Chapter 1: Ominous Mt. GoxB found himself overlooking accumulation valley. He could not help but remember how he got to that point. He had successfully climbed Mt. Pamp and even ascended Mt. Gox. It was an arduous journey to the top, but his knowledge of what troubles were ahead still alluded him. Upon his descent of Mt. Gox B understood the courage that was needed to continue down this road. B had left his humble village of Metzdowd knowing many had traveled this same road, but never came back. Most of these travelers originated in the nearby town of Fiatville, but those stories are for another day.
It was the descent of Mt. Gox when he knew his journey was unique. Upon his descent he triggered an avalanche and got dumped upon by endless bags of snow. It seemed like a legion had unleashed their bags simultaneously. In fact, the descent can better be described as a tumultuous nose dive. B found bottom, so he thought. Nonetheless he proceeded with heightened caution. From here on out, B knew this journey was strenuous. However, for the time being, he told himself all would be ok and any life threatening dangers were in the rear view mirror. Dusting himself off he ignored the local's celebration of the New Year because he did not believe in the lunar cycles, not to mention there was no time to rest. The base of the mountain afforded him no picnics. His trek would take him up switchbacks and back down into narrow valleys. February was near and B told himself this would be THE month.
February was anything but smooth. What B was not aware of was the depth of the lake that resided from the snow melt of Mt. Gox in the distance. This lake was known to the locals as Karpeles. Legend had it the depth of Karpeles was so great that at certain spots it dove down to 0...down to sea level, but B shrugged it off. He knew it was just a myth for he was sky high. For B was headed to the moon!
As B ventured near the lake he figured the name came from the large Carps seen near the surface, but in fact, the depth of the lake concealed something much more threatening. A Karpeles Japanese Killer Whale!! (Many folks question to this day the existence of freshwater killer whales, but I assure you this is not a myth.) The Karpeles Whale with only a small bit of its might slapped his tale on the surface and broke B's support bridge as he crossed. To B it was a tsunami of water! Getting wiped off the bridge B fell into the Lake...into the home of the Karpeles Whale. As B hit the surface he sank...and sank...and sank some more. Keeping his eyes open B noticed everything was dark, for light was not seen at these depths. It was here B believed his journey was coming to an end. His time at the peak of Mt. Pamp was for nothing and those in neighboring Fiatville would make B the butt of all their jokes. However, as B FOMO'd on himself and his future...and after the whale pushed B down to the deepest depths of the lake, B found a torrent of freshwater rising up from underground. As the spring gushed at the bed of the lake, B used its current to rise up to the surface! He was safe. B miraculously bypassed the dangers of Mt. Gox lake and figured he just hit rock bottom. B dusted himself off, looked forward, and continued. His stride was one of determination now. He persisted down the rocky foothills of Mt. Gox...and as he did, the hair on his neck would rise from the ominous shadow of Mt. Gox, as this shadow was constantly casting its darkness on his path. His time in the sun he believed would come again, but for now, his journey would be tied to that ominous structure.
