The Queendom Isles
The Voyage To The Queendom Isles
They had set off for the Queendom of Emerald very early the morning after. They wanted to minimise the sentimental farewell. After they had packed, they left the castle and made their journey strate to the Fireheart docs, for that was the closest to the Queendom Isles. To their surprise and in spite of their timing, they were greeted by King Alexander and King Vladen.
"What are you doing here?" They asked in unison.
They took a glance at each other, finding that bizarre.
The kings chucked.
"What? Do you seriously think that we would let you all leave without saying goodbye? And yes, even to you Scar, whom I can not get over the fact that you look almost identical to my daughter."
"Urm…thank you?" She said, almost stunned and unsure of how to react.
"After all, you three and Hikari all worked together to bring an end to the war that plagued this land for so long." King Alexander remarked.
"Not to mention, that you freed my mind from that witch and kept my youngest son safe from harm. So it is only fitting that we give you three a goodbye gift each." King Vladen said as Ryo looked at him shocked.
He presented Ryo with a crimson pole that was in the shape of a back bone, with two skulls at the top. Which was the length of his hip to his knee and with a curved blade folded down.
"This is the scythe of King Mortmor it is called Reaper De La Darkness." He said, passing it to him.
Then King Alexander presented to Cari a crimson crossbow with a purple string made of some strange metal.
"This is the brother to the Reaper De La Darkness the first crossbow which King Fireheart wielded is named Dart De La Dark." He said as he gave it to her.
"Am I late?" A voice came from behind.
They turned around to see the King Mindmine the king or Miémory.
“"I am here to give this to you Mythos Puros." He said as he gave her a book.
It was dark crimson that had a purple blade in the center with a lilac border.
"I had a prophet of the Great Being tell me that you were coming and he told me to give this to you."
"It's Scar, and thank you." She said with genuine gratitude, almost like a child receiving something for the first time.
She looked at the book and could tell that it was made of the same strange material that the scythe and crossbow was made of.
"Tell me, what material is this made of?" she asked as she noticed that it did not feel like wood nor did it feel like metal either.
"Dragon scales." He said.
"Well we better be off. After all, we don't want to stay any longer."
"Ryo's right. So goodbye and send my love to Hikari when she wakes."
"Goodbye. And raise my little brother well."
"Will do son!"
With that they all left.
They spent the next month talking to each-other as much as possible. They did this in order to get to know each-other better. They had to get used to each-other's company, however the only one who found it difficult to open up about their past was Scar.
"What's there to say?" She said, bitterly.
"Anything interesting?"
"Nothing I wanna talk about." She said, her voice hollow.
It seemed to both Cari and Ryo that there was something that she did not like about her past. Whatever it was they knew better than to pry.
She was also looking at the book that King Mindmine had given her. There she would stay for a long time just engrossing herself in the book, almost like she was trying to distract herself. Cari noticed this as this was something that she would do.
Nothing interesting happened until the first week of the final month when they spotted a ship coming at them in the distance. It was made of a well polished black wood with crimson sails and a jolly roger at the top of the highest sail.
The rest of the crew and passengers looked at it with nothing but horror. They all screamed as they all ran around. They soon scrambled below decks as fast as they could. Yet they were still screaming below the decks as they soon heard more screams and people running around out of fear.
Cari, Ryo and Scar all looked at each-other, already knowing what must be done.
Immediately Cari took out her Dart De La Dark and Ryo took out his pole on his hip and with a flick of his wrist the blade of the Reaper De La Darkness flicked out and clicked into place.
Scar looked behind her for a weapon, seeing that there was none. She knew that she would have to fight these pirates without one, so she lowered herself down to her fighting stance.
Then the ship drew parallel to theirs; it was now close enough to see the name of the ship engraved in scarlet; The Black Heart Revenge.
That was when the pirates started raining down. They huddled together in a group and looked around. The deck was clear other then the three of them and the fifteen of them.
"Ryo sweep the ones on the right. Scar to your left and I'll take the middle." Cari barked.
"Who put you in charge?" They asked.
"No time to talk." She said, pointing to the pirates.
She started to run at the five on the right. She loaded her arrow and fired at one dead in the centre. His two mates beside them ran at her and slashed down. She dodged, using her shorter height to land a kick. She then fired and hit their vanes with arrows. She loaded it again and then she struck them both in the heart. She spotted two blades close beside her neck. She quickly ducked just in time as their blades cut her forehead and hair. Ignoring the pain she loaded and then she fired and they fell down.
Meanwhile Ryo took his cue he ran and, like a farmer would, his crop, he soon mowed down the fist one at the end as he spotted that the pole could not only extend but also bend as it took down the rest without him breaking out into a sweat.
During this, Scar dodged one of her group's blades. She struck the wrist of the hand that it belonged to like a snake strike, taking full advantage of the opening. He dropped his blade and she punched him in the throat before he had any chance to retaliate.
She picked up the sword and used it to block a coming one as another slashed, aiming for her side. She jumped and used the flat side to give her a leg up. Her toes hit him in the jaw forcing her to curl up and flipped over the three blades. Landing behind them. There she used the blunt end of the sword to knock one of them out as the remaining two turned to face her. Then she jumped and delivered a scissor kick to both of them both in between the legs causing them to drop their swords. When she landed on her feet she bent her hands in and jumped up and they too were knocked out.
Cari looked at her.
"Why did you not kill them?" She asked.
"Why did you?" She asked.
"Alright what's going on-" Hhouted the captain as he looked around.
"-here…" He said, in a high pitched tone.
His tanned face became pale as his long black beard and hair felt strangely lighter.
He turned back to his ship.
"Never mind!" He remarked.
"What? Not even going to try to kill us?" Ryo taunted.
"Do I look stupid to you? Plus, the ones you killed I hated. Tried to start a mutiny, I'll have you believe!" He exclaimed as he turned back.
He soon went back to the ship and left with only the dead and unconscious crew as proof that he and his ship was ever there.
With that they had a perfect and silent voyage.
They soon met The Chronicler at the docs feeling that they were prepared for whatever it was that destiny had called them to do...
The First Witch
"Right, time to see if we're ready to take this witch down." Cari said, loading her quiver.
"You are ready, however we must not waste any time. We cannot afford the queen finding out that we are here.” Scat said as they left the harbour and trekked down a long path until the sun came down.
They then set up camp for the night and, as soon as the sun came up, woke up and moved on until the jewels of the ground gave way to dirt and the lush trees gave way to dead and dry ones. Then the trees became smaller and wider and wider until they left the forest.
They also noticed that the blue sky had suddenly become cloudy and dark. Almost as if the sun was not welcome in this aria of the island. Yet it stunk off burning sugar.
Their eyes quickly adjusted to the darkness as they walked on further and further.
They soon could see a maroon bricked castle. With high double doors that seemed to be painted with darkness rather than paint and windows. They could see pink, brown, red and dark yellow skins for curtains.
Something told the group that they were not made from animal skins.
As they walked up to the doors they opened.
"What are they made of?" Scar asked, nodding to the bricks.
"Blood of the witch's victims. You see, all witches always keep something from their victims." The Chronicler told her.
Scar's face became like a vampire's as she looked at the bricks.
"Even ones from my world?" She asked almost as if she was referencing something.
"All witches." She confirmed.
Scar shivered as her lip curled. She looked as if she was more ill than she already did.
Then the doors opened.
They looked at each-other already knowing that they were expected here. They knew that meant that there would be a trap waiting for them. They looked at the double doors unsure whether or not they had been tampered with in any way so that they would be killed before they even set foot in the witch's castle.
They spotted a small beetle on the ground. It looked as if it was about to walk up to them. They wondered if the witch had done something to the creature. Maybe made it venomous to make sure that they would end up dead at the door? Then it, at the last second, turned from the group and wandered in through the double doors. Seeing that it was not harmed they all came to the assumption that the doors were not rigged.
"It seems to me that she wants us to enter." Remarked Ryo.
"I hate witches."
Scar spat as they all walked in.
"Tell me Scar, is there anything that you do like?" Cari asked.
"Plenty. It's just I don't think that we have the time to talk about them right now. In fact, I don't think I've had time to think about that for a long time." She said as they started to hear buzzing.
That was when the candles seemed to light themselves on their own. Revealing a tall room with reddy brown walls. They could tell that, by the cracks and uneven hard surface, that this was not paint. They did not even need the flies and grim odour to confirm it. They had to strengthen their stomachs as they walked on.
Seriously, how does a gruesome place like this exist in a beautiful fairy tale place like Emerald?
They walked to the stairs where they were greeted by a his. They looked to the side to see a brought orange serpent head. They looked onwards to see that its body was twisted tightly around the bannister. It was clearly part of it but its head bobbed up and down showing that it was enchanted.
"Hello, I have been expecting you." A clear and childish voice came.
"You have?" Asked Cari.
"Yes, and you'll find me in the room in the far corner on your right. There I'll show you things. Many things that you'll find interesting. Including my true for-orm! So come on up!" She sang, like a child.
Suspiciously and caustically, they slowly walked up the staircase. Keeping their eyes on both serpent heads they walked to the center and tested the steps at all times. They continued and went higher and higher. Then when they were finally at the top they continued to test the ground beneath their feet.
Then they walked on each and every floorboard. They soon came to the door. Which looked completely normal. They all looked at each-other as Cari twisted the knob and pushed it open.
Inside, they were greeted by what looked like a smiling child with bright golden blond hair and pale blue eyes. She was wearing a black rose lace Gothic dress. Her face carried both innocence but also malice which made it unnerving to look at. Almost as if she wanted you to think that she was an innocent, harmless child but yet, at the same time, know that she was as evil as the devil himself. Her crystal blue eyes carried a maturity that told anyone that she was not a child.
"Hi!" She said, in a fake unnatural high-pitched voice that was only pretending to have not been through purity.
She giggled like a child but there was a creepy edge about the childish giggle.
"I thought that I told that silly, silly queen to get rid of you." She laughed.
She jumped off the bed she sat on.
"You should've listened to her. Now you've got me to deal with!"
"Yes and we will kill you, witch." Cari said, with sincerity.
She put on a false sad smile on her face.
"No you won't Princess Cari." She giggled, almost making her feel foolish as she looked to her right.
She then gasped as her face lit up. She then squealed excitedly.
"Oh my! Is that the Mythos Puros? Well, well, well ain't we along time from home!" She taunted, as she raced to her and shook her hand.
She pulled her hand out.
"What does it matter to you? And just who are you anyway?" She snapped, feeling freaked out.
"Well now that you've asked." She said, bowing.
"I'm Liztoria Voxtianhime!" She introduced as she hit herself in the chest.
"And I can see your darkness!" She sang as she looked at Scar in her scarlet eyes.
"And it's quite the treat!" She said, licking her lips.
She looked at her in her eyes. She could feel like the witch was looking into her very soul. Her head started to feel her head pounding as her mind became faint. She felt a terrible tiredness overwhelming her.
Cari looked at her, concerned.
The older girl's face became paler and paler. She started to shake and sweat started to appear. Then she let out a scream as her eyes glowed, illuminating the room with scarlet. Liztoria giggled when she started panting. Her legs were shaking that much that her knees banged together.
She ran to her and covered her with her arm.
"Stop it! Just stop it!" Cari shouted.
Ryo ran up to her with his scythe and was about to bring it down when he went flying into the roof almost within a moment. Cari pulled out her crossbow and loaded an arrow and fired but the arrow burst into flames and turned to ash before it even hit her!
She then ran but she too was flung across the room and hit her back.
She soon felt a force press down on her.
She looked at Ryo and then extended their hands. They tried to use their magic but she raised her hand and somehow their magic was completely negated. The only proof that they had that they had used magic was a cut in their hands.
They looked at her with horror.
They then looked at Scar who looked as if she was about to pass out. Liztoria then walked up to her and she pulled out a small knife.
"I know it's been hard on you. Let me make it easier on you!" She taunted.
Scars shaking hands lay out in front of her. She looked at it and placed her hand beneath hers and she then cut her hand. She then took three steps back. That was when they spotted that her blood did not flow down but shaped an object in the shape of an L and had something sticking out at the top outer corner as well as the inner corner.
Her shaking thumb flicked the outer thing which sounded like a click, and then she raised the longer side. She spotted that Scar was crying but she made no noise. Her eyes screamed of nothing but horror and total fear.
"Don't-stop! Please!" She shouted.
Then her finger pulled the thing in the inner thing and BANG!
Liztoria looked down and smiled as she died.
Scar collapsed.
The force lifted.
They picked her up as the Chronicler took out a red gem and placed it down. The wood beneath caught fire and they left and looked at the castle as it was eclipsed in flames.
Later when they were in an inn Cari walked up to the Chronicler as they looked at Scar, still unconscious.
"Is she alright?" She asked.
"She will be, however I can tell that the darkness inside her is greater than I initially thought. Then again, she may be fourteen, but her darkness is that of someone ten years older than she is." She said, with almost a bitter and nostalgic tone.
"Should she stay with us?" She asked.
"Yes, more than ever!"
The Second Witch
"How are you feeling today?" The Chronicler asked Scar, as she stroked her hair, almost like a mother would.
As she woke up, a deep frown appeared on her forehead. She, for a moment, looked confused.
"I dunno...I don't think....Never mind you wouldn't understand. So who's the next witch we have to k-" She felt her throat tighten.
"Take down." She said, hoping to make it sound better.
Cari reached out a hand to her older red eyed clone, who had been comforting her while she was having a nightmare the whole day and night. She had a good sleep between the less intense moments of the scarlet eyed older clone.
"It will be alright Scar. We will kill her this time." She said, holding her hand.
"Doesn't make it any better." She mumbled. "And can you get off my hand?"
"Alright." She said, letting go.
"Well, her name is, I can not say that I promise that I am pronouncing this right, Myranna Nightdeath. She, I must warn you, likes to collect bones. There is even a rumour that her house is made of them!"
"What? How does it stay intact?” Scar asked, ground not to think of the house.
"Magic."
"Oh…"
She rolled her eyes as she looked ahead.
They arrived at the island. The first thing they spotted was that there was a crimson path. It had a large skull at the base. Yet Scar noticed that it was made of wet blood. She looked at the skull and noticed there were words engraved into the head.
Follow my path,
Feel my wrath!
"Looks like she left a path for us." Cari said, scratching the back of her head.
"'Follow the yellow brick road'..." Scar sang mockingly.
"The what?"
Her eyes rolled.
"Never mind."
Cari frowned and raised her eyebrow.
They stepped on the doc and then followed the road. They did all they could to avoid the blood road. Which ultimately led to a grim hut with two floors made of bones and the window sills were made from the skulls.
They had to hold in the vomit as the stench of death that clung to the area.
"Time to see if we are ready for this one!"
"Well if this is anything like the other one, then we are anything but." Ryo said as he glanced at Scar. "Are you going to be alright with this one?"
Scar sighed as she shrugged.
Her eyes glanced at the deep cut on her hand. She closed her eyes and let out a long sigh.
"I'm making no promises." She replied. "Still would it make a difference?"
"No. I don't think so."
They slowly and cautiously walked into the house. They could smell the stench of decay becoming worse. Their faces became green with disgust and they tried not to focus on the stench like mouldy raw meat.
"Do you think that we should split up to cover more ground?" Ryo asked.
"No. Not a good idea. After all, she would be able to pick us off easier that way." Scar said. "Cover the ground first, then upstairs."
The Chronicler looked at her wide eyed and impressed.
"What? Just trying to focus my thoughts." She muttered as a grim look entered her eyes.
They walked on as Cari started to hear some singing coming from the stairs. Her mind went numb and she fell into a waking dreamlike state of mind.
She, silently, walked away from the group. She slowly and silently climbed the bony stairs. She moved like she was a zombie. She then reached the top of the stairs. She then, almost instinctively, walked on to the room to the end. She walked in the room made of bones.
Inside, she saw the tables, chaires and bed were all made of bones. With a single blanket over a woollen mattress.
She spotted a thin hand rise up and click.
She blinked and jumped slightly. Her mind became, suddenly, aware of what was going on almost like she had just woken up from a dream. She tried to take out her crossbow but she could not move. She tried to cry out but she felt a pressure on her voice box silencing her.
"Shh, shh! Don't try that." Came a high-pitched lyrical voice.
Her eyes slid to her left to see a woman with pale white skin. Her face was so thin that she could see her cheekbones poking out. Her eyes were very sunken in. With the bags under her black eyes made her face look more like a ghoulish skull.
She rested her hand on her shoulder and leaned in.
"After all, I wouldn't want you to hurt that precious voice of yours." she said, stroking her throat.
"Although, I must admit, I never expected the one who's caused so much uproar to be so young and beautiful. I wish I didn't have to kill you, you would have made for such a good apprentice! Or a good play thing." She admitted, looking down and up.
Her eyes widened.
Seriously! Are my eyes the only thing that I can move? She thought out of her fear and rage.
"Now I'm going to tell you exactly what I'm going to do." She whispered.
She placed her middle finger over her neck where the pulse was. She could see that her smile carried more than maliciousness.
She felt her dread sinking in. She knew that she was about to feel her cruelty. She also knew that she was not only going to kill her but also she was going to do it as slowly as possible, enjoying every moment as much as she could.
"I'm going to use this blade." She said as she raised a blade to her sight. "To slowly slice this throat of yours. As you die, the last thing that you will feel is me licking your blood. Then when you're dead I will use your organs for something special."
Her heartbeat increased dramatically, the worst thing was, she knew that Myranna could feel every beat. She was exactly where she wanted her and she knew it. She also knew that there was only one way to get out of this situation. She closed her eyes and dug in deep and let her power overcome her and then let it out.
When her eyes opened the knife was in Myranna's head and then her arm cut open and she fell to her knees.
What happens?
"The witch is dead!" She shouted, as her finger split apart.
She stood to her feet and walked out of the room. She walked down the stairs and met up with the others. Together they lit the bone house on fire and watched as the place was consumed by flames.
Ryo looked up at the moon.
"Worried?"
"No."
The Third Witch
They docked at the next island.
They spotted a man whose eyes were unfocused and jacket and trousers were both dirty and just as jaded as his eyes. He just sat there, almost as if he was nothing but a living shell of who he was. His face was thin and he looked as if he was barely breathing. He fell down and the dust showed that his breathing stopped.
"What did I just see?" Scar asked.
She ran to him and placed two fingers on the side of his neck. Her eyes widened with shock.
"He died."
"No, that poor man was dead a long time ago." The Chronicler said.
"What do you mean by that?" Cari asked.
"Cari, do you even want to know?" Ryo commented.
"No."
"So, who is this witch and what does she collect?" Scar asked, her eyes focused.
"Her name's Thinind and she collects minds. The brighter the mind the more she would want to collect that mind."
"How? And why?"
"She pulls the souls out of people and divides the mind, will and emotions and takes the mind out and puts the rest back in the body. The reason she does this is because she likes picking apart brilliant minds and is interested in their thoughts." She explained.
They all shivered at that, not wanting to know more.
They climbed to their feet and walked past the corpse. They walked on and as they walked on the road displayed more and more corpses. Their stomachs churned as they did.
They arrived at a large castle that was the size of a small field. It had grey bricks and double dark blue doors. At either end were four towers that had triangular merlons like a crown.
As they walked up to the doors they could feel their hearts beating fast and they walked in.
They were greeted immediately by a corridor and a blinding white wall and on that wall there was a riddle written in blood.
Answer To Find Me:
Count on, count strong,
My face has hands,
That are never wrong,
But I differ through the lands
However, what you must know,
Is the direction my hands go!
Scar looked at the riddle as she started to suck her thumb nail. Her eyes narrowed. She looked at the riddle carefully, dissecting each and every line. It was all too clear by the spark in her eyes and the smile on her lips that she was in her element.
This was the first time Cari had ever seen such an expression on her face before, even-though she liked the look, she did not like how she seemed to enjoy it.
"Right,we go right." She said, moving in that direction.
"How do you know?" Cari asked.
"Because it's talking about a clock and the hands move right." She said, moving her finger from left to right.
Cari looked at the riddle again and suddenly it made sense.
"Oh yeah!"
They all walked down the long corridor until they came to another riddle.
At the lungs the blood splits,
But where does the heart sits?
"Left!" They all said at the same time.
They turned and walked on and had to turn a corner to be greeted by yet another riddle.
In this direction the west reads,
As the books' words sows the seeds.
Right again.
This time count the left and right,
Follow the story majority in sight:
I was next to a left handed fellow. With a mole under his right eye, a beauty spot under his left. His right eye was red, the left white. His left was normal, his right had a thumb on his left.
Then his eyes went left and right.
Left again.
"There seems to be a pattern, we are to go left now, and then left and then right again." She said as they continued.
They followed the pattern until they came to a woman with a modest blue black dress and cosmic blue hair with blue eyes.
"So you figured it out?" She said as she looked at Scar with a hint of a hungry glee.
"I must admit that I did not expect that the Mythos Puros would carry such an intelligent mind. I have to commend you for that!" She exclaimed, excitedly.
"I must admit it is intriguing, how did you figure out my pattern?" She asked.
"Believe me, it was not difficult." She admitted.
"Well I must admit that I wished that I could have used something more complicated, but such good minds are increasingly difficult to find. I'm finding the dull minds of this land tedious to dissect."
"I guess that's true."
"I must admit that I did not expect you to agree."
"And I must admit, you sat I must admit quite a lot." She said, mockingly slightly.
"Scar, move aside!" Ryo said, commandingly.
She suddenly heard snapping and popping sounds coming from behind her. She looked back to see a pair of bat-like wings. Her eyes looked at it with both shock and awe.
The Chronicler pulled her away.
"What is this?" The witch asked.
"Leave, I will take care of this one!" Ryo said, slightly in pain.
"Alright! She's all yours!"
The Chronicler almost had to pull Scar away as they turned and left the room.
They all ran out of the castle.
Then she jumped and heard a roar and now there was black on the white. They left as heat engulfed the place and when Scar pulled herself free from The Chronicler's strong grip. She looked back and saw that the whole place was now a furnace.
A purple dragon broke out and flew out of the top and curved. He outstretched his front legs and tucked in his hind legs. He grabbed the three and placed them on his back. Then as the castle became ash they were on the next island.
"But where's-" She began as she looked at the dragon and quickly understood.
The Fourth Witch
When they landed on the next island they immediately noticed something eerie about the silent atmosphere. There was a thin pale white mist surrounding the darkened island. This blocked every part of the sky.
They looked around as they stood there on the dusty doc. They could see neither boat nor person there. As they looked around they spotted that underneath the doc there were thin cobwebs and fungus covered the poles supporting the doc.
It was still dark even-though, by Ryo's reforming as a human, they could tell that the sun was up. They could see that the trees were anything but well groomed and had overgrown vines choking the life out of them. The leaves were pale and the ground was covered with a pale thick overgrown grass.
Their senses were put on edge as their instincts told them to keep their guitars up.
"I don't like the look of this."
"You are not the only one."
Scar remained quiet and shivered.
Her face was as pale as the leaves and her eyes seemed to be out of focus and distant. Her eyebrows were raised as if she was about to cry, but her eyes refused to let those tears drop. There seemed to be a painful weight on her heart.
"What is it, Scar?" Cari asked, reading her eyes.
"Nothing." She said, rubbing her eyes.
She shook her head as she walked on.
"Come on, let's get this over with."
She gave Ryo his clothes back, not looking at him once.
"Thank you." He said, quickly, clearly covering his feeling of being slightly humiliated.
"What?" He snapped.
"Nothing, it's just I thought that you would have become used to things like this." Cari replied.
"Oh, I'd like to see you go through all of this once one of the moons is full!"
"Well, fortunately I don't. But if I did, I know, I would have to get over my humiliation as soon as I can. After all, I would not want my pride to get in the way of whatever it was that I had to do.” she said.
"Well not everyone's you."
"That's true."
They then hear a low and chilling moan. This sent shock-waves throughout their bodies. They looked around, wondering where it was coming from. Yet they heard more and followed the strange moaning.
They spotted a man coming from the mists. He was barely picking up his feet as he almost slid. There seemed to be a grim odour coming from him. They could see that there were worms chewing away at his rotten flesh as his clothes hung from his dead figure. His eyeballs were out on display, held barely in place by the decaying eyelids. The most unnerving thing about them was the fact that the pupils, who were clearly being hit by different rays of light, did neither increase or decrease in size.
"A zombie!" Ryo exclaimed.
"Wait, what? You mean they exist?"
"Yes, and that means that the witch must have the blood or have the knowledge of the witch doctors of the Sundesert Planes." She said as she raised her crossbow to his head and fired.
"Which means that you can take these creatures out, after all it's already dead and you can't kill what's already dead."
"She is right Mythos Puros, after all the soul has long since departed from the body. This means that you are doing nothing but defending the honour of the one to whom that body belonged to." The Chronicler explained. "And, Cari, Ryo, when you put an arrow or stab the head you sever the connection between the witch doctor and the brain of the vessel."
Scar looked at her and nodded.
"Here, I believe that this is best in your hands." The Chronicler said.
She gave her a long sword with a crimson blade and a black hilt decorated with purple stones. It looked both terrifying and beautiful at the same time. Part of her felt herself becoming enchanted by the blade.
"His name is Darkector, he's a good blade. As you have no weapons you might borrow this one. Just remember, once you have done it, would you remember to return it?"
Scar nodded.
She looked at it with a frown. She looked back at the Chronicler.
"Why didn't you give me this earlier?" She asked.
She gave her a puzzling look.
"Darkector is very specific about who holds him and I had to make sure that you had the best personality that was compatible with the one that he likes. I can tell you, Mythos Puros, have that probability." She explained.
Scar nodded.
"Oh, and please call me Scar or Scarborough."
The Chronicler nodded.
Cari raised her crossbow and aimed at the head of the zombie.
They soon came to the end of the doc and spotted that even the beech was a dark shade of grey like one found on a volcanic island, but this was not one of those. Cari and Ryo both knew that the dark magic on the island must have changed the sand, and if they were from Scar's world they would know that it was chemically different now too. However the only thing that they knew was that those beeches were not going to be the same again, even after the magic of the land had been lifted.
They then spotted a woman in black lace dress. Her dark chocolate skin was dirty but it was all too clear that she was not dead and that she was very much alive.
Scar raised her blade to her, deducing that this woman must have been the witch. Then she spotted that there was a disrepair in her ink black eyes and her light brunette hair was all mattered and messy. She dropped the sword, deducing that she was not the witch.
"Queen Bethany? Is that you?" Cari asked.
"Princess Cari, it is and might I ask whatever is it that you are here, with Prince Ryo above all people?" She asked.
"The Kingdom Isle War is over and we are here to kill a witch." She said, being straight forward.
"Why? I thought that King Alex-"
"Had to let me go, after all he knew that I belonged elsewhere as I did the moment that I found out that Ryo was my half brother and my mother was the queen of the dragons." She said, gesturing to him.
"So has he told you everything about that then?"
"Yes."
"Including why he gave you that bracelet?" She said, pointing to it.
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"Never mind. If he has not told you already, then it is far from my place to tell you. So, may I ask, what is your place in this, Fallen Princess?” she asked, looking directly at The Chronicler.
"I am their guide." She said, with an emotionless and guarded tone.
"So do you know where the witch is?" Scar asked, wanting to get back to the topic.
"Well, I must admit that was a little out of place. Also may I assume that you are a Mythos Puros?" She asked.
"Yes, but don't call me that. It's either Scar or Scarborough."
She nodded, with a judgemental look in her eyes.
"I see that you do not like that title. She started.
"I do believe that it would do you good to learn to. Now, the witch is in a tomb on the sacred ground. She has been there for five years and that was where she started this zombie plague. You see, the moment that she had arrived here she walked directly to that place and used her enchantments to reanimate the dead.
"This was when my reign, almost overnight, became luxurious and comfortable to a nightmare. After the first that was all but wiped out was the peasants then the Lords and Ladies and then the nobles and aristocrats now all the survivors are in the church building where the Great Being is protecting them." She explained.
Nodding they looked at each-other.
"So would you mind guiding us there and once that you do, make sure to get yourself in the holy building? It would help." Ryo said.
She nodded as her eyelids dropped a few millimetres.
"Alright. I just want this nightmare to end. I cannot see another become part of her undead army. I know that these people are the people of my late husband, but they are mine by marriage, I care for them deeply as if they are my own." She sighed. "And honestly I feel like a failure of a Queen."
"Tell me, is it your fault that this happened?"
"No, Prince Ryo."
"Could you have prevented this?"
"No, Prince Ryo."
"And, once we have taken care of this witch, do you have a plan to restore Obsidian?"
"Yes. I do!"
"Then, after the witch is dead, you will know if you're a failure."
Her eyes brightened.
"You are right. I was just throwing a pity party. I will take you to the witch now."
They followed her on a dead and dry mud road. It had been trodden on so many times that the feet had engraved a small ditch in the ground. As they walked Scar noticed that there were no horse or carriage marks.
They soon came to the dwelling place of the witch, after climbing a large hill. Which woke up the calves and thighs and behind. It was a good trek up that challenged their legs. As they walked, they saw that there were several crib tombs.
When they finally reached the top, she pointed over to the largest crib tomb. Which looked as if it had been made from black glass but it was all too clear that it was once marble.
"That one. That is where she lives." She said, pointing at it.
"Thank you. Now go to your people, and tell them that their nightmare will be over." The Chronicler said.
She looked at her, there was still a tone of disapproval of her in her eye but her fetus softened. She nodded and left.
They soon came to the doors and then the doors opened.
Their eyes spotted a childish looking woman with eyes the colour of blood with irises that were almost eclipsing the whites of her eyes. There was a purple ring where the colour met the whites. Her hair was the colour of dandelions and long. Her dress was bright yellow with suns sewn into the dress and her skin looked healthy but pale.
"Hi you lot! It's about time you came." She said, folding her arms.
She raised her hand. With two fingers twitched back the three were pushed back and flew in. Then the doors as they quickly closed in front of The Chronicler as she ran after. She hammered the doors.
"I think I would like a bit of privacy."
They tried to move but they soon found that they could not.
"Don't try that. After all, the paralysis spell is very hard to break. And I am a very powerful witch if I say so myself!" She boasted with such confidence.
She then looked at Cari.
"Now let's get to business."
She then flicked her up and she was upright like a pole. She felt like her entire body was hanging on an invisible force that she could not see. She tried to move again but she could not. She tried to use her magic on her to hurt her. Hoping that would release them but all she could do was get a small shallow cut beneath this witches eye that would not even leave a scar. She did not even look as if it brought her pain but she smiled.
"That tickled!" She giggled.
She walked close to her.
"What were you trying to do?" She said, touching her cheek.
She tried to open her mouth to retort but she could not even move her mouth. See in this she rolled her eyes and clicked and she found that her jaw and lips were able to move.
"What's it to you?" She asked, realising that there was no retort that she could say that would do anything.
"You little dart." She added to make her look more braver than how she actually felt.
She smiled to herself and then laughed, patting her on the shoulder.
"I like you." She said as she drew in close to her and kissed her on her cheek.
"Who are you? And don't ever do that again!"
"Oh? Why not? You're my prisoner as long as I am here. I can do whatever I want with you. As for my name, I might tell you whenever we meet again." She said as her eyes dropped.
"Now, time for me to do my job. Father would prefer me to get this over with."
She started to roll up her shirt. Exposing the large x on her stomach that stated where the dip of the ribcage to the top of her trousers with the crossing point being her belly button.
Scar looked at it and her eyes dropped to the direction of hers.
Ryo's eyes widened, spotting that her curse mark was bigger than his.
"Wow! That's big! I mean I've seen bigger but not one that was pitch black that size!" She exclaimed as she placed her hand on it.
Her eyes looked at it with hungry admiration.
She shook her head and closed her eyes. The x started to glow and burn. Cari started feeling a burning pain throughout her body. She felt her heartbeat increase. Her head felt light and dizzy like she was in the state between sleep and awake. She felt the pain rise until she found herself screaming out in pain.
Then she felt the other hand around her wrist and then something sharp dug itself into her veins and blood was being released. She screamed louder as tears started to flow. She knew that her wrist and body were in complete agony.
That was when they all saw the witch become eclipsed by a bright light like that of a sun. Then she looked at her and smiled as she vanished.
There was nothing remaining of her but a pile of ash on the floor. That was when cuts appeared on Cari's arms but then, when they would ordinarily stop they continued up until they reached the shoulders.
"Who was that?" She whispered before she collapsed.
"I can not say that I know. However, with that magic, I would have claimed that she was a witch of old, on par with Dark Last Grasharlo." The Chronicler said.
"Cari! Your wrist!" Scar exclaimed.
She looked down to see that it was broken and some of the broken parts were deeply in-beaded into her flesh.
The Final Witch
Cari nursed her damaged wrist as Scar slapped her hand. She carefully pulled out the metal shards and cleaned and bandaged it up. It still felt sore although most of the pain had subsided.
They had notified Queen Bethany that it was all over. They spent the rest of that day burying the dead and others were re-berried. The Queen then prayed over the new graves and personally made sure that everyone was alright. She went from all the children of all classes then to the women and then to the men. She did not leave to her castle until she knew that she had not missed anyone out and knew that her people were alright.
Then came the late afternoon.
"Why did you think that she did it?" Cari asked, as she rubbed her wrist.
"I can't say that I know." The Chronicler admitted as Scar pulled her hand away from the wrist.
"When she placed her hand on my curse mark, it…it felt off, like….like she was touching my very curse!" She said as she shivered. "And then my soul."
"Then she must have been a very powerful witch. However, we must be off."
"Well there's tonight and tomorrow night to go until the half year moon's cycle is over." He said.
"Yeah, you looking forward-"
Suddenly she started to feel a jolt of pain in her heart. She started to cough as the heat of her breath started to increase. She too felt hot and extremely saw as the evening came. Ryo looked at the sun as it fell from the view of the horizon and he too felt the same.
"Strip her!" He said, with a strain in his voice as he limped over to the opposite side of the bushes.
Scar and The Chronicler looked at each other, not quite understanding until the wings ripped out of her back. They soon got her clothes off before scales stabbed out of her flesh. Then she collapsed as her tail bone snapped out and her inner muscles tore and rearranged themselves into something that could accommodate the arrowed tail that grew from her behind.
Her jaw snapped and grew as the reformation of her skull caused her nose to bleed as the pressure ripped the inner nostril. Her eyes were filled with tears, as the pain was great, became more catlike and reptilian. She felt her tongue flatten as the front tore itself in two at the tip and down to the centre.
She felt her bones stretch and become hollow.
Soon she was a fully formed dragon with beautiful black scales that were knitted together like shields and even had their shape. Her wings were like scarlet leather decorated with scales as silver hook-like spikes popped out of them. She looked at her silver talons and touched her wings feeling slightly shaken by the pain.
Is this what Ryo has to put up with every time that there is a full moon?
She then looked down at Scar and The Chronicler with a deep frown in her scaly forehead as she spotted that her eyebrows were now a row of spikes.
Why now? Why did I transform now? How is this even happening?
"I will tell you how." A voice came with authority then Ryo came out of the bushes.
"It seems that your father knew that this would happen. He took precautions to stop this, like I think that he used magic to make sure that as long as you were in your home kingdom you would not transform and when you left, you told me that that was when he gave you the bracelet so that must have stopped you up until that witch broke it."
"Speaking of which, my wrist seems to have healed!" She said with a voice that had more authority than usual.
"Yes I noticed that too. I have a suspicion that during the transformation the body becomes completely healed as the bones break and elongate. Also, during this, I could also feel a personality shift that I am sure that you have noticed too." He explained.
"You are right, even my speech patterns have changed!" She exclaimed.
"Right, so does this mean that you both can fly?" Scar asked.
"Yes, and Cari, fear not and let your instinct guide you."
"I will take your lead."
Cari nodded as she gestured for Scar to ride her. The Chronicler then climbed on Ryo's back. Then they ran at first and then spread their wings and flew to the next island.
When they arrived just before the break of dawn. The Chronicler covered them as they collapsed and fell asleep. Their bodies shrank to their normal size. They watched over the two as the night wore on.
"You can sleep." The Chronicler said.
"I don't want to."
"Nightmares?"
"Yes."
"What about?"
"Witches…and…"
She looked away as her eyes teared up. The Chronicler wrapped an arm around her.
"It's alright to cry. When I was a child, my uncle forbade me and I wish I had cried when I should have."
"What's the point? Who's gonna be there?"
She got up and put their clothes on. The two slept off the whole night. When they woke up the sun was high in the sky. They had their breakfast and then walked on.
They soon came to a tavern that was almost completely eaten up by the greenery and plants surrounding it.
They spotted a man with clothes that looked as if they were once fine and would have made him look royal, but were now jaded and were filled with holes and his stature made it look like they were hanging off him.
He looked left and right and walked in.
Out of curiosity they followed where he was going. They entered a dark candle lit room. There all of the people were on stools. Beside the door were spades and pitchforks and lots of other weapons that were clearly home made and improvised.
The people were all thin and like the man but then there was the person that they were facing.
Now, he was fat and his grim and greasy frame was all out to see. He was the only thing he wore was a pair of either well preserved purple trousers or they were new. His lips were thick and the grease on them was so thick that he had developed puss filled spots around it. He even had food at the corner that seemed to have not been cleaned in a long time. His piercing blue eyes looked up like a child that was about to do something wrong.
"Look lads 'n' lasses, we've pu' up with tha' thief 'n' 'er stinkin' witch for far too long!" He shouted at the top of his lungs, almost like a dog barking.
"Yeah!" They shouted, banging their pints on the tables.
The Chronicler let out a slight sigh.
"Should have known."
"What's going on here?" Scar asked.
They all looked at her completely shocked at what she said.
"Well, it's our stinkin' Queen 'n' 'er witch!"
"What has she done?" She asked.
"Well she's done nothin' bu' make us pay more money. More than we can pay! Then there's 'er witch! Well she go' 'er to make us give up out first born kids 'n' we 'ave 'er to tell us wha' she does with 'em!" He said as he pointed to a small girl.
Her eyes were burning orange and long hair the colour of dark roses. She had a thin statue and deathly pale skin. She wore nothing but a black rag.
The Chronicler looked at her. Then to Scar almost as if there was something that was hanging on the tip of her tongue but then she looked back at the girl.
"What do they do? You don't have to tell me if you don't have to." She asked, taking the girl's hand.
She jumped slightly. Then she looked at her. Her eyes narrowed and then relaxed.
"The witch makes us do things that we don't like and drink things that hurt us! She sometimes makes Queen Decibrea watch. She doesn't do anything and her eyes look as if she isn't affected by it all! Not even when we die!" She cried.
The Chronicler knelt in front of her and placed a hand on her shoulder.
"What is your name, little one?" She asked, brushing a few strands out of her face and timing it behind her ear.
"Oran Dymshi, m-miss." She muttered, slightly shy.
The Chronicler closed her eyes. Then rubbed them.
"Four thirteen." She muttered under her breath.
"What?" Scar asked.
"Her name, Oran, is Iron dwarfish for four and Dymshi, is Dark elvish for thirteen." She told her.
"Oh."
"And could you tell me, the Queen's eyes, was there a purple ring around them and did she seem to call the shots?"
"Yeah, they did! And no she did not seem so. It seemed as if she was under the witch's orders and she was the one who was obeying them. It was like I dunno, like she was under some kind of spell…" Oran admitted.
The Chronicler nodded, her face was pale clearly knowing what was really going on.
"Come along you three." She said, trying to keep as calm as possible as she could.
Cari was about to ask as Scar placed a hand on her shoulder. They followed The Chronicler out of the tavern. They were about to walk on further when Ryo grabbed The Chronicler's wrist.
"What was all that about?" Ryo asked.
"Simple. It seems that Queen Decibrea has become enchanted and this witch, Sylvina twin of Sythvin, must have done all this to push her subjects into staging a revolt." She deduced.
"Oh, and why would she do that? I mean why do these people keep going for the royal houses?" Cari asked.
"Simple, Dark Master Lord Gajellidor Darcrogh knows that it is easier to take over a planet under a one world system. After all, a land that has thousands of different kings and queens, ruling their own lands, being incapable of gaining another's crown is a land that is by far a lot tougher to conquer." She said, with a bitter chuckle.
"So where are we going?" Scar asked.
The Chronicler pulled her hand out of Ryo's.
"To see the Queen, of course! I need to see her with my own eyes." She said as she stopped walking for a moment and tilted her head behind them.
Her eyes narrowed as she let out a soft huff.
"So, if you wish to continue to follow us, then you must know that you will only find yourself returning there!" She called.
They all looked at each other and frowned. They wondered who she was talking to. For a moment, they wondered if The Chronicler was mad. Yet they did not want to entertain the thought. They did not want to consider, for a moment, that this was nothing more then an old woman's delusions.
That was when there was a shiver of a tree behind them. This put their fears at ease. That was when Oran came out. Her head was low and her eyes looking down and her lips pressed together.
"I-I'm sorry, b-but I don't have parents, th-they were killed in front of me! I didn't tell the others but I knew that I should've told you." She cried, as she pointed to Scar.
"I feel like you're like me but not like me. I don't know why. But I do. So please take me with you!"
Scar frowned, for a moment, as she looked at The Chronicler for help. She noted, showing that she understood what she had meant. She shivered as she looked back at the girl. She put on a fake smile hoping it would make the girl feel better. Even though something troubled her, she did not want to show it.
"You don't have to come with us and it would be best if you go back to the others. I know that that overweight bloke is as corrupt as they come, and maybe in the whole plot, but at least that place will be safer than the places that we have to go. You have been through enough. You should go on and at least try to have a childhood." She explained.
"No, no, I wanna be with you! You make me feel safe 'n' I know I don't have anyone like that! You made me feel peace and I've never felt like that! I wanna be with you. I know I do."
"But feeling safe and being safe are not one and the same. Believe me, I am the furthest from being safe. In fact…never mind." She said with a bitter chuckle.
"I know! But I'm still gonna follow you! Also you're going the wrong way." She said, as she walked on angrily. "It's this way!"
She led them to the tall double gates and closed her eyes and they opened. She gestured for the rest to follow. They entered the palace gardens which carried such beauty. It had perfectly cut roses of all kinds and cherry blossom trees all over. The ground was completely littered with their perfect petals making it look like that it had snowed here with a pink tint.
Then they looked at the palace with white bricks and light purple tiles and silver doors that were high enough for giants to walk in.
They opened the doors.
They were instantly greeted by a lady in what looked like a graceful wedding dress. She silver rings around her thin fingers. Her eyes were the shade of sapphire, however there was a glowing alexandrite ring and her hair was as golden as a lions. Her cheeks were low and she was filled with beauty.
Next to her, was a woman with ice cold beauty. She had striking silver grey eyes with long silver hair that flowed from her hair like a main of a stallion. She wrote a silver, silk dress that was modest and plain.
"What is the meaning of this?" She asked, her voice was light and lyrical but did not carry any personality.
"I am-"
He had raised to them. Telling them to be silent.
"Yes we know." Sylvina said as she looked at Scar.
She smiled slightly with grace, her eyes dropped to Oran and malice entered her eyes. She turned to Queen Decibrea and looked at her. She gave her a mocking smirk as her eyebrow was raised for a moment before she relaxed it.
"I think that we should put them in the dungeon. After all, it would be ever so lovely if those two could get to know each-other." She said pointing to Scar and Oran.
"Do what you will." She replied in a monotone voice.
She nodded to the guards.
The Chronicler raised her hands in surrender. The others would have questioned. Yet her eyes told the others that it would be wiser if they should follow suit. They were escorted immediately to the dungeons where Oran and Scar were placed in a cell together and Cari and Ryo were in another and The Chronicler was alone on her own.
"Why? Did you want us to do that?" Ryo asked.
"It's because you knew that that was the only way to get us alone with Sylvina." Scar deduced with a bitter tone.
"It is. Judging by your tone, you know why."
Her lip curled.
"Yes, although I don't like it."
"Why?"
"Because I'm not a normal girl. I wish I was. After all, then I would've been-" She cut off, her eyes became unfocused and vulnerable.
She huffed and closed her eyes.
"Let's just say that what I am has brought me nothing but grief and misery. Along with a painful loneliness that I know will never be taken away." She cried, putting her hand to the sides of her head.
"And what are you? And why do I feel so much better with you near me?" Oran asked.
"I-I-I."
"Go on! Tell her what you are!" A cold voice came from the shadows.
Soon Sylvina came out of the shadows. She came close to the bars as she looked up and down like she was a guinea pig. She had her graceful smile but there was something more twisted about it. She could see that the witch was goading her with her eyes.
"No."
Her eyebrow raised slightly. She looked down slightly almost as if she was communicating to her that she had given her the better option and now, it came to the cruller way. She then looked at Oran and smiled as she pressed herself into Scar's hip like she would if she was her child.
"Are you going to tell her or am I Oran?" She asked, with a taunting jab at her.
"What do you mean?" Scar asked as Oran looked away, in shame.
She could see the tears welling in the girl's eyes.
"Go on, little child. Tell her! After all she is so ever dying to know. I can see it in her scarlet eyes." She sneered.
"I-"
"Yes?"
"I'm a failure!" She shouted.
She started to cry.
"But you're not just any failure, are you? No!"
Oran shook her head as her body shook. Her tears were flowing down as she looked up.
"I'm the closest failure."
"Of what?"
"A Mythos Puros!" She cried. "Happy!"
Suddenly Scar became pale and as the dread sank, she knew what was about to come next.
"Well, now you are beginning to understand, Mythos Puros." She said as her eyes turned to Scar.
She felt a cold shock seep into her bones. She looked out of the small window and spotted that twilight was gaining on them. Her eyes slid back down.
"Now tell me, Mythos Puros, please don't make me report to torture. How did the witches create you? How come they succeeded where we, the daughters of the Dark Master Lord, have failed?" She asked.
"I don't have to tell you that." She said, her voice trying to remain calm.
"Oh, but that is where you are quite wrong."
"Fine, maybe I don't want to tell you."
"But you will."
That was when she heard Cari's scream. Even though she was diagonal and had a different door she knew what was going on. She dived at the bars.
"Cari! Ryo!" She shouted, as she reached out her hand.
"Worried about you friends are we?" Sylvina sang in her ear.
"Look, you've got to get them out of there!" She shouted at her as she heard another scream.
She knew that most of her was not acting.
"I do not and unhand me now."
"No, it's their curse! They'll be crushed!" She shouted.
"Not unless you tell me what I need to know then I will."
She looked at her as if what she was saying was completely absurd.
"But by then it'll be too late." She shouted.
"Not unless you tell me what I want to hear!"
"Fine! I will, alright? I will just get them out of there!"
"I will bind you to that." She said as she cut Scars finger and drank a drop of her blood.
She walked over to their cell and opened the door.
Scar knelt before Oran and covered her eyes as Sylvina was devoured by the flames.
Within half an hour Queen Decibrea flew in the alexandrite ring gone and she freed the rest. She led the party to one of her rooms. There they would stay the night along with her many apologies.
The Chronicler placed a hand on her shoulder.
"Your Majesty, there is a problem, your people have started a revolt."
The Aftermaths
"Right, so what do we do about the revolt?" The Queen asked.
The Chronicler looked over to Scar with a smirk.
"I hardly think we need to worry as much as I first initially thought." She said, calmly she took out a golden coin out of her pocket and gave it to her.
"Give me all of the deductions on their leader."
She took the coin and looked at her with a smirk.
"Well, judging-"
"When they get here." She said as she then turned to Queen Decibrea. "And when they do, let them in and then return the ones that were stolen to their families and for those who do not then set up a system that will ensure that they will be able to be well taken care of."
She nodded.
"I think that I have the system, and when they do come after she has delivered the deductions, I think that I will explain the situation." She said as she heard their roars like a hungry lion.
She nodded to the guards. The angry mob rushed in and as the guards approached the mob Queen Decibrea raised her hand. They backed off and looked at their queen with confusion in their eyes as they returned to the mob.
"Oi we demand our kids back!" Said the leader.
"Well I will come to that, Mr?"
"Jordi." He said.
"Jordi,"
She looked over to The Chronicler and she nodded.
"I think before we point fingers, I think that Scar has far more pointing to you, and after she has said what she has to, then I shall make a declaration."
With that Scar knew what to do.
"Well, Jordi I must admit that by looking at you I can tell that there are far too many things that scream of your corruption." She started with a look in her eyes which were like a hawk drinking in every detail of his body.
"Wha' do you mean by tha'?" He asked, trying not to look as guilty as he was.
"I can tell that you already know. I must admit that, first of all by your obesity and the crumbs in-beaded in that greasy moustache of yours, you seem to be well fed despite that you're supposed to be starving just like your 'friends' surrounding you. Which indicates that you do have a lot of food hidden somewhere, or you're getting more food from somewhere. Now the question is where? Now looking at the grease that covers you from head to foot that could be easily explained by you being a butcher but by looking at the softness of the palms of your hands and fingers, that we can rule out that. No, the skin would be a lot thicker and harder. So who's been feeding you?" She asked.
His eyes darted to Queen Decibrea and then beside her.
Scar smirked as this had told her everything that she needed to know.
"The witch." She said simply.
With that his face became sickly white.
"Did you think that if you did everything that she told you to do that she would reward you handsomely? Was it with all of the wealth and food that you could ever have? Well that just confirms your lack of intelligence. After all, her kind never does keep their promises. Tell me, did she tell you to start this revolt? Did she tell you that she would make it so that her majesty would be able to be killed by your makeshift army of starving men and women?"
With that his face went red.
"Is that true?" A woman asked.
"No of course not!" He said quickly, further proving Scar's deductions were accurate.
"Look mummy, he's peed his pants!" Said a kid.
"It's true! He 'as!"
"'E's guilty alright!"
"Well, I, Queen Decibrea find you, Jordi, guilty of treason henceforth, you will be beheaded tomorrow. Now do not think that you can get help from your witch friend, after all she was burnt last night in the dungeons, and with that her spell over me has been broken. Now all of those I have stolen will be returned to their families, and for those who have no families to return to will become my adopted children." She declared. "And the tax will return to before the witch came, and I will personally, with my own hands, will help restore my Queendom or I am a failure as Queen!"
With that the villagers looked around at each-other trying to find the right words to say. Some were impressed and some were sceptical. Some wondered what they should do, some wanted to kill Jordi and some wanted justice to take its course. They all wanted what the witch used the Queen to take back so they remained.
They were guided to the dining hall and there they all ate with the Queen and then the two hundred children and one hundred teenagers came out! The guards guided one hundred children and twenty to their rightful parents, however there was a large group of fifty children and forty teenagers that ended up with aunts and uncles. Then all those that had none ended up sitting by the Queen and had been told that they were now going to be her children.
Well all but Oran Dymshi who did not want to be adopted even-though she qualified.
Then after they all had eaten their first decent meal in a long time they all met in the main hall for the remainder fifty children and forty teenagers to get crowned as princes and princesses. The villagers all held the hands tightly to their reunited children and as they all talked it became clear that the ones that were taken and their parents and uncles spoke differently, for they spoke properly, like the Queen.
After this all the remains Queen Decibrea gave to the rest of the Queendom and for the first time she walked among her people, this was her dream growing up. To be the Queen that knew her people, who spoke to them and made all of her subjects her friends. It may have been naive but she was when she first dreamt it. Now she knew better and knew that she would have to be careful but it still did not mean that she should not try.
Then after the quiet execution of Jordi she even used her own hands to restore the Queendom, along with Cari, Ryo, Cari and The Chronicler. Oran did too but it was all too clear as she looked at Scar where her tiny heart lay. The Queen wanted her to stay safe with her and have her become a princess but she knew that with this group was where she truly belonged. It felt right, regardless of the danger and maybe she might even be adopted by someone else.
Then within the week the other Queens of the Queendom Isles came. They all gathered together and told each-other what this group had done and by nightfall, knew what they had to do and by their belongings it was all too clear that they knew that they would reach the same conclusion.
The following morning the Queens called the four to Queen Decibrea's palace. There, they were greeted by the five Queens. They were guided to the top of the stairs.
"Kneel all four of you." They said, their eyes met with The Chronicler. "Including you, Fallen Queen."
The Chronicler's eyes widened as she did, almost as if questioning if she was worthy of what was about to happen. Nevertheless she knelt, her face was white, despite her faded tan. Her eyes watered up but it seemed that she was suppressing her tears. She also looked like she was about to shake but it was all too clear that whatever her past was that it brought her a strict sense of self-control.
Her head bowed.
"You do not need to bow to your equal." Queen Gloria said.
Then the queens of the first three islands, Queen Gloria, Queen Silver and Queen Britannia.
"For killing the first witch, Liztoria," She started as Scar's eyes closed slightly, still stinging with shame. "I knight you Scarborough Witchslayer and as proof I give you the Star Emerald, Emerald's Knighting Stone."
She placed an emerald blade on her shoulders. Then tapped both of her shoulder blades with it and then sheathed her sword and placed a pendant on her with a green emerald with crimson lights inside.
"Thank you!" She exclaimed.
Queen Gloria smirked, accepting her gratitude.
Then Queen Silver approached, her hair and eyes were silver and her pale flesh even seemed to have a silver tint to it.
"For killing Myranna," She said as Cari touched her throat with a chill. "I knight you Princess Cari Witchpiercer and as proof I give you the Crystal Starlight, Crystar's Knighting Stone."
She then placed a silver blade to her shoulders and placed a pendant around her neck with a crystal with silver specks inside.
"For killing Thinind," Said Queen Britannia, who had brunette hair and brown eyes. "I knight you Prince Ryo Witchburner and as proof I give you the Sun Ruby, Surbruy's Knighting Stone."
She did the same but with a ruby blade and placed a pendant around his neck, a crimson ruby with a green light inside.
Then Queen Bethany stood before The Chronicler.
"For guiding these three to drive out the witch, that went by the name Lamia. I knight you Queen Chronicler Destinyguide." She said as she placed a black blade on her shoulder and tapped both of her shoulders with it. "As proof I give you the Black Void, Obsidian's Knighting Stone."
She placed around her neck a pendant with a black jewel that looked like there was a black hole inside.
"Now, Oran, get out from that corner and join the others!" Queen Decibrea called down the stairs, who squeaked slightly as she ran up the stairs and knelt next to the others. "Tell me, do you wish, to be still called, Oran? After all, if the others have either adopted the name that their families gave them or chose their own."
"Yes, I do. After all, it is the only name that I know." She said, looking aside.
"Alright, I knight Scarborough, Oran, Queen Chronicler, Princess Cari and Prince Ryo Queenlibarator, and as proof I give to you the Rose's Sun, Rosenmore's Knighting Stone." She declared.
She placed a crimson blade that looked as if it was made of rose petals and tapped the shoulders of all of them left to right. She then placed a pendant around their necks right to left with a stone that looked like a glowing rose made of ice. As they rested on their chest they all changed colour, Oran's turned yellow, The Chronicler's turned a dark crimson, Ryo's turned bright orange, Cari's turned scarlet and Scar's turned crimson.
With that they left. They all looked at their pendants.
"Why did they call you Queen?" Oran asked.
"Maybe I will tell you. If I'm up to it."
"Why?"
"It is complicated. Now should you not be going home?"
"I already am and I know it's gonna be bad, but I feel better with you." She said with a determination in her voice that was not three before. "And I'm not gonna take no for an answer."
"But-"
"Well if it ain't the land lubbers that killed m' crew!" Exclaimed a familiar voice.
"Captain Black?"
"Aye! 'N' I see that you're needin' to go to your next place 'n' I'm headin' that way so you can catch a lift!" He offered.
They all looked at The Chronicler.
"We would be glad to."
"Wha' about that kid?"
"I'm coming too!"
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