Light Boy Arc Part 2

**Chapter 3, Blissful Slumbird:**

Light Boy continues North as the woods shift into rolling countryside. He passes into the tranquil town of Marjorumba, now in a state of agitated bustle preparing for the many ceremonies associated with Beltane. Images of Bunneafy and colorful paper cut into Bowterflies rest in every window. Many Marjorumbans sit on their front steps and porches weaving grass baskets. Two boys, clearly in a hurry and carrying a large bucket run into Light Boy and spill the contents of the bucket on the gravel road. LB is surprised to see the ground littered with Buddle. He helps the boys collect the Buddle and Wecko refills the bucket. The boys explain that they're running late and they must make it to the ceremony if they want their Buddle to evolve Flopfin. They invite LB to tag along and he joins them down the road along with the others with baskets now completed and full of flower petals.

They arrive in a flowery meadow and the boys dump their Buddle in a pond ful of lilly pads with a striped pole sticking out of its center. The sun hangs low in the sky as the townsfolk float candles on the pond and dance around it with strings attached to the pole. Light Boy is encouraged to partake and dances around the Beltane Pole once or twice. Then, just the sun's last golden rays light up the valley with renewed vigor, the candles flicker and glow bright white. The pond itself starts to glow and out hops a flock of Flopfin. The crowd cheers as the newly evolved Flopfin bound happily through the crowd and a shower of petals.

Light Boy is encouraged back to the Fat Frolily, an inn in town where the festivities continue. It is there that he learns why the town was in such need for something to lift their spirits. Much of their spring harvest, agriculture being an essential part of Marjorumba's economy, was stolen. According to one witness and his Squakrow, a group of strange beings floated out of the sky and carried the bounty off with them. Another says he saw it too. He reckons it was the group of Slumbird who are living in the woods. A group of townsfolk decide to go investigate with their mon and Light Boy tags along, curious to see the Slumbirds.

The mob charges through a ripped up field that had been home to acres of broccoli. It is hard to see in the dark, but with Tibo's glowing, LB can make out the damage done to the field. The mob has to weave through car sized craters and the dirt is charred in places. There are screams ahead and the blasts and flashes of battling mons. LB is surprised and terrified by the carnage. He has never experienced such a one-sided and fatal battle. Tibo sees something swoop overhead and rushes off into the darkness. LB chases after him and finds him in the middle of a field of maize with a small, trembling Slumbird.

Above them, a freak storm begins to swirl and Light Boy picks up the orphan Slumbird and runs out of the field to some nearby trees as it starts to pour. Thunder and lightning strike the field again and again. As abruptly as it began, the storm ends and LB sees the maize field is empty. He seems to be the only one to have seen it, but he doesn't feel like facing the mob. He steps into the dark forest in the direction of ChymeThyme City.

**Chapter 4, Beardrow Connection**

After a night camped out in the forest, LB wakes up refreshed and decides to save time riding Wecko up the river. Just before he is about to start, a mysterious man emerges on the other side of the river bank with two mons LB has never seen before. He tells LB his name is Fief, and he's made the journey all the way to Botan to search for treasure at the lost ruins of Storchford Mansion. LB tells him that his family's been exploring these woods for years and have never come across the old mansion. It's only a myth. Fief pulls a tattered map from his sleeve, saying LB is free to come along and be proven wrong, but don't expect a share of the treasure. LB is intrigued and tags along.

The head downriver, LB on Wecko and Fief on a rope pulled by his hovering mon. LB asks how Fief got the map, where he's from, etc. but gets only half answers. Soon they break off from the river and continue through dense woods. They encounter some Ghossamer that Fief deals with easily. They travel all morning into the afternoon, when suddenly Slumbird begins shaking in her ball. Fief tells them they're close and they emerge into a clearing in the woods. At the center is a large dilapidated mansion. Ivy covers the brick walls and the circular windows whose glass isn't shattered are layered with dinge and dirt.

They approach the house, walking through overgrown garden. Hedges that seemed to have once been trimmed in the shape of mon were now towering green beasts. Fief notes how it's strange there's no mon inhabiting these gardens. Just then a roar is heard over the brush and a growling Beardrow jumps out from a patch of tall sunflowers. LB fights it with Triblo and Fief sends the larger of his mon, called Horbet, who deals out powerful poison attacks. But Beardrow is large and durable. It uses rampage on Horbet, pushing it into Fief. When he falls over, LB notices a ball with the emblem of Big Daddy. LB finds it odd someone, especially a non-native botanian would have property of the the head of the Botan league. Before he can think about it further, Beardrow charges at him. LB dodges into a blueberry bush. Triblo fires a dark pulse, which hits but still isn't enough to knock Beadrow out. Eventually, the combined force of Triblo, Grrackles, and Horbet is enough to fend Beardrow off and it runs away.

They find the front door already off its hinges. Inside is a grand foyer with a rusted green fountain, no longer functioning, and an enormous chandelier draped in cobwebs. Light filters in from panes punched out of a giant stained-glass window in the ceiling depicting more unfamiliar mon that looked like blue Voltland. Antique sculptures and ornate china line the shelves. FIef assures that in comparison to the real treasure these were dull chachkis. LB follows him through the house. In the basement they find the vault, but its lock looks to have been melted off. Inside are only more cobwebs.

Fief sits next to the vault disheartened. LB sits next to him and tries to cheer him up. But Fief isn't upset for long. He takes a sample of the melted lock and is encourage to uncover this next step of the mystery. Feeling guilty leaving a child in strange woods alone, FIef gives LB the map and shows him a shortcut to Chymethyme City. He then flies off on Horbet, yelling to LB that he's sure their paths will cross again soon.

LB waves farewell and bounds off into the woods, hoping to make it home before dark. He thinks to himself it might be better if their paths didn't cross again and pulls the ball with the Botan league emblem out of his pocket. Flying over the tree-line, Fief smiles to himself. He would have been happy to gift LB that mon. Even though it will grow to be very powerful one day, he isn't sure that even it will be able to protect the boy from what will soon face him.