The Missing Amulet

          “Valentine, wake up.” Valentine’s mother giggled. “You’re such a heavy sleeper, but that’s my Valentine.”

          “Huh?” Said a half-asleep Valentine. “Wait, is this the day?”

          “Yes, honey.” Valentine’s mother smiled before reaching in for a hug. “You’re growing up so fast.”

          “I know!” Valentine beamed. “I finally have the chance to travel, I should visit the famous ancient deserted temple ruins of The Lost City of Geraptiku.”

          “Interesting…” Valentine’s mother said. “But are you sure about this? I question your safety as you are more outgoing than others, I don’t want you to get hurt."

          “Mom, thank you for your concerns but I think I’m old enough but I’ll call you if I need anything,” reassured Valentine. “I should get ready now, thank you mom.”

          “Oh before you go! What are you going to wear? I have some clothes if you’ll like, maybe an exotic feather boa scarf or an elegant blouse, or even maybe a vintage leather jacket.” Recommended Valentine’s mom.

          “Are you sure? That seems extreme, I think a hoodie will do.” Valentine replied.

          “What does this temple even have anyways?” Questioned Valentine’s mother. “It better have some diamonds or something if you’re leaving our four story castle with an enchanted rose garden!”

          “It has the Amulet of Youth, something to make someone act and appear 10 years younger, mentally and physically.” Explained Valentine. “Thank you though,” Valentines said as she hugged her mother before heading out.

          “Good luck, honey!” Valentine’s mother waved.

          As Valentine made her way towards her local train. She bought a ticket and made it inside the train. She then thought to herself while she sat herself down on the train seats. ‘Why is my mom so worried about me? I’m not her little girl anymore. Sigh, it’s just a couple of months.’

          “Excuse me, is this seat taken?” hesitated Amanda the Cybunny.

          “Nope, it’s not!” Valentine answered.

          “Oh, I hope you don’t mind me placing down this feather boa scarf next to you…” Amanda questioned. “Oh my! I love your enchanted rose pedant. You must live nearby the famous four story castle!” Noticed Amanda.

          “Oh yeah! My mother gifted it to me, we actually live in the four story castle.” Valentine mentioned. “However, I’m going travelling to a temple ruin!”

          “Jeez! Are you sure about that? I heard a lot of traps are hidden within the boundaries.” Gasped Amanda. “I just want that Amulet of Youth, I have wrinkles already!”

          As the two girls chatted, the train dropped off Valentine and Amanda. The two girls decided that they both wanted to go to the temple together.

          “I’m so excited that I’m going with you, you’re like my temple ruins buddy!” Amanda squealed. “O-M-G, it says the temples are experiencing difficulties today! Are you sure you want to go because I’m scared!”

          “What are you talking about?” Valentine said in a confused-tone. “Oh-my, the amulet, it’s missing!” yelled Valentine. “

          “How could that be?” Amanda uttered. “Let’s explore the scene.” suggested Amanda.

          Valentine and Amanda walked towards the temple site. They noticed that the robber used vines as rope to climb the temple for the amulet and a trail of vibrant feathers were left behind. They also saw an enchanted rose flower petal.

          “What? How could this be? An enchanted rose flower petal, those are only found at my house!” Valentine said in a shocked tone.

          “Not exactly… Mr. Richwell the Lenny, has his own garden of enchanted rose flowers. He’s the only one who has them around these parts. He also gifts them to the less wealthy to sell, like Jubba the Tyrannian JubJub and Snot the Mutant Gnorbu!” Explained Amanda. “I suggest we should interview all of them as they could be potential suspects.”

          “Great idea!” Valentine exclaimed. “Where are they exactly?”

          “Well, they live in the high top trees so how are we supposed to get up there?” sighed Amanda.

          “With me.” said an Elder Draik.

          “Whoa!” Valentine shouted. “You’re willing to help us?

          “Of course, after the terrible news I’ve heard, I’m willing to help find the robber who has done this,” advised the Elder Draik.

          Afterwards, the Elder Draik flew Valentine and Amanda to Mr. Richwell’s house.

          “WEE!!” Yelled Amanda. “This is so fun!” However, Amanda was having so much fun, when suddenly, she fell.

          “OH NO, AMANDA!” panicked Valentine.

          “Oh goodness!” the Elder Draik muttered.

          Thankfully, Amanda landed in some hay bales below, however, she also coincidentally landed at one of Mr. Richwell’s properties.

          “Hey, you!” said Jubba the JubJub, “You’re trespassing!” He screamed.

          “No, no! No, I’m not.” Amanda explained.

          “Thief!” shouted Snot the Gnorbu.

          “You have a wrong interpretation of us, this all has been a misunderstanding and we would appreciate it if you don’t accuse us of anything without any evidence... It’s just immature for your mindsets to think so.” the Elder Draik groaned.

          “You’re still thieves!” Jubba and Snot repeatedly shouted.

          “What is all this ruckus?” Mr. Richwell yelled. “Oh… great.. More people to accuse me of robbing the temples. Look, I’m way too rich to rob temples,” Mr Richwell laughed.

          “‘Uh, what is that supposed to mean?” said Valentine. “Who else has feathers and knowledge of enchanted roses?”

          “Hmm, your friend probably has a feather boa scarf and she probably led you here,” Mr Richwell noticed. “Maybe you shouldn’t trust the ones closest to you...”

          “So you’re invalidating our claims of you stealing the amulet of youth by saying Amanda did it?” Valentine laughed. “Yeah, you’re going to need more proof.”

               “Look, the amulet of youth and five guards are missing, you could have the power to commit these crimes, maybe even for Amanda… I cannot say the same for her.” Elder Draik stated. “So, care to explain?”

          “Maybe Jubba and Snot did it, and they had a bag of my feathers.” Mr Richwell stated. “Well regardless, I’m done with this conversation.”

          “Uh, bags of your feathers? Why do you even have those?” Valentine questioned.

          “Well, I can’t fly effectively so I have to use these feathers to make new wings. Yesterday, it didn’t work so I had to get up somewhere else.” Mr. Richwell explained.

          “Get up where?” Amanda demanded.

          “None-of-your-business.” The sly Lenny laughed before flying away.

          “He accused Amanda, Jubba and Snot, basically everyone except himself.” Elder Draik complained. “How is that even fair?! It has to be him…”

          “Hmm.. what’s this?” said one of Mr Richwell’s maids. “You think he did it? Pssh, me too...” whispered the Maid.

          “Wait, do you have any proof?” Valentine asked. “I still don’t get why he wants the amulet so badly...”

          “Of course, so he can be young and get back his youthful wings.” Elder Draik suggested. “However, the vibrant feathers on site are a mix of red, blue, and yellow and Mr. Richwell is Green. Maybe he hired a relative of sorts to carry out his duties...”

          “Hmm.. My feather boa is green.” Amanda wondered. “Strange, I bought it at the General Market store.

          “Oh cool! My mom shops there,” Valentine mentioned.

          “Well, I think it’s him because yesterday, he wasn’t here, he just popped up today. He never misses a day of watching us work.” the maid noted.

          “Thank you, noted.” the Elder Draik said.

          “Oh and also the five guards who disappeared, their names are Itza Dhu, Mu Om, Shue Did, It Al, Iz Heir. Hope this helps.” The maid said.

          “Wait, how do we not suspect it’s the maid? She’s a Yellow Lenny!” Amanda observed. “Hmm, it could be all the workers framing Mr. Richwell!”

          “So, you do think it’s us...” Ambushed all three maids, a Blue, Red, and Yellow Lenny.

          “We would never commit a crime! However, framing, yes... Mr. Richwell was here the whole time yesterday, however, we wanted to frame him after all the terrible way he’s treated us!” The Blue Lenny yelled. “It isn’t fair.”

          “Also! Jubba and Snot get paid more, even though we do all the work here.” said the Red Lenny angrily.

          “I can assure you, it isn’t us. We are sorry for lying, however, the mistreatings from Mr. Richwell is just too much for us…Mr. Richwell has a tracking device to locate the missing artefact, however, he’s not releasing it to the public… We can grant you special access and permission to it as an apology.” explained the Yellow Lenny.

          “Alright, that seems fair.” The Elder Draik agreed.

          Afterwards, the Lenny trio handed Elder Draik the tracking device. They started flying towards the direction the tracking device showed.

          “If you don’t mind, can we tagalong? Jubba and Snot want to come as well because we all want to frame Mr Richwell.” asked the Lenny trio.

          “You still want to frame him? Sure, go ahead.” Valentine nodded.

          They all flew to an empty meadow clearing with damp vegetation and greenery. They saw an assortment of plants; hanging vines, lush-green ivy, lightly coloured flowers, mossy rocks, and glowberries.

          “Whoa, this place is so beautiful!” Amanda gazed.

          Suddenly, a mysterious voice whispered.

          “You!” said a mysterious glowing figure standing on a small cliffed ledge.

          “Whoa, that’s what happens when you eat too many enchanted flower petals, you glow and obtain unbeatable and powerful strength!” Valentine noticed. The mysterious figure started swinging on vines towards Elder Draik with everyone on his back.

          “Back off.” Elder Draik warned.

          “Um, why me? Stay away!” Valentine panicked.

          “Quick, take pictures so we can make it look like Mr. Richwell!” said the Lenny trio.

          “Ouch!” Jubba and Snot cried. “That hurt!”

          “Oh no, the artefact, it touched… that JubJub and Gnorbu…” the mysterious figure said before trying to escape.

          “WOOHOO THEY ARE BABIES NOW,” the Lenny trio celebrated. “We will finally get paid more,” laughed the Lennies.

          “Hmm, let me eat all these vines so the thief can’t swing on anymore vines.” Elder Draik exclaimed.

          Afterwards, Elder Draik ate all the vines and the mysterious figure had nowhere to run.

          “Ugh!” grunted the thief.

          “I’ll apprehend you with these vines.” Elder Draik declared.

          The mysterious figure was finally caught and with nowhere to go, the group did an unmasking.

          “Let’s see who you are, thief!” Valentine taunted.

          As they took off the mask, a familiar face came into sight.

          “Mom?” “You, did all of this?” Valentine cried.

          “I did it for your own good, I’m sorry…” apologized Valentine's mother.

          “You see, after I heard about how fast you were growing up, I was sad. Since, it was always you and me; now that I was alone, I just felt lonely. So, I went to the temple beforehand, and stole the amulet to use on you so you can be my little baby again. I used the vines to tie up the guards and locked them in the temple’s jail. Afterwards, I ate an enchanted flower petal so I could be stronger. Afterwards, I was able to swing from vine to vine. Although, I shouldn’t have worn my feather boa as it left red, blue, and yellow feathers all about.” confessed Valentine’s mother.

          “Well, it’s time to arrest you madam.” Elder Draik said before handcuffing Valentine's Mom.

          “Wait! Before she goes, I just want to say, I understand your intentions but that’s not how to resolve things, communication is key! Please talk to me before you do impulsive things, and I need you to know growing up is normal. Don’t worry about me growing up. I will always be there for you, but I’m just finding my own path.” Valentine whimpered. “I’m sorry, Mom.”

          “No. I’m sorry.” Valentine's mother said before the Elder Draik took them all home.

     The aftermath: Jubba and Snot went to a daycare and all of their earnings went to the Lenny trio. The Lenny trio also successfully framed Mr. Richwell. They own all his property and decided to give some property to Valentine, Amanda, & Elder Draik as a thanks. Mr. Richwell is now in jail with Valentine’s mother. Elder Draik has found a replacement amulet of youth and rescued the missing guards. Elder Draik has added more security features to protect it. As for Valentine and Amanda, well, they are travelling buddies. To help with Valentine’s mom’s loneliness, Amanda suggested for their moms to be friends.

     The End.