Sonic

Chapter 15
On A Scavenger Hunt
Isn't it a bit early for Santa?

That night, Emeral and Joe finished up tighten the shrine premises, and went to their borrowed rooms. It was now snowing outside, with big clumps of snowflakes. When they shut the door to their rooms, they noticed the packages lying on their beds.

Emeral walked over while undoing her pigtail, and looked at the packages. She opened the larger package, and found 3 changes of clothes. She lifted the clothes out, and placed them on the bed, and found a map. By this time, she knew the old man had sent her this gift. She then proceeded to open the smaller package. To her amaze, she found a pendant with her magical circle on it. She lifted it out, and noticed a quick pink glow. She looked around, unsure what it did, until she noticed more weight in her hair. She walked over to the mirror and smiled, her hair had grown back to normal. She picked up the clothes and map, and placed them on the desk, and placed the Pendant onto of them. She then proceeded to take off her clothes, put on one of Katarina's nightgowns, turn off the lights, and slip into her bed. Just before she fell asleep, she whispered, "Thanks."

*Meanwhile*

Joe went to the package, and cautiously opened it up. Inside was 3 changes of clothes, and a map. "I guess that old guy isn't THAT bad," he said to himself. He placed the items on his desk, and proceeded to the smaller package. His expression went wide-eyed when he found a pendant with his magical formation on it. He pulled it out and stared at it for a while, then turning his head to the window with snow flakes still falling, "Thanks old man," he said. He took off his vestment and put on a boxer like pants, turned off the lights and lay in bed. He stared at the window for a moment, and as he drifted to sleep, he muttered, "I know you’re out there."

*Just a little later in DS's house...*

DS walked into his dark room, where he started a fire in his fireplace, and sat down in his black chair. His eyes soon caught the black package sitting near the fire, and he got up and opened it. A cold chill wind blew with more snow as DS pulled out the coal. "What the hell is this for?" he said in an angry voice. He threw the coal into the fire and sat back down in his chair. The coal began to burn, then suddenly exploded, as a booming voice came out of nowhere into his head; "You have greatly underestimated me DS! And you continue to ignore the warnings that have been given to you. You should know by now that in your current state, I am better than you!" said the voice before it faded away. DS smashed his first into his chair, "GOD DAMN That BASTARD," he yelled, as he got up pacing in a rage. He then paused and looked at the fire, "He is right, I did underestimate him. Without my powers, I can't block him from reading my mind" he said. He paced for a moment then looked at the window, "Then in that case, I'll show him who is better out of the two, I will simply control my thoughts, and not think of anything but continuing life as if I was a normal human being. Once Sonic and Rose break this curse however..." he said stopping. He then laughed, "I better not say anything else," he said, going to his chair, closing his eyes and beginning to meditate.

That night, the weather scenario became a bit more, erm, complicated. Every 20 square meters the weather would change. A massive blizzard was blowing at the High School, while the park was reported to have a small twister playing jump the daisies.

*In Joe's dream...*

Several images flashed during the night in Joe's head, mostly memories of the past. However, a few images were not from the past, he saw several images of Rose, mostly smiling at him. They were all peaceful smiles, with her long sparkling blue hair, in her red robe, black armor suit, and without her visor. (The Visors were only used to hide their identity from Akane and the others.) But then an image of her face with bruises and cuts appeared, followed by an evil laugh.

Joe shot up in his bead in a cold sweat and breathing hard. He looked outside the window, finding it morning. It was now sunny at the shrine, at least for the moment. He took a deep breath and began to relax, "It was only a dream," he said.

Kalshion's father was outside, taking a stroll around the shrine, so Joe got some wash materials and proceeded to the laundry mat, which was right by the bathroom. He got undressed, and preceded to the bathroom to get washed. He entered the bathroom to find Emeral there, washing her hair. "G..Good Morning Emeral," he said. Emeral moved her head just a bit to see Joe out of the corner of her eye, "Good Morning sleepy head," she said. Joe came over to the side of her and sat down, filled up a bucket of water and dumped it on him. He looked over at Emeral, noticing she was extremely happy. A bit puzzled, "Did you have a good dream last night?" he asked. She looked over at him with a nice smile, "Yep, Just memories of the good old days," she said. "That's good," said Joe dumping another bucket of water on himself.

The two then sat and soaked themselves in the tub, "You know, I found two packages last night on my bed," said Joe. Emeral looked at him, "So did I, what did you get?" she asked. "Lets see, three changes of clothes, a map, and a pendant with my magic circle on it." he said. Emeral nodded, "That’s exactly what I got too," she said picking up a sponge and rubbing her shoulders with it. Joe looked at her, then noticed something, "Say, isn't your hair back to normal?" he asked. Emeral giggled, "That’s what the Pendant did when I picked it up, it re-grew my hair," she said. "Ah, that’s why you are in such a great mood." he said.

*Meanwhile at the Tendo Residence...*

Akane was in the laundry mat getting undressed for her morning bath. She had placed the clothes she wore last night in the nearby basket, which included the curse panties. But since the "Damned Power of Ages" curse had been activated, all dormant curses remained dormant until the Ages curse was dispelled. She entered the bathroom and sat down in the tub, "Ah, nothing like a relaxing soak," she said as she began to relax.

"AHH, I'm going to be late again!" yelled Ranma running downstairs. "No your not, school has been canceled, and Akane is in the bath" said Nabiki as Ranma went by. "Figures, he didn't listen," she said. Ranma rushed into the laundry mat, throwing his clothes everywhere and ran into the bath to the showerhead turning it on. The water was still a bit cold, so he naturally turned into his girl form. Akane was sitting in the tub, wide eyed at Ranma, who had just busted in while she was taking her bath. Ranma began to mumble, "Better Hurry, Or I'll be...." that’s when he turned his head to the tub, to see Akane. Akane had an angry look on her face. Ranma blushed, "Oh, you...you were in here?" he said in a scared voice. Akane stood up which freaked Ranma out, "Ranma, you PERVERT!" she yelled slamming a home run punch into his face, bouncing him off the wall, and into the laundry mat, followed by the door falling on his back.

Nabiki came on by hearing the noise, "Ranma, I tried to tell you school was canceled today, AND that Akane was taking a bath," she said. Ranma, with spiral knocked out eyes only mumbled.

*Back at Kalshion's House...*

Emeral and Joe had just finished their breakfast when Kalshion's father walked in, "Good Morning," he said. "Good Morning," replied the other two. Kalshion's father sat down at the table, "So you plan on searching for those disks today?" he asked. Joe nodded, "Yes, and hopefully we will be able to remove this curse within the next few days," he said.

The two headed out of the shrine, wearing one of the change of clothes the old man had giving them. The first place they went was to the shopping center to search for the disks. It didn't take long till they found one inside a shop, but they didn't have any money with them. Emeral smiled, "I might be able to get it for us," she said. She picked up the disc and took it to the owner of the store. "Excuse me, but I was curios if you owned this," she said showing him the disc. The owner looked at it, "Don't think so, never saw it before," he said, "Why?" Emeral smiled, "Some mean kids damaged a few statues, and I've been trying to find all the pieces. This so happens to look like one of the pieces, so I thought best to ask you if it was merchandise first," she said smiling. The owner blushed rubbing the back of his hair with his hand, "Well thanks for your concern, go ahead and take it miss," he said. Emeral smiled, "Thank you sir," she said.

Emeral walked over and showed Joe the disc, "That was impressive," said Joe. "You see what flirting can get you these days?" she said softly laughing. Joe looked at the piece, "Well I don't think this one fits on our Mr. Metalgarurumon," he said. "Really, how did you come up with that?" she asked. "The tint of this piece is way different from the Metalgarurumon statue," he said.

*In the Old Man's World*

DS continued to sit, in a meditated state. His mind was cleared and focused. The old man was impressed at the self-discipline DS could be, that is, when he actually put his mind into something. The old man changed the mirror to Emeral and Joe, who were walking out of the market street.

Joe and Emeral continued past the park, where it was raining. They looked over to see a small wind funnel running around, as if practicing for a ballad. As it past the tree, Emeral began to question a round circle in its trunk. "That just doesn’t seem right to me," she said. Joe looked at her, "What is it?" he asked. Emeral pointed to the tree, "That circle, it just does not seem natural," she said. Joe ran over to the tree, getting hit by the rain, and almost by the wind funnel. There he felt around the circle, and felt it wasn't part of the tree. He gave it a tug, and out popped another disk. He than ran over to Emeral, and handed her the disc. "So I was right," she said smiling. "You've always been good with flowers and trees," said Joe smiling.

The two continued all day, finding a total of 9 discs during their scavenger hunt. They returned to Kalshion's house and had a good supper, which they thanked Kalshion's father for. The two turned in early, planning on continuing again the next day.

*Noon time the next day (Sunday)...*

Emeral and Joe had been looking all morning long. They now had a total of 13 discs in their possession. As they were walking through a chilly fog in one part of town, Emeral's stomach growled. She blushed, "Oh dear, I guess I'm hungry," she said. Joe laughed a little, "Then lets find a part of town with some good sun, and have a picnic," he said.

The two went around town, where they finally found a sunny spot by the school. Emeral pulled out the blanket that she borrowed from the shrine, and put out the basket with food in the center. Joe looked over at the school, which was buried in 10 meters of snow, and was still under a blizzard. His eyes then saw Ranma trying to walk on the nearby fence of the school, which was under the sunny part of the area. Joe laughed as he watched Ranma slip over and over again, falling on his back. "He sure doesn't know when to give up," said Joe to himself.

"Well hello there," said Akane who had noticed Joe standing there. Joe turned his head over to her, "Hello, Ms. Tendo," he said. "Hello Akane," said Emeral who had just taken out some lunch for the two of them. "Ah a Picnic," said Akane, "Funny that Ranma and I are also out on a Picnic with my sisters," she said pointing over to a spot where Kasumi and Nabiki were. "Why don't you join us?" she asked. The two agreed, and move their picnic by the Tendos.

"Who are your friends Akane?" asked Kasami as the group came to them. "Ah, let me introduce to my classmates Emeral Bellosom, and Joe Neutron," she said, "They both transferred from England Monday." "England aye?" said Nabiki munching on some food. Both Emeral and Joe gave a greeting bow, "It's very nice to meet you all," they said in unison. Kasumi smiled, "Its nice to meet you two," she said turning to the direction Ranma was, "Ranma, lunch is ready!"

The group ate, and talked about various things for about an hour. Just as the weather decided it was going to rain Emeral and Joe got up, "Well thanks for a good time," said Joe. Akane smiled, "Don't mention it, it was nice to have you here with us," she said. The two bowed farewell and moved off.

It was now about 6pm, and Emeral and Joe were tired. They had spent all day again searching for discs. They had came up with a total of 20 discs, but new there were 10 more since they had been to each statue, and counted three missing pieces each. The two walked over to the shrine, passing through a few rain showers, snow, and even sleet.

At the shrine, the two had changed into the Vestments they had borrowed, and went outside and helped Kalshion's father with a few chores. Joe was sweeping some debris off the sidewalk, staring at Emeral, who had her hair tied back, like a normal priestess. "She looks good in that," he thought to himself. Emeral looked at Joe and smiled, and Joe blushed a bit, and then went back to work.

That night, Joe had his dream again. Just as before, it started out as a pleasant flash back of all the things Rose and he had done together. But then the dream began to turn red, as he saw Rose chained to a wall. Her face was bruised, and her robe and armor suit torn. Joe ran up to her, but heard a familiar laugh coming from behind. He turned around to meet the laugh face to face...