Vincent was on a peculiar island, face-first in the sand. When he came to, he carefully stood up, dusted himself off, and looked at his surroundings. In the mere distance, what appeared to be strange beings that were made out of purple gel, each with drooping faces.
"Teddy!" Vincent called. "Teddy, where are you?"
In the distance, a tall figure began to approach. He was soon revealed to be a boy about the age of fourteen.
"That teddy bear cannot speak, you know," he pointed out.
"You don't know that, Fred!" shouted Vincent. "When we find him, I'll prove it to you!" He approached six of the gel-like creatures, who were carrying a large vase. "Have any of you seen my teddy bear?"
"What's a teddy bear?" asked one of the creatures.
"Maybe our master will know," said another. The six purple beings escorted Vincent and Fred to their master.
During their trek, Fred looked curiously at the six beings. "What species are you supposed to be?" he asked.
"We are a rare species known as Glounces," one of the creatures replied.
"That's...a rather odd name."
When the right finally reached the village of the Glounces, the six gel-like creatures set the large vase down. In the village appeared to only be seven huts, and the group of eight entered the largest one. There they saw a Glounce that had a shade of red covering its entire body.
"Hello, Collator," one of the Glounces said.
"Hello, young one," said the tall Glounce. "Who are these two boys you bring forth?"
"Island castaways."
"Everybody, sit down." Everyone did as they were told. "What business do you two have here?"
"I lost my teddy bear," Vincent whined. "Have you seen it?"
"You must go to the Ancient Temple of the Lost and Found. That is where we store most items that are lost on this island."
"What if my teddy bear is not there?"
"Centuries ago, our ancestors built the temple for those who have lost their belongings. Then those individuals could go there to retrieve them. We look around the island and find said belongings, and we take them to the temple. If that bear is really that important to you, then you must come with me." Collator looked toward the other Glounces. "You six will stay here while I show these two the way. Say, what are your names? You have yet to tell me."
"I am Fred, and this is Vincent," replied Fred.
Collator's eyes widened at the mention of a Fred's name. He shook his head, trying to get rid of any thoughts he was having. He gestured for the two boys to follow him, and they obeyed.
It took around five minutes to reach the temple, which appeared to be almost as large as a castle! It was covered in brown dragon scales, which made it appealing to the eye.
The trio entered the temple, where a large door stood inside. On the door was a painting of a teenage girl and boy. Around them were eighteen symbols.
"What you see above you are the eighteen elements that Gemstone Island relies on," Collator explained. "They are the elements of Time, Fire, Earth, Light, Electricity, Ice, Shadow, Luna, Skill, Water, Flora, Gravity, Rage, Darkness, Iron, Wind, Myth, and Death. The girl in the painting is the chosen one. Her name has yet to be revealed, but the boy is Eric. He masters all elements. His location had been verified and a dark force is searching for him as we speak, so we guide him from place to place. Now let's proceed through the door."
Collator opened the door, entering through it behind the boys. Collator suddenly turned blue, while Vincent and Fred became green.
"What's going on?" Vincent asked in panic.
"This is the room of Intelligence and Idiocy," said Collator. "In this room the intelligent become blue, while those of the...less intelligent variety become green."
Vincent saw his teddy bear on the other side of the room and ran toward it. He grabbed it and then noticed strange markings on the wall.
"What is this?" Vincent asked.
"Ah, that, my boy, is The Dark Fate," said Collator. "I sense than an evil sorcerer is trying to unlock its secrets. If that were to happen, we would all perish."
"How do we stop this from happening?" Fred asked.
"You must vanquish two forces of evil. Only them will all be at rest. But I sense a third force tampering with The Dark Fate."
"Just what is The Dark Fate?"
"The Dark Fate is a prophecy that states that there are eight spirits scattered about on Gemstone Island that can unleash evil upon the world, but they can also be used for good. Whoever finds them and uses their powers to summon the being trapped within them will be able to conquer the world—if any madman finds them, that is."
"Who are these beings you speak of?"
"They call themselves the Mavericks. I will tell you more about them later. Since we have found what you were searching for, it is time to return to the village."
In the village, the sound of crumbs could be heard. All of the villagers ceased the noise at the sight of Collator.
"Fellow villagers," the Glounce began, "Vincent and Fred here have shown great significance to us. I shall go with them and help put an end to The Dark Fate."
The villagers cheered as Collator, Vincent, and Fred climbed into a small boat and began to sail eastward.
***
Ashley and a few others had been walking for at least three days. They soon entered what appeared to be the hinterlands, where a robotic squirrel stood near the entrance.
"Welcome to the Gemstone Island Hinterlands!" it said. "In this timbered wilderness, you'll find odd but side-splitting animals, so you had better keep a look out for them. To get out of the hinterlands, it is best to go your separate ways."
Ashley held her chin. "I don't know," she said. "Something seems fishy about that."
"Let's do as this...robot suggests for now and see where that takes us," Cindy said.
The group did as instructed and went in his or her own direction. The robotic squirrel quietly snickered to himself.
***
Curtis walked through the hinterlands, loading his machine gun just in case. A beaver jumped out of the bushes and held his paws in the air at the sight of the gun.
"Please don't shoot me!" he pleaded.
Curtis lowered his gun. "You can speak?" he asked.
"Yes. Is that surprising to you?"
"Very. What's your name, little guy?"
No longer frightened, the beaver put his arms down. "Barry Bobinski. What is yours?"
"Curtis Jones. It's a pleasure to—"
Rustling was suddenly heard coming from the leaves of a nearby tree. Curtis shot the tree, causing Charles to fall out. Next to him was a boy with blond, spiky hair, a checkered hat, a green jacket, and blue jeans. Charles, not noticing Curtis and Barry right away, installed a pycnometer into the ground.
"Charles?" Curtis called. "Is that you?"
Charles and the other boy turned around. "Well, well, well," Charles snarled. "We meet again. In case you were wondering, my friend here is Trent Thunder, a fellow student from Chantex's academy."
"What's that you've got there?" Barry asked.
"This is called a pycnometer," Trent explained. "Once we install the rest on this island, world domination will be ours!" Trent pressed a red button on the machine, and the clouds above merged to form a hurricane.
Barry looked up in horror. "That can't be good..."
"Now Curtis, you had better take your beaver friend and run as far as you can if you know what's good for you!" Charles warned.
"And what if I don't?" Curtis asked.
Charles used his arms as a bow and fired an arrow toward Curtis and Barry, who luckily jumped out of the way.
"Either you leave now, or we'll have to use force," Trent said. He fired a lightning bolt from his hands toward Curtis and Barry, who scampered away. "Should we follow them?"
"But of course," Charles replied. "Maybe they will lead us to that girl..."
"The one that beat you to a bloody pulp?"
"Don't you ever bring that up again!"
***
Cindy was walking through the forest and accidentally stepped on a sparrow that was lying on the ground. She picked it up and held it apologetically.
"I'm sorry, little guy," she said. "I didn't see you there. You're not hurt, are you?"
The sparrow jumped up as if nothing had happened. "Must find spirit," he said in a demonic voice.
"Spirit?" The sparrow picked Cindy up with incredible strength. "Put me down this instant!"
The sparrow placed a small circular device on Cindy's head. Her eyes became bloodshot red and her skin became slightly lighter.
"Help...find spirit," the sparrow commanded.
"Affirmative," Cindy said, grinning evilly.
***
Andrew and Ubaid had decided to go together, scanning everything in sight. They soon came across a ferret that was mumbling to himself.
"Excuse us, but what are you doing?" Ubaid asked.
"Tell me about the spirit," the ferret said demonically. "Do not...and you will suffer."
"We know nothing about what you are speaking of," Andrew said. The ferret placed a peculiar contraption on Andrew and Ubaid's heads. "We shall search high and low for that spirit!"
"That's better."
***
Ashley noticed a sleeping robot underneath a tree and shook it awake. "Sorry about that," the robot apologized. "My job is going to destroy me one of these days. My name is Mech. What is yours?"
"Ashley," said Ashley.
"Thomas?"
"You know me?"
"Precisely. Chantex sent me here specifically to destroy you and find the spirit hidden within this dastardly place."
"Spirit?"
"And now it's time for you to die!"
Everyone that had been mind-controller merged with Mech to form a large robot. Mech was the head, Andrew and Ubaid were the arms, Cindy and the sparrow were the legs, and the ferret was a machine gun.
"Better say your prayers!" Mech laughed maniacally.