Stubbins, father, and I all wore cloths over our heads, hiding our faces as we slipped through the crowded streets.

"I'm still don't see the point in covering up Stubbins. They've never heard of him, let alone seen him. Honestly, I doubt they'd remember me either- it's been ages" I mutter

"Just be quiet. You never know who's watching" father whispered

I rolled my eyes.
"I think you're just paranoid but sure" I shrug

It took us forever to get inside. Well- for them it did. I'd climbed over walls and slipped past the guards like I'd done thousands times before. Father and stubbins, on the other hand, were crawling on their bellies like frightened rabbits. I just followed behind, walking casually.

When we reached the gates, James the dragonfly was in tears, ranging about some girl getting married- an ant apparently. I sighed and tuned him until the ants finally agreed to pick the lock.

The doors creaked open, revealing a new set of bars.

"These bars are new." I muttered.

Father groaned and complained about something.

"I can fit" I said, crouching down.

"No, no, no, it's too dangerous!" Father protested

"Relax. I've done it before. See you" I grinned then slipped through.

The halls were dark and familiar. I moved quietly, stepping over patches of gold and treasure, until I saw him- King Rassouli, my grandfather- fast asleep on his golden bed. With his loins all around.

I climbed the ladder to the top balcony and swung across the ropes to reach the other side, landing soundlessly near the tiger panting. I stared into its jeweled eyes until the floor beneath me shifted open, revealing a passageway below. I dropped down, landing in a room lined with gold.

That's when I saw it- a panting of my mother.

A sudden sound made me spin around, grabbing the nearest object as a weapon-

But it was just stubbins.

"Don't scare me like that! You should've stayed back, I've got this covered" I whispered

"I wanted to come" he said

"Alright, come on then" I nod

We walked toward the painting together until I stopped, something tugging at my memory.
"Get the journal. I have to grab one more thing " I told him

"What? Nova-" he starts

"I'll be fine. Go" I said then I was gone.

I slipped deeper into the chamber, the shadows closing around me. Then I heard it- the low, rumbling roar of a lion.

"No, no, no" I whispered. They were caught. I ducked behind a pile of gold and waited to make sure no one found me.

I was no use to them caught.

That's when I saw it.
A small wooden box, hidden beneath a gold statue.

I knelt down, hands trembling as I opened it. Inside was a photograph of mother and me, a few scraps of fabric, and a necklace- simple, with an arrow shaped charm. Tears filled my eyes.

I remembered the day we'd found it.
Mother and I had been exploring, surrounded by mountains of gold we had no intention of taking. Then I saw the necklace, half-buried in dust. She told me to keep it, saying.
"when you're older, you'll hold beautiful memories in your hands"

Now, older and alone, I finally understood what she meant. I fastened the necklace around my neck.

I walked back to the journal. Hearing an explosion as I do. That couldn't be good. I opened the book and read the pages with her handwriting. I traced the map and writing with my finger.
I closed it and started to walk out.

Then- stubbins nearly collided with me.
"Oh good, you're alive. Take this" I shoved the book in his hands.

"Follow me!" I said. We sprinted through the corridor, toward the sound of shouting. Then we burst out into the open, and stopped.

"I have it! I have it-" stubbins shouted, holding up the journal.

"Holt!" The guards yell, guns raised.

"And now I'll have it" müdfly said, stepping forward and taking it from stubbins.

He flipped through the pages, eyes gleaming.
"She has such a shore hand. Exactly what the doctor ordered." Müdfly said, closing the book.

"What did they offer you müdfly? To murder the Queen of England." Father asks

"Quite a few things actually" he said smugly.

He started to list them.

"Oh my gosh, just shut up already" I muttered

Müdfly ignored me.
"Oh and the icing on the madeline will be the scientific alkaloids of the proper study of the Eden tree. All thanks to Lily Dolittle. Actually no that's still madeline. The icing is knowing that you know I won." Müdfly said

"So you're still obsessed with him" I said flatly

"I'm not!-" he stopped himself.

"Oh and one more thing, I'm so sorry for that hole in your boat" müdfly smirked.

"What hole?" The tiniest member of our group asks.

Then müdfly pointed.

Our ship.

Being bombed.

I ran to the edge, heart pounding as explosions lit the water. I watched as Yoshi dove in after plim. I could only stand there, helpless, watching as the ship that carried all our memories- mothers trinkets, fathers tools, my drawing- swallowed by the sea.

When it was over, I sank onto a crate, staring at the empty horizon. My hands shook as I clutched both necklaces- the one mother left me, and the one I'd found.

It felt like the last piece of her I had left.