=== Day off – part 7

In many video games nowadays there is something called jumping puzzles. How they work is that people jump through a course, towards a certain destination, and sometimes there are hurdles along the way you have to solve...more or less that stuff. Obviously they differ from each other and many are a unique challenge of skill. They supposed to be fun for all but some...

It appears that for the green fairy this was not her best day. Falling down before reaching the wall after the jump, she landed inside of the black thing which filled the basin below. That sticky puddle was quite disgusting and viscous, why is punishment for failing this harsh, I wondered. It helped me realised how much we were waging in that test.

In attempt to save victim, our pink captain threw her rope down. Then we both stretched it with keeping our footing secured. As Corona tied the end around her, she managed to pull herself onto the surface, through this unknown and bubbling substance. Save again and on her feet, she was covered with that stuff all up to her neck. It was black as night and highly adherent.

[Don't mind if we stay away from you in a certain distance? I am just being careful that we won't stick together...]

[It would be smarts that you stay a little behind, okay Corona? No hard-fart feelings here, just being careful...]

[Waa! I fell! Oh my goodness that was scary! I thought I was going to get eaten by a monster or something there, but it was just this quite hot jelly which stings like crazy! I feel like a fondue now or something, but thank you! If you guys didn't help me I could have drowned or something...actually you can swim in this stuff, but don't okay?]

[Not a single thought like that came to me, Corona, you should go take a shower or something. Also...sorry]

The way she looked all coated in black, and the fact that her wings could have moved on their again, that was scary. If my memory serves, the situation from before can happen again, that is why we should definitely not approach her. Even our not necessarily brave commander, who is usually first to apprehend the danger, was quietly hiding behind me.

With that, we decided to move onwards, leaving the fairy to dry. She only waved at us, with her eyes almost in tears. Abandoning her like that was only certain, since she understood very well that she needs a little rest herself. Hence, together with the pink pegasus knight, we dived deeper into the seemly never ending corridors of this secret cave.

The lights ignited as we passed the narrow caverns, we were descending down. Beneath us a track started to appear. As we followed it further, we found a mine cart, which held the same black stuff as from before, but not much of it.

[So this is interesting, why would they transport this stuff, instead of actual materials? Don't answer really, it makes no sense why would anyone do in this world, since you can just put it into the inventory and be done.]

[I shee you have not yet figured this place out, did you Oddie? Because it is quite simple, for a brainiac like me. This is a trap, and we are just falling deeper into it. But have no fear, for at the end a treasure awaits, right? Thus onwards, my fretty-sweaty birdie, you are too cute to be bothering about such mundane details and whatnot.]

[Yes but I'm cute enough to kick your butt if you don't behave...I mean it because you are already a potential disaster. A trap you say, let's just activate it and see what happens. Are you certain you are not doing this on purpose birdbrain? Having too much fun at my cost might be something that you appreciate, but then again I have to deal with your shortfalls. And that includes Corona, did you even feel sorry for her? Hmm, maybe I should go back to her, now that I think about it.]

[We can't break the team, no matter what! She took a hit, like I did for you so we a-okay here. You understand, right Oddie? It's not only gold for a single person—I was going to share with all of you! That's why this is so exciting and thrilling! My supar adorbs little Wing Sisters, working together despite the mud and hurt butts, all for a great dream in the skies!]

If you put it that way, I can't help to wonder why would she never stop and listen to others. I never asked her for money, well besides that bet, but that's a different case. Yet we already made this far into this unknown and unwelcoming mine shaft. “We are going to reach a treasure”, “You can’t break the team”, she says. I can’t tell whenever she is making fun of me or actually...Whatever, if this is for the sake of all, then I’m going to have to listen to that birdbrain. Dammit, why I’m feeling all fuzzy now?

[Jeepers-creepers! What is that? That sound, like something got blasted or something! It's coming from behind and quick.]

[Wait, what the...you are right. There is absolutely no time to waste, we have to move! That thing is...]

In a blink of an eye, behind us there was a slowly moving black puddle of bubbling liquid. But that foam was just the tip—I could hear main body rushing towards us from afar. Something exploded and caused this mass to run wilding through the mine tunnels. If we didn't do anything quick, we would be taken by the current. This is not how I imagined my day of relaxation at all!

[Now, I agree that this single incident was not your fault...but I don't think there is even time to complain now! Run as fast as you can, as long as you are on your feet! That thing is really loud!]

[It's gushy-mushy, we have no chance in hell to outrun it! Here, don't panic my fretty-betty birdie, I shall think of something! Like this is just a part of their little game, we can beat it most defins!]

[Are you joking? There is no time! Just use your legs if you don't want to become an oil split victim!]

[There we go! That's what they wanted us to use! I'm so smarts, but it’s thanks to you Oddie I get those amazing ideas!]

The object that she found useful was the mine cart, which was still partially filled with it that stuff. Nevertheless, if we were to drive it down a slope, we would have a better chance at evading a larger danger. It was risky perhaps, but I knew I could outsmart the system still. Saying this, we both started pushing the wagon to give some speed to it.

[Is this even going to work? Humph! This is quite heavy, being almost empty and all.]

[What are you saying? My plans are always pushing forward the team, one way or the other. Trust my hunches, Oddie, you will get far with me in no time right? Maws D'awws, your face is so sweaty-meaty when you work out like that!]

[It's not the time to be thinking that, just push it! Save your energy to...it's coming!]

[Now is not the time to feel coaster-sick! Quick, give you handie-dandie, okays?]

While Jielby got inside, quite understandably she was splashed a little. With her standing tall inside, both hands on edges, I noticed that the cart was not designed with a small passenger in mind. Still, she kept balance quite well while riding it.

It was because we were approaching an incline, about time. No longer was I forced to exert my strength to move this thing. But at the same time I didn't want to jump in, there was this black stuff inside...yet there was a way I could save myself. Opting to instead stay on the back of the cart, holding onto the ledge, with my feet on the small wooden step, I jumped just in time before it would gain too much speed.

Yet saying that I was out of danger was far too early. Frankly we did manage to outrun the tar, thanks to the steepness of the slope, but now we approached a problem. The way ahead had a pit of that black substance and our track unfortunately was broken just over that space. We would fall in, if we kept riding the cart. Yet, from the neighbouring line another wagon appeared suddenly. That was our only chance to survive.

[Are we actually going this? Are we going to this thing they do in movies and jump onto the next cart? Are you crazy? Jielby, you must be out of your mind if you think we are...you don't even appear thinking about it in the slightest!]

[Because that is all according to my plan, it's not just a hunch! Don't be so silly-willy, it's our only choice here! As much as you think this is stupid or that is not going to work, just trust me! Look how far we made it on just that!]

[I'm going to have you eat those words! Dammit, it's too late to teleport now! I guess we are doing this!]

[Right, don't fret about a thing you worry-rat! You always say this or that, all you need to hold my hand okay? Here I am going to tie us together, just in case! Don't feel baddie-maddie that we are going to share the same fate!]

We were shouting over each other’s heads, while moving forward at a high speed. Just as the track was ending, both of us jumped onto the second cart, which strangely was aligned perfectly with the other. In that split second, I barely saw how own original one would sink, with the bubbles appearing on the surface. As for our new ride, our positions did not change, however there was...

As Jielby jumped without thinking into the wagon, she was met with even more black liquid than before. All up to her thighs, and at certain parts above them, she was now soaking in this repelling grime. Even I received my very small share of it, as it was splashed onto my face. However, my vision was still unaffected, and it didn't stink with a distinct smell either.

And so, as I was riding the back side on this one, similarly to my previous method, there was something in the distance. Like a flash of blinding light, different from the candles we passed, appeared on the section we were approaching fast.