Chapter 2 is up and running! Enjoy…
Chapter 2
The Gathering
Aster wandered around the room with mirrors. He'd been dreaming about it for quite some time since Daisy's kidnapping, yet Kagehoshi never showed up. Of course, Aster could never tell whether he'd been past the same place more than twice; all the mirrors looked the same, except a few would hover a few inches higher than the rest of them.
Aster stopped walking. He listened to the quiet dropping of water echo across the room. Just then, he thought he heard a voice. Aster looked around. Nothing.
Drip……Drip……
"Aster…"
That time, Aster definitely heard it. He looked around for the source of the voice. Still nothing. All he saw was his reflection in the mirrors. Suddenly, one of the mirrors glowed. Aster stared at it as his reflection changed into a blur. After a few seconds, the image was a little clearer, and created the form of a girl. A girl he knew.
"Daisy?"
There was no mistaking it. From the black purple highlighted hair to the violet eyes, it was definitely his girlfriend. However, her face showed no emotion.
"Where are you?" Aster asked the reflection. "Are you okay?"
"You didn't protect me." The reflection said.
"What?" Aster was beyond confused. The reflection of Daisy was talking to him, in a way that didn't make sense.
"You broke our promise."
"No!" Aster said, shaking his head. "It's nothing like that."
"You let Kagehoshi kidnap me."
Aster knew that Kagehoshi would do this kind of cruel trick on him, but there was no sign of a trick. Just a reflection of Daisy in one of the mirrors. Aster noticed that her eyes were lifeless. It was a trick! Aster tried to ignore the harsh words the Daisy-maybe was throwing at him, but it was so hard to ignore.
"I tried, Daisy!" Aster yelled, his voice nearly breaking.
"How could you let this happen, Aster? I thought you loved me."
"I do!" Aster turned his head away from the mirror, his eyes squeezed shut.
"How could you do such a thing, after all we'd been through?"
It was obvious now what Kagehoshi was doing now; breaking Aster down emotionally by taking control of Daisy, and it seemed to be working. Aster was close to tears. Just one more phrase like the last ones would be all that was required to set Aster off.
"I guess you don't care about me after all. All the things you said were lies."
"No…" Aster whispered, the tears pouring down his cheeks. The mirror with the reflection of Daisy disappeared, leaving Aster crying silently.
The dream ended just like that. Aster was still asleep, but he opened his eyes slowly all the same.
"Daisy…" He muttered. He sat up and looked at the clock on his bedside table. 7 o'clock in the morning.
Thank God it's not a ridiculous time like 3AM. Aster thought. That dream was almost as bad as the previous ones. Daisy had appeared and broken him down with those harsh words. Aster knew it was a trick, but those words were so hard to ignore. Aster got out of his bed and went towards a mirror that was in the shape of Saturn. He realised that his face was tear-stained. Aster wiped them away with the back of his hand.
Today's the day. Aster thought. Daisy, I'm coming for you.
…
"Aster, I think you should have this"
James was with Aster in the living room. Aster took the gift from James' hands. It was an American Indian style medicine horn.
"Thanks, but what's it for?" Aster asked.
"Look inside" James said.
Aster removed the stopper and took a look. It was filled with water.
"I thought you should have something to fight with. Finding Daisy would mean facing many enemies along the way."
Aster smiled and slung the strap of the horn over his head. "Thanks Dad." At that moment, Hannah entered the room, wearing the same outfit as the day she arrived.
"Ah, Hannah." James started. "Glad you showed up. I need to talk to both of you." Hannah placed her hand in the air. Aster raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing?"
"Feeling the air, I need it to get around." Hannah answered. She picked up where James was standing and walked towards him.
"Anyway, on the way on finding Daisy, you'll find someone else." James drew a photograph from his shirt pocket and showed it to the Phoenix Warriors. Aster looked closely at it, but Hannah looked into thin air.
"Well it sounds like a photograph, but I guess you're referring to what's on the photograph that's important." Hannah said. James looked rather awkward, having remembered her blindness.
"Oops, sorry. This girl will be able to help you master your powers. Her name is Chloe." The photograph showed a girl of around fourteen years old with wispy blonde hair down to her waist, a white dress, white shoes and blue eyes.
"How will she help us?" Aster asked.
"The books I found revealed that she masters all four elements. She'll be able to help train you to fight Kagehoshi. I have a feeling you'll go past her hometown on your quest." Aster took the photograph and placed it in the pocket of his silver jacket. Jaden walked through the doorway, talking into his cell phone.
"Your on your way?...How long?...Okay see you then." Jaden pressed the end call button on his cell phone and placed it in his pocket.
"Some of our friends wanted to help out, so they'll be here in a minute." Jaden said.
"Great" Hannah said cheerfully. "Let me know when they get here" She started walking away, bumping into Jaden.
"OW! Can't you watch where your-"
"No" Hannah said annoyed. Jaden rubbed his head nervously.
"Right. Sorry" When Hannah exited the room, Jaden sighed.
"Why am I always forgetting she's blind?" Jaden said through gritted teeth.
"Hey come on, Jay. Even I forget she is." Aster said, reassuringly.
"I do as well" James pointed out.
"I wonder if the others will forget too" Jaden thought out loud. Just then, the doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" Jaden said eagerly, and ran out the room. He returned a couple of minutes later with a grin.
"The first adventurers have arrived." Jaden announced. He backed out of the doorway and in entered a boy with a blue jacket and green eyes. A person who everyone knew.
"Jesse!" Aster exclaimed.
"Hey Aster! Long time no see!" Jesse said, in his usual southern accent. He walked up to Aster and enthusiastically gave him a high five. He placed an arm around Asters shoulder.
"Sorry about Daisy and all, but that's why I'm here" Jesse said, pointing at himself proudly. Aster smiled, but then remembered something Jaden said.
"Hey Jay, didn't you mention that more than one person arrived?"
Jaden thought for a moment, and then gave one of his goofy grins.
"Oh yeah! That's right I forgot!" Jaden exclaimed.
"Jaden!"
Everyone's eyes darted towards the doorway, and standing there was Syrus Truesdale, wearing his usual Ra Yellow uniform and looking rather mad.
"How could you forget about me? I thought I was your best friend."
"You are, Sy, but in all the excitement I kinda forgot. Sorry" Jaden was still grinning, but he was rubbing the back of his head nervously. Syrus rolled his grey eyes.
"I'm only here because Daisy's my friend." Syrus looked down sadly. "And I'm just the sidekick" He muttered.
"Oh, I'm sure you'll be useful." Aster reassured. "Somehow" He muttered.
"I heard that!" Syrus yelled. Aster sweat dropped and laughed nervously. Syrus may be wimpy sometimes, but he can be scary as well. The doorbell rang again.
"That's mine!" Jaden yelled and once again ran off. Jaden came back after a few seconds.
"Here's the next one!"
"Who is it?" Aster asked. Jaden opened his mouth to answer, but a voice was heard in the distance.
"Left. Left. Left right left." A Texas style voice rang out.
"Oh no." Aster said. "Don't tell me you called-" Before Aster could finish his sentence, a muscled Ra Yellow student stormed in.
"Hiya, soldiers! Sergeant Tyranno Hassleberry reportin' for duty!" He yelled enthusiastically. Aster slapped his forehead.
"You did!" Aster said. Hassleberry noticed this and walked behind Aster.
"What's the problem with me, soldier?" He asked cheerfully, giving Aster a pat on the back, a bit too hard, causing Aster to fall to the floor. (Ooof! Aster said) "I saved your life from that weird statue don't forget." Aster looked up at Hassleberry from the floor.
"Of course I don't remember. In case you haven't realised, I was unconscious when you saved me" Aster said.
"Uh…right. Sorry." Hassleberry said awkwardly.
"Ha ha! He got you." Jaden laughed. "Thanks for showing up."
"Eh, anything for my best friend."
"Jaden's my wingman!" Syrus argued.
"He's my wingman too"
"Who's known him longer?"
Whilst the two argued, Aster rolled his eyes.
"See? This is why it was a bad idea to put the two together." He said to Jaden.
"I thought they got over it" Jaden said.
"Is that everyone?" James asked.
"Well, there's me, Syrus, Hassleberry…" Jesse said, counting on his fingers. "Yep, that's pretty much everyone."
"Good" James smiled. He walked off towards a bookshelf. James looked over his shoulder. "Come on then". Everyone looked at each other, but followed James. James scanned the bookshelf, and when he found the book he was looking for, a red book with gold outlines, he pulled it out. The bookshelf moved to the left, revealing a candlelit corridor. James walked towards it. Hassleberry started to walk, but Hannah stopped him.
"Ever heard of ladies first?" She said and walked off.
"What's her problem?" Jesse wondered. Aster shrugged.
"Dunno. She's my cousin and sometimes I still don't understand her." With that, Syrus, Jaden, Aster, Jesse and Hassleberry entered the strange corridor.
Ta da! Chapter two! Stay tuned for chappie three, where the gang receive some new "toys". Stay tuned!
