Chapter Thirteen: Encounter of Fallen Stars
"Sheez! You took your time talking nicely," the princess barked as Aurora stepped out of the atelier.
No response of competing wrath against Mint fled from the Dragon Guardian's mouth. Cosmomi and Black flew past, looking at her, agonizing with concern. Green squeaked desolately, gazing up at its master with its beady little eyes.
She remained silent. Hurt. Utterly poignant. And most of all, empty.
"Aurora, are you alright?" Rue asked, feeling distressed.
"Hellooo? Cytherea to Aurora?" Mint hollered, waving a hand at Aurora's unaffected face.
"Big sis...?" Rachael cried worriedly.
"...Yeah," Aurora replied. She forced herself not to cry and weakly flashed her carefree smile. "I'm alright..."THUD!
The sound of someone fallen proclaimed loudly, breaking the silence.
"Oh! Hi, everyone." A cheerful voice uttered followed by the heavy breaths.
Standing there with the everlasting naïve smile was Elena. Lying on the ground next to her, panting profoundly with drips of sweat was the demi-human, Fiona. Her ponytails were matted while tears and rips tented on her western clothes. Redness could be seen under the golden-ginger fur of her cheeks.
"Fiona, what happened to you?" Rue uttered, surprised to see her in such a condition.
"Heave-Heave-Huff-Huff... Give me a sec to breath, will you?" Fiona gasped.
"I don't get it. How can you look so worn-out and Elena can still look...normal?" Flare exclaimed.
Once regained her beastly strength, she stepped up, consumed with a fit of feline rage. "First of all, some pipsqueaks popped out of nowhere and said they wanted to play! HA! Yeah, right."
"They brought us to this place. It was really fun!" Elena uttered optimistically.
"FUN!?" Fiona glared at the cherry-haired girl, baring her canine teeth. "I got trampled by mushrooms, hit by iron balls, pecked by thousands of crows...AND YOU CALL THAT FUN!!!?"
"What's wrong?" Elena asked. "I thought you enjoyed it."
"I DIDN'T ENJOY IT!!!"
All pairs of eyes gazed at the demi-human scream off her head except for one with cerulean hair who stayed silent, her head hung low.
'Wonder how Elena survived?' Cosmomi wondered. Yet that would remain as one of the greatest mysteries in Cytherea.
"Big sis? Are you alright?"The group, hearing Rachael's anxious question, turned to see Aurora's hung head. Her head hung low, hiding the face that could not mask away the abiding sorrow. It had lasted for minutes. She could not throw her carefree smile anymore.
"Hey, Aurora!" Fiona cried. "What's wrong with you? You've been quiet."
"Huh?" Aurora uttered and turned back her gaze away. "...It's nothing."
A medication of silence packed in the atmosphere until Fiona's dialogue broke it. "Suit yourself. Since I'm already here, I think I'll meet this Mel."
"I'll give you one warning," Black intoned.
"What's that?"
"Cover your eyes."
Fiona gave one look at the black flying cat before leaving the group on the doorstep of the atelier. She entered inside, not knowing what was expected for her. Again, silence hung steadily. A cast of painful emotions gripped tightly on the trio. Only Elena, Rachael and the flying cats began to feel worried. Green just squeaked, clueless as a rock.
"Are you alright? You all looked upset," Elena asked.
"Yeah, I'm fine," Mint mumbled softly.
"I'm alright. I'm just thinking..." Rue answered.
"You don't look alright. Did Mel say something to you?" Elena asked.
"No! Of course not!" Rue protested quickly. "She was very helpful."
"Aurora?" Rachael bleated softly, gazing up at her foster sister. Yet the cerulean-haired girl remained quiet.
"Hey, Aurora?" Cosmomi called. Again, Aurora didn't answer.
Her thoughts continued to drift away to the haunting memory of death, the memory she wished to forget.
If only that was possible.
"Hey! We're talking to you!"
She snapped away from her thoughts at the bark of the princess, turning to her companions.
"Are you ok, Aurora?" Elena asked.
"...Yeah. I'm fine," Aurora replied tenderly, a hint of building resentment burning.
"Are you sure?" Rue inquired. "You don't look-"
"I said I'm fine!" Aurora hollered angrily, giving a glare at the silver-haired boy. Rachael gave a soft whimper, surprised to see her sister get angry. The flying cats drew back away, in fear they would get in the way of the Dragon Guardian's fury.
Rue backed a step away, shocked to see her become fuming for the first time. His eyes grew wider when he saw something stream down her cheeks. '...Is she crying?'
"...I'm sorry," the Dragon Guardian apologized, realizing how appalling her tone was. "I didn't mean to shout at you..."
"...It's okay," Rue reassured her.
"So, Elena, aren't you coming inside with Fiona?" Mint asked.
"Oh no," Elena replied. "She wanted to go look around so I thought of bringing her here."
"Somehow, I think that was a bad idea," Black mumbled quietly.
"I'm going home now," Elena told the group, unhearing Black's mutter.
"Oh," Mint spoke out.
"Well, why don't we go back to Carona together?" Rue announced.
"Ok, Polly!" Elena uttered with a smile.
Pairs of baffled eyes belonging to the princess, the Dragon Guardian, the orange-haired girl and the flying cats targeted at Elena, wondering of the nickname she shouted. Rue sighed, feeling that there was no end to the Pollywog nickname.
"Elena. Why do you always call him Polly?" Rachael asked curiously.
"Oh, you don't know?"
"Know what?" Mint asked.
"Well, Polly is-"
"Elena, can you not talk about that, at least for now?" Rue calmly suggested.
Elena stared at him for a slight quiet moment before agreeing. "Ok... I'm sorry. It'll be our little secret, Polly."
Dumbfounded, Rue sighed again. 'I'd better explain to her again before it's too late.'
"What's up!?" Mint snapped with a readable expression that spelt rage. "You told Elena and you're not gonna tell us!?"
"It's not that, but I have my reasons..." he replied, looking away. Finally, he rose, giving a meaningful face. "Sorry, Mint."
'What's with him?' Mint thought.
"We should get going," Rue spoke out, taking the leadership.
"It'll take another hour to head back. We should be there before lunchtime," Cosmomi clarified.
"I hope I have enough time to make lunch," Rachael recommended.
With a start, the small group took off a few paces and waited for the star-shaped elevator to arrive to the circular flowing island. However, Aurora stayed still, engulfed with blended feelings. Her mind was still clouded with unrequited questions and endless thoughts.
"Hey! Are you gonna stand there all day?" Mint yelled, taking notice of the immobile Dragon Guardian.
Aurora said nothing. But turned and joined the others when the elevator finally arrived to take them to ground level.
"Really!? So then, you're not a Pollywog!?"
Divided into three crowds, the group walked slowly along the pink path, through the twisted world that belonged to Fancy Mel. The break to reality was still far from reach.
"That's right," Rue replied to Elena's question of shock. "I can turn into one, but I'm not a Pollywog. What you see is the real me. So, from now on, you can call me Rue."
"Ok," Elena answered. "Gee, all this time I had it the other way around. I thought that Polly turned into you but you turned into the Polly... But how come you can transform?"
"Um... That's kind of hard to explain." That was the only answer he could think of. He couldn't tell her how he could do transformation, a magical method that no one could perform to this day.
"Is that your big secret? Ohh, you're gonna to leave me curious all day," Elena nagged.
Now he was struck. 'What am I suppose to say, 'I'm not human'? I can't tell her that...'
He remained quiet. Elena knew the truth. He would not tell her his reasons.
Leading in front, Rachael gazed up at her sister. She has taken notice that Aurora has not smiled since she came out of Fancy Mel's atelier. This wasn't the first time Rachael had seen her frown but never discerned the cause of her grief.
Cosmomi, Black and Flare winged in mid-flight. The platinum flying cat gazed worriedly at the Dragon Guardian. So did the black flying cat.
"Aurora?" Rachael called.
"Yeah?"
Cosmomi exhaled restfully. Aurora was now talking to her little sister, no longer settling in silence.
"Did Mel say something bad?"
"What?" Aurora uttered, her eyes firing wide. "No, of course not. It's...it's just some issues she wanted to talk."
"But you looked so sad. We were worried. Is something wrong?"
"No. Like I said. They were just issues."
"Other than that, you were just thinking of An-" Two swift paws, one platinum and one black, clenched tightly over Flare's mouth.
"Quiet!" Black hissed.
Needless of their preclusion, Aurora knew what Flare was going to say. She gazed down, not meeting the blue eyes of Rachael.
Rachael's cheerfulness was gone away. The little girl frowned slightly, remembering of the day the attacks the village, Hikoria came to an end at the beginning of the rain. The day she stared out of the kitchen and saw Aurora coming in the inn with a dead replica in her arms five years ago.
A pat on her long orange hair snapped her back to reality. She looked up and witnessed the carefree smile Aurora cast and the confidence glittering in her indigo eyes that did not gaze down.
"We'll get the relic pretty soon," said Aurora self-assuredly. "And if we don't get it, then we'll just have to look for another."
Rachael's glance widened. Taking in her sister's words, she enlightened her cheerful smile. Black and Cosmomi released their grip from Flare's mouth, letting her breath easily and smirked happily as the little girl began to tell the cerulean-haired girl of what she would make for lunch.
Trailing behind from the group, Mint glared at the silver-haired boy, now silent. Remarked by his refusal, she had to think of a scheme. She had to know. The yearning to be answered was impatient within her. Seeing the cherry-haired girl stopped speaking, she took this as an advantage. 'I'll just make her tell Rue's secret! There's no way she can keep it for long. Mint, you're so smart. Why, thank you.'
The princess took a dash, grabbed Elena, hands on shoulders and shone a smile. To his delay of awareness, Rue walked on, trying to think of a reasonable answer.
"So, Elena. What's Rue's secret?" Mint asked, gladness hiding her wicked scheme.
"I can't tell you, Mint. I promised Rue, I wouldn't tell," Elena told her.
"Oh, come on. We're friends. You can tell me. Please?"
"Well, Ok," Elena gave in. "I'll give you a hint. Rue can change into a Pollywog and Polly can change into Rue but Rue's usually not a Pollywog"
The princess stared at Elena, her hands released from her shoulder. "Huhhh??? That doesn't make any sense. Give me another hint."
"Nope. That's all I can tell you," Elena yelled, taking off in a dash.
"Hey!" Mint shouted, chasing after her. "Elena, come on!"
They ran past the silver-haired boy who snapped away from his quest for a reason. He glanced at them, wondering what had happened between them.
"Come on, Elena!" Mint yelled."Nope, no more hints!" Elena said.
A sweatdrop hung steadily over Rue's hat. "What was all that about?"
The end of the pink path was near. The border between the brown dirt path and the carpet of cherry-pink grass was only a few feet away. That was when Rue realized Aurora had stopped. Rachael had stopped too and was now hiding behind her sister, looking inquiringly at the same direction. So did the creatures. Looking at something that was off the path.
Seeing this, the rest of the group stopped. Mint was the first to speak.
"Hey, what's wrong with you?" she inquired defiantly.
"Does that look familiar to you?" Aurora asked, pointing at the direction of where they were looking.
As Rue, Mint and Elena followed the direction where she pointed, two out of three expressions went from curiosity to astonishment. What Rue and Mint saw before them was enough to make a whole crowd laugh. Yet this time, they weren't sure whether to laugh or not.
Standing on the outskirts of the path, was a man in a costume that resembled of a giant yellow star. Like a mascot, he waved the points where his arms were continuously and kept on whispering, "I am a star... I am a star..."
His face was familiar. Very familiar.
"Is that...who I think it is?" Mint droned, her eyes wide open.
"...Duke?" Rue declared.
"Either that or it's a living star-shaped monster," Black uttered surprisingly.
"Big sis? Who is that stranger?" Rachael asked.
"You don't wanna know," Aurora replied, shaking her head in disgrace.
The silver-haired boy approached to the moving mascot and awaited for his reaction. But the mascot went on as if trying to blend with his surroundings, hoping that would make the group believe he was nothing more than a star.
"Duke, what are you doing?" Rue utterly inquired.
"What!?" The mascot jumped, shocked to be noticed. Even more shocked that he spoke, blowing his cover. "You saw me!? I thought this suit would trick you guys! I can't believe you spotted me!"
"Well, it could have fooled Green..." Cosmomi muttered.
"Oh, sure. Like that would fool anyone of us..." Aurora uttered as she rolled her eyes. "Elena, you noticed him before, didn't you?"
"No, didn't know he was there," Elena replied.
Seven pairs of eyes stared unbelievingly at Elena. Remarkable it was for her not to notice a man dressed up for the circus.
"You didn't even see him?" Mint posed.
"Nope," Elena answered with a shake of her head. "Why do you ask?"
"I can't believe you..." Aurora mumbled under her breath, holding her head with one hand.
"If you haven't noticed him, then does that mean Fiona didn't notice as well?" Flare uttered.
"You gotta be kidding me!" Cosmomi yelled and hung down his head.
"See," Duke exclaimed. "You were just lucky... Ok, back to business. Hang over the cube and the report that Fancy Mel gave you or else! I know one of you has it. Man, I still can't believe you saw me."
'Anyone can tell,' Rue thought. 'It's so obvious.'
"Or else what?" Mint yelled, not feeling threatened by Duke's warning. "You can't do anything in that star suit.""Or even walk in it..." Black pointed.
"Oh, yeah? Ok, wise guy," Duke shouted, eyeing the black flying cat. "I'm gonna bust all of you up."
"Why don't you just give us back the tiara? You can't fight all of us in that stupid costume," Rue stated. The whole group knew that was the disadvantage for the mascot.
"Shut up! I stayed all night makin' it. It was worth it. This is my finest act yet. You're all going to taste my new act as a star!"
"You're convincing to us that you're a star?"
"I'm not just A star! I AM a star. I am Starlight Duke."
"...To us, you're just Duke in a stupid getup," Aurora remarked, losing her patience.
Yet Starlight Duke ignored the Dragon Guardian's taunt and looked up to the crimson pink sky where the clouds were yellow instead of white. "Do you like stars? Stars are very powerful, ever at night!"
"Excuse me but...it's high noon!" Cosmomi shouted, not believing what he was hearing from the mascot. "There aren't even any stars at this hour!"
"Oh, you'll see one right now!" Starlight Duke laughed as if he had just won a battle.
With a start and a waggle, Starlight Duke took one powerful leap, soaring into the sky as a trail of small glittering stars shot away. All looked in amazement as he hung gradually in the sky.
"What the heck!?" Mint screamed. The mouths of the flying cats fell to a certain degree that was wide enough to catch wandering insects.
"No way!" Aurora yelled.
Rue uttered with alarm. "How did he-"
A muffle of a scream cut Rue short. It was hard to tell but it sounded like "SHOOTING STARRR!!!"
Gravity took the mascot towards the ground. The group knew what was happening. He was going to squash them from a high distance. Quickly, everyone went to safety in every direction. Aurora grabbed Rachael tightly, hurling themselves away. Mint jumped away, hitting her face against the pink-carpeted ground.
"Watch out!" Rue pushed Elena aside. The flying cats soared away in rapid speed while the blob bounced swiftly.
An impact erupted as Starlight Duke fell upon the hard ground. A minor earthquake shook above the group's feet as the trio stood in battle position, their weapons in their hands. Rachael and Elena stayed far from the battle in security of the creatures. Starlight Duke got to his feet, a grin wider than Aurora's carefree smile.
"I bet you're scared now, huh!? Here comes the pain! It's my time to shine! Prepare to be beaten by Starlight Duke!"
"Like that's gonna happen!" Aurora yelled as she dashed towards Starlight Duke who spun horizontally like a chainsaw, a few inches off the ground.
Aurora jumped in time, to dodge the levitating star and swung the Dragonblade at Starlight Duke. A point caught the blade, unharmed by the sharp edge. She felt the spinning of the mascot force her away, her back meeting the ground. She got up, not believing what she has seen.
"That suit... It must be some kind of armor or something!" she cursed.
"Well, there's no way his stupid costume can block my magic!" Mint exclaimed, pointing her furious Dual Haloes at the spinning star. A burning light of heat appeared before her command. "Burner!"
A stream of blazing fire shot from her rings, charging at the star that was now spinning towards her. The flames held the mascot back but did not bring him down. Still there was another advantage. Mint knew he would not stand long in extreme heat. She knew the moment he felt the heat he would withdraw away. A second went by. Followed by half a second. Then a minute passed. Followed by another minute.
'Oh my gosh!' Mint thought shockingly as the star stood strong in combat. 'He's not even freaking out!'
Mint disarmed her rings away and leapt aside, dodging the spinning chainsaw-like star. Only a fracture of her skirt was cut.
Dizzily, Starlight Duke took a stop. Spinning like a slow top, he crashed onto the floor, light-headed. Quickly, regaining his balance, he now stood on his feet, Rue attacked with a triple swing of his Arc Edge. However, the axe blade did no harm to the suit of armor. He drew back just as Duke got up and was now ready for the next attack.
"Dammit. Nothing's working!" Rue yelled regretfully.
Starlight Duke's pace of attack changed. Now he was spinning vertically. Rue darted back, feeling the wind whip as the star spin spun away, now towards Aurora. Swiftly, Aurora held up the Dragonblade like a shield. The suit made contacted to the blade, its material not hacked by the sharp edge. Aurora held on but felt herself being pushed back slowly. Her boots were digging into the light pink dirt.
Quickly she dug into her bag and pulled out one of the Elements, the red orb. Between her fingers, she brought the orb, the Red Element, to the handle of the Dragonblade and watched it fused into the jewel of the handle.
She gritted her teeth but managed to yell, "Ragion!"
Immediately, the Dragonblade shimmered in a blaze of red light, transforming into the scarlet double-edged sword before everyone's eyes. The Red Element of fire, now encrusted in the handle of the sword, sparkled.
She then leapt away letting Starlight Duke spin onwards. The mascot tripped over a small mushroom and fell. Aurora took the scarlet sword with both hands and glared at the dizzy star. She drew back the sword and the Red Element shone a brilliant light.
"River Styx!" she yelled and swung the sword, a stream of fire gushing from nowhere. Like a rushing river, it surged towards the star was that still lying on the ground. Without Starlight Duke's notice, the river of fire streamed above him, catching the ribbon of the costume and soon disappearing. A puff of smoke made him aware as he took notice of his costume on fire. Yapping in panic, he slapped the small flames that were eating at his ribbon with his pointy arms.
"Hey, his ribbon's on fire," Flare uttered.
"Wait a second! How come he didn't when I just fired a red magic spell at him!?" Mint shouted.
"Now I get it!" Aurora yelled, realizing what had happened. "It's not just his suit! It's his technique!"
"What'd you mean?" Rue quickly asked.
"His spinning-like-a-top must be able to create a force to defend against attacks and magic! He's using it as both an offence and a defense!"
"So that's it. His weakness is when he's dizzy!""Yes and no!"
"What?" Rue shouted.
"I know actually 'where' his weakness is!" she uttered with a grin.
"Now I'm really angry!" Starlight Duke growled once he got rid of the scorching flames from his back. With a turn of his body, he spun horizontally towards Aurora.
The Dragon Guardian quickly held up her weapon, guarding herself against the twirling attack. The intense force was bringing her down.
"Mint! Use something to distract him!" Aurora cried hurriedly.
"And why should I listen to you?" Mint uttered rudely.
"Do you want him beaten or not!?" the Dragon Guardian snapped.
"Hmph! Fine. Now let's see... A spell that can distract him..."
"Just use anything, dammit!!!" Aurora barked irritably.
"Alrighty already!" With a raise of her rings, she concentrated deeply and the golden rings began to spin violently. Black sparks of magic ignited. She took aim, directing to Starlight Duke and yelled, "Dark Mist!"
In an instant, a plague of black fog spurted from her rings, clouding everywhere with its touch. The three flying cats disappeared along with Rachael and Elena. The fog clouded around Rue and Mint. Aurora darted to the left, watching Starlight Duke run past by as she vanished into the mist. Starlight Duke stopped, trying his best to regain his control. He glanced around but the black mist blurred his surroundings.
"Where are you!?" he demanded.
A fiery glow within the core of the mist answered his shout. It swung around in an angle.
"Twelve Shooting Comets!"
The glow swayed swiftly, turning into a dozen red blazes, all heading towards him. The twelve comets fired, hurling into his yellow suit but the conflagrations only did mere burns at it. He held on till the last ball of burning fire hit his suit.
He gazed up, seeing a clearing open before him. The murky mist became lucid, revealing Aurora, her Ragion at her hand and Green at her feet. Starlight Duke grinned.
"You're really smart to come face to face with me. Prepared to be beaten, Dragon Guardian! Oh, wait, that's right. Once I beat you, you're gonna to be humiliated for the rest of your miserable life," Starlight Duke shouted.
"I shouldn't be too over confident if I were you," Aurora uttered. A carefree grin widened across her face. "Because I'm just another distraction."
"Huh?" Starlight Duke muttered, unaware of the shadow that was sneaking quickly behind him.
SLASH!
The mighty blade of the Arc Edge swayed upwards, cutting at Starlight Duke's back. Rue had been ready to attack from behind as he was told.
'No way!' Starlight Duke thought in shock. 'From behind...!?'
Rue watched the mascot fall away into the misty darkness and landed on the pick rugged ground.
"Did we get him?" Mint shouted as she came into the clearing.
"We got him alright!" Aurora uttered. "If he hadn't had that opening in his suit, we'd be goners by now."
"I wasn't talking to you," Mint mumbled.
"WHAT!?" Aurora was about to cut the princess with her sword when Cosmomi and Black appeared into the clearing, holding her back as long as possible, ignoring her curses and taunts she yelled at Mint.
"Did we get him or not?" Mint asked impatiently.
"I think we did," Rue replied, looking around as the black mist cleared away. Along the pink grass, he saw Rachael and Elena, safe from danger, aided by Flare. However, he spotted no Starlight Duke. "He's gone!"
"What'd you mean gone!?" Mint screamed.
"He couldn't have disappeared!" Aurora shouted.
"Above you!" Rachael cried, pointing to the sky.
"Gaah!" Cosmomi cried as he looked up. The others did the same once nothing a huge shadow covering over them.
Up yonder in the pink sky was Starlight Duke, his weight being held up as if being carried by invisible hands. He yelled, "Starrrr!" before letting gravity take him down like a falling star.
"Incoming!" Black yelled, flying away. Cosmomi pursued after him.
"Dammit!" Aurora screamed, darting to the left. Rue jumped aside, his Arc Edge in one grasp. Mint scrambled to reach to safety.
The crash was tremendous. Starlight Duke hit the ground, breaking the pink ground. The earth shook violently, throwing Aurora and Mint off the ground. They fell onto the ground hard. The flying creatures and Rue had avoided the minor earthquake, despite being shaken by it. Green, being a watery animal was not aware of the tremor that had occurred as the shockwave just shook through it. Elena and Rachael stayed safe, shaken from the impact.
"Ouch! I tink I brwke my nwse!" Duke groaned for his head had banged into the earth where blood was dripping fast.
"Mint! Are you okay?" Elena cried, rushing to the princess's side.
"How can I be beaten by this goofball...?"
Rachael, with Flare following behind, ran to her older sister's side, calling her name as Aurora got up. "Big Sister, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I'm fine," Aurora lied. 'Dammit. My ankle's hurting again. Duke's a lot tougher than it looks. But that doesn't mean I'm gonna give up!'
Ragion changed back to the Dragonblade at her will. She struggled up, the Dragonblade stabbing into the earth, holding her up.
"Ok. Give us back the tiara that you stole!" Rue demanded.
"Otherwise, you'll be paying big time, Duke!" Aurora yelled.
Starlight Duke got up to his feet and turned to Rue. "It's not over, Rue! You'll be lifelong rival! I'm a star that knows no defeat. A star is forever."
"Whatever. Come on, where's the tiara?" Rue insisted.
"Duke, please!" Elena ran to the mascot with concern. "Don't hurt Mint! Aurora and Rue too!"
"Elena!" Aurora shouted, worried of the pink-haired girl but the sprain in her ankle stopped her.
"There is no mercy in the world of battle. Someone must fall. That's the rule," Starlight Duke intoned.
"Excuse me but the only one who ain't gonna get mercy is you!" hissed Cosmomi, his platinum scales standing on ends.
"But...everyone is only looking for the relic to help my father," Elena told the mascot.
"What? Wait a sec. 'To help your father'? What do you mean by that?"
"Oh... Well, my father is doing research, and –"
"Elena, stop!" Mint yelled.
Elena looked at her surprised as she came closer to Mint. "Why?"
"I've got a plan. This is what I want you to tell Duke," Mint whispered.Silence filled the air. Mint's companions looked at her, wondering what she was whispering secretly to Elena. Starlight Duke began to feel uncertain of their quiet moment.
"Guys, tell me what's goin' on?" he asked.
Elena quickly got to her feet, her eyes on Mint. "Actually...my father is gravely ill!"
"What!? Really!?"
"Hey, wait a minute, I thought he-" Flare was quickly cut short by the paws of Black and Cosmomi.
"Yes. The doctor told us that...he has only three months left. Oh, daddy!" Elena fell onto her knees, giving crocodile tears. "Boo-hoo-hoo!"
"No... No way!" Starlight Duke shouted in horror, buying their little show.
"Ever since I met them, Rue, Mint and Aurora have done nothing but look for the relic. They have been working so hard, day and night all for my father. So please, Duke. Please don't hurt them anymore!"
"What have I done!?" Starlight Duke yelled, taking a spin before falling down in disgrace.
"Elena, forget it. He wouldn't understand. Tell your father that I'll waiting for him in heaven," Mint told Elena, taking her hands.
"Oh, Mint!" Elena sniveled.
"Take care of yourself, ok?" Mint told Elena, her turn to act.
Mint gave a steady glare at Aurora and Rue. 'Come on, you idiots! Don't you get it? Act!'
"It's seem that you're not the only one, Mint," Aurora falsely spoke, finally realizing the happening. "As a Dragon Guardian, I have failed to help Elena's father."
She turned to Rachael, both hands on the little girl's shoulders. "I'm sorry I couldn't keep that promise, Rachael. Always helping those in need. I just couldn't keep that."
"Big Sister, what-" Rachael stopped, spotting a wink of Aurora's eyes. She smiled and played along. "Oh, dear Big Sister, don't say that! Let's forget about the promise. You've been working so hard! You don't have to feel sorry!"
"But I must. I am supposed to be the Protector of Cytherea, but I have failed because I cannot save him and I shall be trampled by Duke," Aurora mumbled, her voice sounding painfully. In her thoughts, she recalled again and again what she had said; the word 'failed' repeating. She had failed, because she could not protect one life. She breathed deeply before continuing to act. "Rachael, do me a favor and tell Cairo I won't be back to teach him that spell he always wanted. And also tell Coco I won't be coming for dinner, too."
"Oh, Big Sister," Rachael whimpered, her fake innocent hiding her act.
"I can't believe this. The sacrifice, the friendship, the sisterly love... I've never seen anything so beautiful... What have I done!!!?" Starlight Duke began to shake violently in his suit, budging his arms and legs around in dishonor. "Hurting such innocent angels!!! I'm scum!!! A degenerate! I don't deserve to live!!!"
Finally, he threw his weight up onto his feet, seeing faces that disgusted his honor. "I'm sorry! Please don't look at me like that! I'm sorry I'm sorry I'm sorry! Stop looking at me!!!"
Rachael and Elena looked at him innocently with tearful eyes. Only Mint and Aurora gazed at him with grins, seeing he was going to fall apart. Again Starlight Duke fell onto his knees and sobbed out waterfalls.
It was soon Rue realized the plan that he too joined the play. He let out a forged sigh. "It is not only your fault but mine too, Mint, Aurora. I couldn't do any to save her father. I hope that he shall rest peacefully and won't suffer so much." He acted so well, he could enter in any drama theater.
"Hey, hey, you don't have to act so dramatically," Aurora whispered with a sweatdrop tinkling down her cheek and a wave of her hand. She was soft enough so that Starlight Duke would not hear it.
Starlight Duke didn't hear because he was drowned in his own shame.
Cosmomi, seeing a chance to play along as well, unclenched his paw off Flare's mouth and fluttered closer to the crying mascot. He cleared his voice and uttered out.
"If only we had the tiara though, maybe we could have saved Elena's father from his sickness."
The mascot kept on bawling.
"Ahem! If we had the tiara...!" Cosmomi again uttered, his voice raising.
Suddenly, Starlight Duke stopped crying, realizing something. "Wait a minute!"
Cosmomi, startled by the mascot's change of mood, jumped away and rolled of a few metres away. Mint began to feel uneasy. 'Did he figure this out!?'
Starlight Duke got to his feet, the suit giving no trouble to him. He gave a grin. Aurora glared nervously. Rue knew the same thing that came to her mind. Starlight Duke might have seen through their act.
"Tell you what..." Starlight Duke began. Aurora held her sister tightly, ready to push her to safety if Starlight Duke would try to pull a fast one. The long quiet suspense soon came to an end. "I'm gonna let you off today."
The entire group, except Green, Elena and Rachael, facefaulted, their face hitting the pinkish ground in disbelief.
Aurora pushed herself up, gazing at the mascot with wide eyes. "What the hell...?"
"Next time, you're gonna be the one with the busted nose," Starlight Duke said proudly. "I'm gonna bring my best act yet! You can count on it! So long!"
With that, he waggled a few feet and then skyrocketed, flying towards the horizon. Everyone, all standing on their feet, stared as the mascot in the giant star suit quickly disappeared behind the hills.
"...What just happened?" Cosmomi asked.
"I have no clue," Black answered.
"He must've busted his ears too..." Rue said, disbelieved.
Twitches of two eyebrows flickered as Mint and Aurora glared angrily. Both were extremely fuming by the mascot's lame excuse and meaningless runaway.
"Damn that Duke..." Aurora cursed.
"He is as dumb as a Blob..." Mint intoned angrily.
Elena got up to her feet, brushed the dust from her dress and smiled cheerily before gazing up to the sky and then to her friends. "Your friend is a delightful star!"
The group stared at her, too bewildered to say a word about her naïve self.
Patrolling down the long hallway in the palace of East Heaven Kingdom was the lone and silent loyal servant, Doll Master. A few paces he took before he suddenly stopped, sensing the presence of a being behind him.
"Psycho Master. What is it?" Doll Master demanded.
The man behind him, addressed as "Psycho Master", was dressed in the likeness of a butler, his suit in a mixture of dark blue, cream, dark leather brown with black belts. His creamy blond hair was tied in three tassels at the back of his head. The color of his eyes were sealed away, closed away from the world as he preferred to concentrate on his thoughts as his strength, also known as telekinesis. He bowed politely with loyalty before speaking in a manner of respect.
"My lord. We have three menaces in the game vying for Valen's relic."
"Who are they?" Doll Master asked, sending a indistinct glance over his shoulder. "A mercenary, bandits...or another mage?"
"My lord..." He walked closely to Doll Master's ear, his voice falling to a silent whisper.
"Princess Mint...!?" Doll Master shouted in shock as he received the first name. But his astonishment fell to sinister laughter. "HAHAHAHAHA... Interesting. I haven't heard that name in years. I figured she was dead. So, that little fish is after the relic... Who else?"
Psycho Master whispered the second name.
"Oh," Doll Master uttered and laughed silently again. "Interesting... So he hungers for the relic, too? I never expected he would. Who may the last one be, then?"
The last name, one that he would mostly never expect to hear like the other two names, was whispered into his ear.
"Ha... So...the Dragon Guardian herself lives. Interesting... I would never dream that dragonoid would be alive after that storm. I had thought she had drowned along with her friends. Psycho Master, I presume you have already taken the necessary steps."
"I sent them to Carona moments ago, my lord. They should arrive tomorrow morning," Psycho Master assured.
"Good. Just keep an eye on them for now. I can just imagine Princess Maya's reaction if she finds out about this."
"It would be a catastrophe."
"Indeed. We must keep her in the dark on this matter," Doll Master ordered.
"Yes, my lord."
"At last...," the leader of the operation that was at hand said to himself than to Psycho Master, but his attention turned to his loyal assistant once again. "The time has come to fulfill my duty. In time, I will walk the path of darkness, at which time, you three must accompany me."
Psycho Master kneed to the floor, bowing officially. "It would be honor, my lord. We have fought from the day we were born. Fighting is our way of life, and we desire nothing more. In the name of Doll Master, we shall eradicate your foes."
"...I expect nothing more." Doll Master then turned away, his snowy white hair plummeting over his mask, and walked away. In a blink of an eye, Psycho Master then vanished like a ghost after he stood formally, his presence gone to another place.
As Doll Master ventured along the hallway, he passed a mysterious shadow that loomed behind a red pillar, not sensing its presence until it spoke.
"So she stands alive, then?"
He came to a haul, not fearful of the voice for he recognized it before. "You can come out of your hiding place, Ciardha."
Disturbed by his awareness of her presence, she uttered, "Hmph!" and stepped out of the shadows, the girl with blue-violet hair and cobalt eyes, wearing armor and clothing of darkness. Her rapier, the only weapon in her possession, was strapped to her belt. The murderer of Aurora's twin sister had stepped forth.
"I didn't expect that spell of yours would fail," the girl addressed as Ciardha said. "How do you plan on killing her for me when we all know she is capable of escaping death?"
"Then why do you not attempt to attack her instead of asking for 'our' help?" Doll Master asked coldly, staring back over his shoulder with a smirk.
"I had," she barked calmly. "Until I realized the one I killed five years ago wasn't the 'real' Dragon Guardian. To think it turned out to be the youngest sister as the descendant of Andrea, the first Dragon Guardian."
"I assure you, these people will finish the job."
"It better be. If not, then my two subordinates will be the ones to finish it and you. Remember, if not for me, you would have been dead because of that dead stone of yours."
"Yes, how could I forget? But it is you who shouldn't forget our little agreement."
"Exchange the Dragon Guardian's Dragon Eye for a wish from Valen's relic? Do you think I would?" she exclaimed quietly. "However, pull something behind my back, and you and the kingdom shall perish."
"Unless you try to do the same to us," Doll Master explained before looking away. "It doesn't matter now. You need the relic for that wish while we need the Dragon Eye, the key to opening the seal."
Ciardha did not notice the wide grin on Doll Master's face as he thought, 'However, if her new friends find another solution to break the seal, then you will not be needed.'
"It is right to co-operate together," he explained. "Now, I must go."
Ciardha watched the masked man take off, disappearing at a turn of a corner of the hallway. She stayed silently, alone in the hallway but aware of someone watching her...from above.
"Morana," Ciardha commanded. Instantly, out of nowhere, another girl, the same age and height as hers, stood behind her, upside-down and her feet on the ceiling, right next to an opening where one of the tiles was removed. She wore the clothes and likeness of a cunning assassin. Her raven black hair was tied in a thin braid while at the end, chopsticks held on. Her eyes flashed of jades. In her possession, daggers, swords, chains and more weapons were hidden beneath her blood red stained clothes, indicating that she had killed before in cold war. "What have you brought?"
"Nothing yet. But I'm positive that the people who the Dragon Guardian has recently met may provide some answers about the seal," Morana explained. "In the meantime, Ruy is heading those weird guys' way to monitor their movements. Ciardha, I don't trust these people we're working with. Especially if this is to activate the Athanasios Project."
"Do you doubt my father's words?" Ciardha asked.
"...No, I didn't mean to go against Casimir's words."
"It's alright... I never liked that old man of mine. Don't worry about these people. It's like killing two birds with one stone." She gave a soft laugh but continued on. "But if that's the case, then we shall go deeper, under the enemy's cloak. Let us proceed with Cosiliumß."
"Oooh, yes! I can't wait to get back at that spoiled princess," Morana grinned. "First I'll scratch her fat legs with my newly-made daggers while she's not looking and then-"
"Revenge comes later, Morana. You'll get your chance to kill her once we complete our mission," Ciardha ordered with a smile. "Now go and report to Ruy."
"As you wish, oh great and powerful leader," the assassin sang and disappeared into the opening in the ceiling, but not once she positioned the tile back into place.
Ciardha gave one grin, turning away from the closed opening. "Aurora, we will meet again and this time...I'll make sure you are gone from this world."
Finally, the faithful group has arrived to Carona before lunchtime. Seeing that the essence of time was plentiful till noon, they decided to head to Klaus's house (however, a few flying cats still disagreed the decision on missing lunch at an early time). They departed while Rachael reached back to the inn to prepare lunch in a whip, Flare following behind.
"Hey. It's good to see you back," Klaus greeted as the group pulled into his study room, seeing them safe and sound. "You won't believe what I had just discovered."
"Guess we both have something good," Black uttered.
"What is it, Doctor?" Rue asked.
"This discovery is actually for Aurora."
"Huh?" Aurora muttered, puzzled by what Klaus meant.
"That book you found in the Underground Ruins, it so happens I have discovered that there is a hidden temple that Grand Magician Elroy found a long time ago."
"Temple? So does this link with the relic?" Mint cried out eagerly.
"I'm sorry but no. This is something else."
"Oh."
"So why are you saying this is for me, Klaus?" Aurora asked.
"Well, aren't you the Dragon Guardian?" Klaus asked.
Aurora stared shocked. "WHAT!? How do you – how do you know who I am!? I'm trying to keep a low profile here and everyone keeps saying they've seen me before!"
"It's quite obvious. Not many young girls carry a giant sword that has the same description of the Dragonblade," Klaus said heartedly with a smile.
Aurora arched her back forward in defeat. "That's it. I quit the low profile..."
"What would you expect? Someone was bound to find out," Cosmomi told her.
"So what does this have to do with Aurora, Doctor?" Rue asked.
"At first, I had thought it was somewhat linked to Elroy's research on the relic. However, this wasn't. It is just near the Underground Ruins, in the deepest part of the forest. Probably he might have found it by accident. I believe this temple could actually contain an item called an 'Element'," Klaus explained.
"No way," Aurora suddenly gasped. "Klaus, does the temple have a name?"
"Well, Elroy found some inscription that read: 'The Shrine of the Leaf Dragon'."
"The Shrine of what?" Mint yelled.
"It's a Dragon Shrine!?" Aurora yelled.
"You mean to tell us there's one of those in Carona!?" Cosmomi cried out.
"I had a feeling you would want to hear this," Klaus exclaimed.
"What's a Dragon Shrine?" Rue questioned, never hearing this before.
"Dragon Shrines are believed to be the slumbering places where the Elemental Dragons rest. There are supposed to be six of them across the continent and each of them contains an Element, the keychains of the Dragonblade."
"This is huge!" Aurora screamed. "I'm one step closer to finding the next Element! Thank you, Klaus! I don't know what to say."
"It's no problem. I was surprised myself that we are close to a Dragon Shrine where Chloros, the Leaf Dragon is sleeping."
"Chloros, huh?" Black spoke out. "Wouldn't that make the Green Element?"
"Sure is, Black," Aurora replied.
"I presume you've found a few Elements, am I right?" Klaus asked curiously.
"Yeah. I've got the Red and Blue Element. I found the Blue Element near Hikoria and the other in the Red Sands."
"Incredible. The Shrines are so near towns that no one would even expected them to be so near."
"So what? It's only the gods' beds. Big deal," Mint proclaimed.
"Technically speaking, the Elemental Dragons are not classified as gods but rather as the 'Uber-gods'. There used to be three classes of deities: the five Chromatic Creaturea, known as the Gods of All, the six Elemental Dragons, and the seven Spiritual Guardians, the Demi-gods. No one is quite sure where these 'gods' organized since many races have their beliefs such as the Goddess of Cytherea. But there have been evidence that the gods do exist, all except the Goddess of Cytherea. One of the evidence is the Dragon Guardian and the Dragonblade. That is you, Aurora."
"So you're saying she's a living proof that gods do exist?" Rue asked.
"He's right," Aurora replied. "I know almost everything about the gods because Undine told me so."
"Undine?" Mint cried out.
"The Water Dragon," Klaus explained.
"Undine was the one who taught me about Cytherea before I completely became a Dragon Guardian," Aurora stated. "She told me that all the gods were like one equal family, so to speak."
"Yes," Klaus agreed with a nod. "All these gods are like a council, watching over this world and sometimes coming in contact with people. It is so amazing. There have been tales of people meeting these gods in rare moments."
"It sounds remarkable," Rue declared. "But Doctor, what do you mean 'there used to be three classes'?"
"Well, it was documented and believed that after the Great War had ended, the Chromatic Creaturea suddenly just...disappeared."
"Disappeared? What'd you mean? Gods don't disappear," Mint yelled.
"But these did," Aurora spoke out. "Undine told me that they no longer exist in this world, not even in this universe. She even said that the Elemental Dragons and the Spiritual Guardians don't know what ever happened to them."
"Yes. It was stated by a scholar who accomplished with the first Dragon Guardian that they just vanished 10,000 years ago," Klaus clarified. "But he did write that he believed that they were probably resting and maybe will awake in the near future. It sounds farfetched but who knows. Maybe they have been awakened already."
Aurora looked back at Cosmomi and Black and they looked back at them, then they looked back at Klaus.
"Uh, Klaus, I have just a question," Cosmomi asked.
"Sure, what is it?" Klaus replied. It seemed he was taking the talk of a flying cat as normal.
"What if these Chromatic Creatures did wake up recently and can't even remember what they did in the past?"
Klaus looked at the flying cat stunned. "Can't remember? Hmm... That would be something. Why do you ask?"
"Well, I think my brothers and sisters and I might be the Chromatic Creaturea."
Everyone except Aurora and Green, shook in shock. "What!?"
"We're not sure about that though," Aurora told them.
"We have been covering up old ruins that told about our past. We were somewhat linked to the Chromatic Creaturea," Black stated.
"You did say there were five Chromatic Creaturea. I have two brothers and two sister, one of which is Black here," Cosmomi explained as an addition.
"Wait a minute. You mean you don't remember whether you are those gods?" Mint inquired.
"We can't remember anything before. All I remember was being found by Aurora twelve years ago."
"That goes for the same for his siblings. When Rachael was an orphan and was found, Flare was with her as well. Flare couldn't remember her past even and Rachael just found her," Aurora explained. "And a year ago, I found Black in another ruins. That was when we found out they were somehow linked to the Chromatic Creaturea in those ruins."
"Our other brother, Blue and sister, Bright, were also found by Aurora's cousin and sister," Black stated.
"But they also don't remember their past too," Cosmomi appended.
"My... So you really don't know?" Klaus asked.
"We have no idea who we are. All we know is that we might be them. That's why we are with Aurora. Because if we're with her, chances of finding more about our past is high and mighty," Cosmomi explained. "But so far, we've found not much info." The two flying cats perked down their ears in doubt.
"...Doctor, maybe you can search their past?" Rue suddenly suggested.
"Huh?" Black uttered.
"Wouldn't they be stated in the history of the Great War, Doctor? I'm sure there are more clues to help them find their past."
"Probably. And I wouldn't mind research. This will be absolutely amazing to find the past of the Gods of All."
"Are you sure?" Aurora asked.
"Sure. I've been studying through the history. I'm bound to find something in those books of mine," he assured her with a smile.
"Thank you, Klaus," Aurora thanked with a bow. "You've really been helpful."
"It's alright. Now, about your visit to Fancy Mel, how did it go? I presume you had a shock there."
"We did...but we also got good news, Klaus," Mint cried blissfully and energetically.
"Mel examined the cube for us," Aurora exclaimed.
"She wrote the details in this report," Rue explained, handing the report into Klaus's hands.
"That's great!" uttered Klaus. "Let's read it." As quick as lighting, Klaus began skimming through the pages of the report, briefing though, until after a few minutes, he spoke, "Hmm... I see..."
"You finished reading it already?" Rue cried, surprised by the doctor's quick brief
"That was quick..." Cosmomi muttered.
"Not yet," Klaus admitted. "I just finished reading the part that explains how open it. So, I figured, why not open it now?"
"You can open this thing?" Mint asked loudly in shock.
"Does that mean there's something inside?" Aurora inquired with astonishment.
"I believe so. Mel's report says, 'Open the cube and find out for yourself.' I think there's item in here that can unlock the seal placed by the Aeon." Klaus turned to the box that laid untouched on his table. Turning it around to a square that was unusual to the rest, feeling over its surface until a click was heard. "There. That should do it."
A starlit light appeared. Followed by another. A rain of dewdrop-shaped lights appeared and gathered around the box like a fine mist in the forest at dawn.
"Is that supposed to happen?" Black asked as eyes began to widen.
Without warning, the lights developed into a small explosion of luminosity, giving everyone a fright: Klaus stumbled back, losing his balance and yelling "Whoa!" with his bag leg slightly straining again; Aurora and Rue stepped quickly away; the two flying cats soared backwards, their wings airborne; Green tumbled away in fear; Mint leapt away, screaming "Geez!".
Aurora stared in bewilderment. Rue's mouth gaped open. The flying cats landed onto a pile of books but turned back quickly in time to see what would happen next. Klaus pushed his glasses back to his eyes, focusing on the bright light that engulfed the box. Mint's eyes were the size of dinner plates from the palace of East Heaven Kingdom. Green, however, stared in sheer amazement and density.
As the storming light slowly dimmed, a golden transparent diamond had taken place of the cube. Klaus could measure that it was four feet high, two feet wide and had enough space to put a small object the size of a child. Indeed there was something in there that made everyone stare even more intently.
"W-What in the world is that...!?" Klaus cried.
Floating within the container of the diamond was a small boy, the same age and height as of Cairo. His hair was creamy white while he stared to the ceiling with bright golden eyes. His piece of clothing was a long flowing golden robe, seemingly like strictly misplaced royalty. Motionless and barefoot he was, yet he blinked several times, proving he was animated. He fell descending to the floor in a sudden moment, just as the diamond vanished in a blink of an eye, like a Crystal butterfly escaping from its unwanted chrysalis. The boy lied on the floor peacefully as if in a deep slumber. Klaus pulled himself up to his feet. Clearing his mind, he looked closer to the sleeping boy in amazement. "I can't believe this... How did this boy fit inside that tiny cube?"
The trio joined him, staring down at the boy that suddenly appeared as if he had come out of the cube. Seeing the minor danger had passed, Black and Green moved closer while Cosmomi loomed over Aurora's shoulder to get a better look at the child. Rue kneed down, taking a careful look at his arms and legs.
"He's not human, Doctor," Rue explained. "He looks human, but...he's a doll."
"Look at his joints," Mint noted. "He's some kind of a doll."
Bending over, Aurora rested her hands on her knees. "He's inhuman, alright. I've never seen a doll looking 'like' a human."
"Amazing..." Klaus droned. "It would be possible to make something like this nowadays."
"Yep."
A voice from above captured their attention away from the child-like doll. Walking down the stairs, to their sheer surprise was Fiona the demi-human, her deadly spear handing over her back.
"Elroy did a fine job making this guy. Do you know who made that doll in the first place?" she asked before anyone could ask why she was here. "Grand Magician Elroy made him. He's the product of the finest magic technology, lost years ago. Probably just after the Great War. That means this doll is packed with all kinds of powerful magic. Don't let his appearance fool you. His name is Prima Doll and he's the only one who has the power to break the seal at the lake ruins."
"Wow..." Rue uttered in amusement. "Elroy was so close to breaking the seal."
"It's amazing that he had so much power to make this thing," Aurora added.
"So he's the key to the relic," Klaus affirmed. "Well, I guess now we can get the relic with this Prima Doll."
"Alright, relic, here we come!" Mint cried proudly. "Klaus! Let's go to the lake ruins! Come on! Let's go right now!"
"Sorry, but you can't get it just yet," the demi-human muttered.
That brought Mint's hope of getting the relic down the drain. "Ohhh, don't tell me there's another problem."
"What is it, Fiona?" Rue asked.
"Did you even finish reading Mel's report?" she first asked. They all looked at her in dumbfounded silence. Fiona couldn't help but feel astounded. 'Humans... What is it with them anyway...?' "Fine, since you don't know anything YET, I'll tell you. This Prima Doll isn't complete. Right now, he doesn't have any power, so he's sleeping. Try kicking or slapping him, but he won't do a thing. He'll just lay there."
"Oh brother..." Mint grumbled. "Let me guess. We need some items to complete the Prima Doll?"
"Yep."
"Ohhh..." the princess groused angrily.
"I wonder where we can get them," Klaus stated, cupping his chin in one hand.
"The answer to that question is written in Mel's report," Fiona recommended and they all stared back at the report that Klaus had placed on the table.
"Here it is," Klaus uttered, after skimming through the paragraphs until he came to the most important part that would. "'Grand Magician Elroy worked closely with his apprentices. The items needed to complete the Prima Doll are kept in the ateliers of his apprentices. A pair of gauntlets and a pair of sollerets are being kept at the Ghost Temple. The earrings are being kept at the atelier in Gamul Forest. The forest is high above the river. The final item, an amulet, must be made from phantomite.' Phantomite? I've never heard of such a thing. Hmm..."
"Wait a minute," Aurora exclaimed loudly. "I think I've heard it..."
"Do you know about it, Aurora?"
"That name only rings a bell here. As I recalled from my grandfather, phantomite is...some kind of magic stone. It's a gem of all gems."
"Oh, yeah. He had a ton of books back home," Black recalled.
"Enough to be a library," Cosmomi muttered.
"Do you know anymore details?" Klaus asked placidly.
"Sorry," Aurora apologized. "It was hard to remember that book he was reading... I wish I had pay more attention to it..."
"Doctor, please find out where we can get some phantomite," Rue inquired.
"Dang, we need four more items!? Why did Elroy have to make everything so complicated?" Mint yelled irritably.
"I feel the same way," Klaus admitted heartedly. "I guess we have no choice but to collect these items."
"This really sucks... Now I have to go to the Ghost temple and Gamul Forest. Oh yeah, we need that phantomite thing, too. Oh...I'm getting a headache."
"Don't worry. We'll help," Rue suggested.
"Huh?"
"We'll go together to Gamul Forest and then to the ghost Temple."
"Yeah," Aurora agreed. "At least it saves time."
"Bad idea," the demi-human declared.
"What?" Rue uttered.
"Remember, we're not the only ones after the relic."
"Hey! Are you after the relic as well?" Mint yelled.
"Yes, I am. And I have my own reasons why. Anyway, if you all go and get the items, somebody might end up taking them away from you. I know about the tiara. Belle and Duke took it away from you, huh?"
"Well, if it wasn't for her, we may still have it!" Aurora growled, giving an icy glare.
"Oh, sure blame it on me!" Mint yelled, countering her glare with hers.
"Calm down, you two," Rue exclaimed.
"I have a funny feeling that's what's gonna happen again if you're not careful," Fiona suggested.
"...What are you trying to tell us?"
"Geez!" Fiona cried out, unbelieving a human's lack of awareness. "You're really slow. What I'm saying is that we work together. Mint and I will go to Gamul Forest and you two can go to the Ghost Temple."
"...Sounds good to me. At last I won't be with her!" Aurora snapped, giving a glare to Mint.
"At last I won't be with you!" Mint yelled, doing the same at Aurora.
"If we split up, we'll get the items faster and safer. That way, we won't have to put all our eggs in one basket, understand?" Fiona declared.
"I guess you have a point there... Ok," Rue uttered with a nod. "Is that ok with you, Doctor?"
"Yes," the doctor agreed. "I think that would be better. Don't you think, Mint?"
"No," Mint asserted, falling back onto the last step of the stairway.
"What!? Why not?"
"That means my share is gonna get smaller! If you insist on helping, we can split the wealth 7:1:1:1 between us. What do you think? Still wanna help?"
"Mint, you're being way too unreasonable."
"Ok. That's fine with me," Rue exclaimed.
"...Really?" Mint muttered in shock, up on her feet.
"I'm after the relic to make a fortune. I don't want money or treasure. Just let me use it once when we get it. After that, you and the doctor can keep it and do whatever you want."
"Oh... I see..."
"I'll agree with you, Rue. I'm not after a fortune, too," Aurora added.
"Huh?"
"I don't need money or power. What can it do? Make you happy? All I want is Angela again..."
"Angela?" Mint recalled the entry she had read from Aurora's dairy the night near the Underground Ruins. "Wait a minute... What does this person have to do with the relic?"
"...Let's not talk about it."
"Well, if you two ain't after treasure, count me in," Fiona yelled. "I've already got a fortune in my hometown. I don't need anymore of it as well. Just to make a small wish and then you can have it."
"..." Mint fell silent, disbelieved in what she was hearing. Her companions did not want gold or treasure or power but something that was worth much more?
"...Does that sound ok with you?" Rue asked as everyone looked at her, awaiting her answer.
"Sure. Then let's get on with it," Mint agreed joyfully. "We'll go to Gamul Forest and get the earrings. You two go to the Ghost Temple. Make sure you bring back the gauntlets and sollerets. You'd better not screw up this time."
Just as she was about to run up the stairway, Rue called out. "Hey. You'd better not keep those earrings for yourself."
"WHAAAT!?" Mint shrieked. "What did you just say!? I can't believe you'd say that! I would never do that!"
"Oh sure, like the last time you took the tiara!" Aurora yelled. Rue fell silent, looking away in doubt of the Princess.
"Oh, come on! Look, we're partners, ok? Trust me!" Mint told them, hoping to gain some trust, however that wasn't going to happen.
"Don't worry. I'll make sure we'll bring the earrings," Fiona announced.
"What!? You too!?"
"Ok, we'll see you later then." With that, Rue walked out of the room. Just as Aurora was about to follow him up, she gave an icy glare at Mint.
"I hope I CAN trust you this time!" she barked and walked up the stairs, Cosmomi, Green and Black following behind.
"That wasn't very nice, Mint," Klaus declared, upset. "You were being very unreasonable."
"Hey, I was just teasing them," Mint told him, not wanting to hurt the doctor's feelings. I never thought he'd agree to such ridiculous terms."
Bonk!
"Ouch! What was that for!?" Mint snapped. Fiona has just hit her on the head with her spear.
"You deserve it," Fiona sighed, shaking her head. She then walked up the stairway, stopped and looked down. "Well, are you coming or not?"
"Sheez! I'm coming!" The princess yelled and followed up the demi-human as she whispered to herself. "What strange people. They're not in it for money? I wonder why they're looking for the relic."
Vickie: MUHAHAHAHA!!! I FINALLY FINISHED CHAPTER 13!!! YES!!!
Aurora: (Blocks ears) Alright, already! Now read the reviews! Sheez!
Vickie: To Dark Knight Gafgar, thanks for the review. And yes, that chapter, you saw why Aurora's after the relic and in this one, you'll see more of her enemy's plot as it thickens. THANKS FOR THE REVIEW!!!
To CrowPhoenix, yeah, I know there's some mistakes but I've been trying to find them as much as possible. And don't worry. More about my OCs is coming up as a new recruit is coming to the scene. Thanks for the review!
To DewprisimDolofFate, you're welcome! And alright, if you say his eyes are brown. I'm just prefer to get things right and prefect by study everything before I post it. –sweatdrops- And I'm an almighty authoress? Oh, shush –blushes- Thanks for the review!
Aurora: Are you sure you should call her that?
To Diamond King, really? YOU LOVE THIS STORY? That makes me soooo happy I can cry! Thanks for the review and I hope you enjoy this chapter!
Vickie: Now, onto the next chapter! Please r'n'r!