somebody please help uuusss!” Maka shrieks out in fear.
Ramsey looks forward, worry plastered on his face as he bites down on his lip. “I can’t believe this is happening! Maka is no use to me in that state! If only I had something to-”
“Yahoo! This is so much fun!” I say as I start to do backflips midair while smiling.
“And what part of this is fun?!” Ramsey slaps me upside the head. “Damn it, Fukai, this isn’t a laughing matter!” Ramsey begins to think hard. “We’re about to die here and if I don’t figure out a plan-”
“Ramsey, Ramsey. Why are you sweating the small stuff? Minor details. Minor details, my friend.” I say with smugness as I pat Ramsey on the shoulder while giving him the thumbs up. “But! If that’s all you’re worried about we could always just use that giant spider web over there left by Oki!” I say smiling as I point behind me.
“Huh?!” Ramsey looks behind and notices Oki’s web floating down. “You’re just now telling me this!” Ramsey grabs me by the collar and begins to shake me. “What the hell, Fukai!”
“Somebody help me! I’m too Young To DIE!!” Maka begs as he’s flipping, out of control.
I look over at Maka confused, then turn and look at Ramsey, somewhat puzzled by his reaction. “Hmmm…” I decide to act quickly before he keeps nagging me. “Maka grab on!” Maka quickly nods his head and jumps on my back. “Take my hand, Ramsey!” Ramsey grabs my hand. “Alright guys! This could get a little rough, so hold on tight!”
“Don’t tell me…?!” Ramsey looks at me anxiously. “You can’t be serious?!”
“Too late!” I quickly grab the spider web left by Oki. “Huh! It’s a lot lighter than I thought it would be!” I smile as I grab the web tightly, “But sturdy enough and the stickiness is gone too!” I look at my surroundings, “This might work! Alright!” Shifting Ramsey to my back with Maka, I proceed to grab the web with both of my hands and swing around it with all my might. As Oki’s web is hitting the ground, it buckles, creating a shockwave that fires out in all directions, causing nearby creatures to flee. “Alright, guys! Looks like this is going to be a one-way trip!”
“One way trip…?!” Ramsey looks down in a panic. “Huh?! Wait, you’re not talking about what I think you’re talking about?! Fukai?!”
“I’m not ready for thiiis!” Maka begins to struggle with me as I grab him.
I toss Maka onto the web. “Be careful not to hurt yourself on the way down, Maka!” I shout out to him. “Kekekeke!” I turn and look at Ramsey with a smile on my face. “Kekekeke…!”
“Why the hell are you laughing, Fukai?” Ramsey demands as he shakes his head in fear.
“Enjoy yourself, Ramsey!” I quickly toss Ramsey onto the web and then soon hop on myself. “Yahoooooo!” I shout as I slide down the web with a smile.
“Damn it! Fukai! Are you trying to kill us?!” Ramsey shouts in frustration as he slides down.
“I’m never hanging out with you guys again!” Maka declares as he continues to slide down on his stomach.
“Hmmm… is it just me or is Ramsey upset for some reason?” I look down at Ramsey with a little hint of concern. “Hey, Ramsey! Are you upset with me? Or am I crazy?” I shout at him.
“Are you serious?! …Really?! Seriously?!” Ramsey closes his eyes and shouts at the top of his lungs. “Both, you idiot!”
“You both are idiots! I can’t believe you talked me into coming here!” Maka screams in frustration.
“Come on, guys, don’t be like this!” I say with a little smile on my face.
“Huh…” I utter, coming to a realization upon nearing the end of our exciting ride. “How are we going to land safely? …Oh well!” I shrug, my worries disappearing as quickly as they came.
Maka, Ramsey, and I quickly go shooting off an arch of the web and into the jungle. “Alright! That’s what I’m talking about!” I shout as we get a little airborne. Suddenly, as we fly past two whisper trees, Oki and the ophidia come crashing down a little ways behind us, causing the surrounding area to quake.
*Boom!*
*Crack!*
“Holy crap!” I shout with excitement.
“I’m not ready for this!” Maka cries out with fear in his voice.
“This is not good, Fukai!” Ramsey looks at me with concern.
“What, are you scared of going downhill?” I say, puzzled.
“No! Idiot! I’m not scared of that! It’s this part of the jungle!” Ramsey looks ahead, his countenance clearly disturbed. “The Whisper Tree of Lies!”
“Wow! Sounds awesome!” I say with a smile as we begin to slide down the hill. Ramsey and I on our feet. Maka less so.
“There’s nothing awesome about this! If we…” Ramsey begins to look around with alarm.
“Huh? What’s that sound?” I query as, out of nowhere, I begin to hear the trees whispering.
*Come.*
—————-*Help me!*
*We have the answer you seek!*
————*If riches you seek, come this way!*
——–*Eternal life for all who come my way!*—-*No strings attached.*
—-*Love!*——–*Love here!*—*Sweet love.*
“Guys! Just ignore it! It’s nothing but lies.” Ramsey looks at me as I’m reaching out to touch one of the trees as we go by. “Don’t!”
Just as I touch one of the whisper trees, every tree in the immediate area begins to open their slimy mouths, attacking us from every angle, looking for a quick meal. I grab Maka, who’s sliding on his butt right beside me, and jump onto one of the whisper trees mouths as another comes leaning in, ready to chomp down. “Too slow!” I shout as I jump through a small gap between the trees, safely dodging the onslaught of attacks and release the trailing Maka, with Ramsey close behind me. “Yahoooooo! I don’t know how this day can get any better! Right, Ramsey!” We hit the ground and continue sliding down the hill. “Ramsey? Right?!” I question. Maka is sliding feet-first on his belly, Ramsey on his butt, and I on my feet atop scattered tree bark. “Right, Ramsey?!” I say smiling.
“How the hell has this been a good day? Name one damn thing that’s been good about it?” Ramsey glares at me with extreme anger. “In fact, this whole damn day has been horrible because of you!”
“Umm… Can you guys stop arguing, and for the love of god, SOMEBODY HELP ME!” a rattled Maka shouts while still sliding backwards.
“Sure thing, Maka.” I look at Ramsey, and give him the thumbs up. “Don’t sweat it! My friend! Everything is fine.”
Ramsey frantically rubs his head in frustration. “I refuse to die with an idiot like you!”
As we continue tumbling down the hill, Maka shouts out, “Ummm… guys, I hate to be the bearer of bad news! But my flight instincts are kicking in!” I can pick up on the fear in his voice. As his whole body begins to tremble with it. “Ohh, why can’t I shake this feeling?!” Maka pleads.
“Shit!” Ramsey cries, abruptly looks ahead, and notices something makes him a little worried again. “Not one good thing has happened today! Why the hell do we always get roped into your shenanigans, Fukai?!”
“Yahoo! Kekekeke!” I raise my hands in the air while laughing, grinning from ear to ear. “Onward! Onwaaard!”
Maka begins to look closely at something moving behind them. “Guys!” The shaking becomes more rampant the closer it gets. “Umm… guys! Danger! Danger! Danger!” Maka looks up, almost ready to pass out as tears begin to fall and, with a whimper, softly says, “Ummm… Fukai?”
At that same time on the other side of me, Ramsey begins to talk to himself, “This is too weird.” He looks around. “There are too many things out of the ordinary today.” Ramsey looks at me, “It almost seems like we’re being drawn towards something. Fukai, what do you think?”
“Best day ever!” I blurt, completely ignoring Ramsey.
“Idiot!” Ramsey looks forward. “Fukai!” Ramsey begins to panic “Fukai! We’ve got trouble!”
“Huh?!” I pause for a moment.
“Fukaaaiii!” Maka yells out in fear.
“Fukai! There’s a giant stone wall ahead!” Ramsey points at the giant stonewall.
“Fukai! Ummm… There’s a gi-!”
I look towards Maka because I can’t make out what he is trying to say. “Huh? Maka, are you ok?” I ask, only to discover that Maka has passed out beside me. “Hmmm… I never heard of passing out from having too much fun.”
“Damn it! Ramsey! Get it together!” Ramsey slaps himself in the face. “Even so,” Ramsey hesitates upon realizing that he lacks the necessary skills to safely get out of this situation unscathed. “I need to calm down, and reexamine the situation!” Ramsey quickly turns to me. “Fukai! I need you to listen up!”
At that very moment, Ramsey clearly hears something tumbling at a fast pace right behind us. “That doesn’t sound good.” Ramsey slowly turns his head. “Oh. I see.” Ramsey quietly speaks to himself as he looks at me and quickly looks behind. “Holy shit!” A massive juggernaut of a tree is rapidly rolling behind us, tearing down the small trees in its path. “You gotta be kidding me! Is this for real?!” Ramsey quickly glances ahead as he bites down on his thumb to think. “Shit! It must have happened when the Oki and Ophidia crashed down!” Ramsey quickly turns to me, “Fukai! We have major problems!”
Completely ignoring my surroundings, I spot the giant stone wall ahead. “Oh! What do we have here?!” I shout with excitement. “Look! Look!” I tap Ramsey on the shoulder barely holding in my excitement. “Ramsey! There’s a giant stone wall right in front of us!” Full of excitement, I look Ramsey in the eyes. “Isn’t this day so wonderful?!” I say blissfully.
“What… the damn… hell… are you talking about?!” Ramsey slaps me upside the head. “Like hell it is! Fukai! Take this shit seriously! We’re in danger! If we don’t do something quick we’re literally going to be stuck between a rock and a hard place!”
“Huh?” I say with a look of confusion. “What are you talking about Ramsey?”
At his wit’s end, Ramsey shouts out, “You big idiot! Behind us!” and grabs my head, turning it around.
I look, only to see a giant rolling tree quickly approaching us. “Oh!” I smile. “Is that all you’re worried about?” I pat Ramsey on the shoulders while shaking my head with a smirk and say, “Like I’ve been telling you, Ramsey, don’t sweat the small stuff.”
Ramsey clenches his fist out of frustration while closing his eyes. “Oh. The small stuff. You don’t say.” Ramsey points at the giant tree closing in on us. “There’s nothing small about that!” Ramsey grabs my collar and shakes me. “I’m serious, what are we going to do?!”
“Guys, what’s going on?” Maka questions groggily as he wakes up. “I had a nightmare that we were in the Deep Jungle a-and…” Maka looks up and realizes that it wasn’t a dream. “This is all a dream! This is all a dream! THIS. IS. ALL. A. DREAM!” Maka screams as he closes his eyes. “Fukai, please help me!”
“Quiet. Let me think.” I say as my mind drifts off. “Hmmm…! Zzzzzzzzzzz! …Yummy, that tastes so good!”
“Hey! Idiot!” Ramsey punches me in the shoulder. “Don’t you dare fall asleep on us, Fukai! Wake the hell up!”
“Huh?! …What?! …Oh! Right! The plan!” I look at Ramsey as I rub the back of my head, sticking my tongue out. “Sorry, I tend to fall asleep when thinking about boring things!”
Ramsey looks at me with an all-too sincere smile. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realize that thinking of ways to save our lives…” Ramsey punches me in the face, “WAS SO BORING!”
“Fine! Fine! Let me focus.” I say as we swiftly approach the stone wall. “Alright! Let’s do this!” I close my eyes to focus and, for a moment, everything goes silent. “Just breathe.” My eyes quickly snap open. “Ramsey! Grab on!”
Ramsey grabs on to my left shoulder. “Alright! I’m on!”
I turn to look at Maka and, with a smile, say, “Maka! Grab on! And don’t let go!”
Maka quickly nods his head and grabs onto my right shoulder. “Umm… I’m ready.”
I smile as I look ahead. “Just breathe.”
My father once told me that when faced with death, just breathe. Then a whole world of opportunities will open up. As I inhale, and then exhale, my mind becomes focused. It’s almost like time is slowing down and I can see a clear path to safety. “Hold on tight, guys! This is about to get crazy!”
“Fukai, what the hell do you mean by crazy?!” Ramsey hits me upside the head. “Don’t do anything stupid! Fukai! Talk to me!”
“I knew it! I knew it! …Hanging out with you guys was the worst mistake I’ve ever made!” Maka shouts while holding on tight.
“Here we gooo!” I say, switching from a slide to a sprint towards the stone wall with the giant tree closing in right behind us. “This may be a little rough!” I jump at the stone wall and begin to run straight up its surface as soon as my feet make contact. “Alright!”
Maka glances below us only to see the giant tree about to make an impact, “It’s going to break! I just know it!!”
The giant tree crashes into the stone wall, causing a massive, echoing sound.
*Crash*
—–*Crash*
*Crash*—–*Crash*
“Faster! Faster! Faster!” Maka begins to shake me.
“Hey! What the hell are you thinking, Fukai?!” Ramsey shouts while looking below us.
“It’s time to do this!” I smile. “Yahoo!” I begin to backflip off the giant stonewall the second after the giant tree collides with it. “It’s all about timing!” The impact causes the surrounding area to shake. As the giant tree begins to roll upwards. “Damn, that’s some serious momentum!” I say as I safely land on the giant tree and begin running, keeping up with the rotation. “This is awesome! I can’t wait to see what happens next!”
“Like hell! You need to shut up! And focus!” Ramsey shouts at me in anger. “And besides, this is all your fault in the first place!”
“Oh really?” I say, a little confused.
“Oh really?” Ramsey mocks me. “Don’t play dumb with me! You’re the one who suggested we skip classes! To go on some graaand adventure!” Ramsey looks at me, deadpan. “But what I didn’t realize was that going on a grand adventure would lead to death!” Ramsey rubs his face frantically out of frustration. “…Why do I ever listen to you?!”
I look over at Maka for confirmation. “Ma-Ma-Maka, do you feel the same way?” I look closely at him. “Maka?” Maka is foaming at the mouth, and sleeping with his eyes rolled into the back of his head. “Hmmm… Hey, Maka, this isn’t the time for a nap.”
“Are you a complete idiot?! He is obviously not sleeping! He’s completely knocked out from the trauma of this stressful situation!” Ramsey shouts in frustration.
“Oh, really?” I look over at Maka again. “Are you sure?”
“Am I sure? Yes! I’m sure! …Are you acting stupid on pur-!” Ramsey shouts.
“Hold that thought, Ramsey! Here we gooo!” At the highest peak of the giant tree’s rolling bounce I began to jump over to the top of the stone wall. “Alright! …We can totally make this!” I say, right as I realize I jumped too hard.
“Huh?!” Ramsey looks confused. “Wait. What just happened?”
“Oops! …My bad!” I smile a little. “That was a total accident.”
“My bad?! A total accident?!” Ramsey looks at me quickly and then looks above us. “We just overshot the stone wall! How the hell did you manage to mess that up?!”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry! I may have gotten a little over-excited and jumped a tad too far.” I say, smiling.
“Daaammmn iiit…!” Ramsey shouts.
“Yahoo!” I say as I fall backwards towards the ground.
Maka begins to wake from his slumber only to be met with another dangerous situation. “Huh?” Maka looks around, “Wait, what’s going on here?! Are we falling?! Oh, please tell me we’re not falling!” Maka looks at me in a panic. “How did we get ourselves into this situation?!”
Noticing Maka is awake, I look over my shoulder. “Oh, Maka, you’re finally up from your nap.”
“I was sleeping?” Maka looks confused.
“Just ignore Fukai. Heee’s an idiot! You just… fainted a little bit, that’s all!” Ramsey states.
“Ummm… that’s not good at all!” Maka looks down in a panic. “…And what are we going to do about this situation?!”
“Oh, right!” I reach into my pocket and pull out a broken piece of Maka’s Auracraft. “I really hope this works!” I push the button and a little gust of wind shoots out, slowing down our momentum just before we hit the ground.
*Crash!*
“Whew! That was fun!” I say, smiling while jumping to my feet.
“Ouch! That really hurt!” Maka stands up while rubbing his butt.
Ramsey starts to get up off the ground while rubbing the back of his head. “Tck. Tck. Tck. Tck. I wouldn’t want to go through that again.” Ramsey looks at his surroundings. “Hmmm… something feels off.” Ramsey states, feeling an unfamiliarity with the surrounding area. “How far did we go?”
“Maka, are you okay?” I ask while walking up to Maka.
“I’m alright, somehow, but where are we?” Maka responds, looking around confused.
Ramsey looks at me with a little concern. “I think it would be best if we head back to the village.” Meanwhile, Ramsey looks around, a little on edge. “This is weird. There’s no sound. This is the Deep Jungle; there’s always sound.” Ramsey says to himself.
Maka wipes the dirt off his clothes. “Man, my clothes are all dirty. My mom is going to kill me!” Maka looks up and notices that on the stone wall are ancient glyphs, inscribed all over it. “What is that?” Maka asks while slowly approaching.
“Maka, what is what?” I inquire, looking over at Maka.
“There, in the stone wall, there’s some kind of… orb? I think?” Maka points over at the stone wall.
Ramsey quickly turns around. “What?!”
A small, mechanical orb that looks like it was carefully placed there begins to shine. “Holy crap! F-Fukai! There’s something crazy going on here!” Maka turns to me in a panic.
“Kekekeke! Alright!” I fully turn around with excitement in my eyes. “Now this is what I’m talking about!” I begin to make my way towards the orb. “I can’t…”
“Wait! Fukai! Don’t go near that thing!” Ramsey shouts at me. “We don’t even know what it is!”
Maka grabs my arm in fear. “Please listen to Ramsey, Kai!”
“You know I’m right, Fukai!” Ramsey stalks up to me in anger. “This isn’t the time to be playing around! Look around us.” Ramsey grabs me by the collar, “We’re in literal and figurative uncharted territory here!”
A screeching sound echoes throughout our entire bodies. “W-W-What the hell was that?!” My hands are shaking from the sensation. “W-What is this feeling?” I look at the mechanical orb, which begins to shake. “What is that?”
“Fukai, listen to me. I think we should leave this place.” Maka pulls on my arm.
“Maka is right. We need to leave.” Ramsey looks at me with concern.
“R-Right. We should go.” Despite all the warning signs, all my friends pleas, I’m still somehow drawn to the mechanical orb. “Huh? Who said that?” My body starts to move on its own.
“Fukai! What’s wrong! …Fukai!” Ramsey shouts.
As I approach the mechanical orb I hear a voice call out to me.
“Please! Please help me! I beg of you! Please, help me!” It’s a woman’s voice that echoes through me as I reach out for the mechanical orb.
Everything goes bright.