"AHHHHHH!"
They screamed, and their doppelgangers frowned.
"AHHHHH!!!"
They screamed even more before hiding behind Clover, who's the only one unfazed by what they were seeing. Instead of cowering in fear like her friends, she simply smiled back at the eerie figures.
"What in the world are you doing, Clover?!" Snow called out to her while pulling her back. "Don't smile at those freaks! We have to get out of this haunted cave!"
Clover raised her hand to bid them farewell, but something caught her eyes. She froze. Her doppelgänger was holding a limited-edition Kewl-aid she'd never tasted before!
"Clover?! Let's go!"
Instead of listening to Snow, she started walking forward while looking dazed in the state of hypnosis.
"Is she planning on stepping inside that mist?!" Kid was freaking out. "Stop her, Snow!"
"What?! Then come with me--"
They watched in horror as Clover passed through the mist and disappeared in an instance, and the eerie figures laughed maniacally.
"Clover!!!"
They ran to the mist while screaming for their lives. Snow held her breath and closed her eyes to pray. "Dear Clover's three aunts, I believe you'll keep Clover safe, but please expel all the ghosts inside this stupid mist, so I get to live as well. Thank you."
She dove into the mist and left the others to decide if they should dive in as well. They turned their backs away from the creepy figures for a short meeting.
"W-we don't know what's inside, so just in case, I'llstay behind." Toki said. "I-I'm not making an excuse or anything. I just want to make sure. Really."
"Really? You're willing to stay here with those—" Doki turned his head and regretted his action right away--"Oh, Soglums! Why do they have to look just like us?!"
Olivia took a deep breath. "Then let's head inside together. The fates wouldn't have allowed Clover to step inside this cave if something dangerous is up ahead, right?"
They exchanged unsure glances.
"Screw this!"
They held each other's hands, closed their eyes, and charged towards the mist. The last thing they heard was a series of laughter, and the mist instantly vaporized upon their entry.
"Congratulations." Max's voice made them open their eyes. "I can't believe you made it through."
"Max!" Kid ran toward him. "Did you see those ghosts?! Are they gone now? Are they gone now?"
Max pointed at an old man sitting by the rocks while laughing his heart out. He looked like someone you'd see on the streets with his wooden cane and shredded clothes. A small waterfall was streaming behind him, down to a small pond. Olivia could sense pure magic from the gleaming water.
"Who is he?" she asked while looking around. "Where are we?"
"Allow me to introduce myself," the old man said. "I'm the guardian of this forest. You can call me Kito."
"Kito? I'm Olivia. This is Kid, Toki, Doki--"
"I know you. You don't have to introduce yourselves," he said. "And you came here for a Gorudan, right?"
Olivia nodded slowly. "Yes."
She examined Kito and found it weird how his face looked more familiar every second. Very familiar. Like he's supposed to be someone she'd know, but the memory of his face lies in the back of her mind and can't remember.
"Then you're prepared for the tradeoff, right?" he asked. "You'll have your hands around this forest's most guarded treasure. You're not expecting to get it for free, aren't you?"
They eyed one another and looked at Max, who didn't seem bothered by this deal.
"What is it?" Toki asked. "What do you want in exchange?"
Kito smirked, and Toki felt like being punched in the stomach. "A thousand years of servitude."
"What? Servitude?"
"Yes." He spun his eyes around the forest. "I've been guarding this place for a thousand years, and now I want freedom. But I'll need a substitute to make that happen." He smirked. "Would any of you be willing to volunteer?"
With no second thought, all of them raised their hands, except Max, who sat nonchalantly by the corner like he's chilling on the couch. Even Minmin raised his tiny arm.
For a few seconds, they glared at one another as if saying, "Put your hand down, I got this." "No. You put your hand down."
Kito surveyed each and everyone of them like assessing his preferred replacement. He whistled to express his contentment.
"Interesting. So you're all willing to spend a thousand years trapped in this forest? With nothing but blazing animals to talk to?"
"Yes." They answered in chorus.
"Then I change my mind."
"Huh?"
"You just made this deal boring, you brats!" He snapped his fingers, and a golden plant emerged from the water. "I was seeking for some drama, and you gave me nothing! Now take this plant and get out of my sight!"
"Huh?!"
Before they can argue, a bright light blinded them for a moment. It only took seconds, but felt like an eternity, and upon opening their eyes, they found themselves standing outside the cave.
"What just happened?" Olivia asked while staring at Clover who furrowed her brows.
The Kewl-aid in her hands was replaced by a golden plant with streaks of silver on its leaves.
"My Kewl-aid..."she frowned at the Gorudan. "You better cure Uncle, or else..."
"Let me hold that for you!" Snow snatched it from her tight grasp. "I'll buy you another bunch. I promise."
They all sighed, and was about to move forward when Olivia noticed Max's absence.
"Wait," her eyes widened. "Where's Max?!"
"He's right behind me--" Kid gasped. "Oh, no! He's not here!"
"That jerk! He must have made a deal with Kito even before we came!" Snow said. "No wonder we acquired such a rare plant without a hitch!"
Kid clenched his fist. "We'll get him out no matter what."
They marched back to the cave entrance, determined to take Max back at all costs.
"What are you doing?" A familiar voice greeted them upon entry, and Max slowly emerged from the shadows.
"Max!"
They charged toward him, almost swueezing him to death. Kid clung to his arms. "Is this really you?!"
"What? Of course."
Toki sobbed and pinched his cheeks. "Are you sure? You're not that old man pretending to be Max, aren't you?"
Max rolled his eyes. "Ask that question to yourself."
He walked away with his hands inside his pockets while his friends wiped the tears off their eyes. The canceled tradeoff with Kito sparked their curiousity, but they're relieved because no one had to sacrifice themselves and get left behind.
"Wait a second..." Olivia raised her brows. "I knew it! I knew he looked familiar!"
"Huh? Who?"
"That old man, Kito—" she faced the twins— "You look just like him!"
Doki stared at his brother's face. "It's true! He looked just like you!
Toki cupped his face. "You're right! He looked just like me!"
They gasped. "He looked just like us!"