Caleb woke up with a splitting headache. Once he was awake enough, he looked around at his surroundings. He guessed he was in Candracar and at that moment he noticed Cornelia was asleep in a chair not five feet away from him. When he tried to get up he fell back with a groan because he was too weak. It was loud enough that it woke the sleeping Cornelia.
"Hmm… what?" Cornelia said groggily and then looked around.
"Morning," Caleb said weakly. Cornelia on realizing that it was Caleb immediately jumped out of her seat and ran over to him and kissed him deeply.
"That's a nice way to start the day," Caleb said with a weak grin after Cornelia finished kissing him.
"Don't you ever scare me like this again or I'm gonna kill you," Cornelia said smiling down at him.
"I don't plan on it any time soon," he said still grinning back at her. It was then that they started to go in for a passionate kiss and then…
"Breakfast!" A. Will said walking in with a tray full of food. The two lovebirds separated immediately and started blushing. Auramere Will was oblivious to this fact.
"Glad to see you're awake Caleb," A. Will continued," The others say you'll just need to rest for the day. Cornelia the rest of the Guardians should be here in about an hour, so if you want to freshen up I'll show you to the washrooms after you eat."
"Thanks," Cornelia said looking at the food ravenously since she hadn't had anything to eat except for a small snack last night.
"Yeah, same here," Caleb added.
333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
After breakfast, Cornelia followed A. Will to the washrooms. Auramere Will could tell Cornelia had something on her mind so she stopped halfway to their destination and asked her question.
"What's wrong Cornelia?" A. Will said looking concerned.
"I was just thinking about what you said last night and… I thought of a name that I think you would like," Cornelia said somewhat timidly.
"Really?" she said a little shocked.
"Well yeah," Cornelia responded.
"What is it?" Auramere Will asked with a curious look on her face.
"Aurora," Cornelia said with a hopeful gleam in her eye.
"Hmm… Aurora. My name is Aurora. I am Aurora. Aurora," she said with a thoughtful look on her face and then a big grin," I like it."
"I'm glad to hear that Aurora," Cornelia said with a reassuring smile.
"Thanks Cornelia," Aurora said and started walking again followed by Cornelia.
333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
Everyone that was going to go on a recruitment mission was now assembled in the main hall of Candracar. The already powered up Guardians, Prince Garret, Prince Dorian, all three Regents, and Crone were assembled. The Oracle then spoke to all of them.
"I thank you all again for your assistance. Now, down to business," the Oracle said adopting a more serious tone," The two worlds I have in mind for you to go to are Arthrosia and Imtal. Arthrosia is a world that is populated by Arthrotaurs that are similar to the mythological centaurs, except they are arthropods instead of horses, and the Heart is held by a boy King. Imtal is populated by three separate species known as the Harpies, the Merfolk, and the Leosians and their Heart is currently held by the princess of the Merfolk. Who is going to Imtal?"
"I'll go," Elyon volunteered.
"As will I," Dorian said right after Elyon.
"I ought to go too," Crone said flatly and added," Somebody has to keep an eye on these two scamps."
"That means we get planet of the bug people," Irma said.
"Actually, arthropods are crustaceans, arachnids, and insects, not just bugs," Taranee said in a know-it-all tone.
"Ew, I hate things that crawl," Cornelia whined.
"Come on Cornelia, they're probably very nice," Hay Lin said.
"Yeah Corny, they're very nice until they suck out your brain," Irma said with an evil grin.
"Knock it off, Irmy," Cornelia said already getting angry.
"Both of you knock it off," Will snapped.
"I suppose that the Regents and I are going too," Garret said looking at Matt, Mr. Huggles, and Napoleon.
"Now that that is decided," the Oracle said gesturing to a fold he had just made," The fold to Imtal."
Elyon, Crone, and Dorian walked through the fold and the Oracle opened another fold to Arthrosia and the Guardians, the Regents, and Garret walked through. The Oracle closed the fold behind them and waited for those that would go to Ulzbor with him. He knew that Cassidy, Halinor, and Kadma would come but he was not entirely sure about Yan Lin, she was very touchy about this particular Heart holder. It was then that the newly named Aurora knocked on the door.
"Come in Aurora," the Oracle said. She stepped in and was followed by the four former Guardians.
"I do not like this idea one bit Oracle," Yan Lim said right off the bat.
"I know, but we must do this if we are to defeat Fenrir," the Oracle stated simply.
"I come back from the dead and get to see all the old faces in time," Cassidy said sarcastically with a slight frown.
"Sorry to interrupt Oracle and everyone else, but umm… what am I doing here," Aurora asked somewhat confused.
"You are training to become a member of the council and this is part of your training," the Oracle said.
"I would like to get this over with," Kadma said, impatiently as usual.
"I would have to agree with Kadma Oracle," Halinor stated.
"So be it," the Oracle said and opened the fold to Ulzbor.
When everyone had come through the fold, Aurora looked around at the most depressing landscape she had ever seen. The land around for as far as she could see was barren and grey, devoid of all life. The skies to were solid black clouds that had no end and were without break in any direction. The only thing that broke up the monotony was a tower made of black stone that jutted 100 feet up from the ground. Aurora sensed something powerful in that tower.
The little group proceeded to the tower. The walk was silent except for the whistling of Cassidy which stopped when Kadma glared at her. When they reached the tower, the Oracle touched the wall and bricks moved out of the way to allow them entrance. They then walked down a dark spiral staircase that was only illuminated by the slightly luminescent walls. They kept going down until Aurora was sure that they would hit the center of the planet. They finally arrived at a simple iron door at the bottom of the stairs that opened at the touch of the Oracle.
The room they were now in was lit by a single torch that shined on black stone walls. Set in the back of the small room was a cell with energy bars similar to those that held Phobos and his minions. Inside the small cell was a man with scraggily black hair and an unkempt beard wearing thin black robes that contrasted sharply with his pale skin. Aurora had to say that he had a boyishly handsome face despite the beard.
"Hello my friends," he said in a sarcastic tone," Long time no see, up close anyway. It's so nice of you to visit me like this after fifty years."
"Fifty years?!" Aurora blurted out.
"You know why we are here I presume," the Oracle asked.
"Right down to business isn't it with you," the man said in a hurt tone and then continued," You haven't even introduced me to this young lady and I would be amiss if I didn't introduce myself to her. Hello young lady, I am Lord Fionnaoch (pronounced Fin-nick) of Ulzbor and you are?"
"Be quiet and listen Fionnaoch," Kadma said with a sour look for him.
"Ah Kadma, a lovely temper as ever," Fionnaoch said in his sarcastic tone," Cassidy, nice to see you back from the dead and before you ask, I saw what happened. Halinor, well done on the council position. Yan Yan, you look ravishing as ever."
"Cut the crap Fionnaoch and listen to our offer," Yan Lin said in an extremely angry tone. At this he actually shut his mouth.
"We need your help to defeat an evil being named Fenrir and we will let you out of your prison if you agree to help us," the Oracle said in a dry business tone with a grimace on his face.
"How sweet that you thought of me," Fionnaoch said in a condescending tone," I already thought of an oath that you would agree to. I, Lord Fionnaoch of Ulzbor, swear with the power of Ulzbor, that by the power of all worlds I will assist you and do no evil if I am freed from my prison and if I do my powers will go to one who is worthy. There, good enough?"
"No, it will never be enough after what you did," Yan Lin said.
"Come on Yan Yan. All I did was drink from the fountain and turn Cedric and Miranda to evil accidentally," he said flatly.
"Cedric and Miranda! You mean the Cedric and Miranda from Meridian used to be good!" Aurora shouted.
"Yes," Yan Lin said," They were champions of justice but were corrupted to evil when this fool took them with him to the Fountain of Youth."
"But how did that make them evil?" Aurora asked.
"They opened the gateway to the Fountain and the energy from the Gate corrupted them and this fool gained eternal youth and we locked him in here," Yan Lin said.
"I agree to your oath and free you," the Oracle said and waved his hand causing the bars of energy to dissipate.
Fionnaoch stood up and bowed very formally. He then followed the disgruntled ex-Guardians out of his former prison and smiled with glee.
333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333333
That was chapter eight and I hope you enjoyed it. Next time, Arthrosia and Imtal.
If you read this story, PLEASE REVIEW!!!! Any constructive suggestions would be welcome.
