Author's Note

Well fucking hell has it been a long time since I posted something like fuck. I bet your all wondering why I've been gone for a long time and I'm more than happy to tell ya. So to first start off I'm now a senior in high school and my last year to say the least wasn't the greatest so now I'm working extra hard to keep my shit up. Also I'm looking for a college to go to so that's a thing.

Not only that but I've been practicing in sfm animations for my YouTube channel while also recording some game play for it so I've been a bit busy with that.

The last thing had to do with my other story The Colt of Fire and Lightning. See, I can't do the next chapter without some knowledge of the story from the mlp universe, so to get the best information I had to.......watch mlp. Yes, I had to actually watch it just for the information. Now I have never watched it because personally -not to offend anyone of you guys, your all lovely people- it's just too......girly for me. And on one point it sucks because I can't even get past the damn intro of an episode without pausing it because of the music.

So while I'm dealing with hell to make a new chapter for my story, making Sam animations and gaming videos, and school because school a bitch, that's all the reason of why I am late so yeah.

Also I'd advise using an online Spanish Dictionary for some of the translations because google sucks

Chapter 1

~1~

A Promise We Intend To Keep

========================================

~4 years earlier~

A boy with green eyes looked over a book he was reading and back to some notes that were right next to it. This boy wore a green t-shirt with dark blue jeans along with some tan work boots. The boy looked back and forth and then to the wall in front of him where a map was hung. After double checking the book, his notes, and the map, he nodded to himself and packed the things he had on his desk and into a large green duffle bag. The boy was then stopped by a feminine voice that came from down below.

“James! Are you done yet!”

“Yes Cassie! I'm just about there!”

James rubbed a hand threw his brown hair as he looked through all of his things to make sure he was packed and prepared for the trip he was going on. When all things were in order, he grabbed his duffle bag, book bag, and other things while heading for the stairs that led out of the attic.

Dropping them down the stairs, he climbed down himself and closed the entrance up. Before he could grab his things, he was stopped by the familiar site of his sister.

“Took you long enough pony boy.” She said with a hand on her hip.

Cassie stood at 5’5”, just four inches shorter than James who was 5’9”. She was wearing a red tank top, with black shorty-shorts, along with her signature glasses on and her long blond hair going over her shoulders.

“First, just because I'm going on a adventure after some kind of pony gods, doesn't make me a pony boy. Second, when it comes to what I do for a living, it does not hurt to make sure you're really prepared egghead.” James retorted as he grabbed his bags and hoisted them onto his shoulders.

Cassie gave a small glare to her little brother as she playfully punched his arm while he walked towards the stairs. As they walked together, James saw two other people standing in the kitchen, one a large man and the other a small women.

The large man who stood at 5’11” was wearing a dark green, button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, tan cargo pants and black boots along with short, messy grayish-brown hair. The women standing at 5’4” wore a green tank top with brown shorts and brown flip flops with her blond hair tied in a ponytail that had some small gray lines in it.

The large man looked to James with a proud smile. “Well there's the little Drake. Could've sworn you were having second thoughts.”

James looked to the fifty-seven year old man with a smirk. “And miss out on the biggest opportunity given to me? Nah, I'd like to keep going till I know I can't go any farther.”

The man chuckled in response as the smaller women came up to James and looked him over. She then moved her lips to one side as she looked at his face.

“You...really need to shave.”

The boy put his tongue against his cheek as he rolled his eyes and looked at the women. “Mom, I'm going on a crazy and possibly dangerous adventure. I think shaving is the last thing I'm gonna think about.”

The boy's mother looked at him with narrowed eyes and grabbed his chin as she moved it side to side. “I know, but you just really need to shave it. At the very least, you could make it look good.”

The boy grabbed his mother’s hand and smiled to her. “Well as Dad says, when you go on adventures looking clean and shiny, you can guarantee that you won't come out the same way.”

The women smiled at her boy’s antics but it was soon replaced with worry. “I'm just, worried about you every single time you go on these little hunts and especially now that you're going somewhere I don't even know about. And alone at that”

The boy’s eyes grew soft as he hugged his mother tightly and she the same. “Aw don't worry Mom, I'll be safe. I always am.”

“You know he's right Elena,” his father pitched in, “the boy as proven that he can keep himself safe and out of trouble.”

Elena looked to her husband as she still held on to James. “I know that he can take care of himself Nathan. It's just that this time he's not going with anyone, and he's only eighteen years old.”

The treasure hunter known as Nathan Drake shrugged his shoulders. “And I was only fifteen when I did this stuff and he's already proven to be more reliable on himself when he was fourteen.”

When James heard that he couldn't help but smile in proudness of himself, but he also smiled in the one detail that his father forgot.

“Yes, you did do those things at fifteen Dad. But you also forgot the part where you almost got shot at fifteen.” James said with a mischievous smirk.

Nathan rolled his eyes as he looked to his son while putting his hands out in a shrugging gesture. “Ok I did not almost get shot alright, I was simply distracting the man so Sully could get to him.”

James raised an eyebrow at his father’s excuse to make himself look good. “Oh, even when you closed your eyes?”

The ‘oh crap’ guy walked towards the door of the house and opened it. “That was to give him a false sense of hope that I was not going to shoot.”

James grabbed his bags and walked out the door with his father while he had a shit-eating grin on his face. “So it was all planned out even though Sully said that you looked like you were going to shit yourself.”

The two girls of the house followed their boys out onto the beach of their island while shaking their heads as Nathan retorted. “Well Sully was in his younger years so he might have been tipsy on beers or something.”

James shook his head with a smile as he walked away from their house and toward the dock where a sail boat was waiting. “Whatever you say Dad.”

The Drake family continued walking until they reached the dock and made their way to the boat. When they reached it, James sat his bags down and knocked twice on the side of it.

In response to the knocks, large footsteps made their way outside of the boat’s hull and what came with them was a man who stood at 6’3” with grayish-brown hair, a blue buttoned up shirt with dark blue jeans and tan work boots.

“Ah, I see my little nephew is all ready to go on his first lone adventure.” The large man said as he grabbed the bags and put them on the deck of the sail boat.

James smiled in excitement. “I'm sure as hell am. Double checked everything so I come prepared.”

The man chuckled as he pointed a finger at his nephew. “See what happens little nephew when you listen to Uncle Sam, you get all the stuff right.”

James laughed as he crossed his arms. “Says the man who doesn't double check a door he props.”

Sam looked to his nephew with a smirk and a raised eyebrow as his brother put a hand to his mouth to stop laughing. He then raised his finger again. “Ok first off, I always did check the door that I propped and second, need I remind you whose sailing you into mainland.”

James laughed as he put his hands up in mock surrender. “Alright Uncle, you can take it easy right there. What I meant to say was that you are very efficient when it comes to propping doors.”

San smiled as he nodded in agreement. “That's much better little nephew.” He then directed his gaze to the other people standing at the dock and clapped his hands together. “So! Are we already to get on this expedition or do you guys need some more time.”

“I think a few more goodbyes shouldn't hurt anyone here Sam.” Elena said as she came to give her son a final goodbye.

Sam walked to the steps that led down to the hull of the boat while nodding his head. “Well I won't rush ya. Take all the time you need.”

The family nodded as Sam disappeared inside the water vessel and directed their gaze to the son of the family and prepared to say their goodbyes. Which Elena was already set on doing.

“Make sure you only talk to those you trust, don't go anywhere without being properly prepared, go to bed at a good schedule so you're energized, eat well, and lastly, shoot anybody who tries to kill you.”

Rolling his eyes at the many things his mom told him while trying to squeeze the life out of him, James replied in a way a son would to a worried mother.

“Yes mom, I know. Stay energized, take things that I might not use then need it and not have it, don't trust anyone unless proven otherwise, and shoot the bad guys. I got it all under control.”

Elena not really feeling comforted by her sons words only squeezed him harder. “Please be safe my little boy, and update me on anything that will happen.”

As if sensing the stress from his mother he put his arms around her hugged her warmly which she responded in hugging him as if he'd leave forever. Which he kinda would but only for a few months.

“Mom,” he started, “I promise I'll keep you updated on what I'm doing daily, and I will be safe. It may not be guaranteed but I'll try my damn hardest.”

He felt her shake a little which indicated she was crying. He gave her some time while his sibling and dad looked with sympathy. They always knew how it was for the journalist when her only son went on these things alone. Especially when how he looked when he came back from his first one. To say the least, the only things that made him look fine, was the smile of accomplishment on his face.

After a minute of calming down his mother stepped away from him and wiped her tears from her eyes. “Just…...please be safe…..I don't want to lose you.”

James gave his best smile to his mother which she couldn't help but smile back. “And I will, I promise.”

Elena narrowed her eyes at her son. “You better, or I'll have to come there and bring you back from the dead just so I can beat you from giving me a heart attack.”

Having a nervous smile and a bit of sweat on his forehead, James nodded rapidly. “Yes ma'am.” God knows if she had the power to do that she wouldn't hesitate to do so.

The journalist nodded as her husband came up to the boy and patted his shoulder and gave him a firm hug. “You've done me proud. Although I would have much rather you do something else like your sister, and much safer at that, I'm proud for the lengths you go just to come back with that smile on your face.”

The boy hugged his father as he replied. “Thanks Dad, I would have never been this kinda person if it weren't for you and the stories you told me, I probably would've been someone else right now.”

Nathan shrugged as he replied nonchalantly. “Well I had to give someone some sense of adventure, and all those temples I left for you still need some exploring.”

James chuckled as he stepped back to look at his dad. “And leave them in one peace.”

The older Drake rolled his eyes as he held up three fingers. “Ok, I only destroyed three places when I left them.”

“Four actually,” corrected Elena, “not counting the other things you destroyed along the way.”

Nathan looked back to his wife with a hand on his chest. “In my defense those buildings were old anyways.”

“But that didn't stop us from destroying them.” Sam’s muffled voice added from inside the boat.

Nate glared at the boat as if it insulted him. “Shut up Sam!”

His response was only a chuckle. Nate glared at the boat a little longer and softened his gaze as he looked to his son and smiled.

“Well, I guess all I can say is don't go destroying anything.”

The boy nodded in response. “Yup, wouldn't have it any other way.”

His dad nodded and then reached behind him to grab a bag that was hooked to his belt. “Well, since you're basically carrying the legacy of treasure hunting, I thought I could give you a few tools.”

Grabbing the bag with a raised eyebrow and peaked interest, James opened it and stared with surprise with the contents it had.

“Dad, isn't this-”

Nodding to his son's question, Nathan gestured to the bag. “Yup, the stuff in there is the stuff that accompanied me on my last adventure.”

With much more interest and excitement, the young Drake pulled out the first thing that caught his eye. What he brought out was his dad's shoulder gun holster with not even a scratch in any of it. James would give one thing to his dad, he knew how to keep his shit clean.

Putting the holster down he looked into the bag to find a large looking nail for climbing, and a grapple hook in a loop to keep the rope from going everywhere, and lastly a journal pouch.

“Thanks dad. For a second there, I thought I was going to have to buy this stuff from somewhere else.” He said as he put the holster back in the bag and tied it up.

“Well taking into consideration of the story you told when you bought tools from someplace else, I'd figure you'd need something that actually will stay intact and plus you'll need them now more than me.”

Looking to his dad, James smile gratefully with gratitude in his eyes. “Thanks Dad, I'll be sure to use them to the best of my ability.”

The large man nodded. “I know you will.”

James nodded once to the man and looked to the final Drake who stepped forward to say her goodbyes. Cassie, his sister, looked to her little brother as if she wanted to say something to him.

Already knowing what she was going to say, James looked to his sister with a calm but firm expression. “You're not going to change my mind Cassie.”

The older sibling pouted with a small glare to her little brother. “Why shouldn't I try James?! You're going to a place that none of us know about, a place none of us have ever seen, and you're going alone!”

A bit taken back by his sister's outburst, James tried to speak to her but she beat him to the punch. “Why can't you just do something safer like Dad and Mom or like me? Why are you so persistent on getting yourself hurt, or worse, killed because of some temple or treasure that’s probably not there?!”

Before she could continue on James brought her in for a hug which she tried to resist at first but gave up and relaxed in his embrace. As he was hugging her, he could still hear the faint question she always asked.

“Why?”

The young boy sighed as he grabbed Cassie’s arms and brought her to look at him. “Cassie I do this because I chose this life. If I were to do what Dad and Mom do I would go nuts, because I would be confined into a small space of doing papers and having to find forms or permits just to do a simple little traveling to some wreck, no offense to you guys.”

His parents both waved a hand in the air. “None taken.”

James nodded and continued while looking into his sister's teary eyes. “If I were to do what you do, I would probably be sent to prison for doing something illegal. Now don't act like it's that bad because I know how long it can take for you and your team to just get the green to go exploring somewhere that was probably already explored.”

He could see that his sister was going to shed a few more tears and proceeded to wipe them away with a thumb. “I chose this life because it's what I love doing and even though this might sound depressing, I would rather die doing what I love to do then doing what I wouldn't. Like the crocodile man”

The siblings turned their heads to the boat when they heard footsteps on the dock, only to see Sam standing with his arms crossed.

“He's right Cassie, this life was made for him just as it was made for me, my brother, and Sully. Now I might not go on them anymore and neither does Sully, but it's still a life I wouldn't trade for anything else. We're born adventurers, seeking the thrill and glory at the end of a rainbow even if we can't see it.”

James nodded in agreement when he turned back to Cassie who still looked like she wanted him to stay and stop doing things that have proven to kill him much quicker than his dad’s adventures. It made his heart break for her, but it's the life he chose.

“I know damn well what I'm getting into Cass and I'm well prepared for what's to come. Just because I'm going on these trips that have proven dangerous doesn't mean I'm gonna go looking for it.”

His sister looked pleadingly into the boy's eyes as if it would get him to stay and just try something else. But no matter how hard she tried he would not budge. Cassie sighed deeply as she put her head into his chest which he responded by rubbing her hair.

“Just because you stay safe and that you always prepare for the worse doesn't make me all the more worried.”

“I know,” the younger brother stated as he continued to stroke her hair, “but I always promise that I will come back safe in sound with nothing but a few bruises and scratches, and that's a promise I'm always going to keep.”

James stopped petting her hair when she put her head up to look at him. He couldn't do anything else but give a warm smile to his older sister which she slowly returned. With a big hug and soft voice she gave her final goodbye.

“Stay safe pony boy.”

James returned the gesture in kind. “I will egghead, promise.”

James proceeded to say goodbye to the rest of his family with hugs and kisses, especially to his mom. When their final goodbyes were said, James boarded the boat and helped his uncle to set sail.

When all was done the boat was already away from the deck heading out to sea.

“Next stop, mainland.” Sam exclaimed as he steered the boat.

“Stay safe James!” His mother shouted while waving to the leaving sailboat.

“Come back in one piece please!” Cassie added while giving her own wave.

His father cupped his hands around his mouth to give his son some few last tips. “Stay safe Jimbo and shoot anyone that I would shoot!”

James who was waving to his folks and sibling, stopped and cupped his hands on his mouth to reply. “You mean the guys that would shoot me first?!”

Nathan chuckled. “That's my boy!”

The family continued to wave until the boat was almost nothing but a small white boat on the blue ocean. The parents stared at it for some time and eventually headed back inside to most likely play Crash Bandicoot. The older sibling however stayed looking at the vessel that was now a small speck in the distance and sighed.

“Please stay safe.”

========================================

~3 hours later at sea~

“🎶Heave a pawl, O heave away! Way hey, roll and go!🎶” Sam sang as he steered the boat straight on course for mainland. He paused his singing for a while to take a drink from a beer he had in his hand and then continued singing the shanty when he was done.

James went through all of his stuff and even the bag his dad gave him to just make sure everything was in there. He knew how dangerous these trips were so he always made sure to be prepared -even if it was too much- just to keep his life.

After having enough of preparing he came out from inside the hull of the water vessel and sat on one of the seats to the side. Eventually his Uncle Sam continued to hum the shanty for not remember most of the words. His humming was then cut short by a question.

“So tell me little nephew, what is this little adventure that the young James Drake will be exploring on?” Sam asked as he took a glance to his nephew.

James sat in silence for awhile listening to the small waves hit the boat and shrugged. “Just something that this old guy gave me when me and Cassie got in a pickle a year ago. Now after months of locating it, I'm finally gonna find this temple.”

Sam quirked and eyebrow as his interest for an ancient temple came to him. “Just what kind of temple are we talking about here? Aztec, Egyptians, Pirates?”

James shook his head as he went back into the hull and grabbed his green duffel bag. He proceed to open it up and rummaged around for what he was looking for until he found an old, light brown leather book that barely looked like it could hold together and had pages showing out of it. James had fortunately found a tiny brown string just to tie around the book to keep it from falling apart. On the cover were 2 strange heads and two symbols behind said heads.

The boy walked out with the book in hand and handed it to his Uncle who put down his beer to hold it and looked at it with confusion but interest.

“Now this…..is one old book.”

James nodded in agreement. “Yeah, I had to find something to tie around the damn thing just to keep it from falling apart. When I brought it from the place the old man gave me, I had to hold it myself so it wouldn't be destroyed.”

Sam nodded as he turned the object a few times looking over the torn leather. He then took his hand off the wheel of the sailboat to untie the string to see its contents. Before he did he looked to his nephew with a questioning glance who only gestured for him to proceed.

Having permission he untied the string and looked through its old pages that looked barely eligible.

“Huh, this is definitely something old. These pages barely look like they can be read.”

James only nodded as his Uncle continued to look through the pages with conflict. Eventually he gave up and closed the book and retired the string to it. Before he gave it back he grabbed the wheel with one hand while holding the book in the other and studied the cover.

“Well this is definitely something that has never been seen before. I don't remember seeing, hearing, or looking at something that had two unicorn heads with a sun and moon on the cover.”

James grabbed the book as it was handed back to him and studied it himself. “Yeah I was a bit thrown off about it too. At first I thought it was a just a child's book or some joke but apparently this things is very real.”

Sam nodded as he continued to steer the vessel. Silence followed until the old Drake asked another question.

“How did you get that book? You never really told us the story behind it.”

James narrowed his eyes as his lips hugged his teeth, thinking of the best way to tell the story. He nodded to himself when he knew what to say and began.

“Well I'll keep it short by skipping the chasing and shooting part.”

========================================
~1 year ago~

~Cartagena, Columbia~

A young woman looked out a nearby window while keeping most of her body hidden. She quickly pulled her head back with a gasp when a few men carrying intimidating guns walked by and stopped at the window. She held her breath as they stayed there and talked quickly in spanish looking around and pointing in directions. She sighed in relief when they continued to walk away from the shop.

The girl took her time to catch her breath after running through the town from police, those men, and the gunshots that followed with them. When she got her breath back, her relaxed expression became angry as she marched to the door of the small shop she was in to see a young boy with a pistol in hand looking out the door that he held ajar just enough for him to see but not get spotted.

When she reached him she punched his arm hard causing him to flinch and look at her with a ‘what the hell’ expression which she gladly answered to.

“What the flying fuck James,” The women said as she glared hard at him, “why the fuck did you think what any of that was a good idea.” She whispered quietly.

The boy glared at his sister who was covered in sweat and dirt with a simple t-shirt, shorts and running shoes while her glasses seemed to be missing. He of course was wearing a navy blue shirt with tan shorts and a gun holster on his right leg. He too was covered in sweat and dirt from running.

“Now don't you start that shit with me Cass. I told you damn well what we were going to do and yet you still came with me.” He whispered back as he looked out the crack of the door again and closed it all the way when he was sure they were in the clear.

Cassie did not drop her glare from her brother and hissed quietly at him. “You could have fucking told me that they were that fucking dangerous.”

The boy put his gun in the holster as he looked to his sister with narrowed eyes. “Cass you need to chill the fuck out. I've told you, Mom, and Dad what I get into and what kind of people I usually meet when I do this shit. So don't be going on my ass when you should have known that they were dangerous when I said, ‘these men just might shoot us’.”

The girl rolled her eyes as her mood didn't change one bit. If anything she only got madder at what her brother brought her into and what he's been going through all these times.

“James that was not fucking ‘they might just shoot us’, that was a fucking ‘I'm gonna hunt you down until I see you body full of bullet holes’. I mean they chased us from one part of the city to here. Not to mention I can't believe you put yourself inside there little base of operations just to get one damn device.” Cassie finished with a huff.

James shook his head as he pulled out the device and waved it around like a prize. “This device Cassie, is what's going to open that temple to ancient gold put into storage by a long lost tribe. Plus I told you what the fuck I was going to do when we arrived there.”

Cassie angrily point a finger at her little brother. “If I had know just how dangerous that was I would have stopped you. As a matter of fact, I knew what kind of danger you were getting into and told you that we should play it safe but noooo, you had to go and do the shit you did. And something like this is way beyond what you tell us at home.”

The young Drake threw his hands in the air as he gave a glare of his own at his sister. “Well if it's not your league to do this with me then you can just take your ass home.”

The older sibling flinched a bit at that but put her hands on hips as she replied. “Fine! Maybe I will go home and maybe I'll just try to have mom keep your ass there!”

“Go ahead and try!” James said with a raised voice.

“Fine!”

“Fine!”

“Ahem.”

The two siblings jumped at the voice and quickly turned to see an old, dark skinned man with a grey beard and short grey hair. He was wearing a blue and red flannel with plain black pants and flip flops as he stared at the two with an unamused expression. The man cleared his throat as he gestured to the trinkets of the shop.

“Hermanos, if you two are done making a hassle in my shop, I would gladly like it if you took a look around and buy something. If not then I would kindly ask you to leave so my shop doesn't become a rango de disparo.” He said in a gruff spanish accent.

The two siblings awkwardly stared at each other and then to the old man as they gave sheepish smiles.

“Uh sorry, just having some family troubles. I'll be sure to look at your trinkets, could be something worth buying.” James said while rubbing the back of his neck with a hand.

“Yeah,” Cassie added, “after that we'll be out of your shop sir.”

The man shook his head as he walked elsewhere. “Dios mío, don't break anything in my shop amigos.”

The siblings watched as the man walked away. When he was out of site James proceeded to walk elsewhere to see what was good for buying. Before he could get anywhere, a hand grabbed the color of his shirt and pulled him down to see a very angry big sister.

“I'm staying here to make sure the coast is clear while you go and look around, when we're done we are going to our hotel, grabbing our shit, and going home.”

James brushed his sister's hand away as he calmly replied. “No, we will be going to the hotel and you will be going home. I'm staying here to finish what I'm doing.”

James could tell that she was getting even more peeved at him but could also see some pleading her eyes. “James please, let's just go back to the hotel and go home. I don't want you to be here anymore than I do.”

The older brother continued to look at his older sister as her angry expression became scared and pleading. He sighed as he replied to negotiate with his worried sibling.

“I'll tell you what Cassie, we'll go to our hotel and take out stuff and move somewhere else in the town. When that's done I'm going to the temple to see if there's anything that can tell me if it's worth exploring and if it isn't, I'll come back to the hotel and we'll go home.”

Cassie wanted to interject but was interrupted by her tall brothers hand. “But if there is, I'll tell you and I'll proceed while you can either stay or go home.”

Cassie narrowed her eyes in determination as she said in a firm voice. “I'm not leaving this damn place until, you come with me.”

James rolled his eyes as he waved a hand in the air. “Then you can stay at the new hotel until we're done.”

His little sister grabbed his arm as her eyes became just that more desperate. “James please-”

“Cassie,” he interrupted, “I'm going to finish what I started here, I did not spend a lot of money just to turn around and leave it be. I promise I'll look around to see if anything is there or if it's too dangerous to go near. If that's the case I'll come back and we'll leave, if not I'll continue and keep you updated on what's happening.”

The older sibling looked at her brother to see if he would cave in and just come with her but he stayed strong with no change in his expression. She sighed sadly as tears threatened to spill from her eyes and put her head on his chest.

“Please….I don't want you to die.”

The younger sibling grew a soft expression as he hugged his older sister close. “I promise I won't, I'll play it safe and make sure none of those men are around and if there's anything worth finding. I promise if that's the case then I'll come back and we'll go home.”

Cassie quietly cried on her brother as the fear of losing him struck her and played in her mind. She stayed like that as her brother comforted her which eventually calmed her down. When she was calm she lifted her head and wiped her tears.

“You better come back or I swear to god James.”

“I will,” he quickly said as he grabbed her hand and squeezed it, “I promise.”

Cassie nodded as she grabbed a nearby chair and sat down. James then proceeded to walk into the shop but stopped when he turned back to his sister.

“You want anything?”

Having seated herself, Cassie just stared at the door and stayed silent. Thinking she wasn't in the mood he turned and continued. Before he got far he heard her reply.

“Bring me something shiny.”

========================================

~20 minutes later~

James walked up to the counter with a few trinkets in his hand. In one hand was a small statue of a woman in a rainbow dress with a basket of fruit on her head and in the other was a gold necklace with a small green jewel on the end.

He looked around for awhile until he heard a whistle coming from his left. He turned to see the old man at a counter waving him over. He walked over with trinkets in hand and put them on the counter. The man looked at them and to James who proceeded to pull out his wallet. The man nodded as he opened a cash register to get the boys cash in exchange for his trinkets.

“Problemas con la familia huh.” The man said as he added the price on the cash register.

James looked at the amount and took it out of his wallet and gave it to the man. As he did he looked to him with confusion. “Trouble what?”

The man gestured his head towards the area of the door. “Your sister amigo, trouble?”

James made a silent ‘ah’ as he shook his head. “No it wasn't exactly trouble, just an argument about the things I do. She just worries for me is all.”

The man looked to James with a calm expression. “No dan por sentado las cosas que familia le da.”

James, while knowing some languages and even a bit of Spanish didn't pick up on that. “I'm sorry.”

The man looked to him with that serious expression. “Don't take for granted the things that family gives.”

The young boy nodded. “Trust me I don't, it's just that I don't like doing anything other than what I love doing.”

The old man nodded as he pursed his lips and looked to James with a raised eyebrow. “Your an explorador?”

James nodded with a proud smile. “Yes sir, been doing it since I was seventeen and not wanting to quit anytime soon.”

Again the old man nodded and held up a finger as he bent under the desk and rummaged around a few things in its shelves. Eventually he came back up with an old, torn, and barely holding leather book with two unicorn looking heads with a sun behind one and a moon behind the other.

With interest peaked, James looked to the book with a fascinated look. “What in blue hell is that old thing?”

The man chuckled as he gently set down the book. “tranquilízate hijo, this old thing is a book I found many years ago when I was a young muchacho. This book is something that has never been seen before nor is it in any other museum, website, or book that you will ever come across.”

He then took his hand and opened the book to a specific page with a language that James has never seen before but for some reason looks like latin in a way. On the other page was a picture of the same two ponies but drawn like anthro ponies. One was facing the left and holding the sun in its hand. And the other that was a shade darker, faced the left while holding the moon in its hand.

James brought the book a little closer as he looked at the strange symbols and languages on its pages. When he couldn't decipher anything, he gently turned the right page to see what it told but it was the same thing. Confusing languages and symbols. Of course right next to it was a fresher page that was unattached that showed someone trying to decipher it themself.

“What is all of this?” The young boy asked as he gestured to the book.

The man chuckled as he gestured to it himself. “Something you've never seen before muchacho.”

James shook his head in disbelief and looked to the other part of the shop.

“Cassie! Come over here real quick!”

He turned back to the book as he heard footsteps approaching and soon he felt his sister next to him.

“What?”

Judging by her tone, she didn't want to to stay here any longer but that would change when she finds out about the book. “Look at this old book here, what does it look like to you?”

Cassie sighed in annoyance as she glanced at it quickly and waved a hand. “It's just some old book with latin written in it along with two pony looking people, so what?”

James shook his head as he gently lifted the book and showed it to his sister. “You’re pretty good at latin sis, does this look like latin to you?”

Cassie huffed and looked closer at the book, her expression slowly became conflicted as she read the book but didn't know what it was saying.

“No….it doesn't.”

The young Drake’s enthusiasm and excitement was rising by the second. “Do you know what that means?!”

Cassie raised an eyebrow at her brothers excitement. “It means we found some old language?”

“Not just that,” he said with a raised finger, “one that has never been found in any historical book or by any adventure until this man right here came along.”

Cassie’s demeanor began to change as realization of an unknown language with unknown people came rolling through her head. “So basically this man found something that has never been seen, recorded, or even told of ever?”

With a nod of his head James looked back to the book and gestured to some pages peeking out. “And by looking at this I'd say you arrived at a dead end with this because it's never been found before right?”

The man chuckled with a nod. “Por dios, I ran in many of them. I may have been a good explore or decipher when comes to things like this but it's all dead ends with this when you don't have a guide to help you along the way. Also I've grown to old for it.”

James grew even more excited as he looked at the two ponies on the page they were first on. “I'm guessing these were some kind of spirits to the people who made them?”

The guy shook his head as he scratched his beard. “From what I can tell, I believe they are their gods. One for the sun and day, the other for the moon and night. After many years I've deemed their names from the white one to the black one, Celestia and Luna.”

James became even more excited at the thought of exploring something ancient and never before seen by anyone or anything. Which stopped him in his tracks and grew an expression that made the old man smile.

“How much for this book?”

“Oh my god James,” Cassie said while pinching the bridge of her nose, “don't tell me you're going to go after this?”

His only response. “Eeeyup.”

Cassie grew frustrated and looked at the two items on the counter and pointed to the necklace. “Is that for me?”

“Eeeyup.”

“Did you pay for it?”

“Eeeyup.”

Just as fast as she came, she grabbed the necklace and walked back to the door growing even more frustrated. “I'll wait for you at the damn door.”

James payed no attention to his sister as his gaze was solely set on the man infringed of him. “How much?”

The man ran a hand threw his beard as he looked to the book and then the boy and shrugged with a smile. “Lo daré de forma gratuita.”

James stared blankly at the old man as he pretty much just heard the spanish word ‘free’ in that sentence. “What?”

Again the man chuckled. “Amigo, I'll give you the book for free if you stop staring at me like I cheated to you at chess.”

James stood to full height as he stared at the book then to the man. “Are you shitting me?”

He shook his head. “I shit you not, I'll give you this book for free to find whatever the hell it leads to amigo.” Just as the man said that he closed the book and slid it closer to the boy.

The treasure hunter looked at the book then to the man with a raised eyebrow. “Why?”

“He envejecido,” the man said with a smile on his face, “even if I wanted to I wouldn't be able to find any clues as where to go before I die and even if I did my body is to aged to go after it.”

“So I can have it?” The boy said as he picked the book and his trinket up.

The man nodded. “As long as you don't take all the credit.”

James smiled the biggest he has had all day. “Gracias amigo.”

He nodded as the boy walked away. “Hoy por ti, mañana por mí. Your welcome amigo.”

========================================

~Present~

Sam whistled in fascination. “That's one hell of a story little nephew, I can see why you studied that book for months.”

The boy nodded to his Uncle's question. “Yup, now that I know where it's leading to, I can find out what it's all about.”

Sam continued driving as he raised an eyebrow at the boy. “What happened to the temple in Cartagena?”

James shrugged. “I deemed it worthy of my attention and went inside. All I found were some traps, those men, and nothing but an empty room at the end of it.”

Sam nodded but looked to James with a serious expression. “I have to warn you about this though Jim, going somewhere where there's bad guys that you at least know about is dangerous. Going somewhere that you know nothing of to solve puzzles, pass tests, and everything else even without the bad guys is a wish for death. Entre ladrones James, I hope that you know what you're doing so you can come back in one piece.”

James looked to his Uncle with determination and a firm tone. “I know that Uncle Sam, I promised them many times before I go on these trips even if this one is different, I'll go in with an open mind and a scenario for everything so that I'm ready to act to save my life. I promised them that I would use my tools and smarts to the best of my ability so I can come back alive to see them. I promised them that.”

As James finished he looked to the miles of ocean they had to cross to get to the main destination they had in mind and narrowed his eyes.

“And I always intend to keep my promises.”