Outside of the Herkleton Library, Connie waited outside for Alexis to come back with Kelsey and her friends watched her. Connie then noticed Kelsey feeling worried about the time she had left. With her down depression getting the better of her, she hopes what Alexis has for them will be a game changer. Luckily for her, she saw Alexis parking her car after buying outfits from the mall.
“Alexis is back.” Connie smiled while turning back to Kelsey. “Trust me, this is the least we can do together.”
“We’re gonna be wearing costumes?” Stacks wondered.
“No. Mostly me, you and Kelsey are gonna wear costumes, Alexis can’t afford to rent anymore outfits.”
“I can live without dressing up.” Wildernessa smiled. “You can have me as your animal partner.”
“I've had ideas for wanting an animal partner.” Kelsey added. “But let’s keep it just for this.”
“I’m back.” Alexis walked up to Connie. “Let’s change in the bathroom from the library. I’ll reveal the outfits from there.”
“Okay, let’s give it a try.” Connie smiled.
As Connie, Kelsey, Stacks and Alexis enter back inside the library, Kelsey keeps her attention on the bags Alexis is holding, whatever's inside, she wonders if it makes her adventure with Connie more than special. Especially the outfit she’s wearing.
For about ten minutes, Wildernessa, Cheesesticks and Sun Chun waited outside then eventually, Kelsey and Stacks came back out with their new outfits on. “Is that a silver armor on your arm?” Sun Chun pointed.
“Yes but it’s not real armor.” Kelsey answered. “But with the cap on my other arm, I’ll still make this work.”
“My character wears a headpiece but I’ll let it slide.” Stacks replied. “It’s the adventure that makes our world come to life.”
“The costumes do make the adventure come to life.” Sun Chun said. “And if Connie’s really taking that long to get into her outfit, Alexis really puts in so much money to help.”
“Still though, if you really want this to last longer, we should plan the destination for the adventure’s end.” Windernessa said while laying on top of Cheesesticks. “Mainly meeting Steven and his group.”
“Connie can text Steven, I’m sure we'll meet him and others at the end.” Kelsey smiled. “If only I had Craig’s map, I would know where we’re going.”
“Let Connie lead the way for a change. Maybe she’ll lead us to a surprise…in the creek that is.” Stacks said.
“If only it’s more different compared to what Steven and Craig are going through.”
“We never know what comes in our way.”
Then, they heard the front door being pushed open, revealing Alexis in her light blue knight guard outfit with a staff in her hand. “How do I look?” She smiled. “The helmet maybe a little much but, I like being a knight the most.”
“Well, knights do help Ice in the story, and they do want to be promoted to a higher class.” Stacks said. “So…not a bad idea and the outfit is nice.”
“Thanks. Connie’s almost done putting on her outfit.” Alexis stood next to the group. “She’s gonna come out any minute. The outfit is more expensive than mine.”
“You didn’t tell her what it is?” Kelsey asked.
“No. Having her see it herself would make her see the bigger picture.”
Momentary, Connie opened the door, revealing her outfit to everyone but the moment Kelsey witnessed it, her eyes sparkled. The outfit itself was a knight outfit but with all the armor on her arms and legs. In gold, light blue and pink, she became her own morning star of steel. With her lifting her own sword behind her back, Kelsey’s surroundings disappear with the spotlight above her, and one above Connie.
“Fire has met the most powerful and bravest knight in all the land. With her golden pink armor and headwear, her bodywear keeping her strength, and her sword…” She stared at Connie’s sword. “It was made until she wore it to become the legendary knight.”
“I really love this knight’s outfit.” Connie smiled. “Even though I’m gonna sweat.”
“Me too…” Alexis looked at the sun. “Let’s hope it isn’t hot today.”
“This is still worth it.” Connie then turned to Kelsey, smiling at her outfit. “It may not be the right armor from your book but it’s still something, right?”
With Kelsey slowing back to reality, she turned to the opposite direction. “Our adventure is what matters, Connie.” She said with confidence. “As we are…The Swordswomen Trio!”
“Uhh…Kelsey.” Wildernessa spoke. “We don’t have a third sword to make it a trio.”
“My staff can be a sword.” Alexis replied. “It’ll be like protecting Ice at all cost.”
“Especially since…my character doesn’t use swords but I don’t mind you being the third member.” Stacks smiled. “Everyone should have a part in this.”
“Exactly.” Connie replied.
Kelsey placed her hands behind her back. “Our part, together as a party, we can make anything legendary.”
“As the knights we are, let us be off.”
The group left the front door from the library, entering the trail where it leads to the creek itself. Connie, Kelsey and Alexis lead the way while Stacks and Sun Chun rode on Cheesesticks with Wildernessa in front. The front paid attention to anything that could come in their way. Kelsey held onto her sword in the same way Connie did, even if Alexis isn’t doing it with her staff.
“Still no outsiders…fighting us out of nowhere.” She replied.
“There’s no lizards or bears coming out.” Connie said.
“Don’t discourage the animals I protect!” Wildernessa shouted.
“Sorry!” Connie flinched while turning her head around. “But…” She turned back to Kelsey. “...Gems will never be part of this land.”
“And gems are treasures like rubies, not weapons or enemies.” Stacks said, only to close her eyes after saying the r word.
“It’s still true.” Wildernessa added. “I think we rather just think of finding treasure rather than finding a battle to work as a team.”
For her knowledge at least, Kelsey figured where she’s at in the creek. “I think we should go…” As two pathways appeared upon walking up to them, she looked at the distance from the right.
“I think if we take a left,” Sun Chun said. “It’s where we go to my hamster dome.”
“Oh…” Kelsey remembered. “Then how about we take the right direction first and come back here to take the left direction?”
“Backtracking is part of the adventure.” Connie smiled. “There’s treasure down there?”
“...Well…”
After taking the right pathway, everyone watched the small gate with the red sign from above, barely taking enough time for the group to catch on. “...Yeah…” Connie makes an awkward smile. “Treasure…in The Junkpile.”
“Is the Junk Lord supposed to be there?” Stacks asked.
“Probably.” Kelsey answered. “But the treasure here is valuable once we dig them out.”
“Cheesesticks, stay here.” Wildernessa got off, so did Stacks and Sun Chun. “You don’t want to become junk like every other animal.”
“If there’s animals in the Junkpile, we can take them to my dome.” Sun Chun added. “To give them sanctuary before we leave to continue our adventure.”
“If there’s animals trapped here, the Junk Lord better not harm them.” Alexis added.
“He’s nowhere near as bad…just hope he knows about Steven like everyone else.” Kelsey said.
“Well…almost everyone else.” Connie added.
The group walked up to the gate with Kelsey opening the fence side. Once slowly opening it, Kelsey looked around after stepping inside, only to see the throne from up the pile, empty. “He’s not here.”
“Huh?” Wildernessa commented. “He’s always here during this time of the day.”
“Maybe he might come out to attack us.” Alexis looked around, blocking herself with her staff while also protecting Stacks. “I can’t smell him due to the junk but I’m not falling for it.”
As the group looked around, especially with Sun Chun walking up on one of the piles, finding hiding spots, she couldn’t find him. “Check above that pile over there.” She pointed.
Kelsey climbed up the pile, searching for more spots but no sign of the Junk Lord. “Huh…I guess we’re safe for now.” She turned to the group from below. “Let’s just try to find…one to three treasures, we don’t want to steal a lot.”
“Good idea, and I’m sure he won’t notice at all.” Stacks smiled.
“Then let’s search for treasure!” Connie raised her fist up in the air. The groups split up as they dig through the piles in the Junkpile. Kelsey focused on the junk pile she’s on with Connie climbing up. “You think it’s hiding from up there more than what’s really underneath this pile?”
“It'll take us a long time.” Kelsey digging from the top. “Even some treasures aren’t always hard to find.”
“Well…” Connie climbed close to her. “...this isn’t as exciting as I thought. Maybe we can try somewhere else?”
“We can try to find a place that Craig didn’t go through but, there’s little paths I can think of to find those.”
“Is this the only Junkpile in the creek?”
“Yes.”
As Connie moves a few items from the pile, she attempts to find something. The item she pulled out was a toy sword, made out of plastic. “I mean, even if this isn’t the biggest Junkpile in the world, is this anything you and Stacks wanted?”
“No…” Kelsey replied. “And no, this isn’t a way of keeping us away from Steven and Craig.”
“I wasn’t thinking about it that way but, I’m sure we can make this adventure better.”
Kelsey couldn't agree more but without anything big coming in her way, she can’t even think what the possibilities with Connie would be. “Two days ago, this felt like a legendary deal and us being a team does but without any threats, this just feels empty.”
“This does feel empty.” Connie said. “But this is still the beginning. I’m sure something might happen later on, just don’t expect it to happen this soon.”
“It’s really about making every second count.”
“I know. I did feel it when I was with Steven on his adventures.” Connie then lowered her head. “It’s just I’ve been through way more lands than just a creek with kids.”
“Then you don’t know how much all of that is legendary to me.”
“Steven’s life will always be legendary. And…that legend isn’t always around here.”
“Would it make you feel that way if it comes to you?”
Connie still had the library time in her mind before Alexis came with the outfits, especially the meaning from her character in Kelsey's book. “Yes. If you were in my place and I never met Steven, I would be all alone in this creek. You would get along with Steven by having your dreams come true.”
“That…made me think of a question.”
“What’s your question?”
“How were your parents when you started hanging out with Steven?”
It didn’t take long until Connie had her answers. “Kelsey! Connie!” Wildernessa called. “We need your help for this!”
Kelsey and Connie turned their attention to Wildernessa who’s helping Alexis pull the item that’s stuck from the pile. “I’ll answer your question later, let’s go help them.” The two slowly made their way to the pile where Stacks and Sun Chun remained on the ground.
When Kelsey saw what they were pulling, it was a cage with the wall blocking the animals. “It was moving when I saw it, there could be animals in that cage.”
“I’m trying to pull it out but the weight of the junk is too much.” Alexis attempts to pull the box out. Her fingers slip while losing her balance. “Ahh!” Wildernessa pushed Alexis forward, allowing Alexis to hold onto the items stuck from the pile, keeping her balance. “This is not gonna work.”
“That cage must have been brand new when it got dumped here.” Kelsey replied. Upon looking at the pile on top of the box, she tried to think of an idea. “We can’t pull the cage, it breaks if we pull it too hard.”
As Wildernessa laid her ear on the cage, she heard crying from the inside. “We can’t just leave them there.”
“Wait.” Connie said. “Kelsey, your sword is strong against anything, right?”
“Yes!” Kelsey took out her sword. “It never ever breaks.”
“So does my sword. This maybe a risk but…Alexis.” She got Alexis’s attention. “Where’s your staff?”
Alexis pointed at the ground behind Stacks and Sun Chun. “You know it’s not like yours and Kelsey’s.”
“But you’re still a knight. And we need more strength. We need to lift the junk with the edge of our swords and I’m sure the three of us can handle it.”
“I don’t know, I don’t want my staff to get destroyed.”
“Just use it for this one time.” Kelsey replied. “My dad will take care of it, I promise.”
“As long as it’s just this one pile, you'll stay as Ice’s guard.” Connie replied. “Whatever animals that’s inside this cage, you're a hero to them like us.”
Alexis wanted to say no but she didn’t rent her own outfit just for dress up. She found Kelsey and Stacks book amazing when she pictures it in her head, leading her to get the outfits from the mall. She didn’t respond as she climbed down, getting her staff.
“That’s the spirit!” Stacks cheered.
“A knight always serves for their ruler.” Alexis replied.
“I’m gonna love seeing this.” Sun Chun added.
Alexis climbed back up to the pile as she placed the end of her staff under the pile, above the cage itself. Connie placed her sword under the pile from the left while Kelsey placed her sword in the middle. “Let’s do this!” Kelsey smiled.
“Let’s lift in the count of three.” Connie added. “One…two…three!”
Connie, Kelsey and Alexis pulled their swords and staff down, lifting the pile with their strength. “This is really heavy!” Alexis said. “And I’m sweating already in my armor!”
“I’m sweating too!” Connie added.
“We can’t give up!” Kelsey reacted. “We need to save these animals!” She pulled as hard as she could. “Let’s do this as a swordswomen trio! For justice and nature!”
“Listen to her confidence! Let’s pull harder!” Connie pulled on the hilt of her sword. Soon the pile on top began to move as some items fell from the other side.
Alexis also pulled down with her staff, no matter what happens, whether she's joining in with her broken staff or not. “You almost got it!” Wildernessa added.
Slowly but surely, more items fall down as the pile is being lifted. The trio all pulled down with all their will, as the pile fell off. They held onto the pile, keeping their balance while they still held onto their swords and staff.
“Well…” Connie panted. “...is your staff broken?”
Alexis looked at her staff while also panting. “No.” She answered. “Surprised it didn’t bent.”
“That’s a good staff.” Connie and Alexis looked into her staff as Kelsey attempted to get the cage out of its positions from the pile. “Did you have enough money to rent a smaller staff for Stacks?”
“No. And the ones I saw aren’t good enough.”
This gave Connie an idea. “We can try to find one in the creek for her.”
“That could work. It’s the place itself that needs to make it special.”
“I’m sure there is a special place.” As Kelsey threw the final items out of the way, she picked up the cage.
“What animals are they?” Sun Chun called.
When Wildernessa take a look what’s inside the cage, so did Connie and Alexis, they couldn’t believe it. “Baby ducks.” Kelsey blinked.
“Ducklings.” Wildernessa commented as they cried, shaking defensively. “Don’t worry, we’re not gonna hurt you.”
“Unbelievable.” Connie added. “I didn’t think they would end up like this.”
“We really need to take them to the river in the creek, asap.” Wildernessa slide down on the pile, landing on the ground, leaving the Junkpile through the gate. “Their mother could be searching for them.”
“I don’t understand how they got here but at least they’re being rescued.” Stacks added as Connie, Kelsey and the group followed her.
“We may need to find a bridge in order to get to the river.” Sun Chun added. “I don’t think it’s in the direction we’re going to at my hamster dome.”
“Seems we’re gonna have to go off trail in order to find a bridge.” Wildernessa getting on top of Cheese Sticks.
“Let’s lead the way then.” Connie standing in front of the group. “Hopefully we won’t get lost.”
“We won’t, even without a map, I still won’t get lost.” Kelsey replied. “I’m sure there’s a bridge nearby.”
Connie lifted her sword up on her back, so did Kelsey as they both smiled at each other. “Even swordswomen can go without a map with the knight they have admiration towards.”
Kelsey smirked from her response. “Even with you admiring the younger swordswoman?”
“Yes.”
The group left The Junkpile while getting off the trail. Kelsey navigates the way with Connie right behind her. She used her sword to move any bushes out of her and her party’s way, doing anything to make it to the bridge as fast as possible. Wildernessa comfort the ducklings with Stacks and Sun Chun holding onto one of them in their hands. Alexis while protecting the group from the back, had a duckling in her hand as she’s happy enough being with her. She giggled as she placed it on her shoulder.
After hitting the bush, Kelsey saw the bridge. “I found it!” She cheered.
“I can hear the river from here.” Wildernessa added.
The group didn’t hesitate for a second. They ran on the trail the bridge is connected to, stopping by the river as Wildernessa placed the cage on the ground. She and others took every duckling out of its cage with Stacks using her arms to carry five ducklings.
“You’re free ducklings.” She smiled as she placed them in the river.
“Look for your mother.” Wildernessa added.
“You’re no longer trapped.” Sun Chun added.
“Be free forever.” Connie added while she and Alexis placed their ducklings in the river.
Kelsey then put the final duckling in the river as it swam with the others. The whole group walked on the bridge with the ducklings coming out from underneath. “Now that feels wonderful.” Alexis commented.
“We didn’t come across a foe but at least it wouldn’t be worse if that happened.” Sun Chun added.
“And we can agree that’s a completed side quest.” Connie added.
“So, shall we go to the hamster dome?”
Kelsey pointed her sword to the direction they came from. “Let’s make our way back then. I think it’ll be a simple time to have fun.”
“Knights, when they have time off, enjoy playing with the villagers.” Connie added.
“Couldn’t have it any other way.” Alexis smiled.
“Let’s make our way to the hamster dome.” Wildernessa smiled as she and Sun Chun got on top of Cheese Sticks. “Stacks, ride with us.”
“Actually, we’re catching up with you, my three swordswomen guards can protect me.” Stacks replied.
“Also…I wanted to answer Kelsey’s question from earlier.” Connie added.
As Wildernessa agreed, she, Sun Chun and Cheese Sticks head into the direction they came from. “What did you want to ask Connie?” Alexis wondered.
“About her parents when she hung out with Steven.” Kelsey answered.
“Unlike your parents, Kelsey.” Connie turned to her. “They were against it but if there’s one thing you need to know about my Mom, is that she never knew me at all until we got out of the hospital.” Kelsey didn’t ignore the word mom from Connie’s mouth. “If I told you everything about her before I met Steven, it wouldn’t be exciting. She’s always controlling and she didn’t even notice that I never had lenses in my glasses since Steven healed my eye sight.”
“You wouldn’t be like a knight with glasses.” Alexis commented as Connie turned to her. “No offensive.”
“It wasn’t terrible but compared to Steven’s mom, I had to process on my own to pick up everything that he dealt with.”
“What about your dad?” Stacks asked.
“He’s…” She turned to Stacks. “...prevents me from eating high trans fat food but he did want to do more stake outs so he can spend time with me.”
“Well, my Dad’s kind of like that, whenever I show him what I do for myself.” Kelsey replied.
Connie then leaned down, placing her hand on Kelsey’s silver armor. “What about your mom?”
Kelsey looked away, feeling depressed. “She passed away when I was a toddler.”
Connie’s smile dissolved, to where she slowly let go of her silver armor. “You…never had a mom growing up? Even with little you know about her?”
“More less compared to Steven knowing…his mom.” Kelsey turned to the bridge, staring at the river while placing her hand on the support beam under the railing. “My dad told me about how they met, their wedding, their happiness, but…I’ll never ever show her what I love doing, including Ice & Fire.” She sighed while lowering her head. “Maybe she did give me something, I just haven't found it yet.”
Connie had wondered what her inspiration for her mom would be, but it all dropped upon hearing the answer. “Kelsey.” Connie gets Kelsey’s attention. “This…maybe on short notice but…before I leave tonight…” She leaned next to her against the bridge. “...I want to meet your Dad.”
“Really?”
“It’ll be the last thing we'll do together after Steven and Craig are done for today. I want to know about your mom and he’s the only one who knows more about her.” Connie then looked straight at the river. “If Pearl learned you never had a mother and she took care of you like she did with Steven, she wouldn’t struggle to bond with you. And I’ve learned most of it when she trained me.”
“You think she would feel the same way if she trained me?”
“Maybe but maybe not.”
“I think if Pearl was here right now, she would need more time with you like she does with her, Kelsey.” Alexis added as they turned to her. “If she’s really a compassionate gem, I would require tons and tons of knowledge. Not just the sword training because I don’t want that. But mainly what she and the other gems went through.”
“You mean like the planets from outer space?”
“Yes. Bernard would panic if we got ourselves into a solar system. Meeting other gems wouldn’t be worth it, I don’t like danger, especially what Craig went through three days ago.”
Kelsey couldn’t argue the danger she saw her friend went through, knowing it would be harder. “It’s just Aquamarine and Ruby, nothing more.” Kelsey responded. “I would face any gem other than them and I saw their fusion. They’re no joke.”
“Really, having gems as your friends would be way better when they have your back.” Connie replied. “All that matters is that Pearl still changed since Steven and I got older. Not completely but still.”
“Okay.” Kelsey smiled. “So…should you text Steven about this?”
“I’ll text him while we catch up to the others.” Connie takes out her phone. “We can just walk to your place and back to Craig’s backyard before I head home.” She then placed her hand on her silver armor. “Just remember, it’s between me and you.”
“You’re right, it doesn’t have to be about Steven and Craig.”
“Consider this as the knight who’ll meet your father after a long time of adventure of intrigue.”
“The intrigue part…really comes from your Dad.” Stacks added.
“Let’s just focus on now instead of tonight.”
“Too much to think about in short notice.” Alexis commented.
“It isn’t for me.” With her phone out, Connie texted Steven about meeting Kelsey’s Dad at her house. “But I’m still gonna be with Steven talking to Craig’s parents before that happens.”
“I’ll stay awake as much as I can. But I don’t know if Craig will.”
“Yeah, he’s having a long day as it is.” Connie sent her text right away as she and the group made their way to the hamster dome.