"Here we are, Rochet," announced Lukeandria as she carefully lowered Paltio from her back. The young prince remained in a trance, oblivious to the world around him.
The enormous Rochet tilted its head, glancing at a kind of clock embedded in the cave wall. "Good, just in time," it said in a deep but calm voice. Then it looked at Paltio, noticing the strange expressions on his face. He seemed to be dreaming something intense—perhaps fighting an imaginary enemy or simply needing to use the bathroom.
"Why is he like this?" asked the Rochet, furrowing its massive glowing eyebrows.
"He's training in a mental plane," Lukeandria quickly replied. "It's part of his preparation."
"Interesting... But it's useless if you don't wake him up and make him look me in the eyes," the Rochet retorted impatiently. "I need to speak with this little fellow if you want to see your butler again."
Lukeandria followed the Rochet's gaze on one of the cave walls. There was Mok, covered in a viscous green substance that was slowly beginning to crystallize. "But… what have you done to him?" Lukeandria murmured to herself, feeling a mix of concern and frustration.
"Mr. Rochet, you can't rouse him so abruptly," she argued. "He must be deeply focused on his training."
"Nonsense!" growled the Rochet, leaning close to Paltio's ear. Without warning, it let out a thunderous roar that echoed throughout the cave.
Paltio, who had been moments away from catching Toco-Toco in his mental plane, felt a sharp pain in his ears that abruptly pulled him out of his trance. He woke up agitated, confused, and completely disoriented. He looked around, blinking several times before focusing on Lukeandria beside him and, in front of him, a gigantic creature that seemed to have emerged from a nightmare.
When he finally regained some clarity, he spotted Mok trapped in a green mineral prison. "Mok! What have they done to you?" he shouted, alarmed. Then he turned to the Rochet in disbelief. "And what… what are you?"
"Ah! So you're finally awake, little prince," said the Rochet with a barely perceptible smile on its massive snout. "And allow me to introduce myself: I am a Rochet, not a 'thing.' And your butler is fine—he's just in my mineral prison. Don't worry, he's still alive."
Paltio sharply turned toward Lukeandria, seeking answers. "Is it another creation of Tejod?" he asked urgently.
"That's right," she replied, crossing her arms. "But I didn't remember that this… thing existed."
"Calm down, boy!" interrupted the Rochet, raising one of its enormous paws. "I'm on your side. I don't like shadows either, and I despise my creator, Tejod, with every fiber of my being. I'd like to join your cause, but only if what you tell me sounds exciting."
"Fine," Paltio responded firmly. "If you want to be on our side, release my friend Mok."
"No!" the Rochet replied with determination. "Not until you tell me your story."
"Alright," Paltio said after a few tense seconds. "Then I'll let Golden show it to you."
At that moment, Paltio extended his hand and activated his seed. A golden hologram emerged, projecting the imposing figure of Golden into the cave. The Rochet watched in fascination as the golden knight came to life before him. Golden, aware of the situation, projected a series of images into the Rochet's mind, showing everything they had faced so far, like an epic movie unfolding.
The Rochet began to feel a mix of emotions as the scenes of Paltio and his friends' story unfolded one after another in his mind. It was as if each scene sprang to life before him, filling him with awe, sadness, and hope.
When the projection ended, tears glistened in the Rochet's enormous glowing eyes. Moved, he clumsily tried to wipe them away with his front paws. "It's the best story I've ever seen," he said, his voice trembling.
He slowly approached Paltio and looked directly at him. "So… you are the chosen one," he declared solemnly. "You can take as much mineral as you want."
Paltio looked at him, confused. Lukeandria hadn't mentioned anything about that, but at that moment, he only had one goal in mind: rescuing Mok. Before he could say anything, the Rochet exhaled softly, and the emerald prison encasing the butler vanished instantly.
Mok, visibly relieved, bowed slightly toward Paltio with gratitude. "Thank you, young master," he said with his usual courtesy, though his eyes reflected exhaustion.
The Rochet, now speaking in a softer tone, apologized to the three of them. "I didn't mean to harm you," he explained. "I just wanted to test you. I'm not like Tejod's other creations—I don't seek destruction. You're right, little prince; my actions may have been misguided, but I've learned that I'm not evil… and I don't want to be."
Paltio nodded, accepting the colossal being's apology. "Welcome to our side," he replied with a sincere smile.
Then, the Rochet announced his decision: "I will join your cause. If you ever need me, you can contact me by striking these two red Irconium stones together." He handed them two small, gleaming gems. "The slightest sound will be enough for me to hear you, even from miles away."
The prince felt excited at the thought of having such a powerful ally to face the shadows. However, he also felt that something more personal was deserved. "If you're going to be with us," he said thoughtfully, "you should have a name of your own. Not just the one your creator gave you."
Paltio brought his hand to his chin, reflecting for a few seconds. Finally, he suggested: "How about… Rocky?"
The enormous creature smiled, revealing its massive, sharp teeth. "Rocky..." he repeated, testing the name in his deep voice. "I like it. From now on, that will be my name."
Rocky thanked them before allowing them to take as much mineral as possible to power their vehicle. They bid each other farewell with mutual respect, and Paltio, excited, exclaimed: "Today, I've gained a friend."
Rocky lowered his head in a gesture of gratitude and respect, visibly moved by the young prince's words.
Once back on the surface, they climbed into the carriage and began loading the mineral into a special compartment designed to liquefy the material. The vehicle slowly came to life, ready to continue their journey.
Upon arriving, they found Ron and Alita exhausted, seated on the carriage bench. Both were drenched in sweat and utterly spent after their respective training sessions with Nakia and Chiki.
"Wow, I thought training only affected the mind," commented Lukeandria, observing the two youngsters with curiosity. "But I see the body also bears the consequences. Interesting."
Paltio used part of the scepter to heal his friends, who awoke refreshed and grateful. Once recovered, they set off again on their journey, ready to face whatever awaited them along the way.