New Beginning 23: One for the Record Books

[Philote]

For the rest of your stay in the Topaz caves, you do not run into any new oddities that severely impede your progress. Some Thread Sloths here, some Black Sludge there. Occasionally running into some more competitors. What set of powers do you use to get the competitive edge before time runs out?

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Well, seeing as how time is running short I flip on Game Mastery to see if it works while using Sire's Signal to attract more foxes, freezing them in place with my new eye-blinking power every time I see them. The one's that Knight see's he webs down for me to freeze and gather, Eventually, I get the bright idea to turn myself into a green Vileplume and start using Sweet Scent to augment our fox attracting abilities.

I don't kill any foxes. Any foxes killed accidentally I bring back to life, then freeze.

[Philote]

All in all, before you decide that the best use of your time is returning to the surface and claiming the foxes you've hunted, you nab a set of seven Compass Foxes.

Dash comes over to greet you as you finish up your hunt.

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

Vault flies out of the hole int the form of a purple Aerodactyl, Knight clinging to his back and the foxes hanging off them from the black thread, and lands right in front of Dash before performing the now second nature shift from blue jelly back to his original form. Or, at least, a close approximation of his form before going into the caves. He was now, to his shame, part cat.

Disgusted, he takes off the harness made of black thread and the energy dissipates into the wind. That stuff didn't just attach to a persons skin, it burrowed into your very soul and felt like it was choking you out. Knight had said it was perfectly safe, but the stuff felt like death itself wrapping his fingers around your heart and he was glad to be rid of it. He shakes himself as night makes his way over to the edge of the hole.

"He-he-hey Dash." He said. "Whem. We got seven. How are our chances looking."

[Philote]

"Well boys, there is something I wanted to discuss with you" Dash replies, trying to keep a straight face. "That was a creative trick you pulled with those Lava Fish down there, but if you didn't notice, the tunnels got pretty warped while you were doing so. Do you have anything to say for yourselves?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Other than that I tried to fix it?" He asks.

[Philote]

Dash does not manage to hold onto his straight face. "Hah! Nah, I'm just messing with you guys. Those fish are part of the local ecosystem, you technically didn't break anything by them swimming through the walls. You should of seen the look on your faces though!"

"Now, onto business. The next runner up manage to get five foxes, so that makes you two the winners. We're promoting him to full prize as well, don't want to get everyone discouraged by some off worlders rolling in and winning everything. How are you two going to split your winnings?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Ehhhh, hold on. Knight!" Vault calls over, and the little guy turns to look at him. "You want to hold the money?"

Knight thinks for a bit, the nods. "Yes, I think I would."

"Right, just give everything to him." Vault says. He touches one of the frozen foxes with his foot. "Why these things, anyway? There's tons of stuff that's actually dangerous down there. These guys are downright tame compared to them."

[Philote]

"Commerce mostly" Dash explains.

"Their hides are of pretty good quality and their main selling point is their teeth, which have some strong magnetic properties. The fact that they are pretty quick when you're not using superpowers to hunt them down also makes them good for setting up competition and getting money flowing."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Uh huh, uh huh, so they're not, like, a menace or anything." He says, looking down at the prone forms. Suddenly an idea pops into his head. "Say, is gold still valuable around here?"

[Philote]

"You should be able to trade around and get what you need" Dash replies. "What are you planning?"

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"No, I mean can I use it as money? Does gold hold value or are you one of those civilizations that has evolved past that sort of things? See, you said that I get the full value of anything I catch. So that sort of means, to me at least,  that all these foxes are mine. To do with as I please. And I kind of want to let them go."

[Philote]

"Well, the locals might be a little disappointed that such a catch slipped out of their hands, but you're free to do that if you wish. If you have gold you will be able to use it to get the money you need."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get it, believe me. Like if these things were dangerous, it'd be a different story. But I can't, just, you know...." he trails off, gathering up the foxes in a pile with both arms. "And, well, you've already got a guy getting first prize. Like, there's already a winner, so there's no real problem if we drop out. Right? Like, we didn't even make it back up in time. And we tore up the place, that's, like, disqualification. No one even has to know we placed."

He rambles like this, nervously, as he walks away, carry a modest pile of foxes. Knight stands up as he approaches, smiling.

"Ah, Mr. Vaultboy. Good. I was wondering if you could help me what are you doing?"

"We have a way to make money now." Vault explains. "We don't need the foxes. The foxes are unnecessary now. So I'm going to put them back."

Knight pauses for a moment, before saying, "Oh." There's a long, awkward silence, before Knight clicks his teeth and says, a little too pleasantly, "Well, I needed you to fetch Fishface anyway."

"You're not seriously bringing that thing." Vault asks in disbelief.

"Would you rather this whole excursion to have been a complete waste of time?" Knight says, still as pleasant as ever.

A while later, after all the fox's had scampered off back into the caves, Vault flapped himself back up to the edge carrying Knight disgusting fish abomination and plopped it on the edge of the cliff.

"Thank you." Knight said tersely as Vault shifted back. He then just walks away, calling out. "Mr. Dash, is your friend ready to receive us."

(Let me tell you a story: when a wasp, a creature of pure hate for all other living beings, becomes trapped on my porch I get a cup and a piece of paper, catch it, and throw it outside. One time I flicked one into my hot tub and felt so bad that I went in after it.)

[Celadon's Penultimate]

There towering over him, waiting to greet him as he awakens on a plush bed surrounded by nymphs, is the Penultimate.

"I trust you had a good sleep?" The Penultimate manages a weak smile, "I certainly hope so, at least. We need to find Marv and the Narrator. You guys all need to take a look at something."

[The Narrator]

Narrator returns from his mental vacation upon the stating of his name.

He teleports to Penultimate....

"You rang Penny?"

[Celadon's Penultimate]

Ignoring the tittering of passing partygoers at hearing the Narrator's nickname for him, the Penultimate gives a playful roll of the eyes, before turning to his comrade.

"Rang? Indeed, I did." his expression was warm, but still concerned, "Have you seen the Miscreant around here anywhere? I can't seem to find Marvelous around here anywhere. And I sort of have some important news I want to break to you all."

[The Narrator]

"Well PU, I haven't. I was consumed with closing some mental door that were opened during our previous depowerment.  Some 'things' escaped during my weakened state. But I'm sure M&M will pop up"

[Philote]

Dash puts a hand on Vault's shoulder "There is no shame in that decision my friend. I hope your time here was enjoyable at least."

Looking over at Knight, he says "Yes, I contacted her while the two of you were running through the caves. I can take you to meet her now if you wish."

[Gentleman Vaultboy]

"Thank you, that would be delightful." He says, bowing to Dash and hopping up onto the head of the hulking dead fish again. "Please lead the way, Mr. Dash. Perhaps you could regale us with some local history about this lovely place while we travel?"

Vault just puts his hands in his pockets and follows along in their wake.