Chapter 2: Introductions
Veronica opened her eyes as a blurry figure laid something cold on her head. Veronica tried to focus but her body wouldn't let her. She gave into her exhaustion and her world went black. Veronica finally awoke and tried to sit up but a pounding headache and soreness made her lay back down. She was surprised to see that she was in her own bed inside the tree house. "How did I get here and what happened" thought Veronica. "Your awake, I thought I got here to late" said the figure at the door. "Who are you" asked Veronica. "It's been a long time but it time you learn the truth my child" said the figure walking into the light. "MOM" shouted Veronica as they embraced in a hug. "Mom were have you been, I thought you were dead and now you show up here and" asked Veronica before her mom calmed her down. "We have much to talk about my child but for now you need to rest. I promise I will fill in all the gaps" Abigail said when Veronica tried to resist. With a heavy sigh Veronica succumbed and lay back down. Sleep came easy to Veronica for the first time in a while. She finally felt whole after so many years of being without her mother.
The next morning Veronica awoke to the smell of something wonderful. She got out of bed and to her surprises no aches and pains. She walked up the stairs into the kitchen area and her mother had the spread of food. "Good morning dear you hungry" said Abigail. "Am I" said Veronica as she sat down at the table and began to eat. Her mother just looked and smiled at her daughter. "Oh wait I almost forgot my friends. What happened to my friends" said Veronica as she put her head in her hands. "What is it my child" said Abigail. "Mom when everything went crazy here at the tree house I got a sense for all my friends that they were in trouble. Something inside of me told me I could help them but I didn't know how to. I just thought about them as hard as I could and then I blacked out. I don't even know if there alive" said Veronica. "I'm sorry but I should have come to you sooner. I didn't know that the struggle for the balance of power would happen so soon. Even though you knew nothing of the Trion power, you saved the Plateau from being destroyed. There is a good chance that you have even saved your friends" said Abigail. "How can you be so sure" asked Veronica. "Because my dear, your friends still have a role to play in the upcoming future" said Abigail. "I still can't help but wonder though. They became my family in your absence" said Veronica. "Well I can assure you that we will never be apart again and your friends will come to you just give it time. Now eat up, we have a long journey ahead of us" said Abigail. "A long journey, where are we going" asked Veronica. "I'm taking you to your new home, Avalon" said Abigail.
As they walked along something bothered Veronica. "Mom how did you get here" asked Veronica. "Well the tree house is the center of the plateau and all the energy channels there. With the power of the Trion you can travel these energy lines. I wanted so many times to come to you but I couldn't risk alerting him to where you were hidden" said Abigail. "I was hidden from who" asked Veronica. "I will explain in time" said her mother. "Well why don't we travel these lines there now so you can explain everything to me" said Veronica. "Because I want to spend time walking and talking with my daughter who I have not seen in years" said Abigail. Veronica smiled and was glad that her mother was still like she remembered. As they walked along Veronica told her mother of how Roxton the hunter became a big brother to her, Challenger the scientist was like a father, Summerlee the botanist was the grandfather, Marguerite the mystery was the sister and Malone the reporter was her best friend. Abigail listened closely and to Veronica it seemed she knew her friends except when she mentioned Malone. "So who was this Malone that you call your best friend" said Abigail. "Well…I'm not really sure mom. The last time we spoke I told him I wanted to be friends but in our time apart I realize just how much I miss him and what he means to me. When I came back after I got lost in the storm, he had gone on a quest to find him self. He was always hard on him self saying he always got in the way. He was the conscience for the group and even though he didn't think so, he was important to us all especially to me. I think I loved him" said Veronica as a tear dropped her eye. Abigail was deep in thought but said nothing which didn't escape Veronicas notice. "What's wrong mom" asked Veronica. "It's time I tell you the truth about your friends" said Abigail. "What do you mean the truth" asked Veronica.
"Well let's start with you. Veronica you are next to take my place as Protector of the Plateau. Those years ago when I left, I was chosen to be the Protector as my mother was before me. Our family has been here for hundreds of years. The Trion you possess is made from the energy that pulses through this place. It forms a bond with the natural energy inside our bodies which gives the Protectors their power. Put your hand on that tree and feel the bond you now share with this place" said Abigail. Veronica could feel the energies like a heart beat. "This place needs you just as much as you need it. With this power there is a great responsibility. You have an enemy who will try to use this power for their own selfish means. That enemy is from the line of Mordren. When this power becomes unbalanced it tries to right itself but with terrible consequences, as you have seen with all the shifts and time warps that took place. There is a reason why the power becomes unbalanced. Hundreds of years ago the line of Mordren corrupted a Protector and she switched side. Her name was Morrighan. With her Trion she somehow changed the balance of the Plateau. That's why every generation of Protectors will have to set this new cycle of the Plateau on the right course but there is a problem. The energies are divided into thirds because of Morrighan. So while the Protectors have a third of the energies so does the line of Mordren which mean they are dead even. The other third belongs to the line of Morrighan. That line is the key to the balancing of the power. Which ever side they choose that is the side that wins. Mordren convinced her that if she could change the balance of power that every generation to come it would give his line a chance to control the Plateau and eventually the world. Morrighan line will have a difficult decision to make. She will be drawn automatically to the line of Mordren but the Protectors have tried to put a road block in their way. The Protectors have put a guide or a knight so to speak for Morrighan line helping them to choose the right path. Since the line of Mordren knew we did this, they try to take out the line of Protectors when the opportunity presents itself. For that fact the Protectors have a Guardian to protect them. This where you and your friends fit into the story" said Abigail.
Veronica had to sit down as she took everything in. Abigail sensing Veronica's distress took her hand and led her to an opening with a small pond and had her sit down at the waters edge. "I know this is a lot to process" said Abigail. "Mom I fought a guy named Mordred who was after my Trion but he couldn't touch it" said Veronica. "That's because it was not time for the balancing of the Plateau. Mordrens line only has the power when it's time to bring in the new cycle. I fought Mordred years ago and after we won the battle and balanced the Plateau I sent my fighters after him but he was able to get away some how. I was hoping to destroy this threat forever but now it is a task you will have to undertake" said Abigail. "Mom I'm so confused. I'm not even sure if I want to be apart of this" said Veronica. "I'm sorry to have dumped this heavy burden on you but this is your family history and responsibility. I will be with you every step of the way to help you" Abigail said as she put her arm around her daughter to reassure her. "So where do my friends fit into this story" asked Veronica. "Well you are the next Protector but there is more you need to know but now is not the time. Marguerite who you mentioned was like a sister, she is from the line of Morrighan. I know she means a lot to you but she could also be your worst enemy" said Abigail. "Marguerite has always had something mysterious about her, like she was always hiding secrets. When it came to saving her own neck she would do so even at our expense. Still she would always manage to save us even if it meant some pain was involved. I think it mainly had to do with Roxton. They fought like cats and dogs but she seemed to always listen to him" said Veronica. "That is good to know because Roxton is her knight to protect and guide her to make the right decisions. I knew he would make a fine guide for her and the reason we chose him" said Abigail. "What about Challenger" asked Veronica. "Don't you mean Challenger and Summerlee" said Abigail. "Mom Summerlee died, he was shot and fell off the bridge in a battle we had with some head hunters" remorse Veronica. "Summerlee is fine. He unknowingly fell into Avalon. The big waterfall is a hidden way to get into the outskirts of Avalon. We found him and nursed him back to health" said Abigail. "I can't wait to see him! Well where do they fit in" said Veronica. "Challenger is a counselor and Summerlee is a healer so they would be your Guardians" said Abigail. "What about Malone" asked Veronica. "I don't know about him. His presence here is a mystery to me. Maybe he is not meant to be apart of what's going to happen" said Abigail. The words hit Veronica like a ton of stones. "Malone I hope your okay" said Veronica to her self. "We are here. Time to take a leap of faith" said Abigail. Veronica was deep in thought about Malone she didn't even notice the huge waterfall. "So this is the way to Avalon" asked Veronica. "Your kingdom waits" said Abigail as she held her hand to her daughter. Veronica took her hand and with a deep sigh said "Let's go". As they leapt off the edge they disappeared into the thundering water pouring over the cliff.