Road to Selvadorada IX
Previously: The Jang family adjusted to a harsh Brindleton Bay winter, adopted a new cat named Abby, mourned the death of their dog Dakota, and used their Selvadoradian spoils to buy a grand mansion on the coast.
Even though they've been back in Brindleton Bay for a while now, Selvadorada is still very much in every member of the Jang family's hearts. Aisha, for instance, still gets her rumbasim on whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Despite all the changes her body has gone through as she's gotten older, Shawn still very much appreciates the sight of it moving and shaking every time he happens to walk in on her mid-dance.
Meanwhile, Shawn has become quite renowned as an archaeologist, receiving new artifacts by mail to authenticate for the Archaeological Society. But he's never too busy for a stolen kiss in front of the gorgeous view from his archaeology table.
Even though Gideon's memories of his brief time in Selvadorada are less vivid, he finds himself craving warmer climates, even going to the trouble of grilling fruit outside in subzero temperatures to fulfill his sudden intense desire for the tropics.
It doesn't help that winter in Brindleton Bay seems to be lingering on interminably. Just when you think it's over, more of the fluffy white stuff materializes out of the sky with a vengeance.
They begin to float the possibility of one last return. After all, Shawn and Aisha aren't getting any younger, and soon it may be impossible for them ever to go back. However, they've been out of commission for so long, they worry they won't have the stamina to hack it in the jungle again.
Shawn sees the other people working out around him, with their youth and their muscles, and doubts his own physical strength even more. Is he fooling himself by thinking he can jump right back into the same perils he bypassed as a spry young man?
Meanwhile, Gideon knows his body can handle it, and he wishes he could pass some of his own confidence to his father.
Shawn: Are we crazy for thinking we can do this again?
Aisha: If you're seriously doubting your ability to kick some jungle ass, then you're not the man I married. We may be older now, but we are far from feeble.
Gideon: Yeah, you've got to get back out there and show that jungle who's boss, Dad!
Gideon: Listen, Dad, I know you were having doubts before we arrived, but you're back in your element now. There's nothing out here that you haven't already mastered. I know this is going to be an amazing experience, and I wouldn't want to have it with anyone else.
After a pep talk from his son and a taste of a local delicacy prepared by his wife, Gideon is feeling much better about his prospects. If he hacked his way through this jungle once, he can do it again!
At the cantina, Aisha and Gideon do their best to prop him up even further by reminding him and the gathered locals of his past feats of bravery and daring. Even though he maintains a humble demeanor on the outside, I think it's working.
He may enjoy communing with nature, but, being the technology-obsessed teen that he is, Gideon can't help snapping a selfie or two at the visitor's station before heading into the heart of the jungle.
Aisha: At last, we meet again. I see you've grown thick and strong again since the last time we were together. But don't worry, I'll have you hacked into smithereens in no time!
Meanwhile, Gideon is excited he's old enough now to help his dad clear the first excavation site.
In case anyone was wondering, Aisha's still got it!
Hmm... I guess maybe she should have saved that flower to distract this menacing swarm of bees. That's what you get for trying to be a good samaritan to a fellow explorer! Never again!
Well, shit... It's amazing how quickly her luck turned.
Oh, Aisha, honey, this does not look good! I can barely stand to look at you with those hideous green blotches marring your beautiful complexion.
Gideon: Oh my god, Mom! What's wrong with you? Are you dying?!?
Shawn: I told you not to go ahead on your own, damn it! This is what happens when no one follows my instructions!
Aisha: Calm down, the both of you. I'm going to be fine. All I need is a quick trip to civilization for an antidote and I'll be good as new!
Gideon: Hey there! So, as you can see, my mom isn't doing too hot right now and sort of needs an antidote for scorpion poison before she bites it. But, more importantly, wow, you are beautiful! What's your name? I'm Gideon.
Vendor: Oh, Gideon, that is so kind of you to say! I'm Fátima.
Gideon: Nice to meet you, Fátima! Do you want to see this amazing selfie I took in the jungle?
Aisha: So... about that antidote... Hello? Is anyone even listening?
Aisha: Hello, ma'am, I'm so sorry to bother you. I was just trying to procure a simple antidote for scorpion poison from that vendor over there, but she appears to be preoccupied by my hormonal teenage son. You wouldn't happen to have an antidote to spare, would you?
Luckily, she's got a secret stash of the stuff she's willing to part with - for a hefty fee, of course, but Aisha's continued survival is worth any cost.
Aisha: You're still at it over here, huh? I could've been dead this entire time and you wouldn't have even noticed.
Gideon: Sorry, Mom! I just got all wrapped up in explaining to Fátima how cool it is to be a vegetarian!
Oh, so that line of discussion actually worked? She's honestly still interested in him? Color me impressed.
Anyway, back to the jungle...
Shawn: Oh, this poser is going to die out here in five minutes, mark my words. I bet this idiot wouldn't know a machete if it bit him in the ass!
Tourist: No, don't go, sir! Please don't leave me to get eaten alive out here all alone!
Shawn: Sorry, buddy... We've got more important things to tend to. You should've known better what you were in for.
Wow, this took a dark turn all of a sudden.
Anyway, onto less depressing things, as they pass this giant waterfall for the third time in their lives, no less awe-inspiring than it has been before, Shawn and Aisha are sure to spare a moment for romance before moving on.
Then its onward to the Omiscan Royal Baths, where Aisha and Gideon jump in the water for a quick reprieve from the sweltering tropical heat.
Shawn: Guys, not to rain on your parade or anything, but a little help over here would be nice.
Finally, he manages to hack his way through to a garden that remained hidden on their previous journeys. It's absolutely stunning, but other than being nice to look at, there doesn't seem to be much else going on here.
He does find a few ripe fruits to pluck from the trees and carry away with him.
Then, as he's making his way back to the baths, he almost misses it but at the last minute, from the corner of his eye, spots a treasure chest. Bounty awaits!
Shawn: Why, hello there, my precious. Aren't you a beauty?
Gideon figures he's got enough jungle experience under his belt now to hack through some vines himself...
He's still finessing his skills. Luckily, they brought a couple spares along for just this reason.
Really, Gideon?!? You spend hours clearing a path to a potentially uncharted area of the jungle and instead of exploring it, you sit down to do your homework? School should literally be the last thing on your mind right now!
That's even more true now that he's unceremoniously burst into young adulthood. I had entirely forgotten he was this close; time really flies when you're out in the wild.
Meanwhile, his parents are fishing up some rare fish, completely unaware their son has become a man directly behind their backs.
I can't blame them. I would be pretty distracted by that cool-looking wolf eel, too.
Finally, they've tracked down another temple! Shawn shows that he means business this time by setting up a full-blown archaeology operation just outside. He's prepared for anything.
But, first, a refreshing dip in the temple pool to clear his mind and gather up his physical strength before he encounters another barrage of potentially deadly traps.
Even though they've been back in Brindleton Bay for a while now, Selvadorada is still very much in every member of the Jang family's hearts. Aisha, for instance, still gets her rumbasim on whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Despite all the changes her body has gone through as she's gotten older, Shawn still very much appreciates the sight of it moving and shaking every time he happens to walk in on her mid-dance.
Meanwhile, Shawn has become quite renowned as an archaeologist, receiving new artifacts by mail to authenticate for the Archaeological Society. But he's never too busy for a stolen kiss in front of the gorgeous view from his archaeology table.
Even though Gideon's memories of his brief time in Selvadorada are less vivid, he finds himself craving warmer climates, even going to the trouble of grilling fruit outside in subzero temperatures to fulfill his sudden intense desire for the tropics.
It doesn't help that winter in Brindleton Bay seems to be lingering on interminably. Just when you think it's over, more of the fluffy white stuff materializes out of the sky with a vengeance.
They begin to float the possibility of one last return. After all, Shawn and Aisha aren't getting any younger, and soon it may be impossible for them ever to go back. However, they've been out of commission for so long, they worry they won't have the stamina to hack it in the jungle again.
Shawn sees the other people working out around him, with their youth and their muscles, and doubts his own physical strength even more. Is he fooling himself by thinking he can jump right back into the same perils he bypassed as a spry young man?
Meanwhile, Gideon knows his body can handle it, and he wishes he could pass some of his own confidence to his father.
Shawn: Are we crazy for thinking we can do this again?
Aisha: If you're seriously doubting your ability to kick some jungle ass, then you're not the man I married. We may be older now, but we are far from feeble.
Gideon: Yeah, you've got to get back out there and show that jungle who's boss, Dad!
Gideon: Listen, Dad, I know you were having doubts before we arrived, but you're back in your element now. There's nothing out here that you haven't already mastered. I know this is going to be an amazing experience, and I wouldn't want to have it with anyone else.
After a pep talk from his son and a taste of a local delicacy prepared by his wife, Gideon is feeling much better about his prospects. If he hacked his way through this jungle once, he can do it again!
At the cantina, Aisha and Gideon do their best to prop him up even further by reminding him and the gathered locals of his past feats of bravery and daring. Even though he maintains a humble demeanor on the outside, I think it's working.
He may enjoy communing with nature, but, being the technology-obsessed teen that he is, Gideon can't help snapping a selfie or two at the visitor's station before heading into the heart of the jungle.
Aisha: At last, we meet again. I see you've grown thick and strong again since the last time we were together. But don't worry, I'll have you hacked into smithereens in no time!
Meanwhile, Gideon is excited he's old enough now to help his dad clear the first excavation site.
In case anyone was wondering, Aisha's still got it!
Hmm... I guess maybe she should have saved that flower to distract this menacing swarm of bees. That's what you get for trying to be a good samaritan to a fellow explorer! Never again!
Well, shit... It's amazing how quickly her luck turned.
Oh, Aisha, honey, this does not look good! I can barely stand to look at you with those hideous green blotches marring your beautiful complexion.
Gideon: Oh my god, Mom! What's wrong with you? Are you dying?!?
Shawn: I told you not to go ahead on your own, damn it! This is what happens when no one follows my instructions!
Aisha: Calm down, the both of you. I'm going to be fine. All I need is a quick trip to civilization for an antidote and I'll be good as new!
Gideon: Hey there! So, as you can see, my mom isn't doing too hot right now and sort of needs an antidote for scorpion poison before she bites it. But, more importantly, wow, you are beautiful! What's your name? I'm Gideon.
Vendor: Oh, Gideon, that is so kind of you to say! I'm Fátima.
Gideon: Nice to meet you, Fátima! Do you want to see this amazing selfie I took in the jungle?
Aisha: So... about that antidote... Hello? Is anyone even listening?
Aisha: Hello, ma'am, I'm so sorry to bother you. I was just trying to procure a simple antidote for scorpion poison from that vendor over there, but she appears to be preoccupied by my hormonal teenage son. You wouldn't happen to have an antidote to spare, would you?
Luckily, she's got a secret stash of the stuff she's willing to part with - for a hefty fee, of course, but Aisha's continued survival is worth any cost.
Aisha: You're still at it over here, huh? I could've been dead this entire time and you wouldn't have even noticed.
Gideon: Sorry, Mom! I just got all wrapped up in explaining to Fátima how cool it is to be a vegetarian!
Oh, so that line of discussion actually worked? She's honestly still interested in him? Color me impressed.
Anyway, back to the jungle...
Shawn: Oh, this poser is going to die out here in five minutes, mark my words. I bet this idiot wouldn't know a machete if it bit him in the ass!
Tourist: No, don't go, sir! Please don't leave me to get eaten alive out here all alone!
Shawn: Sorry, buddy... We've got more important things to tend to. You should've known better what you were in for.
Wow, this took a dark turn all of a sudden.
Anyway, onto less depressing things, as they pass this giant waterfall for the third time in their lives, no less awe-inspiring than it has been before, Shawn and Aisha are sure to spare a moment for romance before moving on.
Then its onward to the Omiscan Royal Baths, where Aisha and Gideon jump in the water for a quick reprieve from the sweltering tropical heat.
Shawn: Guys, not to rain on your parade or anything, but a little help over here would be nice.
Finally, he manages to hack his way through to a garden that remained hidden on their previous journeys. It's absolutely stunning, but other than being nice to look at, there doesn't seem to be much else going on here.
He does find a few ripe fruits to pluck from the trees and carry away with him.
Then, as he's making his way back to the baths, he almost misses it but at the last minute, from the corner of his eye, spots a treasure chest. Bounty awaits!
Shawn: Why, hello there, my precious. Aren't you a beauty?
Gideon figures he's got enough jungle experience under his belt now to hack through some vines himself...
He's still finessing his skills. Luckily, they brought a couple spares along for just this reason.
Really, Gideon?!? You spend hours clearing a path to a potentially uncharted area of the jungle and instead of exploring it, you sit down to do your homework? School should literally be the last thing on your mind right now!
That's even more true now that he's unceremoniously burst into young adulthood. I had entirely forgotten he was this close; time really flies when you're out in the wild.
Meanwhile, his parents are fishing up some rare fish, completely unaware their son has become a man directly behind their backs.
I can't blame them. I would be pretty distracted by that cool-looking wolf eel, too.
Finally, they've tracked down another temple! Shawn shows that he means business this time by setting up a full-blown archaeology operation just outside. He's prepared for anything.
But, first, a refreshing dip in the temple pool to clear his mind and gather up his physical strength before he encounters another barrage of potentially deadly traps.