17 Chapter 17: The Forest of the Ancients
"Man... although the lizard was cool... didn't expect not having to fight... bummer..."
Geo had to take a look around, was there even a way back?
"You know what they say... if you're lost, it's best to keep moving forward!"
Geo who lay flat on his back took in the bright blue sky. The fresh air of grass and leaves filled his lungs as he knew for a fact that they were in fact outside. But how could that be? How could they?
Geo sat right up and noticed an entrance to the forest which surrounded the field he found himself in. Oddly enough the platform he found himself on within the previous room was still there.
So did they actually leave? Was this still the same room?
"Where could this actually be?"
Unable to come to a conclusion Geo stood up, curious about what lay beyond the forest he made way to the entrance when suddenly a shadow within the depths moved away from the entrance.
As curiosity took the better of him, Geo ran towards the opening. The shadow was still there, laying in waiting... Almost as if it knew I was there.
Was it human? No... it couldn't be... It knew Geo was there as it kept a close eye on him.
Unable to see... Geo didn't know what to believe... But there was a feeling...
A feeling of being watched... Unable to shake this feeling he had to find out for himself if he was alone here inside the forest. Without a second thought Geo entered the depths of the forest, unaware of what lay in wait for him next. Unable to shake that feeling of being watched.
Setting foot within the forest almost felt like another world, light slightly shined through the trees making it difficult to see.
"Was that really what I think it is?" Trying to catch a glimpse of the shadow Geo thought he saw put him on high alert. Looking around in every corner trying to pick up the slightest movement around him. He was certain something was there… But although searching hard, nothing could be found our of the ordinary. Shrugging it of he decided to get on his way, yet… The feeling of being watched never lightened up… Someone… Or something was looking straight at him,
but from where?! Looking at what had happened before it should be something out of the ordinary, but knowing he couldn't find the answer anytime soon, he just went on his way, taking a stroll throughout the landscape of the forest.
Michael had told him about the magical look the forest had at night,
but was it all true? Could something so magical even exist in an unfair world like this?
Geo just had to go and see, he thought to himself standing at the entrance of the forest.
Unable to see anything within the heavily overgrown area, it almost felt like he was entering a cave once more…
Unable to see, aside from the occasional ray of light that escaped through the slightest of openings between the leaves. Whenever the wind gently brushed by the light revealed little of the area he was in… Although a little, it appeared Michael had told the truth…
The light rays were absorbed by whichever it touched allowing them to luminate the area around them. Glowing bushes, plants… even mushroom! But… It felt off for some reason…
Whatever was there with him within the forest was still there. Watching my every move.
It must have been an animal of some sort, similar to the salamander from before, right?
Seeing as this is a forest, shouldn't it be something which would normally reside here?
I kept looking around, not knowing where to go, trying to get used to all the unnatural colors… Although I really liked them, the feeling of being watched felt unpleasant.
"Ironically I know, as I do this all the time to woman, right? But to be honest, I was never this obvious yet subtle at the same time, whenever I watched something I liked it would always be with intense intent, knowing I could break their masks this way would instantly reveal their true selves… Then again… This resulted into failure most of the times as the women wouldn't want to have anything to do with me.
Not that it ever stopped me from approaching, HELL! Look at what I did during the tournament, whenever someone crosses my path that's worth entertaining me or more I'll rush there and grope away haha, that my friend is my strong suit!"
For some reason it felt like I got pushed to move further. Something incomprehensible gently guided me further into the forest, something like intuition…
Or something invisible that gently whispered that it was alright to go this way.
That's when I heard it…
"Welcome…"
For a moment it was silent again, I looked around, but still nothing.
The trees around me began to brush together with the movement of the wind.
A chilly but gently wind blew throughout the forest, pushing me forward.
Not long after the bushes behind Geo began to rustle.
*Rustle*
Something huge came out from behind, cautious of the unknown Geo jumped back,
only to find a majestic creature revealed itself. Bracing himself for the reveal Geo had closed its eyes, when he slowly opened them, revealing the little critter that was sitting in front of him.
"A squirrel?! Hmm… I was certain something different would be following me. What are you doing here little one?" Geo asked as he slowly closed in on the little critter.
The squirrel looked at Geo with mighty big eyes. Unable to look away opened its mouth as the unexpected happened shortly after. The little critter spoke to him.
"Welcome… Wise one…"
Geo couldn't believe his eyes, or his ears for that matter.
The squirrel's fur began to glow in bright pink, creating a pattern with blue along the edges.
The squirrel looked like it had the time of his life welcoming someone unknown to the area.
Looking all wise and mighty to Geo the squirrel continued.
"Welcome… Geo… Of the reincarnated… Welcome to the Forest of the Ancients!"
The squirrel said as a mad scientist lifting his tail as if it was a lab coat.
"Do you know why you're here?"
Still in disbelieve that the cute squirrel was talking Geo decided to go with it,
although he was unable to control his urges to pet the little critter.
Walking closer to him the little critter wanted to keep talking but before he could Geo began to cuddle.
"Don't be scared, I only wanna cuddle!"
As the cuddling commenced Geo did not focus on his surrounding, leaving him completely open for other to draw near. That was when another shadow arose from the depths.
Geo was to busy trying to cuddle the little soft furball, but eventually snapped out of it as he heard the voice closer than before.
"Who said I was scared? Maybe it would be a good idea to stop cuddling my associate,
he to has a long way to go. And I would rather keep him alive as it is."
Geo didn't know for sure and turned around because the voice now came from behind him.
It wasn't the squirrel who talked? Confusion struck as he realized what was standing in front of him.
"Sunshine?! No… It can't be!! You can't be here! Can you?! OMG!!!"
A small and puffy pony stumbled out of the bushes, almost tripping over vines which covered the area. Quickly Geo jumped up in disbelieve trying to catch the pony.
"Sunshine? Weird… This name does ring a bell…"
Geo sighed, disappointed at the pony's reaction.
"Could it be, the name… Sunshine… is of the one most important to you?"
Geo looked away, trying to hide his feelings, but couldn't as it came pouring out within an instant. Tears, tears began streaming down his face, like never before…
"Sunshine! Oh Sunshine… How could you leave me?! It wasn't the same without you!
Sunshine, my only sunshine~ You make me happy when I cuddle you~
Fluffy and always cuddly~ You kick me until you succumb to my cuddling~
Now come into my arms you fluffy pantoffle as that's where you belong~"
The creature didn't know what to think about what the man in front of it was singing…
Indeed what came over him, why sing about sunshine when there is none inside here?
"Sunshine? Fluffy cuddling? Pantoffle? What's that?!" the creature said confused as it could not wrap its head around the idea. It manes began to glister with luminescence revealing a special silver glow. As it moved its head shaking the idea of cuddles its manes began to glow golden in the wind.
"Pantoffle is what I call creatures worthy of cuddles~ Now little one, come here and let me caress your mighty thighs, hips and manes along the way~"
He said meaning serious business about the cuddling. Geo approached the creature, knowing there was more to them meeting each other, but before the serious business it was time for a belly rub.
