Title:Book 2: Battle of Avalon
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating: PG13 (for graphic discriptions)
Standard Disclaimer Apply
*denotes thought
25/12/01
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Notes: Book 2, Battle of Avalon is the continuation of Avalon
and Wild Magic. I know in the last chapter of Wild Magic
I said this will have 5 chapters. Anyway, it'll probably
be 5 or 6. I'm undecided now. :p
Recapturing from Book 1: Wild Magic, Chapter 10.
"I am the bringer of darkness, I am the beginning of the end...I am
Nepherenia."
~~~~~~~~~
"The portal...it has formed." she laughed.
"Shall we go, Mistress?" asked Kayala eagerly.
"Yes...yes. I thank you again, for setting me free!!!" cackled Nepherenia
as she stepped through the portal.
~~~~
"Damn you, we'll stop you!!" shouted Endymion shaking his bloody hand.
Nepherenia's taunting voice floated into the cavern. "This is just the
beginning..."
The portal closed.
~~~~~
"Everything's lost. We lost. And it's all our fault. We tried so hard to
resist her enchantment but we-" sobbed Serenity.
"It's that witch's fault. Not yours. Rest now." commanded Endymion.
"But Avalon...what will happen??"
"I don't know."
"We'll all figure it out somehow, my Prince." said Malachite who was
cradling a tearful Mina.
"Right. We're with you, Endy." smiled Jadeite as he hugged Raye who's
arms were locked about him tightly.
"Mal's right. We'll beat them yet." grinned Nephlite as he rocked Lita,
who had a wobbly smile.
"All of us together." added Zoiscite who held on to Amy.
Endymion smiled. "All of us together."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Chapter 1: Doom of Avalon ~
Avalon's weathered old face drew into a worried expression as he waved
a dismissing hand over the magical pool.
"Father?" came a soft voice.
"My time here is almost up." sighed Avalon wearily.
"It can't be!!" exclaimed one of his daughters.
"The two of you should know this is the way it has to be. You know the
dark times that have been destined for Avalon lie ahead. It is destiny.
It is inevitable." smiled Avalon as he touched the twin's cheeks.
"But Father,"
"That is enough. Destiny, Fate...I want you to remain observers in this
time of peril. You are forbidden to help. Watch over my chosen. He will
restore order to the magic of Avalon. Already I can feel the magic spiking
and spinning out of control."
"Yes, Father." obeyed Destiny and Fate as a tear slipped from their eyes.
"Good. Go now, my daughters."
Avalon watched proudly and a little sad as his daughters Destiny and
Fate disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Somewhere near the Crystal City and the Forest of Aeden, a swirl of magic
was forming. Animals in the trees nearby ran and scurried for cover.
Something terrible was happening....
Suddenly, the magical energies converged and formed a portal...
Nepherenia stepped out of the portal her long gown dragging on the ground.
Morgana and Kayala stepped out behind her.
"I am free!!!! I am finally free!!!!!" laughed Nepherenia as she threw her
hands up into the air.
The sky seemed to darken and the ground seemed to tremble. The beginning
of the end was approaching.
"Yes, Mistress!! You shall rule Avalon, and then you shall rule the
wild magic." smiled Kayala.
"Has everything been prepared, Morgana??" asked Nepherenia.
"Of course, my Queen. Everything has been prepared and is only waiting
for you." nodded Morgana.
"Good. By sunset, Avalon will be mine and it's keeper dead." laughed
Nepherenia.
"Shall we start with the Forest of Aeden, my Queen?" asked Morgana as she
gestured towards the forest.
"Of course. I shall rid this eyesore that has protected the Elementals
for countless generations."
"What about the Grandfather Tree??" asked Kayala.
"The tree will be powerless once these other trees die. Unfortunately, a
tree as old as the Grandfather Tree cannot be destroyed." frowned
Nepherenia angrily.
"My Queen..." reminded Morgana.
"Of course." nodded Nepherenia.
Morgana's black harp materialized. Strumming a few quick notes, at
transparent crystal appeared in front of them.
Nepherenia smiled. Morgana had done well in planting the crystals all over
the magic points of Avalon.
"Kayala, I want you to subdue the Princess of the Sea and the Princess of
the Skies." ordered Nepherenia.
"Of course, my Queen. Your wish is my command." bowed Kayala as she
disappeared in red light.
Nepherenia turned her attention back to the crystal and smiled cruelly.
Sending her black magic towards the crystal, it turned a purplish black
colour.
Suddenly, sparkles of magic appeared and were absorbed into the crystal.
The magic flowing into Nepherenia.
The forest trees and plants wilted. Animals and magical creatures trying
to escape the onslaught of the wave that swept through the forest absorbing
magic.
"I feel powerful!! More magic!!! I will rule the magic of Avalon and
even the Elements with their vaunted Elementals will not be able to stop
me!!!" shouted Nepherenia with an evil laugh.
Animals, fairies, elves and other magical creatures in the Forest of
Aeden froze and were encased in black crystal.
"The Forest of Aeden is no more!!!!" laughed Nepherenia as the black focus
crystal disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
King Terrance and Queen Gaia stared at the magical orb in horror as they
watched the magical Forest of Aeden wilted and trees crumbled to dust
except for the Grandfather Tree that was powerless now. It's bark and
branches sagged and looked like withered old skin with wrinkles.
"This is a disaster!!" exclaimed King Terrance.
"Send the Guardians!!" exclaimed Queen Gaia.
Nepherenia watched as Guardians from the Crystal City stopped before her.
"Magic Guardians?? How quaint." smiled Nepherenia evilly.
"Born of my dark magic,
Rise my minions,
Your Dark mistress summons!"
Shadows and other creatures appeared from the ground. Some hideous. Some
seductive. Some a twisted hybrid of both.
Nepherenia sneered at the Guardians.
The Guardians steadied their mounts nervously, their animals panicky and
skittish.
"We must protect the Crystal City!!" exclaimed the Head of the Guardians.
"For Avalon!"
"For AVALON!!" chorused the rest.
Nepherenia merely laughed.
"Brave words, but unfortunately useless. Your pitiful effort will be
futile. You can't defeat my dark creatures.
Turning to her creatures, Nepherenia only uttered two words....
"Kill them."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The moment Endymion, Serenity and Lita stepped onto Avalon, they doubled
over in pain.
"Serenity!! Endymion!! Lita!" exclaimed Raye.
"My Prince!"
"Lita!!"
Serenity curled up into a foetal position. Endymion shivered harshly.
Lita was holding herself and crying.
"Lita...what's wrong??" asked Amy bending down to the girl.
"It's my element.." sobbed Lita.
"It's c-crying." groaned Serenity.
"It's i-in p-pain." shuddered Endymion.
"You're back!!" exclaimed a voice.
"Alex!!" called Mina looking up to see the blonde hovering in the air
above them. "What's happening??!"
"Dark Creatures!!! All my people have been nearly wiped out. And Michelle,
the merpeople, they're battling Dark Seadras."
"Seadras?? But they're extinct!!" exclaimed Amy suddenly looking up from
her position by Lita.
"And the City??" asked Malachite.
"Under attack." whispered Alex.
"The Guardians?" questioned Jadeite.
"Wiped out." choked Alex. "Even the Forest of Aeden has been destroyed."
"No..." sobbed Lita.
"Nepherenia's behind all this." hissed Raye.
"A-Alex...can you get us t-to the City?" choked Serenity as she got up
precariously.
Raye rushed to Serenity's side and helped her.
"I can get you as far as Silver Vale. I can't go any closer. Even the
winds around the areas she's conquered are deadly." sighed Alex.
"Th-Thank you, my f-friend."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex landed the elementals riding on her winds gently to the ground.
"This is as far as I can take you now. You'll have to make it to the City
to yourself." said Alex a bit guiltyly.
"It's alright Alex." muttered Lita, her frame shaking slightly in grief
and anger.
"I must go. My kingdom in the skies have been under constant attack.
Sky monsters of myth appearing on the Floating Island and attacking
everything. I have reports, a lady in blood red is causing these disasters
in the sky and sea."
"Kayala." said Zoiscite.
"It has to be." nodded Nephlite.
"Who?"
"Nepherenia's minion." answered Endymion.
After Alex had left, Raye shook her head and closed her eyes sadly and
stared to the skies.
After a moments walk...Raye groaned and gave a choked sob.
"Everything's happening." she groaned.
"What do you mean?" asked Mina confused.
"My vision." whispered Raye with a shiver. "You...everybody was dead.
All of us. The sky was blood red and the Palace was crawling with thorn
creepers. There were bodies all over the place."
"That won't come to pass, Raye. It WON'T!" bit out Jadeite vehemently as
he moved to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders
comfortingly.
"The wind's picking up. We must be on conquered land." said Amy looking
around her surroundings. Nothing familiar at all. The land seemed barren
of life. Stumps and dead trees. No grass and the ground seemed dry and
dusty. Even the sky seemed dark.
"By the Ancients.." whispered Serenity.
"The Forest of Aeden..." gasped Nephlite.
The group moved closer to the stumps and dead withered trees.
"How did this happen!??" exclaimed Malachite.
Mina wept as she touched a dead tree. "It's so cruel...". A tear fell to
the ground.
"By the Elements, look!" exclaimed Lita pointing in a direction. Her free
hand covering her mouth in shock.
The rest turned to stare in Lita's direction. What they saw made Amy burst
into tears.
The magical creatures of the Forest trapped in black crystal like
insects in amber.
Serenity stepped tentatively towards the encased beings.
"She's a monster. What happened to them??" choked Serenity as she lifted
a hand to touch the crystal.
Another larger, stronger hand caught her wrist.
Serenity looked up to see Endymion glaring down at her.
"Don't touch it. You don't know what Dark Magic, this is. You could become
trapped too." exclaimed Endymion.
A tear fell from Serenity's eye.
"Why's all this happening Endy?? These were our friends. This was our
home for years." sobbed Serenity as she turned into Endymion's embrace.
"We'll beat this somehow, Serenity. Avalon WILL have a future."
"We better move. It doesn't look safe to remain too long in one area."
suggested Zoiscite who was holding Amy.
"I agree. I'm getting bad vibes." added Raye who hugged herself to stop
the chill that was running up and down her spine.
"Is it me, or are the clouds getting darker?" asked Jadeite.
"Let's go." ordered Endymion implacably.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nepherenia laughed as villagers ran, trying to escape from the onslaught
of Dark Creatures that were slaying anything that came into their paths.
Cattle, horses, dogs, men, women, children...nothing was spared. Homes
were destroyed and burned.
Nepherenia turned her attention to the flowing waterfall....a clear
crystal hovered in front of it. The waterfall's source ran from the icy
mountains. Another source of magic...
"Come to me." whispered Nepherenia.
Instantly, water turned into energy that swirled and was sucked into the
crystal acting as a focus for Nepherenia, it's clarity turning into a deep
black-purple. The dark energy hit her, it was a wonderful feeling. She was
strong!! She was the bane of Avalon!
As the waterfall dried and the river turned a deep murky blackish-purple,
Nepherenia shouted her triumph and joy towards the heavens, as if defying
anything. She would be the Queen of the Wild Magic and there was nothing
the pretenders on the throne of Avalon could do to stop it. She was the
ultimate creature born of the wild magic...
Her eyes glowed red as she turned to a squealing infant in the grass,
crying for her mother. She merely laughed as she lifted both hands,
controling the dark tainted water to rise and swallow the child whose cries
were lost in the pounding of the water.
A heavy lifeless thud fell to the earth. It was the infant, whose eyes
were rolled back and her skin pale and bloodless. The tainted water dripped
from her tiny mouth whose lips were blue from the lack of oxygen, her tiny
body wet and dripping.
Nepherenia laughed. Her power was absolute. A thick fog rolled in
blanketing the gruesome and horrifying carnage that had been left behind
in the wake of her passing and her dark minions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy screamed. She felt like she was dying. Falling to the ground, she
screamed endlessly, trying to claw at herself, but Zoiscite held her wrists
pinned to the ground in a tight grip. She felt like her insides were on
fire and exploding from her body.
Serenity was writhing on the ground and Endymion was holding onto his head
as if it was on the verge of exploding.
"By Avalon!! What is happening!!?? What's happening to Amy??" asked
Zoiscite frantically as he tried to stop Amy from clawing at herself.
"Amy is feeling her element's pain." answered Raye fearfully.
"But Lita didn't act this way!" exclaimed Zoiscite.
"It is different for each Elemental." explained Mina.
"What can we do??" asked Malachite stiffening, the thought of Mina acting
this way, hurting.
"There is nothing we CAN do...we can only hold her down and hope it will
pass soon." said Raye.
Zoiscite turned pained and fearful eyes towards Amy who was still
screaming, her face contorted in pain.
"Amy, it's me...Zoiscite. Please, tell me you can hear me." whispered
Zoiscite.
Amy kept on screaming, her body bucking trying to loosen Zoiscite's hold
on her.
"AMY!! Please! Open your eyes! Look at me." commanded Zoiscite.
Amy opened pained and tearful eyes at Zoiscite, her throat hoarse from
screaming. Tears fell from her eyes.
Zoiscite flinched at the pain in her eyes. He could drown in those pools
of blue filled with anguish and sorrow.
Amy closed her eyes and turned her head away.
Zoiscite released her. Amy curled into a ball.
"The worse is over." whispered Raye quietly towards Zoiscite.
Zoiscite turned his own pained filled eyes towards the Mistress of Fire.
The Seer of the group.
"Will the worse ever be over?? For any of us?" asked Zoiscite as he
gathered Amy comfortingly into his arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After resting, the group continued on, trying to regain lost time and
lost ground. They knew, the more time they spent idle, the closer Nepherenia
got to the Crystal City. And the closer she got to the City, the more they
lost of Avalon.
A rotting stench filled their noses coupled with the intense smell of
evil.
Endymion stopped in horror as he reached the ridge overlooking the source
of the smell. It was the entire army of Guardians. Slaughtered. Blackened
bodies were ground into the earth as well as the decaying corpses of some.
Black ash was left where dark creatures had died, carrying the tainted
smell that clung to them like a stain on their souls.
Serenity turned away from the scene and proceeded to empty her stomach,
the same with Mina and Amy. Lita and Raye clenched their fists and shut
their eyes, trying to shut out the ghastly image.
Endymion shut his eyes as a wave of anger and revulsion rose in his being.
Nepherenia was a monster. This was sick and without compassion. Some of
these men had been good men. Most of them had families, people who loved
them. And she'd just killed them. Just like that, they were gone.
With a wave of his hand, Endymion called to the earth, the element
responding to his call, as dirt and soil rose up to swallow the corpses
that were decaying rapidly.
Serenity swallowed convulsively. The rape of the elements and the abuse
to the land, her home...her lifeblood, it was horrendous and violating.
She felt sick to her stomach again, and suddenly...there was only white
light. Pure, burning, soothing, bright white light that enveloped her in a
cocoon of serenity and lulled her to sleep.
Raye felt a sudden burning warmth. She turned to Serenity and Endymion.
Their faces were serene, devoid of any emotion and their eyes seemed to
glaze over. Raye suddenly felt safe and calm. A feeling she had not felt
since the whole quest and battle had started.
Amy noticed the feeling as well as everybody else in the group, she could
tell. They felt calm, awed and peaceful. They didn't feel the pain of loss.
It was soothing. The warm glow seemed to penetrate to her very soul. Soothed
her. Washed away her anguish of the attack at her element. The aura was
coming from Serenity and Endymion.
"Serenity?"
"My Prince...?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michelle, Princess of the Ocean was leading her people towards one of the
most sacred waters of mer-magic. All her people were tired. With the sudden
return of Nepherenia, she had brought the Dark Creatures back with her.
Her minion, Kayala, the woman in red had brought doom upon the
City of Aquaria and the Sapphire Palace.
The attack of the sea dragons known as Seadra's in ancient times had been
the enemy of her people. They attacked ferociously and destroyed homes,
until one day, they went extinct. These giant beasts of the sea, a mere
memory and legend. No legend or memory now...but alive and deadly.
A red fog appeared in front of her path of swimming. She frowned.
"Running away, Princess? Not so easy. If you do not serve Nepherenia, you
die." laughed Kayala.
"Your music magic holds no sway over me or any of the warm blooded
creatures in the ocean." snapped Michelle. "Water does not enhance your
magic." snapped Michelle.
"True, but I hold sway over the Seadras."
Michelle glared at Kayala and lifted her Aqua Mirror.
"See your true self you witch. Know yourself for the hag that you are!"
taunted Michelle.
"Aqua Mirror of the sea,
Your mistress calls,
Summon undertows to my plea,
Vanquish the evil,
To set us free!!" chanted Michelle.
Undertows and rushing water currents pulled at Kayala trying to drag her
assunder. Kayala tried to shriek and claw at the water. With anger, she
glared at Michelle. "This is not over, you fish...I will laugh when the
Seadras eat your lifeless body and break your precious mystical mirror."
spat Kayala as she disappeared.
"We shall see, hag. Avalon will fight and we shall prevail. Avalon will
never submit to her dominion. And neither shall we." vowed Michelle as she
clutched the mirror tightly to herself.
"Right!! We will never submit!!" shouted her people behind her.
Michelle smiled. "Alright... let's head on. We cannot stop yet less the
Seadras attack. I know you are tired, but for your lives." said Michelle to
her people.
There were nods and murmurs of agreements as mothers ushered their tired
mer-children along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nepherenia stopped in front of a mountain. The mountain was lined with
caves. It seemed, this was the original dwelling of the fire elementals.
Dragons lived here peacefully only coming out once in awhile to terrorize
villages.
Her blood red lips curled into a smile. Having such magnificent beasts on
her side was sure to aid her in the coming invasion of the Crystal City
that was now, only a few miles away over the last hill.
Black magic and evil reeked all around her.
A dragon lopped out of it's lair. Smelling the terrible scent of evil, it
gave a shriek of anger and disgust.
Nepherenia glared at the dragon. Flicking one long finger at the dragon,
it found itself shackled in black bands of magic. It gave an angry cry and
sent a telepathic message for help.
More dragons appeared from caves above, breathing fire and smoke. Black
minions tried to capture the nearest dragon, but the creature snarled and
beat it's gigantic wings, pushing Nepherenia's evil minions backwards a few
paces. The dragon gave a snort of fire, destroying a few dark minions.
"Mistress, are you sure it is wise to try and tame these beasts to our
black magic??" asked Morgana uncertainly.
"Of course. These creatures shall herald the beginning of a new dawn on
Avalon as by sunset, the pretending monarchy on the so-called throne of
Avalon shall fall." laughed Nepherenia.
"But why attack the monarchy?? They will hardly be able to do anything
once we conquer the old man, Avalon." asked Morgana.
"My foolish minion, you have eyes but do not see. The Prince of Avalon,
heir to the pretender throne is the heir to Avalon. His magic and control
of Avalon's magic is a threat. Once joined with his destined, the Elemental
Vessel, he is a threat. But fortunately, they are still green younglings.
But they still represent a threat as Prince Endymion's rule will be for all
time." explained Nepherenia patiently as if she were explaining something to
a witless child.
"I see, Mistress." nodded Morgana, her black harp materializing. A strum
of notes, another crystal appeared.
Energy gathered from the caves. The dragons roared and shrieked. Growled
and screamed. Something was not right and the lady who reeked of evil was
the cause. A dragon breathed fire towards Nepherenia who froze it with a
wave of her hand.
The energy entered the crystal and started to gather instead of being
absorbed by Nepherenia. The magical energy turned black and began expanding.
Raye winced and stumbled. Her head was throbbing. Something was wrong...
A primitive cry for help entered her mind.
*HELP....EVIL....PAIN....*
Raye squeezed her eyes shut. The warm feeling was trying to take her
anxieties away but Raye held on to it, trying to understand what was
happening and what or who was calling. The voice was so confused, so sad,
so painful, primitive...
"The dragons...by the Flames!! No!"
The crystal looked like a black angry thundercloud, expanding it's core
black and venomous.
"You are my creatures, you are of the night. You shall obey.." whispered
Nepherenia.
The crystal shattered.
Raye screamed.
The dragons screamed.
Nepherenia laughed.
And black magical energy surged forward towards the dragons, enveloping
them. The dragons struggled and tried to take to the air to get away from
the suffocatingly thick fog of black magic, but it seemed the magic had
numbed their senses and wing muscles.
Evil was suffocating them.
As the fog passed, the dragons stood calmly before Nepherenia. Their eyes,
shining a black colour. Their eyes had turned black. All the dragons had the
same black eyes instead of the various colours by different dragons.
Nepherenia smiled as she sashayed to one nearby dragon and ran a cold
white hand up and down the dragon's snout.
"My pets.."
A wail was echoed in the recesses of each dragon's mind. But they could
not respond to the cry.
Raye wailed in anguish. Her eyes wild as tears fell from them. Her eyes
wide as she stared at the ground, clutching her chest. Her chest raise and
fell erractically as if her lungs were labouring for air.
"Raye, what's wrong???" asked Jadeite as he wrapped his arms around her.
Jadeite stared at his love, who was pale and cold. He smoothed her long
raven locks back from her forehead.
Something had happened. He turned to look at Endymion and Serenity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Oh my gosh, I finished the first chapter!! And of course, thanks to the
person who emailed me and asked about it. At least I know somebody's waiting
to read it so I finished it. :) Thanks again, you know who you are.
Next: ~ Chapter 2: Vessel of Avalon - Serenity ~
26/01/02
Author:Tapestry
Email:Shaddow_Cat@hotmail.com
Rating: PG13 (for graphic discriptions)
Standard Disclaimer Apply
*denotes thought
25/12/01
"Woman was created from the ribs of man
Not from his head to top him
Nor from his feet to be walked upon
She was made from his side to be his equal
From beneath his arms to be protected
From very near his heart to be loved."
--Anonymous--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Author's Notes: Book 2, Battle of Avalon is the continuation of Avalon
and Wild Magic. I know in the last chapter of Wild Magic
I said this will have 5 chapters. Anyway, it'll probably
be 5 or 6. I'm undecided now. :p
Recapturing from Book 1: Wild Magic, Chapter 10.
"I am the bringer of darkness, I am the beginning of the end...I am
Nepherenia."
~~~~~~~~~
"The portal...it has formed." she laughed.
"Shall we go, Mistress?" asked Kayala eagerly.
"Yes...yes. I thank you again, for setting me free!!!" cackled Nepherenia
as she stepped through the portal.
~~~~
"Damn you, we'll stop you!!" shouted Endymion shaking his bloody hand.
Nepherenia's taunting voice floated into the cavern. "This is just the
beginning..."
The portal closed.
~~~~~
"Everything's lost. We lost. And it's all our fault. We tried so hard to
resist her enchantment but we-" sobbed Serenity.
"It's that witch's fault. Not yours. Rest now." commanded Endymion.
"But Avalon...what will happen??"
"I don't know."
"We'll all figure it out somehow, my Prince." said Malachite who was
cradling a tearful Mina.
"Right. We're with you, Endy." smiled Jadeite as he hugged Raye who's
arms were locked about him tightly.
"Mal's right. We'll beat them yet." grinned Nephlite as he rocked Lita,
who had a wobbly smile.
"All of us together." added Zoiscite who held on to Amy.
Endymion smiled. "All of us together."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ Chapter 1: Doom of Avalon ~
Avalon's weathered old face drew into a worried expression as he waved
a dismissing hand over the magical pool.
"Father?" came a soft voice.
"My time here is almost up." sighed Avalon wearily.
"It can't be!!" exclaimed one of his daughters.
"The two of you should know this is the way it has to be. You know the
dark times that have been destined for Avalon lie ahead. It is destiny.
It is inevitable." smiled Avalon as he touched the twin's cheeks.
"But Father,"
"That is enough. Destiny, Fate...I want you to remain observers in this
time of peril. You are forbidden to help. Watch over my chosen. He will
restore order to the magic of Avalon. Already I can feel the magic spiking
and spinning out of control."
"Yes, Father." obeyed Destiny and Fate as a tear slipped from their eyes.
"Good. Go now, my daughters."
Avalon watched proudly and a little sad as his daughters Destiny and
Fate disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Somewhere near the Crystal City and the Forest of Aeden, a swirl of magic
was forming. Animals in the trees nearby ran and scurried for cover.
Something terrible was happening....
Suddenly, the magical energies converged and formed a portal...
Nepherenia stepped out of the portal her long gown dragging on the ground.
Morgana and Kayala stepped out behind her.
"I am free!!!! I am finally free!!!!!" laughed Nepherenia as she threw her
hands up into the air.
The sky seemed to darken and the ground seemed to tremble. The beginning
of the end was approaching.
"Yes, Mistress!! You shall rule Avalon, and then you shall rule the
wild magic." smiled Kayala.
"Has everything been prepared, Morgana??" asked Nepherenia.
"Of course, my Queen. Everything has been prepared and is only waiting
for you." nodded Morgana.
"Good. By sunset, Avalon will be mine and it's keeper dead." laughed
Nepherenia.
"Shall we start with the Forest of Aeden, my Queen?" asked Morgana as she
gestured towards the forest.
"Of course. I shall rid this eyesore that has protected the Elementals
for countless generations."
"What about the Grandfather Tree??" asked Kayala.
"The tree will be powerless once these other trees die. Unfortunately, a
tree as old as the Grandfather Tree cannot be destroyed." frowned
Nepherenia angrily.
"My Queen..." reminded Morgana.
"Of course." nodded Nepherenia.
Morgana's black harp materialized. Strumming a few quick notes, at
transparent crystal appeared in front of them.
Nepherenia smiled. Morgana had done well in planting the crystals all over
the magic points of Avalon.
"Kayala, I want you to subdue the Princess of the Sea and the Princess of
the Skies." ordered Nepherenia.
"Of course, my Queen. Your wish is my command." bowed Kayala as she
disappeared in red light.
Nepherenia turned her attention back to the crystal and smiled cruelly.
Sending her black magic towards the crystal, it turned a purplish black
colour.
Suddenly, sparkles of magic appeared and were absorbed into the crystal.
The magic flowing into Nepherenia.
The forest trees and plants wilted. Animals and magical creatures trying
to escape the onslaught of the wave that swept through the forest absorbing
magic.
"I feel powerful!! More magic!!! I will rule the magic of Avalon and
even the Elements with their vaunted Elementals will not be able to stop
me!!!" shouted Nepherenia with an evil laugh.
Animals, fairies, elves and other magical creatures in the Forest of
Aeden froze and were encased in black crystal.
"The Forest of Aeden is no more!!!!" laughed Nepherenia as the black focus
crystal disappeared.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
King Terrance and Queen Gaia stared at the magical orb in horror as they
watched the magical Forest of Aeden wilted and trees crumbled to dust
except for the Grandfather Tree that was powerless now. It's bark and
branches sagged and looked like withered old skin with wrinkles.
"This is a disaster!!" exclaimed King Terrance.
"Send the Guardians!!" exclaimed Queen Gaia.
Nepherenia watched as Guardians from the Crystal City stopped before her.
"Magic Guardians?? How quaint." smiled Nepherenia evilly.
"Born of my dark magic,
Rise my minions,
Your Dark mistress summons!"
Shadows and other creatures appeared from the ground. Some hideous. Some
seductive. Some a twisted hybrid of both.
Nepherenia sneered at the Guardians.
The Guardians steadied their mounts nervously, their animals panicky and
skittish.
"We must protect the Crystal City!!" exclaimed the Head of the Guardians.
"For Avalon!"
"For AVALON!!" chorused the rest.
Nepherenia merely laughed.
"Brave words, but unfortunately useless. Your pitiful effort will be
futile. You can't defeat my dark creatures.
Turning to her creatures, Nepherenia only uttered two words....
"Kill them."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The moment Endymion, Serenity and Lita stepped onto Avalon, they doubled
over in pain.
"Serenity!! Endymion!! Lita!" exclaimed Raye.
"My Prince!"
"Lita!!"
Serenity curled up into a foetal position. Endymion shivered harshly.
Lita was holding herself and crying.
"Lita...what's wrong??" asked Amy bending down to the girl.
"It's my element.." sobbed Lita.
"It's c-crying." groaned Serenity.
"It's i-in p-pain." shuddered Endymion.
"You're back!!" exclaimed a voice.
"Alex!!" called Mina looking up to see the blonde hovering in the air
above them. "What's happening??!"
"Dark Creatures!!! All my people have been nearly wiped out. And Michelle,
the merpeople, they're battling Dark Seadras."
"Seadras?? But they're extinct!!" exclaimed Amy suddenly looking up from
her position by Lita.
"And the City??" asked Malachite.
"Under attack." whispered Alex.
"The Guardians?" questioned Jadeite.
"Wiped out." choked Alex. "Even the Forest of Aeden has been destroyed."
"No..." sobbed Lita.
"Nepherenia's behind all this." hissed Raye.
"A-Alex...can you get us t-to the City?" choked Serenity as she got up
precariously.
Raye rushed to Serenity's side and helped her.
"I can get you as far as Silver Vale. I can't go any closer. Even the
winds around the areas she's conquered are deadly." sighed Alex.
"Th-Thank you, my f-friend."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Alex landed the elementals riding on her winds gently to the ground.
"This is as far as I can take you now. You'll have to make it to the City
to yourself." said Alex a bit guiltyly.
"It's alright Alex." muttered Lita, her frame shaking slightly in grief
and anger.
"I must go. My kingdom in the skies have been under constant attack.
Sky monsters of myth appearing on the Floating Island and attacking
everything. I have reports, a lady in blood red is causing these disasters
in the sky and sea."
"Kayala." said Zoiscite.
"It has to be." nodded Nephlite.
"Who?"
"Nepherenia's minion." answered Endymion.
After Alex had left, Raye shook her head and closed her eyes sadly and
stared to the skies.
After a moments walk...Raye groaned and gave a choked sob.
"Everything's happening." she groaned.
"What do you mean?" asked Mina confused.
"My vision." whispered Raye with a shiver. "You...everybody was dead.
All of us. The sky was blood red and the Palace was crawling with thorn
creepers. There were bodies all over the place."
"That won't come to pass, Raye. It WON'T!" bit out Jadeite vehemently as
he moved to stand behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders
comfortingly.
"The wind's picking up. We must be on conquered land." said Amy looking
around her surroundings. Nothing familiar at all. The land seemed barren
of life. Stumps and dead trees. No grass and the ground seemed dry and
dusty. Even the sky seemed dark.
"By the Ancients.." whispered Serenity.
"The Forest of Aeden..." gasped Nephlite.
The group moved closer to the stumps and dead withered trees.
"How did this happen!??" exclaimed Malachite.
Mina wept as she touched a dead tree. "It's so cruel...". A tear fell to
the ground.
"By the Elements, look!" exclaimed Lita pointing in a direction. Her free
hand covering her mouth in shock.
The rest turned to stare in Lita's direction. What they saw made Amy burst
into tears.
The magical creatures of the Forest trapped in black crystal like
insects in amber.
Serenity stepped tentatively towards the encased beings.
"She's a monster. What happened to them??" choked Serenity as she lifted
a hand to touch the crystal.
Another larger, stronger hand caught her wrist.
Serenity looked up to see Endymion glaring down at her.
"Don't touch it. You don't know what Dark Magic, this is. You could become
trapped too." exclaimed Endymion.
A tear fell from Serenity's eye.
"Why's all this happening Endy?? These were our friends. This was our
home for years." sobbed Serenity as she turned into Endymion's embrace.
"We'll beat this somehow, Serenity. Avalon WILL have a future."
"We better move. It doesn't look safe to remain too long in one area."
suggested Zoiscite who was holding Amy.
"I agree. I'm getting bad vibes." added Raye who hugged herself to stop
the chill that was running up and down her spine.
"Is it me, or are the clouds getting darker?" asked Jadeite.
"Let's go." ordered Endymion implacably.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nepherenia laughed as villagers ran, trying to escape from the onslaught
of Dark Creatures that were slaying anything that came into their paths.
Cattle, horses, dogs, men, women, children...nothing was spared. Homes
were destroyed and burned.
Nepherenia turned her attention to the flowing waterfall....a clear
crystal hovered in front of it. The waterfall's source ran from the icy
mountains. Another source of magic...
"Come to me." whispered Nepherenia.
Instantly, water turned into energy that swirled and was sucked into the
crystal acting as a focus for Nepherenia, it's clarity turning into a deep
black-purple. The dark energy hit her, it was a wonderful feeling. She was
strong!! She was the bane of Avalon!
As the waterfall dried and the river turned a deep murky blackish-purple,
Nepherenia shouted her triumph and joy towards the heavens, as if defying
anything. She would be the Queen of the Wild Magic and there was nothing
the pretenders on the throne of Avalon could do to stop it. She was the
ultimate creature born of the wild magic...
Her eyes glowed red as she turned to a squealing infant in the grass,
crying for her mother. She merely laughed as she lifted both hands,
controling the dark tainted water to rise and swallow the child whose cries
were lost in the pounding of the water.
A heavy lifeless thud fell to the earth. It was the infant, whose eyes
were rolled back and her skin pale and bloodless. The tainted water dripped
from her tiny mouth whose lips were blue from the lack of oxygen, her tiny
body wet and dripping.
Nepherenia laughed. Her power was absolute. A thick fog rolled in
blanketing the gruesome and horrifying carnage that had been left behind
in the wake of her passing and her dark minions.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Amy screamed. She felt like she was dying. Falling to the ground, she
screamed endlessly, trying to claw at herself, but Zoiscite held her wrists
pinned to the ground in a tight grip. She felt like her insides were on
fire and exploding from her body.
Serenity was writhing on the ground and Endymion was holding onto his head
as if it was on the verge of exploding.
"By Avalon!! What is happening!!?? What's happening to Amy??" asked
Zoiscite frantically as he tried to stop Amy from clawing at herself.
"Amy is feeling her element's pain." answered Raye fearfully.
"But Lita didn't act this way!" exclaimed Zoiscite.
"It is different for each Elemental." explained Mina.
"What can we do??" asked Malachite stiffening, the thought of Mina acting
this way, hurting.
"There is nothing we CAN do...we can only hold her down and hope it will
pass soon." said Raye.
Zoiscite turned pained and fearful eyes towards Amy who was still
screaming, her face contorted in pain.
"Amy, it's me...Zoiscite. Please, tell me you can hear me." whispered
Zoiscite.
Amy kept on screaming, her body bucking trying to loosen Zoiscite's hold
on her.
"AMY!! Please! Open your eyes! Look at me." commanded Zoiscite.
Amy opened pained and tearful eyes at Zoiscite, her throat hoarse from
screaming. Tears fell from her eyes.
Zoiscite flinched at the pain in her eyes. He could drown in those pools
of blue filled with anguish and sorrow.
Amy closed her eyes and turned her head away.
Zoiscite released her. Amy curled into a ball.
"The worse is over." whispered Raye quietly towards Zoiscite.
Zoiscite turned his own pained filled eyes towards the Mistress of Fire.
The Seer of the group.
"Will the worse ever be over?? For any of us?" asked Zoiscite as he
gathered Amy comfortingly into his arms.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After resting, the group continued on, trying to regain lost time and
lost ground. They knew, the more time they spent idle, the closer Nepherenia
got to the Crystal City. And the closer she got to the City, the more they
lost of Avalon.
A rotting stench filled their noses coupled with the intense smell of
evil.
Endymion stopped in horror as he reached the ridge overlooking the source
of the smell. It was the entire army of Guardians. Slaughtered. Blackened
bodies were ground into the earth as well as the decaying corpses of some.
Black ash was left where dark creatures had died, carrying the tainted
smell that clung to them like a stain on their souls.
Serenity turned away from the scene and proceeded to empty her stomach,
the same with Mina and Amy. Lita and Raye clenched their fists and shut
their eyes, trying to shut out the ghastly image.
Endymion shut his eyes as a wave of anger and revulsion rose in his being.
Nepherenia was a monster. This was sick and without compassion. Some of
these men had been good men. Most of them had families, people who loved
them. And she'd just killed them. Just like that, they were gone.
With a wave of his hand, Endymion called to the earth, the element
responding to his call, as dirt and soil rose up to swallow the corpses
that were decaying rapidly.
Serenity swallowed convulsively. The rape of the elements and the abuse
to the land, her home...her lifeblood, it was horrendous and violating.
She felt sick to her stomach again, and suddenly...there was only white
light. Pure, burning, soothing, bright white light that enveloped her in a
cocoon of serenity and lulled her to sleep.
Raye felt a sudden burning warmth. She turned to Serenity and Endymion.
Their faces were serene, devoid of any emotion and their eyes seemed to
glaze over. Raye suddenly felt safe and calm. A feeling she had not felt
since the whole quest and battle had started.
Amy noticed the feeling as well as everybody else in the group, she could
tell. They felt calm, awed and peaceful. They didn't feel the pain of loss.
It was soothing. The warm glow seemed to penetrate to her very soul. Soothed
her. Washed away her anguish of the attack at her element. The aura was
coming from Serenity and Endymion.
"Serenity?"
"My Prince...?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michelle, Princess of the Ocean was leading her people towards one of the
most sacred waters of mer-magic. All her people were tired. With the sudden
return of Nepherenia, she had brought the Dark Creatures back with her.
Her minion, Kayala, the woman in red had brought doom upon the
City of Aquaria and the Sapphire Palace.
The attack of the sea dragons known as Seadra's in ancient times had been
the enemy of her people. They attacked ferociously and destroyed homes,
until one day, they went extinct. These giant beasts of the sea, a mere
memory and legend. No legend or memory now...but alive and deadly.
A red fog appeared in front of her path of swimming. She frowned.
"Running away, Princess? Not so easy. If you do not serve Nepherenia, you
die." laughed Kayala.
"Your music magic holds no sway over me or any of the warm blooded
creatures in the ocean." snapped Michelle. "Water does not enhance your
magic." snapped Michelle.
"True, but I hold sway over the Seadras."
Michelle glared at Kayala and lifted her Aqua Mirror.
"See your true self you witch. Know yourself for the hag that you are!"
taunted Michelle.
"Aqua Mirror of the sea,
Your mistress calls,
Summon undertows to my plea,
Vanquish the evil,
To set us free!!" chanted Michelle.
Undertows and rushing water currents pulled at Kayala trying to drag her
assunder. Kayala tried to shriek and claw at the water. With anger, she
glared at Michelle. "This is not over, you fish...I will laugh when the
Seadras eat your lifeless body and break your precious mystical mirror."
spat Kayala as she disappeared.
"We shall see, hag. Avalon will fight and we shall prevail. Avalon will
never submit to her dominion. And neither shall we." vowed Michelle as she
clutched the mirror tightly to herself.
"Right!! We will never submit!!" shouted her people behind her.
Michelle smiled. "Alright... let's head on. We cannot stop yet less the
Seadras attack. I know you are tired, but for your lives." said Michelle to
her people.
There were nods and murmurs of agreements as mothers ushered their tired
mer-children along.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nepherenia stopped in front of a mountain. The mountain was lined with
caves. It seemed, this was the original dwelling of the fire elementals.
Dragons lived here peacefully only coming out once in awhile to terrorize
villages.
Her blood red lips curled into a smile. Having such magnificent beasts on
her side was sure to aid her in the coming invasion of the Crystal City
that was now, only a few miles away over the last hill.
Black magic and evil reeked all around her.
A dragon lopped out of it's lair. Smelling the terrible scent of evil, it
gave a shriek of anger and disgust.
Nepherenia glared at the dragon. Flicking one long finger at the dragon,
it found itself shackled in black bands of magic. It gave an angry cry and
sent a telepathic message for help.
More dragons appeared from caves above, breathing fire and smoke. Black
minions tried to capture the nearest dragon, but the creature snarled and
beat it's gigantic wings, pushing Nepherenia's evil minions backwards a few
paces. The dragon gave a snort of fire, destroying a few dark minions.
"Mistress, are you sure it is wise to try and tame these beasts to our
black magic??" asked Morgana uncertainly.
"Of course. These creatures shall herald the beginning of a new dawn on
Avalon as by sunset, the pretending monarchy on the so-called throne of
Avalon shall fall." laughed Nepherenia.
"But why attack the monarchy?? They will hardly be able to do anything
once we conquer the old man, Avalon." asked Morgana.
"My foolish minion, you have eyes but do not see. The Prince of Avalon,
heir to the pretender throne is the heir to Avalon. His magic and control
of Avalon's magic is a threat. Once joined with his destined, the Elemental
Vessel, he is a threat. But fortunately, they are still green younglings.
But they still represent a threat as Prince Endymion's rule will be for all
time." explained Nepherenia patiently as if she were explaining something to
a witless child.
"I see, Mistress." nodded Morgana, her black harp materializing. A strum
of notes, another crystal appeared.
Energy gathered from the caves. The dragons roared and shrieked. Growled
and screamed. Something was not right and the lady who reeked of evil was
the cause. A dragon breathed fire towards Nepherenia who froze it with a
wave of her hand.
The energy entered the crystal and started to gather instead of being
absorbed by Nepherenia. The magical energy turned black and began expanding.
Raye winced and stumbled. Her head was throbbing. Something was wrong...
A primitive cry for help entered her mind.
*HELP....EVIL....PAIN....*
Raye squeezed her eyes shut. The warm feeling was trying to take her
anxieties away but Raye held on to it, trying to understand what was
happening and what or who was calling. The voice was so confused, so sad,
so painful, primitive...
"The dragons...by the Flames!! No!"
The crystal looked like a black angry thundercloud, expanding it's core
black and venomous.
"You are my creatures, you are of the night. You shall obey.." whispered
Nepherenia.
The crystal shattered.
Raye screamed.
The dragons screamed.
Nepherenia laughed.
And black magical energy surged forward towards the dragons, enveloping
them. The dragons struggled and tried to take to the air to get away from
the suffocatingly thick fog of black magic, but it seemed the magic had
numbed their senses and wing muscles.
Evil was suffocating them.
As the fog passed, the dragons stood calmly before Nepherenia. Their eyes,
shining a black colour. Their eyes had turned black. All the dragons had the
same black eyes instead of the various colours by different dragons.
Nepherenia smiled as she sashayed to one nearby dragon and ran a cold
white hand up and down the dragon's snout.
"My pets.."
A wail was echoed in the recesses of each dragon's mind. But they could
not respond to the cry.
Raye wailed in anguish. Her eyes wild as tears fell from them. Her eyes
wide as she stared at the ground, clutching her chest. Her chest raise and
fell erractically as if her lungs were labouring for air.
"Raye, what's wrong???" asked Jadeite as he wrapped his arms around her.
Jadeite stared at his love, who was pale and cold. He smoothed her long
raven locks back from her forehead.
Something had happened. He turned to look at Endymion and Serenity.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
To be continued...
Oh my gosh, I finished the first chapter!! And of course, thanks to the
person who emailed me and asked about it. At least I know somebody's waiting
to read it so I finished it. :) Thanks again, you know who you are.
Next: ~ Chapter 2: Vessel of Avalon - Serenity ~
26/01/02