Publove Sky
The Floating Island
After they all had rested up and had come round, Cari, Ryo, Scar and Oran all looked up. They left the inn after a full English breakfast, knowing that it was time for their next part of their journey to begin
"So, how are we going to get up there?" Asked Scar, looking up at the island in the sky.
"The unicorns." Cari replied with certainty.
Scar refrained from bursting out laughing.
"Really?" She asked, doubtingly.
"They can fly, Mythos Puros. You have seen this for yourself!" The Chronicler explained.
“It's Scar. I've told you and no, I saw nothing but a blur out of the window. "
The Chronicler let out a soft sigh. As she placed a hand on her shoulder, she had a nostalgic look in her eyes.
"Scar, I know that in your world it would seem to be a preposterous idea, but they really can fly, and they do it quite well. Even better than even the birds!" She explained.
Scar raised her eyebrow and nodded. Still not entirely convinced and shrugged slightly. It was all too clear that she needed to believe it once she saw it. As they took their places and the harness grew on.
"If you say-"
The unicorns galloped and their hooves hit the thin air. They soon rose higher and higher. They continued to gallop on the thin air as they flew past birds.
Well, look at that...They really can fly. She thought with a pleasant surprise.
Her jaw would have dropped if it was not sealed shut. She could feel herself being filled with thrilling excitement. She was almost like a child on an exciting ride.
They were in the air and land was still far. Scar's eyes widened as they were getting closer and closer. She spired a floating island that seemed to be suspended in the air. As they rose slightly above it, they all could not help but marvel as they all wondered what was keeping it afloat. As they landed on the ground, the island did not even shake! Like it was landing on a normal plot of the ground. Which made it even more unbelievable that they were even on a floating island!
They then got out and looked around them. There was hardly anything that could have indicated that they were on a floating island. If they had not seen the island from beneath they would have noticed nothing. Even though they were at the edge and there was a cave next to them they still could not believe that they were on a floating island!
The Chronicler let them have their moment as she got out one of the books that she had stolen from Gajellidor and read about what they would have to do next. She then looked up at the unicorns. Assessing which one should guide them. She came to the conclusion that Yamkuro would be the better pick, even-though he had a history with the cave next to them.
They then looked at her, knowing that now was the time to get serious.
"So where are the towers this time?"
She let out a sigh.
"Well, this time it seems that we have to take down all the dark crystals on or in each island or miniature planet."
"Wait, what?"
"You heard."
"Right, so where-"
"In that cave over there." She said, pointing to a dark cave in a mountain face.
"It says here that only ablack unicorn can sense where to go. Which is why it says in the margin to remember to kill them all." She commented.
They looked back at the cave as they heard an unnerving noise that sounded like a groan and a roar at the same time. They suddenly felt a tingle of fear run throughout their bodies.
"I think that for this one, Yamkuro would be the best." Said Shighron. "He knows that cave and if there is any chance that you will be able to get out of that cave's system, it is him."
"But, you know what happened in that cave do you not?" He asked, slightly warningly.
Shighron huffed.
"I have heard but I hardly care. After all, none of them have been in that cave as much and as long as you. Also, both me and Ardulac believe that you need to not only confront what happened and learn to move on from what happened. He would want it for you."
He let out a sigh as he shook his head.
"You are right, and I think that it is time to face whatever lost me my rider. It's just, I have been too afraid." He said, as he detached his harness.
He looked at the cave.
"And I think that it is wise that you three get on my back. Oran, I do not think that it would be a good idea for you to come. It is far too dangerous for a child your age. After all, my rider, Yukio, was three times your age and, with all of his power, could not survive whatever is in there."
"Then why do you think you will live now?" She asked.
His eyes glimpsed at Scar. He smirked slightly.
"I just have a hunch. Now no time to lose. Come on!" He said as he gestured for them to get on his back.
Scar narrowed her eyes, questioningly.
Cari climbed on the back of him, followed by Ryo and then Scar climbed on. He then galloped as fast as they all could handle as they felt themselves getting lower and lower. They soon came to three divisions.
Yankuro closed his eyes for a moment and breathed in, then opened them again. He then galloped to the right and then he jumped high to a chamber above that they did not see. He then turned to the right again and again, they felt like they were dropping. They then spotted a green light and they were heading towards it.
They soon arrived where the light was coming from and that saw that there was, in front of them, a giant emerald. This was the spider of a house. That was glowing with evil.
Ryo and Cari looked at it and felt like they should protect it and that they should not harm it. They even wanted to keep it and hide it away. The Chronicler would never know! In fact, they could go to her right now and tell her that they had done it. However there was another party of them that wanted to stay here, just to live with this marvellous beauty. They wanted to remain here and just look at the emerald and worship it for the rest of their lives.
They felt their legs move towards the emerald. They felt their hearts wished, painfully, above all, to touch and stroke the stone and to embrace it. To acknowledge their senses that it was real. They wanted to kiss it and stay with it. They then looked at each other, knowing that they wanted the same thing. Then, they suddenly felt in their hearts, only one of them should have it.
They were about to turn to fight one another until a shadow flew in front of them. Its appearance was that of a shadow with glowing scarlet eyes.
"What is that!?" Exclaimed Scar, almost screaming.
"Watch out! That's the shadow that killed my rider!" Shouted Yamkuro.
They both looked at him and their minds snapped back into place.
Their attention was on the shadow and Ryo drew his scythe and Cari drew her crossbow and loaded it. As soon as she fired, Cari knew that they had to fight without weapons as her arrow went right through the creature! That tipped her off that, to her horror they were going to have to fight this thing with their magic!
"Cari, Ryo, both of you work together and we will work to destroy the crystal!" He ordered. "Scar, keep that sword sheathed. You will be with me !"
Cari and Ryo looked at each other with a slight pain inside but they nodded.
Scar looked at the unicorn with a deep frown on her head.
"What can I do?" She asked, uncertain.
Ryo used his magic to create a fireball that hit and then a bright green treacle of blood oozed down the shadow. It looked at the blood and then flicked some of it right at him and then he screamed out in pain as his left arm burned and the right arm split open.
"Acid blood! Its blood is acidic!" He shouted.
"What!"
"Ryo!"
"No time for that Scar. I need you to put your hand on my back and say 'unicorn of my horn, give your power to this one'. And imagine the horn that went into the potion that made you, which is in you and imagine that it is on your head. Also remember to put you will into it!"
Scar frowned for a moment. She soon decided to drop whatever the question was in her mind. She placed her hand on his back and imagined the picture of the horn that the witches showed her as they had told her about the potion. It was black and white intertwined in a spiral with a scarlet center. She imagined that that, that very horn was on her forehead
"'Unicorn of my horn, give your power to this one'!" She shouted.
She soon felt a slight pain, almost like pins and needles, coming from her head and soon a beam of light came from Yamkuro's horn and it blasted at the crystal making it crack.
They soon heard a scream and the shadow creature rushed at the two but Cari with her magic held the creature back. It then spotted this and rushed right at her as her back opened up and she fell out of her pain that it was causing.
This saved her life as the creature jumped to strike her down but went over her instead. She looked back in time as it raised a hand to strike her down. She then let out a punch which hit and she spotted that her fist was covered with a magic aura. She looked back at Ryo knowing what had just happened.
That was when they heard another crack.
The creature looked back at the crystal, which was now filled with cracks. She took advantage and hit the creature. And when her fist hit the creature it seemed less real, somehow. And that was when the crystal disintegrated and the creature vanished.
"What was that?" Cari asked.
"It seemed to be a creature that was sustained by the crystal."
"Who do you think made it?"
"There's only one witch that was ever capable of creating such a creature." Yamkuro said, with his eyes glowing with rage.
"Who?"
"Grasharlo."
The Miniature Planet In The Sky
"So, I think it's time for bed." Said The Chronicler. "After all, winter is on its way and you all need the sleep that you can get. I also think that you would appreciate sleeping in a warm and comfortable bed."
"Agreed." They all yawned.
They booked themselves in an inn. Then, as soon as their heads hit the full fluffy pillows, they closed their eyes and drifted off. They all slept like a drunken sailor that had far too many drinks. None of them woke before eight in the morning. Not even The Chronicler.
The following morning after they had all rested up, they all met in the inn restaurant. They all placed their order and were soon eating, their minds were still slightly in dreamland. As they ate the lamb slices and carrots and cauliflower and broccoli.
They spotted that there were several warm coats and clothes that were drooping from The Chroniclers arm as she sat by them.
"What are they for?" Asked Oran, pointing at them.
"They are to keep all of you warm. After all, the higher we go, the colder it will become, and with winter soon upon us it will be colder still. So after waking quarter past eight I walked to the clothes shop to prepare for it." She explained.
"Good thinking Chronicler." Ryo commented.
Oran nodded.
"So, where are we going this time?" Scar asked.
"There's this small miniature planet in the sky. You know, the one that looks like a small moon?"
"Yes. I've seen it. Yet I have to wonder. How is that even possible?" She asked.
"Well, please keep in mind that the physics here act differently to that in your world."
"I know you said. Well, that makes sense." She said, slightly sarcastic.
"Now, the crystal of darkness is in the centre of the planet."
"Different physics?"
"'Different physics'."
She rolled her eyes.
"But with this one, I think that we will be needing Nighron, but I must ask you not to go into his background. After all, it is a sensitive part of his life."
"Right, then we need to set off as soon as possible." Ryo said as they all finished.
"Well said!"
They all boarded the carriage and then were off.
Cari took a quick glance at her arrows only to spot that they were all in her quiver and completely clean like they were new! Her eyes widened at that. But with the harness in place she knew that it would be a bad idea to talk.
They all looked out of the window to see that the place was huge and Scar was able to conclude that it must have been only slightly smaller than the moon on Earth. They could not believe their eyes! It had dark green grass and several small villages dotted around it.
They soon stopped for a moment.
"That is just beautiful! Impossible, but beautiful!"
"Where to?" Asked Yamkuro.
"Little Red." She said, with a hint of nostalgia in her voice.
"You've been here before." Scar said, out loud.
"Of course you would figure that out." She laughed. "Yes, I have, but now is not the time for reminiscing on the past. There are far too many things to talk about."
"Why not?" Oran asked, folding her arms.
"You shall understand some day and when you do, that will be the time that you and...Scar would have learnt a few things first. What they are I can not say that I know. After all, I do know things of the future, but not everything about it. All I know is, on that day I will be able to tell you my true name." She explained.
"Where's the best place to park?"
"'Park'?"
"Rest the carriage and unicorns."
"Oh."
"At the mouth and Nighron. I am sorry but you are going to have to lead Cari, Ryo and the Myth-...Scar this time." She said, placing a hand on his neck.
He looked back at her with a hurt in his eyes but nodded in understanding.
"Thank you."
"What for?"
"Saying my name."
She chuckled bitterly and shook her head. There was a nostalgic look in his eyes.
"What?"
"Nothing."
They soon landed and Nighron detached himself from the carriage. He was soon at the mouth of the cave faster than any of them could even think. He was looking at it with a slight anxious look on his face.
"Do I have to go?" He asked, with a hollow tone.
"You, like Yumkuro was last time, are the only one who knows the cave network and where the crystal of darkness is. So I'm afraid that you do." She said, stroking him.
"Ardulac did say that we will be meeting our demons…" He said, as they walked beside him.
Scar put a hand on his back.
"Are you up to this?" She asked.
He looked on and looked down.
"It hardly matters. I have to be." He said as he turned to the girl. "Let us get this over with alright?"
Scar nodded in empathy.
They then entered the cave which took a sharp turn and they walked down a flight of stairs. They then came to a split in the cave, one set of stairs led to the right and another left. Nighron took a turn to the right, which they followed in silence. This flight then turned left. Then another split appeared on their path. Yet this split was where the stairs became less steep and more longer. He then led them to the left. After what seemed like a long trek down and breaking nothing but the sounds of their footsteps and their echo, they came to the end of this set of stairs.
They found themselves at the entrance of a hallway lit by green flamed torches.
"Down this way." Nighron said, finally breaking the silence.
"So what's your story? I mean how do you know about this place and where the crystal of darkness is?" Ryo asked.
"Ryo! Don't you remember what The Chronicler said?" Snapped Scar.
He rolled his eyes. He then looked back at Nighron. He saw the unicorn just looked at him and if looks could kill they would all have forgotten what life was. It was only then when Ryo remembered what the Chronicler had warned him.
"Sorry, bad question." He said, apologetic. "I just wanted to break the ice."
"Well don't!" Nighron said.
They soon came to a bright yellow light. Where they came across a golden skeleton with twin suns for eyes. It had a golden scythe in its hands as it looked at the group.
"Get your weapons out. That was the thing that killed my rider." He said, as he flinched slightly.
"Why, what is it?" Cari asked.
"Lamia's guard." Nighron told them.
"Who's Lamia?" She asked.
"I believe she was the witch that held Queen Bethany's kingdom." He said.
They all felt a chill run down their spines as they remembered her eyes and hair.
"How do you know her?" Scar asked.
"She was the one who betrayed my rider out of the blue and put a spell on both of us. So that I would be able to feel every moment of his agonising death at the hands of this thing. The worst part was the fact that I was helpless to stop it." He growled.
"How do you know her?" He asked with a livid look in his eyes.
"We were the ones that got her out of Queen Bethany's kingdom." Cari said, knowing that one wrong move would have earned them death.
"Did you kill her?" He asked.
"No. We were helpless too."
"Then that means that she will be still out there, and whatever she is doing, it will inevitably lead to a very dark victory for her." He said, with a dark tone.
"And how would you suggest that we fight this creature?" Ryo asked.
"Scar, do you still have that Darkector?"
"Yes, but I can't unsheathe him."
"Never mind that Mythos Puros.
"Scat"
"Scar, then! Anyway, let them do the fighting. After all, we have work to do. I am quite sure that the crystal of darkness is keeping whoever that was, alive and still her slave."
"How do you-"
"Cari, Lamia has always used power sources in order to keep those she torments hope. But incapable of escaping."
"Why?"
"So that when they escape, she can kill them whenever she wants." He said, as she was about to throw up.
"Now Mythos Puros with me, you two, stay here and fight the golden skeleton."
"Alright, and call me Scar." She said. "I did say."
"'Scar' then! Now we don't have time for this!"
With this, Scar and the unicorn walked towards the yellow crystal that shone like the sun. Then the skeleton rose up. Cari and Ryo got out their weapons.
"I don't know if the crossbow with be beneficial in any way, but-"
"Cari, blow on your arrow before you fire them." Said Nighron.
She took out one of her arrows and blew on them and fired and soon the flame erupted into flames then hit the skeleton. But the skeleton looked at the arrow unfazed.
He approached her and raised his scythe but was blocked by Ryo. Who hand locked his scythe with the golden scythe of the skeleton he then pulled the skeleton in and flipped the handle and mowed down the skeleton but it just sung with the blade. Then the skeleton did exactly what Ryo did. The golden tip just managed to scrape across his back before he spun and wincing at the sting he straightened up and as the second strike came his scythe sprang up and blocked it.
"Cari now!" He shouted.
Cari took out another arrow and blew on it. She fired at one of its eyes. Then Ryo forced himself backwards. Forcing the skeleton to spin and its back hit the back of the cave.
"Unicorn of my horn give this one your power!" Scar said and soon Nighron shot a laser from his horn.
This caused the skeleton to bolt up like it had been struck by lightning. It then ran at the two but was blocked by Ryo who had hooked its spinal cord with his scythe and then flung it away from them. It then ran back towards the two, again Ryo flung him away.
Then there was a crack in the crystal. The skeleton dropped a little and started to walk up to them like a drunken man and then just as he was about to go back to the duo. Then, when Ryo hooked his spinal cord again, it looked directly at him and then raised his scythe and dropped it, and like a drunk, it missed its intended target and hit him in the shoulder causing him to drop his scythe.
Seeing that it would be very difficult for him to be a threat he moved on back to the duo. That was when Cari took up her arrow and hit it in the other eye. This made the skeleton stagger back and with another crack the skeleton acted like it was about to pass out as it took another step it fell and then with a smash the skeleton of gold became a pile of dust.
Ryo picked up his scythe and then the other one.
"I think that I'll keep this one!" He said.
"What will you call it?"
"Gold Lux."
"Can we get out of here now?" Asked Nighron.
"Yes!"
Ryo's Dark Temptation
"Well, the next place is the highest island in the Publove Sky, known as Spiarsha. I will have to warm you. It, you will find, will be a little more difficult to breathe there. Even-though the locals are used to the thin air, you are not. So I will have to ask you to be as quick as possible and I must admit I am aware that we might find ourselves staying in the inn there but we must not spend more than one night there. After all, you do not want to die due to oxygen starvation. Plus, I think you ought to use those clothes that I bought you. After all, you all would want to remain warm for winter is on its way and combining that with the ever decreasing temperature as we climb will leave us all very cold."
"Thank you."
With that they all walked to their inn rooms. They quickly changed into what the Chronicler had bought them. Scar looked at her purple coat looking more excited than all of them. However, there seemed to be a misty look in her eyes. She pulled the clothes in and sniffed the coat and smiled.
"What?"
"I look like a cosplayer about to go into a convention." She laughed.
"A what?"
"Never mind."
They were soon off and over the island with only one village and a cave. Even-though it was large it was not particularly too large, big enough for a fortress and several castles and even then the small village would still fit. However, by the small size of it, it was all too clear that the village would have had to control the amount of people that were born into the village. If they did not then they would quickly run out of space and fast.
They found that, just as The Chronicler had told them, the air was thin and difficult to breathe. They could see Oran was breathing rapidly, like she had just ran a marathon. The rest of them had to force themselves not to do the same, but they did start to feel dizzy and sleepy. Scar knew that it was due to the lack of oxygen in the air. Which meant that they had to get this all over and done with as soon as they could.
They then came closer to the village only to see that they were all racing out to where they were going to have to land. They had anger in their eyes and lips so tight that not even air could pass through them. Their pail faces were a very sickly red. It was all too clear that if looks could kill they would have all been dead. They had many makeshift weapons in their hands.
Then just as they landed the villagers raced to where they were and then just as they reached the group, the unicorns detached themselves and marched in front of the carriage Yamkuro turned to them.
"Which of us do you require?"
"Maruna." She replied.
"Right."
With that Yamkuro gripped the hair of one of Cari and pulled her up onto her slender back. He did this again and again until they were all on the back of the unicorn. He then tapped her behind with the side of his horn.
Then they were off leaving the unicorns to fend off the unusually angry villagers. They quickly let out a bright light from their horns. Some of them were already on the floor and others had the back of their neck sliced very shallowly by some of the tips of their horns. This brought more of the villagers down.
"They really know how to fight!" Exclaimed Scar as they disappeared in the distance.
They were soon at the cave.
"What was all that about?" Asked Oran. "Why were they being so mean? Don't they know we're here to save them?"
"Did the crystal brainwash them?" Scar asked.
"Yes, they were and yet no. However, they were also made addicted to their brainwashing. So they would have had no motive to get rid of the crystal. Do when someone becomes a threat of the dark crystal that when it was time to activate them." She explained.
"'Activate them'?" Scar repeated as they entered the cave.
"Here." The Chronicler said as she passed her the book.
She flicked through a few pages until she came to the crystals.
The crystal network, the skies of Publuve, Gresphath, Gantdora and Husk. When activated the crystals shall put a spell on all those who lived in these places and their bloodline to join my army. The towers and trees below these places will keep anyone from doing anything about the crystals, and I am far too feared for anyone to dare to oppose me.
Her eyes widened.
"The-"
"Yes."
They soon were at the white crystal. It suddenly seemed absurd that such pain and destruction could come from such a beautiful thing.
Why did it have to be like this? Why did they have to be continually fighting? What were they even fighting for anyway? Would it not be easier to give in and allow the crystal to be?
It was doing no harm. This concerned none of them. In fact there was nothing stopping Ryo from going home. To the Demon Realm with all of this talk of destiny and prophecy! To the Demon realm sweating and bleeding over these things that should not concern him. In fact he should be home! He should be king.
They all found themselves panting as their lungs cried out for more and more oxygen. They knew that regardless of how much they breathed in they would not be able to satisfy their lungs.
"Unicorn of my horn give your power to this one!" Scar called, clearly not wanting to be drawn into whatever desires the crystal was giving her.
He could see that there were tears in her eyes.
That was when the first crack appeared and suddenly Ryo was filled with fear. Suddenly he did not want the crystal to die. He somehow knew that this thing, no this crystallised angel, was the only thing that truly knew and understood him. This crystal was the only thing that ever wanted to be his friend. This crystal would not betray him like his father when he married his step-mother, like his mother when telling him that if his half-sister did not become queen of Fireheart then he would have to marry her half-sister, like his half-sister, who had told on him and certainly like his evil witch of a step-mother, who had tried to kill him once his half-brother came into the world.
What was he doing fighting with her? What had possessed him to forgive her? Why hadn't he got revenge on her yet? Why was he protecting her and keeping her safe?
His eyes slid to her older red-eyed double and broke the connection between her and Manura.
"Ryo!"
Scar felt the hit in her face before she was aware of what happened. She then dug her two fingers into his gut and then added the pressure to wind him. She got to her feet as he pulled out a dagger. It became clear what had happened to him and what he wanted to do.
Knowing that he was really going to cut her she tried to pull out Darkector but he was being stubborn. She tried pulling and pulling. Why wasn't he letting her draw him? She thought angrily. Then he sprung out of his sheath, just in time to catch Ryo's blade before it could dig itself into her throat.
She then drew the point of the blade away from her and then hit him in the face but he then took out his scythe and that was when an arrow hit him in the arm. He looked aside to see that Cari had drawn her crossbow. He narrowed his eyes at her and, if looks could kill Cari would be dust. He then charged at her and tried to slice her head but she blocked it with the underbelly of her cross bow and hit him in the chest.
"What's happened to you?" She asked him.
His eyes went to the crystal.
"My eyes were finally opened." He said, as he kicked her away.
Scar placed a hand on Manura's back again.
"Unicorn of my horn, give your power to this one!" She shouted and soon the beam of light was back on the crystal.
"No!" Ryo shouted as he ran at her again.
Realising what was going on Cari used her magic to pull him back and hit the back of his head with the handle of the crossbow, but this didn't seem to phase him as he turned back to her and dug the knife into her collar bone. She then let out a scream as she had not even felt pain like this before. Just as she felt a cut open in her forearm.
Scar looked back and spotted that Ryo was charging at her, forcing her to break off her hand, yet again to fight Ryo. She looked at Darkector as if to communicate with her emotions that she needed his help for this one. She felt a response back saying that he will.
She raised him into a pose that she had seen in anime and cartoons. He raised his scythe and went to strike down but Scar felt the sword tug her arm up and caught his blade.
"Woah!" She exclaimed, as he pulled her inwards.
She felt her elbow plant itself firmly into his chest.
"Oran! I think you ought to try to see if you can. If so I'll hold him off until then!" She shouted.
Oran nodded and ran as fast as she could to Manura. Scar ran over to her and picked her up and placed her on Manura's back. But then Ryo came and she then pushed him away.
"What do I do?" She asked, scared.
"Say 'horn of my unicorn, give your power to this one'!" She shouted, as her arm was jerked down causing her to fall onto the ground.
Shaking all over Oran placed her hands on the unicorn's back.
"H-horn o-of m-my u-unicorn, g-g-give your p-power to th-this one!" She shouted.
Soon the power was coming out of her and into the unicorn and a beam of light came from her horn but, unlike with Scar this beam was weaker and unstable.
"N, no!. Ryo shouted as he ran to her.
Soon Scar, almost being dragged by Darkector got there first. But by then the crystal shattered and Ryo passed out in Scar's arms. Both of them cried. None of them could do anything but weep and weep.
*
Later, when Ryo woke up, he woke up screaming and he felt tears run down his face. He then felt arms wrapped around him.
"Shh, shh. It's alright, it wasn't your fault. There, there…" He heard Cari whisper into his ear and she rocked him back into sleep.
"I'm sorry." She said, this was the last thing he heard before he fell into dreamland.
Lethal Happiness
Ryo remained silent and pale faced as they left the island. He sometimes took glances at Cari. He had been almost inconsolable after it. She had grown worried about him. Part of her knew why he looked at her like he did. However, there was another part that did not wish for her to even entertain the idea. It was barely worth it and it was all too clear that they all had moved on from all of that. Ryo even said that he had forgiven her.
But did he? Did he really forgive you? Or has he pretended to forgive you, just so that we all could focus on whatever it was that we all have to focus on?
I don't know, maybe...
"Ryo, you can talk to us." Scar said, as she placed a hand on his.
He looked away, completely unmoved, almost as if he had hardly heard her words. Cari could not blame him. She too preferred to remain silent after being either upset or shocked. She preferred the silence over comforting words.
They could feel the temperature drop as they fell below the clouds. They spotted that the next miniature planet was not only the size of a small moon but bright amber and orange. It had many villages all around it.
They could hear singing and cheery music and laughing. All the village's lights were all on and they were all dancing around in the streets. As they landed they all could feel themselves getting, somehow, happier, like all of the cheer around them had started to infect them. Making them laugh.
They could see that there were people dancing and laughing in the street. There was not one person without a smile on their faces, but their smiles and dancing and merrymaking could not hide the sweat on their brow, coming down like rain. Then there were their faces, they were deathly thin and their clothes were hanging on their bodies like the sweat was the only thing that was keeping them on their skin. They then spotted that even the necks of those that must have been obese before, whatever happened to this place, where now already halfway down their shoulders.
Then they saw decaying corpses in the street with smiles on their swollen faces.
"What is going on here?" Asked Oran as her eyes fell to them her face turned blue.
Then one fell down laughing and laughing.
"It seems like we found out what this crystal's effect is. Now we need to get there." She said as they galloped to a chapel.
It did not look like the rest of the village, nor did it look like anyone had been here for a while. In fact none were anywhere near it and it was the only building without any lights on.
They opened the doors to reveal two dusty rows of seats with a round table in the center of the stage of the chapel.
"This way!" Ordered Shighron.
He matched over to the table in the centre of the stage. The sound of his clopping hooves echoed throughout the chapel. He pushed the table aside to reveal a secret flight of stairs.
Yet as they went lower and lower they all felt happier and happier. They felt their hearts beat like they were beating along with a song. They all even started to hum and they too started to laugh. Even The Chronicler even looked like she was happier than usual.
She hummed a tune and the others started to clap along with the tune. Almost as if they had all heard this jolly tune before. Then they all burst out laughing as The Chronicler started to sing in a clear voice. With an ancient tone almost like a deep but happy cry.
"The low and high points of my life,
My struggles, problems and my strife,
Still led to something great and more
Though, I was pushed out the door,
"Parents so far, far away,
Alone feeling like a stray,
There raised by their hand,
Doing as they demand,
"Oh my true name,
My forgotten name,
Dawn of my life,
Dawn of my strife,
Will I ever gain,
You ever again?"
"That's a really old song." Cari said, as they spotted the yellow crystal.
It pulsed, almost as if it too was beating to a light upbeat rhythm. They all looked at the crystal and giggled like children.
"Do we have to destroy it?" Sang Ryo, blissfully.
"Yeah, we do."
"But why?"
"Because it's evil."
Am I?
A lyrical but ice cold voice came from the rock.
"Yeah!"
But I give out so much joy!
"But people have died."
They died happy.
Scar looked aside as she realised this was all a false joy. None of this was real. It was more like a drug, getting someone high with a denial of all the evil world surrounding them. Draining them of both life and true joy or happiness.
She looked at Shighron and placed a hand on his back.
"Horn of my unicorn, give your power to this one!" She shouted.
"Stop it!" The others moaned as the beam of light hit the crystal.
"He doesn't like it!" Said Ryo as he tugged weakly at her arm, like a small child.
"Please, it's hurting him." Said Cari as she too started tugging at her.
"This is the happiest I have ever felt!" Whined Oran.
She looked at the girl. She looked into her eyes. For a moment her heart went out to the girl. What right did she have to take away her happiness and joy? After all, this was the happiest that she too had felt for a long time.
She felt that her hand was about to fall off his back, but she heard an aggressive neigh come from Shighron.
"Don't listen to them. They will say anything to stop you. Regardless of what they say it should not be listened to.This was how I lost my rider." He said, warningly.
Scar nodded and closed her eyes so that she could not see their faces and eyes.
"Why are you doing this? Don't you like it?"
Yes, I do, but I know that it's not real. She thought, trying to ignore them.
She knew that she could not say it out loud in order to concentrate on what she knew that she had to do. She also knew that if she started to reply to their words they would use it to distract her.
"Come on! Can't you feel this joy and happiness."
I wish that I could, but I prefer the real thing. Regardless of how much I would love to. I would love to! But I know that I can't!
"I want to dance, but I want you to dance with us. Don't you want to dance?"
Yes, but that's the problem. If I did then I can't do this. Which is what I should be doing, is this.
Just focus on this!
She felt her tears welling up and falling. She pushed herself on and on. She had to drown their voices out and ignore them as much as she could. She could feel herself crying and crying.
Then came the crack. It sounded like a moment of relief. She opened her eyes and spotted the crack in the crystal. They then looked up at the crack. She could see that whatever the crystal was doing was wearing off. She saw more and more cracks and then smash.
They looked at the shards, almost as if they didn't know what to do.
"Come, let's get out of here." Scar finally said, after she had calmed down and stored her tears.
But then Ryo walked over to the shards and picked five up. He then walked over to them and gave them all a shard, first Cari, then Scar, the Chronicler and finally Oran.
"On these shards, let us not fight like this." He said as he used his magic to put a spell on it.
"Agreed." Cari said.
"Agreed." Scar said.
"Agreed." The Chronicler repeated after some thought.
"Agreed." Oran said straight after.
They then left and for the next month they were helping the villagers recover and recuperate.
The crystal Skeleton Army
Cari, Scar, Ryo, the Chronicler and Oran all decided to stay another month. Mainly to get their thoughts straight and to boost morale. They knew that they needed this break and they all decided to take it. They all joined in the dancing and spared every now and again. They also had their hair cut and took some time to relax.
They soon came to the day that they would set off. Throughout the two months they could feel that the air was getting colder and colder and they knew why. They knew that most likely once they touch down on the left side they would be at the dawn of winter.
"Do they have Christmas?" Scar asked as she climbed in.
"So they have that celebration in your world and time too?" The Chronicler stated.
Scar smirked slightly.
"Yeah, why?"
"They do."
"Oh."
The others then climbed into the carriage. Once they were fastened in, they flew off and down to the final stretch of their journey in the skies of Publove. It was the floating island, and the Kingdom of Rowark. Tquit
The first thing that they noticed was how quiet the place was, even the children were as silent as the grave. They spotted that even the birds in the sky and the animals on the land were all mute.
However they all had terror in their eyes, almost as if they knew that they all had to keep as quiet as possible.
With the silence the black wood and white or light brown gravel cottages all seemed to become just that much more creepy. Even the candle lit rooms added to the shivers that were racing down their spines. It was like they all had walked into a ghost town.
They walked around as they spotted that the cottages were all inhabited. However, they all had residences that were all knitting or reading and even eating without a sound. Almost like they wanted to make as little sound as they could.
"Is there a spell on them that keeps them quiet?" Asked Oran.
"No...but-"
They all looked at them with such horror in their eyes that, for a moment, they thought that the villagers were afraid of them. But they all placed their fingers to their lips, that told them that they were afraid for them. They all shook their heads as they all trembled and became deathly pale.
"Why should we do that?" Oran asked.
Soon the children ran to their parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles or whatever adult was in the room. They gripped them and buried themselves into them. They even heard them whimpering slightly, but doing their best not to make a sound. They all placed a hand on the back of their heads pressing them closer as they too closed their eyes in fear.
That was when they heard the distant sound of a tingling noise. They looked to the horizon to see that there were several sparkles dotted, but very rapid. They then heart the sound coming closer and they soon spotted that there were several crystals moving but as they came closer and closer they spotted that, to their horror they were an army of crystal skeletons!
Quickly they all drew their weapons and Cari fired arrow after arrow, but they were still marching on. Ryo flicked the blade of his scythe and ran and just as the army reached the group they morphed their hands into scythes and raised them like a praying mantis. Ryo swung at their arms and dislodged them. He then smiled and flung off their heads.
"Look out!" Shouted Scar as she drew her blade, to her surprise it was easier this time.
She looked at it and smirked slightly.
Ryo looked at the arms that he had just dislodged and they just came back and reattached themselves to the rest of the body quickly followed by the head. They then came running towards him and were about to strike him down.
Then Scar blocked their attack and drew it away. She then drew it in and then ran into them like the blade was dragging her. The blade was dragging her. Her arm came down at the crystal skeleton and this sliced through the crystal like butter.
Ryo had to remind himself to get back into the fight as he drew his attention elsewhere. He then mowed down and broke apart several crystal spines but they then came back together. He did this again and again, and again and again the pieces came back together.
That was when the unicorns got involved. They all bowed their heads, like a rhino, and charged at the army. Keeping their heads down as they galloped. They then raised their horns and then the rest of their body rose up and hit a few with their hooves. They then shot a small orange, purple and green beam out of the tip and to each of the crystal skeletons. When they hit they all turned to dust. she
Scar looked at Oran and she looked back at her. Nodding to demonstrate that they knew what the other was thinking they ran to the nearest unicorn. Scar put away her sword and jumped on the back of hers and Oran was pushed up by the Chronicler. They then placed their hands onto their backs.
"Horn of my unicorn, give your power to this one!" They cried.
Soon the beams of light that the unicorns projected became so powerful that the army was nothing but ash!
"So which unicorn do we need now?"
"Brenigh." The Chronicler said.
"Here. By the way I think that you all should keep quiet, after all there's another fight coming." He told them telepathically.
They all looked at each-other and nodded. They all climbed on the back of the unicorn and was at a wooden structure at the mouth of what looked like a very black cave. They even heard a slight ting inside. They were all about to get off but Brenigh shook his head.
"Scar, Oran I think that it is best that you two stay on my back. Meanwhile the rest of you pair up with a unicorn of your own. You will need to and you shall thank me for it later." He told them.
The others slipped off.
"Me and my rider went in there in hope that we could free the slave miners but we got separated and he was struck down by one of the crystal skeletons."
"Cari, I think that you shall be with me." Said Yamkuro, looking around.
"I will be with Ryo." Commanded Shighron as he stepped beside him.
"And I shall be with...The Chronicler." Said Nighron.
"And I shall be beside you." Said Manura. "After all, you do need to save your power until we find that crystal."
Benigh nodded but with the look of slight destane. He gestured that the other unicorns go first and Menura to go behind him.
They all clopped in and then they saw them, men, women and even children chipping away at the coal. Their faces were so blackened by the soot that you could hardly tell what their true skin shade was. They were so thin that they were shaking as they hit the coal off.
That was when they spotted a young girl. She could be no older than nine fall down at the floor as her body convulsed in uncontrollable spasms. This caught sight of one of the crystal skeletons. Which ran up to her and turned its hand into a crystal whip. He then brought down the whip but the child did not even let a single whimper as her back became a mixture of soot and blood!
Cari, Ryo, Scar and Oran widened their eyes in shock at this brutality. The Chronicler however looked at the poor child with nothing but pity but there was a shame-filled look on her face as she touched her scar.
She looked up at Brenigh and nodded. She picked up each one and put them all on each unicorn and set off before they could do anything. Her and Nighron stayed behind.
She had better be thinking of helping them. Cari thought as they galloped.
Cari looked back and spotted that the crystal skeletons were running after them! The next thing that she spotted was that The Chronicler was carrying the small child over to Nighron. She understood what her plan was now. She smiled slightly out of relief as she turned back.
"Got any ideas on how to make it harder for them to chase us?" Cari asked Yamkuro.
He smirked.
"Say 'crystal facti cinis' and fire an arrow." He said, with a devious smirk.
She smirked as she nodded. She buried her dread as she looked behind and aimed her crossbow at the closest crystal.
"Crystal facti cinis!" She shouted at the top of her lungs and fired.
The arrow hit the skeleton. It looked down and looked up mockingly but then the arrow lit up and exploded and all around became ash. Then others replaced the ones that were now ash. Cari could feel pain in her arm but she ignored it and fired another shot.
"Crystal facti cinis!" She called, again and again the army became ash.
Then her arm from the shoulder to half way down her forearm burst out. She knew that she could not continue for the next time that she did it, she knew would lose consciousness. So she had to stop.
Ryo looked at his half-sister with great concern.
"Can I do that?" He asked.
"Yes, but it is not advisable, after all you will need to get up and close." He said.
"Can you?"
"Sure."
"Then why don't you?" He asked.
"Because I find it difficult to aim and gallop at the same time." He admitted.
"The try." He said.
Shighron looked back and bowed his head.
"Crystal facti cinis!" He shouted but when the beam came from his horn it missed but hit another.
Scar spotted what they were doing and placed her hand on the back of Manora.
"Horn of my unicorn, give your power to this one!" She called.
"Destroy those things!"
Manora looked back and shouted "Crystal facti cinis!" and her beam hit many until the closest three waves of skeletons were all ash. She then pulled back and soon they were at the black void-like final dark crystal.
Both girls placed their hands on Brenigh.
"Horn of my unicorn give your power to this one!" They shouted and soon the most powerful beam flew out of the horn and the crystal was no more.
When they returned The Chronicler and the slaves were gone.
They all galloped to the village, where everyone was getting medical attention. Ryo carried Cari over to the nearest white mage.
As he attended to her wound a small white crystal of ice rested itself on it. She could feel the cold. They looked up to see the dark amber clouds eclipsing the sky. She saw more and more white dots falling from the sky.
It seemed that they were wrong. Winter would not come once they touched down on the Left Page. Winter had come, and she could feel it's cold hand upon her. She hoped that he would finish his work and she wanted to wrap up warm as soon as she could.
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