One month later… (March 3006)
March 1, 3006
Silva, Dante, Uncle Rob, and Johnny Rocket are climbing the greatest mountain of Creatures Creak. Uncle Rob and Johnny are already atop the mountain's peak.
Uncle Rob: Just a little bit more boys! You got this.
Silva: We are almost there Dante.
Dante: Right.
Silva: I can't wait for dinner after this.
Dante: Leave it to you to always think about food especially at a time like this.
Johnny Rocket: (smirks) Hey fellas don't tell me you forgot our little bet? Last one has to cook tonight's meal.
Silva and Dante both rush to reach the top.
Silva: You aren't beating me this time Dante!
Dante: In your dreams kid, I can't even remember the last time you came in first.
Dante beats Silva by a second.
Silva: Damn it!
Dante: Always second fiddle haha.
Johnny Rocket: Well done Silva and Dante, y'all have made great strides as of late.
Uncle Rob: Indeed, now time to climb down before it gets dark.
Johnny Rocket, Dante, and Silva: (collectively) Ughh!
Scene fades.
March 2, 3006
Silva: Ughh why'd you have to wake me up this early.
Oro yawns and lies back down where he and Silva were sleeping.
Uncle Rob: It's Dante's birthday Silva, hand me the frying pan.
Silva: Damn I didn't realize it came up so soon.
Johnny Rocket: Shhh he's still sleeping.
Silva: Sorry Johnny.
Johnny Rocket: Can't wait to see what kinda man he turned out to be today.
Uncle Rob: You shouldn't rush these things, let him enjoy his big day. Good things will follow.
Johnny Rocket: The world don't wait for anyone Rob.
Uncle Rob: Then you're leaving soon.
Johnny Rocket: Fraid so my friend.
Uncle Rob: You know I can't leave just yet.
Silva: Wait whattt! What are you guys talking about?
Uncle Rob: Shh! Lower your voice Silva.
Johnny Rocket: Guess it's time we come clean with ya kid. (Uncle Rob gives Johnny a bit of a glare) Your uncle and I have to leave at some point to fulfill our dreams.
Silva: I figured that, but I thought we were gonna journey together. And does Dante know this?
Johnny Rocket: Dante's known since his dad entrusted me to train him.
Silva: Uncle Rob, why did you hide this from me?
Uncle Rob: (puts his hand on Silva's shoulder) I'm so sorry Silva, I should have told you this sooner. We have to travel our own journeys. Our job is to train you and Dante till you both are old enough to awaken your powers. Today is a special day, Dante is an adult now and thus Johnny can leave him to walk his own path.
Johnny Rocket: You guys will find your own friends to help you on your way to the top, so you don't need geezers like us cramping your style. I mean you guys did excellent yesterday in Creatures Creek.
Silva: Thanks Johnny. I am at least glad you guys told me this now so I have time to prepare.
Dante wakes up and rubs his eyes.
Dante: What's all the commotion?
Johnny Rocket, Uncle Rob, and Silva: (collectively and a bit nervously) Happy Birthday Dante!
Dante: Damn, thanks guys. Appreciate it a lot.
Johnny Rocket hands Dante his breakfast and they all sit down and start eating.
Silva: (curiously) How do you feel? You think your powers have awakened? If so, what type of power do ya have?
Dante: Quit pestering me man, I just woke up. Hey by the way, has anyone seen my gear?
Johnny Rocket: Nah man I haven't.
Dante: That's strange, I thought I left with me by my tent as usual.
Dante's room lets out a chill.
Johnny Rocket: (surprised) Say uhhh Dante, why does your tent have small icicles hanging from it. I didn't think it was that cold last night.
Dante: The hell you talkin' 'bout, Johnny?
Dante looks behind him.
Dante: What the-
Uncle Rob: Seems to me that your powers have awakened.
Dante goes inside his tent and looks around.
Dante: Hey guys I think I found my climbing gear.
Dante's climbing gear is encased in ice. He goes to pick it up and the object boosts upwards from expanding ice.
Uncle Rob: Seems like it's the source.
Dante: Wow Johnny I think I got my powers from ya.
Johnny Rocket: Nah, no way, musta been your old man or something.
Dante: (spits) There's no way it could have been from that-
Johnny Rocket: Think about it, Dante. The way you raised ice at will makes me almost certain that you are a manipulator type user. I am going on a whim to say that you and I don't have a one sided relationship.
Dante: Damn it, you're right. What a way to sour my birthday…
Silva: Hey chipper up dude ice powers are sick as hell! I'm jealous!
Uncle Rob: And to have your powers come naturally overnight on the early morning of your 18th… what luck!
Dante: Doesn't feel that way.
Johnny Rocket: I have a way to lighten your mood. I know how you've been looking forward to this moment so I think we should test your new capabilities. How's about it Dante, wanna face me before I leave tomorrow?
Dante: Sure. Don't hold back on me Johnny.
Johnny Rocket: No promises.
Dante: (Sighs) Fine.
Johnny Rocket: (jokingly) Alright, let's head over here where there is more space for you to fall on the ground. (laughs)
Dante and Johnny Rocket head over to the open space next to the campsite.
Johnny Rocket: (cracks knuckles and shoulders) Alright give me hell.
Dante rushes towards Johnny and unconsciously encases his fist with ice. Johnny Rocket effortlessly dodges his blow.
Johnny Rocket: Gonna hafta do better than that!
Dante slightly frowns and fires fist after fist. He even manages to get a few missed kicks in before he tires.
Johnny Rocket: Okay, I guess it's my turn.
Johnny Rocket's limbs turn into rockets as he lunges forward with his left leg and lands a direct hit on Dante in the blink of an eye.
Dante: Arghhh!
Johnny Rocket: Come on Dante, we're just getting started!
Dante falls to the floor and gets back up at a mild pace.
Dante: That barely scratched me.
Johnny Rocket lunges again, this time with his right leg.
Dante then uses this opportunity with Johnny Rocket close range to freeze his right leg. Johnny Rocket is caught off balance and begins to fall for a split second. Dante doesn't give him an inch. Small fist shaped ice crystals were the result of Dante's attacks.
Johnny Rocket: Not bad, now I see you're getting the hang of it.
Johnny Rocket kicks back Dante and detaches his arms. He then sends them in both directions to which Dante narrowly avoids. The fists separate their paths before they can collide and are sent back to Johnny Rocket's position. Dante shoots ice crystals aimed toward Johnny Rocket's legs. Johnny Rocket separates his legs with his torso and head left being boosted by rocket fuel. Johnny Rocket sends all four limbs from each direction at Dante. Dante attempts to surround himself with ice to protect from the incoming attack, but Johnny Rocket's limbs gain too much momentum to allow such a weak line of defense to get the better of them.
Dante was knocked down. Dante begrudgingly rose again. Uncle Rob then waves his hand down.
Uncle Rob: I think that's enough for today.
Johnny Rocket: Yeah you're right. Guess I'll let Dante rest before he gets hurt.
Dante: Come on Johnny, I'm still raring to go!
Johnny Rocket: Nah sorry Dante, I ain't budging on this one.
Dante: Fine.
Johnny Rocket: You are nearly ready in my book.
Dante: Huh?
Johnny Rocket: You heard me clear as day.
Dante: You truly mean that Johnny?
Johnny Rocket: I'll pack my things up tomorrow morning. You can train with Mr. Baywest and Silva for a bit till they think you're good to go on your own journey.
Dante: Don't ya wanna stay for a bit longer?
Johnny Rocket: I'm sorry to leave so sudden, I really must be on my way. I was only planning on sticking around till you were capable of defending yourself. My inherited power isn't even remotely similar to yours, I'm a transformer as opposed to a manipulator. I know just as little as you do. Same with Mr. Baywest. You are a man now Dante, I have complete faith in your survival and climbing skills. Plus, you're already a skilled fighter without your powers anyways.
Dante: Okay…
Scene fades.
March 3, 3006
Johnny Rocket: Take care of yaself Baywest. I believe I'll be seeing ya two years from now.
Uncle Rob: Indeed you will. Give everyone my best for me.
Johnny Rocket: Will do my friend. (Johnny Rocket shakes Uncle Rob's hand and walks over to address his pupils) Well Silva and Dante. It's been fun lads. I got some business to attend to. Don't worry though, I'll be around if ya ever need to call me, use these.
Johnny hands Silva and Dante headpieces to connect to calls with him.
Dante and Silva: Thanks Johnny.
Johnny Rocket: You both still have a long way to go but hard work pays off gentlemen! Don't forget that!
Johnny Rocket exits into the distance.
Uncle Rob: Well, I'm off to rest for a bit longer.
Uncle Rob goes into his tent to sleep.
Dante: (Softly) Well Silva, I guess this is it for me too huh.
Silva: Wait what?!
Dante: Johnny said I'm ready. I am off to seek my own journey.
Silva: Wow, okay. I'll get Uncle Rob.
Dante: NO DON'T… I mean it'll be too hard if I make a big deal outta it.
Silva: Wait shouldn't I get Uncle Rob's permission.
Dante hugs him unexpectedly and starts to frantically run away.
Dante: (holding back tears) I will see you at the top little bro. Tell the old man thanks for everythin'!
Dante exits into the distance. A white fox on the mountain chases a silver bunny but loses the bunny and takes a different path on the trail.
Uncle Rob awakens later and is furious that Dante left without warning. Silva and Uncle Rob call his name, stating that he isn't ready to go off on his own. They search for a week trying to find him until they eventually realize that he is gone for good.