(no subject)

[pullsneedles]

"Lucas," said old Nippolyte the gravedigger as the boy made his way to his mother's tombstone. "Have you seen Flint? He was just here visiting Hinawa's grave."

"I guess I just missed him," Lucas said rather glumly.

"He's probably headed back into the mountains yet again to look for Claus."

Lucas nodded. It's moments like this that make him wish Dad was home more often. He then stepped closer to the grave.

"Look for Claus, visit Hinawa's grave. Look for Claus, visit Hinawa's grave. That's all your old man does anymore."

And it didn't seem entirely fair. But if Lucas let himself dwell on that thought, he'd get angry and have nothing to do about it. So he lets it slide a bit. Besides that, Dad's suffering, too.

"His only salvation is you, Lucas," Nippolyte continued after a moment of silence. "You've grown so strong that Flint doesn't need to worry anymore. You've grown up to be a truly good lad."

He turned to the gravedigger, who then pressed something into Lucas's hand.

"Here. Flint gave me this. He asked me to give it to you the next time you came by. Supposedly, it's a good luck charm your pop's treasured since he was a boy himself."

Lucas held the item up in the sunlight, the dull attempt at a gleam shining off of what he realized was Dad's Courage Badge. He carefully polished it a little with his shirt before pinning it on.

********************************************************

Thanks to the instructions given by the Pigmask over the transreceiver, Lucas and Boney were able to find the Chimera Lab without trouble. He was a bit worried when he saw a Pigmask guarding the door but soon found he had no reason to fret.

"Oh, you're that part-timer from the other day!" the Pigmask said. "Perfect timing. Keep watch for me, will ya? I'm gonna go inside and help look for some escaped monkeys."

With that, the Pigmask went into the lab and, after Lucas was sure he wouldn't be following right on his heels, so did he and Boney.

********************************************************

"LOOK OUT!!!!!"

One really close fight with an Almost-Mecha Lion that was bodyslammed by a clay chimera later, Lucas and Boney found themselves surrounded by Pigmasks.

"Are you okay, cute part-timer?!" one of them asked.

Lucas was suddenly glad for the helmet they insisted he wear once he snuck in, his face beet red as he replied, "I think so..."

They huddled into a makeshift meeting.

"How many are left?"

"Just the one now."

"'The' one...?" a Pigmask warily asked. "You mean the red one with the huge mouth?"

There was a dense, foreboding silence before the other confirmed, "...Yeah."

"That thing means serious trouble."

"Just standing here won't solve anything. For now, let's hurry and seal the exits."

"Watch yourselves, guys!"

Three of them left to begin securing the perimeter. One was left with Lucas and Boney.

"Hey, cute part-timer. There's actually one more that's still lurking around here somewhere... One that's WAY more dangerous than that one just now... If, while looking for the monkeys, you happen to see a red thing with a gigantic mouth...GET THE HECK OUT OF THERE!"

The Pigmask then checks behind himself before continuing.

"Listen. Pay close attention, now... If you run into a red, huge-mouthed Chimera, do absolutely NOTHING to it. Got that? I've warned you. And while I'm warning you like this, I should add that it'd be even more dangerous not to take the time out to talk with that frog. All right. Be careful now!"

Then he left.

********************************************************

The last thing Lucas saw before dashing through the door was a mouth bigger than he was tall...