Sorry it took so long. Here's chap Seven!
"Freedan," said Gaia as soon as he regained control, "The demon up ahead… When he suffers damage he will use an extremely powerful attack. Be careful."
He nodded. "What has happened with Will? He seems upset…"
Gaia looked surprised. "Does his well being matter to you?"
"Of course not." he said quickly. "I just don't want to be the center point of all his questions."
"I see…" Gaia sighed. "Then perhaps you can get him focused on the task at hand?"
"Perhaps…" He went to leave.
"Freedan, be careful… This enemy is extremely powerful."
"Heh, is it possible you are concerned about my well being?" he asked. Gaia was silent. "No, of course not…" He said grimly. "I am but another tool, correct?"
With that, he left the Dark Space and headed for the door cut into the cliffs. After a quick jump, in which the mighty wind carried him to his destination, he entered the door.
Suddenly it shut behind him and he was trapped! He remained calm and searched the room. It was small, too small for a long battle. A pit took up most of the room, leaving little space to walk around. Where the pit led, he didn't know. There were no other exits.
All of a sudden the room began to shake. Freedan took out his sword as a giant demonic hand rose out of the pit. He steadied himself as a second hand popped out followed by the head.
"So… Castoth is my enemy this time…" said Freedan slowly.
What do you mean 'this time'? asked Will.
He ignored him and prepared for battle. Castoth was red with horns and green eyes that seemed to be filled with hatred. It glared down at Freedan, ready to kill.
It swiped at him with his claws. Freedan dodged and slashed at its hands. The demon roared in pain and pulled its hands back in the pit, away from Freedan's sword.
Freedan paused, awaiting its next attack. Bad move. Suddenly a stream of fire came flying at him. He hurled himself against the wall, missing the stream by inches.
Castoth took this momentary lapse to summon three fireballs in the shape of a triangle. He release it and it flew around the room, narrowly missing Freedan.
Freedan, get him! He's open! yelled Will.
Nodding, Freedan spun with his sword hitting Castoth right in the face. He avoided another fire stream and continued slashing away.
Suddenly, the demon began to shake. Freedan readied himself, getting ready for its next attack. From the diamond in the beast's forehaed multiple rays of light shot toward him. Freedan jumped out of the way as the barrage continued.
You okay? asked Will worriedly.
This enemy is stronger than I thought…
Hang in there!
With Will's words of encouragement, Freedan grasped his sword tighter and charged the demon determined. He swung at its hands which had reemerged and went straight for the demon's weak spot: The crystal on its head.
Castoth unleashed another set of Tri-Fireballs but Freedan ignored it. With one last swing of his sword, Freedan administered the final blow!
Castoth roared in pain and self-destructed, leaving no trace of itself behind.
Freedan sighed, sheathing his sword. "And thus it ends…"
Freedan!
He cringed as Will screamed in his head. Yes, Will?
That was awesome! he continued happily.
I was merely doing my duty…
Don't be so modest! You Beasted that thing! Admit it!
"'Beasted'? he said aloud. He shook his head. "Society these days…"
Freedan?
Very well… I…'beasted'…it…
Alright! He paused. Now what?
Now…its your turn.
Wha?
Freedan sighed. You no longer need my assistance… Till next we meet… He closed his eyes and kneeled.
Wait! Freedan! I want to ask you-
He was enveloped in a bright light and was gone.
X
"Dammit, Freedan!" I said to no one in particular. "Why's he always got to be like that?" I paused and looked around.
A door leading out had appeared after Castoth was destroyed. Having no other option, I exited. The door led to a long corridor which ended up being a dead end.
Spotting a hole in the ground I was left with only one option: Jump. Taking a deep breath, I jumped down the hole.
I fell for a good while but managed to land on my feet. I tried to see where I was but it was dark. As my eyes adjusted I gasped. I was on a ship, but not just any ship…
"The Incan Gold Ship!" I gasped and looked around. Sure enough, it was a ship, and it was made of gold. I paused. I feel like someone's there…
I started walking along the deck when I noticed some people. They were dressed strangely and seemed to be celebrating.
I walked up to a man and asked, "Hey, what's going-"
Suddenly a little girl ran up to me. "Look! Look! The King has returned! Hee hee, And he's much shorter!" She ran threw a door leading downstairs spreading the news.
"It's the King!" said the man in front of me. "You're safe! Now we can set sail!"
I'm the King? "Hey, what's going on?" I asked confused. "Who are you?"
A woman came up from below and grabbed my hand. "Oh, what good news this is! We've waited such a long time…" She began dragging me downstairs. "The Queen is in her state room. Please, this way…"
"Hey! I protested. "Where are you taking me? What Queen?"
The woman just laughed. "Surely you jest! Don't you remember? She still wears the ring you gave her when you were separated by the invaders…"
Invaders? I looked around at al the people. Are these the Incans? But…how can that be?
The woman led me right into the state room. There, a woman with long black hair sat on a throne.
The Queen… I thought.
She took one look at me and smiled broadly. "My King! You've returned!" She was so happy she was nearly in tears.
I kind 'a felt bad. I wasn't the King she longed for…
She wiped them away and said, "As you know, I've been guarding the Statue of the Wind, that you received from the Spirits. Its in the chest below… Please, go get it…"
"Um…sure…" I left the state room and headed below where I found a large chest. Opening it I saw…
"A Mystic Statue!" I gasped as I took it. "I actually found one!" I sighed, realizing I was one step closer to finding my father.
A man with a feather headdress walked up to me. "Preparations are being made to set sail. Are you going to the crow's nest? It sure to be a spectacular view…"
"Uh, sure!" I said, still excited over the Mystic Statue. "I'll go!"
So I went back on deck and climbed the mast. As I reached the top an Incan guard turned to me.
"Oh, short King… Look there! The ship is coming out of the cave!"
Sure enough, in no time at all, the ship exited the cave and into the sunlight. The man below was right, it was a spectacular view. Blue ocean stretched for as far as I could see…
"After living in darkness for so long, the brightness is like a new beginning. How can invaders come to destroy a world as beautiful as this?" asked the man sadly.
As I looked out over the ocean I began to feel sorry for the Incans. They were a peaceful tribe only trying to survive. They didn't deserve to be invaded and live in darkness only to leave their homes… I sighed.
The guard turned to me. "If you are tired, short King, then you should rest below…"
"Yeah, maybe I will…" As I climbed down I thought of all that had happened. The Moon Tribe, Larai Cliffs, Gaia, Freedan, and now this. It got me thinking of what else my journey would bring me to?
I went below deck where a woman directed me to a bed I could use.
"Please, rest here…" She smiled. "You've been gone so long but now we can start anew…"
I nodded, already half asleep. I rolled over and that was it.
When I awoke, I was back home. I got out of bed and looked around. My room was exactly as I remembered it. It was like I had never left.
"What's going on?" I wondered aloud.
I headed downstairs to find out what was going on but what I saw next shocked me into silence. Standing by the window, in her usual blue dress, was my mother, Shira.
"M-Mom?-!" I gasped. Quickly I ran to her. "Mom!"
She smiled at me warmly like she used to. "Look in the sky. The Comet is so beautiful…"
The Comet? "Mom, what's-"
She turned from me to look out the window. "After years and years the Comet approaches Earth, then recedes. Some say its an unlucky star. Some say it's a lucky star…" She turned to me, "Will, what do you think?"
Mom… "I think…" I thought of all the Moon Tribe had said, and of what Gaia had told me. "I think…its an unlucky star…"
My mom smiled. "Alright… Then hope that the bad luck doesn't come." She moved closer and hugged me. "Will… I am always watching over you…"
I hugged her back, trying not to cry. "Mom…"
Suddenly I heard Lilly's voice.
"Will! Will, wake up!"
I opened my eyes and looked around. Was that just…a dream…? Looking around the ship I begun to think my whole experience onboard was a dream. Gone was the gold and people. Instead they were replaced by decayed wood and bones…
As I focused on Lilly I discovered one more thing out of place. "Lance?-! What are you doing here?" I exclaimed.
"You were acting strange so we followed you. " He said. "Then we found this weird town-"
"Hey! Don't call it weird! I was born there!" said Lilly hurt.
"Its invisible. I'd call that weird…" He turned to me." Will, ya cant go on a journey and not tell us! We're friends, aren't we? Friends share the good times and the bad, got it?"
I smiled, glad to see my friend. "Yeah, you're right. Sorry…" I got out of the bed and asked Lilly, "How did you know I was here?"
She shrugged. "It got late. When you didn't show I asked the Elder if something had happened to you. He said that you were floating alone at sea… Boy was I surprised when we found you!"
I looked around, "Where's Kara?"
"You mean the spoiled brat?" asked Lance. "She's that way." He pointed towards the state room.
"Kay, thanks…" I started heading that way, wanting to know how she was doing. As I walked I kept getting this creepy feeling, like something was wrong. Just moments before this ship was filled with life and happiness…now it was filled with suffering and disaster…
Kara was in the state room like Lance had said. She was staring at the skeletal remains of the Incan Queen.
As I approached she said, "They were waiting for the King's return… She must have loved him very much…"
"She did…" I said sadly. "She always wore that ring on her finger. It was a gift from the King." I said, remembering what the Incan woman had told me.
Lilly walked over to us and said, "That ring is probably the most valuable artifact on this ship."
"Many people have lost their lives trying to find this ring…" Kara stared at it in awe. "Its so pretty; I want it!"
Lilly glared at her, "Have you no shame? You could be cursed!"
Suddenly the ship began to shake violently.
"What's going on?-!" screamed Kara in fear.
The ship continued to shake as we tried to figure out what was going on.
"Maybe its Riverson!" yelled Lilly.
Riverson? Wait a minute… "Lilly, how do you know about that?"
"Seth told me!"
"Seth is here?-!"
The ship gave another violent shake, this one harder than the last.
"Waaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhh!"
"What was that?-!" yelled Kara.
"Stay here!" I ordered. I ran back the way I had come, bumping into Lance on the way. "What happened?"
"I don't know! Its coming from the deck! Lets check it out!"
I nodded and together we headed on deck. It was heard to stay upright, what with all the shaking. When we made it up I was hit with another familiar site.
"Erik!"
Lance ran right up to him and asked. "What happened to Seth? Where is he?-!"
Erik was obviously terrified. "Seth…Seth…he-he…waahhh!"
Lance grabbed him by his collar. "Erik, what happened?-!"
"A-A huge fish…it ran into the ship! Yeah! A-And then…Seth, he fell into the water…and…and…the fish swallowed him!"
"What?-!" I exclaimed.
"What did you say?-!"
We were cut off as yet another shake rocked the boat. Erik lost it.
He began running around crying, "Aaaggh! It's the fish again! We'll all be dessert!"
"Stop crying and grab this!" yelled Lance.
He threw a rope at Erik which he caught. Lance was about to throw me the other end when the ship was rammed again. This time harder and more violently than the rest.
I tried to grab onto the railing but was knocked backwards, down the stairs. The last thing I remember was seeing Erik and Lance falling overboard then darkness…
Don't you just Love cliffhangers? Anywho… You should know what's next.
Till next Chap!