The road was still dusty and empty. Flint, Krause, and Ricky looked up and down the long street, looking for some place where they could be accommodated. Suddenly, they heard footsteps from behind them. Boney was the first to turn. He began to growl, but then he stopped. The rest of them spun around and saw a young brunette in a long, white lab coat walking towards them. A quick breeze blew up her coat, revealing a shiny metal object for about a second. They turned back around slowly, a bit worried but not wanting to rouse more suspicion. As she passed them, however, she gave them a quick smile said, "Thanks!" They all raised an eyebrow and she walked on until the end, when she took a left turn. Boney barked. They all walked on in silence. When they finally reached the end of the street, they reached a shabby-looking brick building with a big sign above it that said TRAVELER’S HOSTEL. As they read it, there was a creak and the sign began to slant. The twins looked at each other.

"It’ll have to do," Flint said gloomily. They walked through the saloon doors and into a dark room. There didn’t seem to be anyone behind the desk. Krause noticed a little bell on the desk. He rang it twice, and then a groan was heard. Much to everyone’s shock, a hand grabbed the desk and a little man pulled himself up, rubbing his head.

"Oh…hi. Don’t worry about me. I just got…hit across the head by something…" he said, straightening his black beard out.

"Hit across the head?" Flint asked suspiciously

"Yeah…they came in and demanded to see somebody named Rick – or was it Ryuko?" They all looked at each other, wide eyed, "They totally ransacked the place, then they smacked me with something. I hate insurance salesmen…"

"Who are they?" Ricky said nervously.

"Didn’t you hear me? They’re insurance salesmen. They dress up like thugs, then they barge into people’s houses, do awful things, then come back later and ask if you would like their policies. They tried fooling me, but nope, I’m too clever for them! Hey! Where did you guys go?"

Flint and co. were already out the door and sprinting off towards the train station.

"We need to (pant) make tracks to (puff) (puff) somewhere far away…" Flint said, attempting to drag Boney along and run at the same time. Finally, they reached the old train platform and collapsed underneath the shade, panting. Kruase, with one eye open, saw that the next train wasn’t coming for another three hours. They got up, settled themselves into the crude benches, and began the long wait. Suddenly Boney sniffed the air, twitched his eyes, and then suddenly dropped his head to the platform with a thud.

"Boney?" Ricky asked in a startled tone. He got up, but he felt somebody sharply tug on the back of his shirt.

"Don’t move a muscle," Flint said in a soft, grave voice. As he said that, a sudden aroma seemed to just roll in. None of them could describe it quite right, but the best description was an odd, sweet-smelling scent with a vague touch of cinnamon. Ricky’s eyelids suddenly became very heavy and felt completely exhausted. His eyes began losing focus, then he felt himself slowly slump down onto the bench. Then it was, you guessed it, rather dark.

Before poor Ricky could give any thought to the incident, he realized that he was standing somewhere in the night. He looked around and saw steep hill slopes all around him. Somewhere near the bottom of this big hill, he saw the lights of some nearby houses, then as he peered southwards, he gazed at the bright lights of a town hundreds of feet down the slopes. The most notable feature, however, was a large glowing rock about ten yards away. It seemed to be producing unearthly warmth, as well as a disturbing red light. Though he didn’t dream often, Ricky somehow got the feeling that he was in one, but not an ordinary one. Suddenly there was a sharp whine and the crashing of branches. He turned with a jump and a gasp, but it was just Boney, who was for some reason in a nearby tree. As if on cue, he heard his uncle’s groan. Flint crawled up from behind a piece of cooled debris from the weird rock. He gave his trenchcoat a shake and turned to Ricky, his face as grim as ever.

"I told you not to move!" he said, adjusting his cowboy hat. As he said this, Krause groaned and pulled himself out from behind a roadblock. He rubbed his eyes, then looked around.

"What the hey?" he began, rubbing his left temple.

"I’m not quite sure myself," Flint cut in, "But I know this is some kind of bizarre dream, because I don’t dream."

"And I’m in it too…" Ricky added. They all looked at each other for a while, then something caught Krause’s sensitive ears.

"Hey? Do you hear something that sounds like a bee buzzing around?" he said. The others looked at him like lobsters were crawling out of his ears. Boney looked up and gave a little woof.

"C’mon! You’ve gotta hear it!"

Ricky’s ears perked up, then Flint’s. They all looked up. A beam of light fell on the meteor, and then a bug-like thing slowly flew down from the heavens.

"It’s a bee…" Flint said, raising an eyebrow. The insect stopped.

"A bee…I am not," a calm, slightly intellectual sounding voice said, "I am the spirit of Buzz-Buzz, a bee from ten years in the past. I apologize. This is the only way I can contact you."

Flint’s jaw dropped. Ricky and Krause stared at the bee, or whatever it was, unable to say anything. Boney cocked his head and made a cute, confused noise.

"And twenty years ago, the savior of the world, Ness, prevented Giygas from completing his heinous plans," Buzz-Buzz continued

"You’re really that bee…" Flint said, sounding very surprised.

"A BEE I AM NOT!" Buzz-Buzz shouted with an earth-shattering roar that made everybody flinch, "…And thanks to your brother’s deeds, the world still exists. Yet evil will never completely recede. It has been in recession for a long time, and it is time for the rise once more. The PORK Empire has long been a threat to Earth, but it is now that their power is finally demonstrated. They are at work as we speak and there’s nothing we can do about it at the time."

"Then why did you contact us?" Flint demanded.

"Patience! My time here is running low, and I will soon return to Heaven," he said, then he flew over towards Ricky.

"Ah…yes…you, you hold the power to end the threat! As a descendant of Ness Lee, you alone can unlock the mysteries of the Sound Stone."

"Me…? W-what about Flint! Or Krause!" Ricky stammered. He didn’t want to end any threat at all, nor did he know what a Sound Stone was supposed to be, nor did he know he was related to the mildly famous savior of the world.

"Flint is too old to be saving the world, and Krause makes a better sidekick."

Flint glared at Buzz-Buzz coldly and Krause snarled in shock and disgust at Buzz-Buzz’s rudeness.

"My time is truly fading… but listen to what I have to say! In order to defeat the Master, your powers must unite and become at one with the Earth. There are four locations around the Earth that you must visit and record their melodies. Call them "Your Sanctuaries." Once all four are reached, the power will channel with the Earth and multiply. Only then will you gain the power to shatter the Nightmare Rock, which rests in your very mind, and unleash awesome power. Did you listen to my story?"

Ricky stood frozen and wide-eyed.

"Good! You have an awesome…destiny to fulfill… I have…put the Sound Stone…in your pack…" Buzz-Buzz said, his clam voice suddenly sounding restrained, "You must…succeed…and ARRRRRGGGH! Your first Sanctuary location is the Golden Tunnel! It’s…not far from Coal Town! AAAAGGGGH!"

The spirit of Buzz-Buzz suddenly faded, then flickered back for a moment, then totally vanished. Ricky’s pack felt heavier and he also felt strangely stronger, in a way. He also knew that no matter how weird all of this was, he was convinced that he must stop the threat that the bee spoke of. He turned around, but the world suddenly began fading into darkness…

Ricky awoke with a jolt. He was on the same bench that he had mysteriously drifted off upon. He looked around and saw Flint, Krause, and Boney all groaning and getting up. Ricky noticed his backpack was on the platform beside him, and he hastily opened it. He gasped. On top of all of his belongings there was a smooth stone about the size of his palm. He looked at it closer, then noticed that there was an elaborate carving of the planet Earth, as well as four circles surrounding it. Yes, it was more than just a dream! His brother rushed over to him and kneeled down.
"Well, you’re in a lot of trouble now!" Krause said, eyeing the stone enviously, "You’re supposed to save the world from PORK, or whatever, and we’re supposed to help you. Prophecies always suck…"

"You’re just jealous," Ricky told Krause, patting his head teasingly.

"Well, congrats, nephew! Who would think that someone who still wets the bed would have such a burden to bear?" Flint said grimly. He knew there was nothing to rejoice about. He did not feel like fighting off the pigs that had captured him the previous night. Ricky shot him a fiery glance, then went back to observing his special rock. Then something snapped in his brain.

"We’ve gotta find Gold Tunnel."

"Nuh?" Krause said

"Didn’t you listen to Buzz-Buzz?"

"Not after he said I’d make a good sidekick…"

"The First Sanctuary is a place called Gold Tunnel, and it’s not very far from here," Ricky said, then he turned to Flint, "Do you know anything about a place called Gold Tunnel?"

Flint seemed to ponder it for a moment, and then he shook his head.

"When people on adventures want to find a place, they usually go to the local bar or café," Flint said contemplatively.

"Then that’s what we’ll do!" Ricky exclaimed. He did not want to save the world more than Flint or Krause, but he enjoyed a little slice of power. He had never been a leader of anything, and he figured it could be very interesting. Without further discussion, the group left the platform, Krause sulking with Boney behind Flint and Ricky. He’d make a better sidekick! Indeed! He’d show them…

In no time at all, they were in the dark café, which was much more crowded now. According to Ricky’s indispensable watch, they had been asleep for about three hours and it was 5:44. A friendly waitress showed them to their seats and got each of them drinks. The café was full of mostly miners, who had just returned from their jobs and were still slightly stinky. There didn’t seem to be anything important going on, so Krause inquired:

"So now what, Dad…no, Uncle Flint?"

Flint closed his eyes.

"Usually somebody comes up and asks for help…" he said, sounding very distant. The twins looked around.

"I haven’t heard of anyone who gets up and talks to people at other tables," Ricky said skeptically.

Flint opened his eyes.

"Yeah, it never did make much sense to me," he said. Right as he got done saying this, he heard a woman’s voice from behind him.

"You guys look like you’re new here."

They turned and saw an overweight woman wearing an apron and wiping off a mug with a dirty rag.

"Cowboy hat guy, can you help me out? There’s this annoying guy who keeps asking around about some kind of gold mine. Of course, thieves never listen… you look like you could knock some sense into that fool."

They all looked at each other excitedly.

"Come with me, boys!" he said. They all got up and followed the lady to the bar area, which was a dark, seedy-feeling place filled with smoke and the sounds of drinking. Standing out from the miners, there was a tall, lean young man with a rope at his belt. His hair was jet-black, as well as his eyes. His skin was covered in little scars, and yet his face still held the enthusiasm and recklessness of a boy. He turned with a start to meet Flint and co. He quickly looked them all over in the dim lighting, then smirked for a second.

"Well, I guess this place does have some bouncers!" he said, groping for the rope at his side. Flint raised an eyebrow and stepped up to him. The woman mumbled something to herself and promptly walked away.

"We’re not quite bouncers, but I heard you were bothering some people…" Flint said, as he began to clench his fist. The youth looked down and saw this, then gulped.

"I figured that bars are a good place for local rumors. Look, my career may depend on finding this mother lode of gold…"

"Gold?" Krause cut in.

The man glanced down at him.

"Of course. What else did you think I said?" then he turned to Flint, "Are you looking for something too?"

Flint hesitated for a moment, then said, "Something like that. But I’ve already told you too much. We might be able to work something out. We really haven’t made the proper introductions. I’m Flint Lee."

"I need to be sure I can trust you. ‘Tis the romance of treasure hunting… Every time you make a friend, he just stabs you in the back…"

Flint grinned and drew closer to the young man, and an expression of fear broke the young man’s face as he backed into a corner.

"See how I intimidate you?" he hissed, "I am indeed the worst enemy or best ally you will ever have! Once you’re my friend, I never forget it. When you’re my enemy, I never forget it. What will it be?"

The young man nodded fearfully, but then Flint smiled and patted him on the shoulder.

"Okay…I’m Espeon, the novice treasure hunter and adventurer. Meet me behind this place tonight at eight, and I’ll show you something…"