Chapter I: The Voice of Nocturna
Shade Silverwing stood silent and still, staring at the very Tree of life, with it's powerful oak walls towering and towering high into the underworld's sky. It burned with a raging fire that seemed to be able to burn anything that gets near it to a burnt crisp, but it was actually completely harmless. The knothole on the Tree is the exit to the Upper World. It can take anyone, whether dead or alive back to the Earth's surface. Many of the dead dwelling in the underworld seek this Tree to go back to the world they loved and cherished, to see their loved ones once again.
This very Tree is the final remains of the holy bat god, Nocturna. Her twin, Cama Zotz, god of the underworld, killed her ruthlessly and the Tree formed out of Nocturna's deceased body. Many say that Nocturna was not dead, but that she was in a state of slumber and will one day awaken. Others think she is surely dead and deny her ever being able to come back to life. This is true, but Nocturna cannot accomplish this alone.
This is where it all begins; the resurrection of Nocturna is about to take place, and the world will be in a state of eternal peace.
"What do you want?" Shade said to the Tree, squinting his eyes. Shade sat down and stared at the Tree again. He has been dead for two whole years, always attracted to the Tree like a magnet, thinking that it wants to tell him something. At the end of the two years, however, Shade would start a journey that would decide the fate of the entire universe itself.
"Ouch!" Shade said. He had felt a sharp pain inside his stomach.
"What was that? Agh! Is something stabbing me? What is going on?" Shade said in panic, inspecting himself and making sure nothing happened.
"Argh!!" Shade screamed, coughing up blood and staring in disbelief. Suddenly, a bright light started to emanate out of Shade's abdomen, covering the entire area. The light grew larger and brighter in seconds and Shade felt as if he was giving birth. The pain in his stomach grew even worse.
"Is something…COMING out of me?!" Shade yelled in utter confusion. The pain kept growing worse, causing Shade immense pain. It hurt so much that Shade had to kneel down and start pleading.
"Please, stop the pain. Please…" Shade said weakly, about to collapse under the pressure pushing against his body. Suddenly it all stopped and a brilliant flash exploded, completely blinding Shade's vision. After a short moment, the flash dissolved and everything was still again. Shade opened his eyes in pain and rubbed them. He got up and looked at his stomach. Nothing. Not even a scratch.
Shade looked up and gasped wide-eyed at the object that stood sunk into the ground. Shade walked over to the object hesitantly. It was a weapon of some sort, something a human would use. He pulled the weapon out of the ground and stared at its shining blade. It was a sword; an immense and magnificent sword that sent a gleam across Shade's eyes.
"It's beautiful. But…how can I carry such a large thing like this?" Shade said to himself. He turned his eyes toward the Tree, which seemed to burn faster. Shade narrowed his eyes in concern and thought for a moment.
"Can this be true? Nocturna?" Shade wondered to himself. He shook his head and turned his back on the Tree.
"Shhhhaaaaddddeeee." A whisper-like voice flew across the air and went directly at Shade. Shade turned around in alarm.
"Do not be afraaaiiiddd…" the voice said softly.
"Are you-" Shade trailed off.
"I am the one you think does not exist. I AM Nocturnaaaa…" the voice said assuringly.
Shade had a look of repudiation and shook his head violently, as if wanting to not believe this.
"You are alive?? All this time I had thought you didn't exist. But Zotz…he told me everything about your argument. He told me you were dead for good!" Shade said.
"He is wrong, Shade. He is using his false words to delude your mind, to take your faith away from meee…" Nocturna whispered. Her voice was like a whistling wind, it wasn't easy to hear her speak.
"But! How-"
"Even though he has killed me, my spirit rose and formed this Tree…my spirit IS the Tree." Nocturna stated. Shade looked at the Tree and just noticed that her voice came from it. He had a puzzled expression wiped onto his face. He couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"Why didn't you help me all the times that I needed you??" Shade exclaimed.
"The time was not right…at that moment I could do nothing to help you. I have been gaining energy over these many years. Shade, look at your bodyyy…" Nocturna said. Shade looked at his stomach and could see a barely visible symbol growing on his abdomen.
"That symbol represents my strength and existence. It has been carried on and on to every generation of bat colonies for centuries. One day, a hero shall emerge and will rid of all impurities on the Earth, and shall start a new era, where bats, humans, and every other animal will live in eternal freedom.
"But how can I rid of impurities if I'm dead??" Shade said while pointing to himself, literally in shock from knowing all of this. He knew Nocturna had chosen him, but to save the entire world?
"I will give you a portion of my energy, converted into life." Nocturna simply said. There was a short moment of silence and Shade pricked his ears up and stared at the Tree in a mix of disbelief and unexpected happiness.
"Life." Shade said to himself with joy. After all this time, he would get life again. But would he get to see his family again? Shade's eye teared up at the thought of going back to the Upper world.
"But Shade, you must stop Zotz's evil plans that will cause great obstacles and barricades in your path to eternal peace for the world." Nocturna added. Shade shook his head and wiped off his eyes.
"I am not going to do this alone am I?" Shade asked. Nocturna seemed to shake her head even though she was completely invisible to Shade's eyes.
"Do not worry, Shade. You shall not journey alone." She stated.
"That's good. Very good, but who will come with me?" Shade asked.
"You shall encounter them soon."
He desperately wanted to know, but he wasn't going to question Nocturna's authority. He knew better than that.
"Now, Shade. Fly through the Tree. Do not worry; everything will be fine. Make sure you do not lose your faith in me and never give in. I am counting on you and the other Chosen Ones." Nocturna said, and she seemed to disappear. Shade's heart jumped. This was it, the start of his journey towards the fate of the world. He stared at the Tree and breathed in and out deeply. He grasped the sword handle more strongly and started to take slow steps towards the Tree. Shade could feel the presence of a life, waiting just for him. He gasped to himself in excitement and started to fly towards the knothole of the Tree, thinking of what his son and mate's reaction to his appearance would be. Were they the Chosen Ones as well?
Shade entered the knothole and a burst of pressure pulled him upwards at an incredibly high speed. He felt like his fur would be torn off his very skin any moment. His body started to flip against the pressure uncontrollably and then suddenly everything went black. His echo vision was blurred out and he could not make out where we was. Everything around him was very still and he couldn't even hear his own heartbeat. A heartbeat! He was alive! Nocturna was not lying after all, but he figured she wouldn't; she wouldn't lie to him or anyone for that matter. He stayed in the void and couldn't feel any part of his body. Suddenly, his vision seemed to clear up slowly and Shade found himself on wet ground.
