The train slowed down as they came to another stop. Sarah shook Jack awake. "This is our stop; come on, we need to get off the train", She said to him. Jack nodded, still half asleep, as he took his bags and stood up, heading for the doors.
Norbert followed him as he held his hand out for Luck to take, her eyes finally unstuck from the scenery passing outside the window. Walking to the doors, Norbert held onto Luck as the train finally stopped, catching her before she was flung through the carriage. Smiling at him, the two exited the train.
Stepping onto the station, others getting off the train as well, Norbert looked in both directions. "How far away is the park?" Norbert asked the group.
Sarah took out her phone, plugging away at it before finally speaking up. "About a fifteen-minute walk, just following that street", She said as she pointed in a direction behind them. Norbert nodded. "Thanks", as he looked to the steps to go to the other side of the train tracks.
Walking apart, Norbert could smell the country air, the birds chirping, breathing out, saying to himself, "Smells like home", before he caught up with the group. Climbing the stairs, they made their way over the bridge; from the extra height, Norbert could make out one of the rides a track of roller coaster as it came up into the air before dropping back down again covered by the trees and houses. Pointing it out to Luck, who just stared, needing to be dragged to make their way across.
"So Sarah, when was the last time you went here?" Norbert asked as they walked down the steps, the rides once more covered by the trees.
"Came here with my family many moons ago, a nice time with all of us together. And as I've been meaning to come again and someone's insistence two birds with one stone," She finished as she hit the last step, watching both ways and confirming it was safe to cross the road.
Norbert following behind everyone made it across; looking down the street, Norbert could now see one of the rides, no motion in them. In the early morning sun, he was looking deader than anything. Though Sarah insisted that it was still open, Norbert gave in as they continued down the street.
Opening up, Norbert saw the parking lot stretched out before him, cars already there. Finding the gates, Norbert could already see a queue forming out the front. "Guess you were right about it still being open," Norbert said.
Walking forward, Norbert felt sweat on Luck's hand, making his own sticky as they continued to walk hand in hand. Joining the line, Norbert saw that it still wasn't moving. Checking the time, "Five more minutes, it seems", mostly talking to himself.
Everyone just nodded, talking to their partners as they waited for the line to start moving forward, Norbert watching as the line steadily grew behind them, becoming longer and longer.
BAANG BAANG
Norbert looked in the air, seeing smoke come out of the side of the entrance welcoming its opening to all the guests outside. The lights came on as the rides started to move. The sign flickers for a second before shining brightly with the words "Amasgi Park" And underneath, painted in blue "Where memories are made."
The line continued forward, and finally, Norbert pointed to the sign. "Ready to make some memories," He asked the group. Luck smiling and nodding enuthisatically, Jack just sighing at Norbert for pointing the obvious, "I'm sure we will make many here", Sarah said, Norbert feeling her eyes drill into him.
Gulping, Norbert faced forward, the hairs on the back of his neck as he felt Sarah's eyes dig into him. Shuffling forward with the crowd, they finally reached the front. Seeing the ticket booth, the employee stands in front. "How many tickets?" She asked, a chirp in her voice and a smile still fresh from being the start of the day.
Norbert looked at her pink polo shirt, seeing the name "Robin" embroidered with baby blue.
"Hey Robin, can I have four tickets for the day pass," Norbert asked, looking back and receiving nods from all. "Ok, four tickets will be $160 then, cash or card," She asked.
Jack reached into his pocket. "Can we split it half and half?" He asked Robin. Receiving a nod, she pressed the buttons into the pin pad again, presenting the machine to Norbert, reading $80. Taking out his wallet, Norbert paid his, receiving his tickets as he passed one to Luck, and walked through the turnstiles.
Stepping forward, Norbert looked up, hearing a scream taking his attention. Rumbling forward, Norbert saw a rollercoaster running through its tracks. Rushing downwards, Norbert watched as it spun around, corkscrewing itself several times before moving around a corner.
Feeling Luck's hand tighten in his slight squeezing, Norbert looked down, seeing the nerves breaking through the forced smile. Leaning down and whispering so nobody else heard, "It's ok to be nervous; everyone is", he said to her. Receiving a quick nod in return as a reply, Norbert swivelled his head around to the other people in his group.
"Anything you want to go on first?" Norbert asked.
Jack jogged next to him, pointing with his hand. "That one looks great, The Twister", he said. Norbert watched where he was pointing, seeing the coaster does the corkscrew again.
Norbert smiled, saying, "How about something to warm up first?" Norbert asked, looking around the park quickly, trying to find something that Luck would enjoy and warm her up to the experience.
Sarah stepped forward, saying, "Think there was one that way, which is a water one with a couple of nice drops. To get us all into the thrill of it."
Norbert nodded, seeing Luck nodding even more enthusiastically out of the corner of his eye; Jack slowly nodded after several seconds as Luck beamed. "Well, lead the way, Sarah" she said, taking her hand and going in the direction she indicated before.
Norbert and Jack talked to each other as they followed, Norbert making sure they didn't get too far ahead as he asked Jack about his bike.
Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
***
"That Twister was so good," Luck said as she took another burger. Everyone is sitting around the table and having their burgers. Norbert was sipping on a drink as he looked at Jack and Luck talking to each other, his stomach queasy.
Looking at his burger, he was reminded of all the elixirs that once swirled in his stomach together, that feeling like a cakewalk compared to what his stomach was doing now. His stomach never felt twisted around, and his and he never felt terrible when he went on rides, that sudden corkscrew with the reverse angle going on the outside, felt like a giant was whipping around me, replied to Luck enthusiastically.
Norbert just drowning it out as he just stared at the wooden table, thinking, what did he do to experience this. Happy that at least the umbrella in the centre of the table blocking the sun from shinning in his eyes. Looking around other tables were also filled with people, the lunch rush having begun with the queues for food growing ever longer.
After several minutes Norbert felt his stomach finally settle down; picking at his chips, he looked up. "Want to go again?" Jack asked everyone.
Norbert felt himself go green at the thought of going on The Twister or anything for the moment again. Luck exclaimed, "Oh yeah, let's go line up everyone" She took Norbert's arm to drag him off. Not budging, he stayed still; Luck turned to him, "You ok, Norbert?" She asked him.
"Just need a bit of time; I'll catch up with you on the next ride." He said, waving off Luck. Looking down, she sat back down. "I'll wait here for you then."
Jack just looked between them, thinking about whether he should go. Sarah piped up, "You go with Jack, Luck; I'll stay by Norbert and wait. I want to rest for a bit" Luck stared back at her, smiling and nodding.
"Well, if you say so, Sarah", she said as she stood up from the bench and headed to the line; Norbert could hear the conversation about the ride and what was the best part before it was lost in the crowd of noise.
"You can stop pretending to be sick now; it's just the two of us here", Sarah said, Norbert looking up as he heard her lean back on the chair, the metal groaning in response.
"For the record, my stomach does feel bad, and anyway, what are you doing here, Sarah, or should I call you Commander Sally?" Norbert asked her, looking up with his head in his arms.
"Wow, going right for the jugular and not holding back, it seems," Sarah said as she nodded. "And over here, just call me Sarah; I don't want you saying it accidentally; now, that would be an interesting conversation with Jack." She finished.
Norbert, now sitting up slightly further up Norbert asked, "And what is with the entire you and Jack thing, tracking me down or investigating me?" Norbert said, suspicion in his voice.
Sarah laughed at Norbert's comment, "Oh no, your important but not that important. Not yet, at least. This was all just a happy little coincidence we met like this," Sarah finished.
Norbert just nodded, not believing that it just happened. "Guess you just wanted a break from there", He said to himself. Norbert saw Sarah nod her head slightly at his remark. Moving on, Norbert asked his next question, "So how did you and Elizabeth move up so quickly in the world? I've barely made a dent, but the two of you have made your little kingdoms you rule over?" Norbert asked, genuinely curious about how they overtook him so much compared to before.
Sarah leaned forward, sipping. "What did Elizabeth and Luck tell you?" she asked Norbert.
Norbert listing off his fingers, "Elizabeth told me nothing about it, only know she goes across because I talked with her the last time we went together. And Luck said she would tell me next time I'm waiting in the interim. Oh, she also said that you two have been there longer than me" Norbert said.
Sarah just smiled. "So Elizabeth got caught out; that's fantastic. Going to hold it over her head the next time we meet." She said, still grinning at the end of it. "But to answer your question, we've been jumping around much longer than you have. Much, much longer"
Norbert's queasiness disappeared the more he thought about what Luck first said and the mountain mural. "So, what the mural shown in the great dividing range bordering Arzatech depicted us as the shaped beings?" Norbert asked, wondering what mess he was getting into.
"What are you even doing over there? Weren't you just meant to be pushing back some raptors? Well, anyway, the short answer is yes. We get moved over and fight between ourselves, and the last one lives on, only to repeat," she said, getting her soft drink and slurping some down, Norbert hearing her at the bottom as it started to gurgle.
"Huh, when Luck said it was a play, guess it's just for them." He said, trailing off, thinking about his actions so far. Thinking if he was played in some way or pushed through others, Norbert just looked up and asked the single question to Sarah, "Why?"
Looking out at the park, she responded, "Now, isn't that the question that everyone wants to know? Honestly, I have no clue. After all the renditions I've seen, there doesn't seem to be a reason for it. It's just the way they are, the way it is." She finished.
Norbert nodded his head. "So, is there any system, code or rules I need to follow in this show?" Norbert asked; the last thing he wanted was to have a god's wrath on him or an entire world after his heels.
"That depends. Did she give any stipulations for walking the path with her?" Sarah asked
Norbert was quiet momentarily, thinking back to all his interactions with her. Was there anything he could have been given? "Just when I asked what she wanted me to do?" Norbert said.
Sarah just nodded. "And her response?" she asked
"To do whatever I want", Norbert said. "Any idea what she meant by that?"
Sarah just smiled. "She never changes. Well, you're in luck; the others give rules or guides that they need to follow to make it more ‘entertaining’ as they say," she said. "But enough about that, what are you doing near Arzatech? Last I heard, you were near the border sure, but you shouldn't need to be anywhere near the mountains", she finished,
Norbert shrugged. "Oh yeah, I was wondering if you could help with that. In a tight bind at the moment and was hoping for some support or resources sent our way," Norbert said.
"Can't send you anything if I don't know what happened", Sarah said
"Well, it began with a surprise" Norbert continued explaining his adventure to Sarah, the mural he saw, the train ride, his battle with Arzlan and their subsequent escape and the looking at the city finishing off with his talk with Elizabeth "after having the ten elixirs I was leaving when was dropped off here. Said before on a whim that Luck was the person that introduced the changes in my behaviour, so I needed to show Jack" Norbert finished off, by now all the food in front of him having been eaten, his stomach now no longer rolling around in his stomach.
"Yeah, not going to be able to help you there. Not worth the red tape, and getting a force big enough for that will make everyone hostile." Sarah said.
"So there's nothing you can do?" Norbert asked her.
"If I had the resources to help you, then you would have been given them before. Currently, there is nothing, and I cannot personally go there. Especially with the gods moving around again, everyone is tense, which could cause everyone to panic before we're ready." Sarah said as she leaned forward, moving a strand of hair out of her eyes. "And what about those twelve elixirs you have in your system? That should be plenty—surprised you're still functional," said the last bit to herself.
"Fifteen, I believe, and will probably have several more when I get back there. Have enough coin on me for it," Norbert said as he looked around. "So, what now?" He asked Sarah.
"For now, we have fun and relax, and when over there, we continue about our business; you get those people out while I prepare for what's coming." she said before waving behind Norbert and shouting, "How was it?"
"Think I need a break", Jack said, Norbert, smiling at his friend's turmoil as he turned around, seeing Luck walking back to them smiling. Norbert smiling in return joined her halfway as the crowd busied themselves around it.
"As good as the first time?" Norbert asked Luck.
"Even better", She replied, smiling from ear to ear as the wind blew her hair to the side, glowing under the sun's light.