Is this update faster? Shallowheart4-thanks for all the reviews! And don't worry, my dad is doing much better! Disclaimer- I don't own Magical Starsign. This fact makes me sad...
Chapter 9- Water Millennium Gummy
Upon arriving on Cassia and the town of Port Pescado, we were greeted by Detective Beignet. "Nadia! The Space Police are up to their tricks again! They all swarmed out to Granule Island in search of some "treasure"! I think you should check it out!" he explained. "Thanks, Detective," I replied. He smiled and waved my thanks off in a "don't mention it" fashion.
We set off to search for a boat to take us across the water. Upon arriving at the docks, we saw those two treacherous pirates, Persimmon and Caldarroste. I didn't trust them at all, but they had a boat, and we needed to get across the water. They were our enemies...but if I played this right, my nature as a dark magician could work to our advantage.
I took a deep breath and decided the gamble was worth a try as I strolled over to the two pirates. "Caldarroste," I said, making my voice cold and indifferent. He took one look at me, and I don't know what he saw, but hesitation crossed his otter-features and fear flashed in his eyes before he regained his composure.
"Hey Nadia! I need your help! The Space Police are up to no good and I need your help to get to the other island," the otter explained. I resisted the urge to smirk. And the otter falls into the trap. "Well it just so happens we need to get to the other island as well. Perhaps we can help each other," I offered. Caldarroste nodded eagerly. "Whenever you and your friends are ready, Nadia." "Why wait? We're ready now," I replied haughtily. Caldarroste seemed slightly intimidated by my new attitude, but he nodded anyway. "Let's set sail!" he declared, gesturing proudly to his little ship.
My friends stared at it for a moment before Sorbet said, "Dare I ask how long this will take?" "Perhaps...six hours?" he offered. "What?" Pico roared, only to be ignored as we got on the small ship.
~CASSIA~CASSIA~
We finally reached Granule Island after a few close calls where Pico had just about murdered Caldarroste and/or Persimmon. In hindsight, it probably wouldn't have been too bad if we had let him...but it was too late now. Persimmon started acting crazy and Caldarroste tried to calm him down, but I couldn't care less about a crazy pirate with no magic. "Come on," I said to my friends, leading them away. We went north, only to come to a barricade created by the Space Police. "Beat it. This ain't no place for kids," one Space Trooper said. "At least we're not illiterate," Sorbet snapped.
"Look sweetheart, I don't care how pretty or how smart you are, we're guarding the treasure and you could be a pirate who has come to steal it," another Space Trooper spoke up. "We're not pirates! We're here to make sure the treasure's safe, too!" Chai blurted. "They are lying," Caldarroste said, pushing past us to stand in front of the Space Troopers.
"They're pirates!" he declared. I glared at the otter, feeling my element respond to my anger. The Space Troopers studied Caldarroste. "Are you a pirate, too?" "Maybe," Caldarroste replied, before shoving past all the troopers and running off while cackling like a crazy man. "That guy just sold you out to make a break for the treasure? What a jerk," one of the troopers commented while a few other troopers chased after the otter. Sorbet narrowed her eyes and stepped up to him. "Treasure means Water Millennium Gummy, doesn't it?" she demanded. The trooper took a step back and I got the feeling that he was scowling. "Get out of here, kids," he ordered.
Pico looked ready to attack the guy, but I held my arm out in front of him. "Listen to the nice Space Trooper, Pico," I said. "Your little friend is smart. Better follow her or you might end up hurt," the trooper commented. "As for you, be careful. Wouldn't want you to meet an unfortunate end, would we?" I asked, then gave him my most sadistic smile and letting tendrils of darkness coil around him. "L-leave," he stammered. I smiled sweetly this time, but it seemed to scare him even more. I led my friends away and no one said anything about what just happened.
"There has to be another way around," I muttered. We headed south and down the narrow and twisty path until a familiar cat jumped in front of us. "Parfait!" I exclaimed. "Hey Nadia! I'm glad to see you! Headmaster Sturgeon predicted you would come, and you have! Follow me! He really wants to meet you!" Parfait exclaimed, gesturing for us to follow her, which we did. We entered a small town-like area with a building that I personally thought resembled a squid at the center. "This is Ambergris Prep! Craaken himself founded this school, and we're also the ones in charge of the Book of the Darned," Parfait explained as she led us inside.
She lowered her voice to a whisper, "Some girl was reading it one night and left it out, which was when Kale stole it. Thanks for helping me get it back, by the way." She let us into the room at the center and we walked in to see an elderly man who must be Headmaster Sturgeon sitting behind a fancy-looking desk. "Ah! Wonderful! You've arrived! I understand you are Madeline's students?" he questioned. "Yes, Miss Madeline taught us," I said slowly. "Excellent! Then you should be more than capable of retrieving the Water Millennium Gummy from the Holy Water Pyramid?" He made it sound like a question, but we all knew it was a command.
"We'd be happy to," I stated. "Wonderful! Parfait, you'll show them which path to take?" Again, we all knew the question was an order. "Sure Headmaster! Come on, Nadia! No time to waste!" Parfait exclaimed, and then we were off, not even getting any time to really truly rest.
~CASSIA~CASSIA~
"There's the Holy Water Pyramid! I'll sneak in and search for a way to access the upper levels, you guys deal with the Space Police!" Parfait hissed. She had led us along a twisty path that was so confusing, I was sure it would have taken us hours to find our way to our destination if we hadn't had Parfait to lead us.
Without another word, she took off, easily sneaking past the guards and getting into the pyramid. I looked to my friends. Pico looked determined and so did Sorbet, Mokka was as unreadable as ever, Lassi refused to look at me, and Chai seemed just a little nervous. "Let's go," I stated, marching towards the three Space Troopers.
The sun was up, looking very bright and cheerful, but I was inwardly cursing the sun. It left me vulnerable. Chai attacked first. "Briar Patch!" Several thorny branches erupted from the ground, striking the troopers. The three Space Troopers went after Chai's attack. They shifted their shields to guard themselves from magic attacks, while my mind worked quickly. They could use those shields to protect themselves from magic, but they couldn't protect themselves from physical attacks at the same time. I jumped towards one and kicked him in the stomach several times. Pico seemed to have the same idea and he jumped towards another and began to punch him repeatedly.
I soon delivered a kick that sent one Space Trooper flying backwards, and he quickly fled from battle. Turning, I saw Pico had done the same to the trooper he'd been attacking, and now there was only one left. The last one shifted his shield to block physical attacks, and that's when Pico and I struck. "Afterburner!" "Shadow Die!" The final Space Trooper retreated and we all rushed into the Holy Water Pyramid.
~CASSIA~CASSIA~
"This place is a maze! I hate this! How are we supposed to find Parfait!" Pico screamed in frustration. It had taken forever for us to reach the bottom floor, but we'd finally done it. We'd searched every other floor several times, but it was Sorbet who finally figured out we were walking in circles. I shoved open the door to next room and almost sobbed in relief when I saw Parfait in there. She turned around when we entered. "The Space Police are blocking the upper levels and there's no way to get to the top through the lower levels, which means we have to destroy that flying...thing! But look at this!" Parfait pointed up and we all looked upwards. We could clearly see the setting sun and the Space Police blockade device.
"Whoa!" Pico exclaimed. While my friends talked to Parfait, I studied the room. There was a giant pot in the center, and the mural on the wall behind it depicted some kind of ceremony. The mural showed fire reaching towards the heavens, and, when I brushed off the soot on the pot, I found the fire symbol engraved in it. I smiled, and then felt my head throb in pain.
Cloaked figures...screams...crying...chanting...fire everywhere...dancing...savages...blood...blood...blood everywhere...so much blood...
And just as suddenly as it came, it was gone. The memory disappeared like a leaf in the wind, and I couldn't grasp it again, no matter how much I wanted to remember. At least now I knew what to do, though. "Pico, use your fire magic on this pot," I called. Pico seemed confused and looked ready to protest, but Sorbet quickly connected the dots as well. The water mage gasped and said, "Pico, listen to Nadia! She knows what she's doing!"
Pico's arguements stopped before they even started and he began to chant, "Fire burning in my belly! Fire blazing in the stars! Roiling, boiling, churning burning, cover us, and clense the world!" The air became heated and flames burst up, reaching from the pot towards the skies. I watched with satisfaction as the shield thing fell right out of the sky and more heard as it hit the ground and burst into flames. "I. Am. AWESOME!" Pico shouted. "Nice job! That was really cool! Okay, I'm going to go scope it out! See you guys on the upper levels!" Parfait exclaimed, and then raced away. Pico groaned. "Not that damn maze again!"
~CASSIA~CASSIA~
"I hate that maze! Hate it, hate it, hate it!" Pico ranted as we finally exited the lower levels of the pyramid. I said nothing as I stared towards the horizon. I could see the sun moving lower in the sky, almost completely gone. I could feel the edges of the darkness creeping in, ready to lend me some strength. There was something else though, the faint whispers of something in the darkness that I'd long ago forgotten about and, no matter what, I couldn't seem to remember it.
I shook my head and marched forward. There were three more Space Police Troopers standing guard on the upper levels and I engaged in battle without another thought. Before they could even shift their shields I struck out with my spells, casting Shadow Die over and over until the three troopers ran away screaming. My friends stared at me in shock, but I ignored their stares and entered the Pyramid. I'd never been so thankful as to realize that the upper levels were not confusing at all. We traveled through the pyramid and raced to Parfait when we found her passed out on the ground.
"Parfait!" I exclaimed, dropping to my knees beside her. "Abalon...Demar...stop him...before he...gets the...gummy!" she gasped, trying to get up, only to fall back down. "Parfait, stay still and don't worry. We'll get the gummy," Mokka said. I turned my head towards him; I hadn't even realized he'd come up behind me. I nodded and stood up. We raced into the next room and skidded to a halt when a familiar stench hit us. "Ugh! Nasty!" I shouted, holding my nose.
"Ugh, didn't we already fight this guy?" Pico asked, stepping up to stand beside me, also holding his nose. He was referring to the familiar blob shape of Gil Mudflap, standing just ahead with an unfamiliar creepy person beside him. "You were defeated by six CHILDREN?" the unfamiliar creeper trilled. "I crush them this time!" Gil Mudflap exclaimed. The other person shoved Mudflap away, drawing a sword. "That must be Abalon Demar," Chai whispered. "Are you sure? Parfait said Abalon was a guy. This person looks more like a girl," Sorbet whispered back.
I blocked their whisperings out as Abalon Demar advanced. "I'll destroy you little brats," he hissed. Another wave of that awful stench hit us, and he paused. "Let's take this into a room with clean air," he said. He walked past us and went out of the room and we quickly followed. As the door closed, he attacked us.
"Forested Field!" Ice struck out against us like sharp needles, striking multiple times into some of us, and only once in others. I felt the sun vanish and felt the darkness wash over me, and I powered up and struck. "Shadow Die!" Abalon Demar glared at me. "Afterburner!" Pico yelled. The spell slammed into Abalon and the water magician turned his glare on Pico. "Forested Field!" The spell snapped out and struck Pico several times. The fire mage was in intense pain when he hit the ground, out cold. "No! Pico!" Sorbet exclaimed, then turned furious as she glared death at Abalon Demar. "Absolute Zero!" I felt the air freeze and the spell snapped into Abalon Demar. He seemed like he was going to do the same thing he'd done to Pico, so I yelled out, "Blood Money!"
The spell took off, splitting in three before spiraling down towards Demar and then snapping back to me when his health was collected. "Sweet Nothings!" Abalon Demar said, and cast some weird spell on me. I didn't feel any different, so I thought perhaps I was immune. Chai attacked with Pepperthorn, and Lassi attacked with Wind Talon. Mokka attacked with Gravel Pounder, and just as I was about to use Shadow Die again, intense pain shot through me. "What the hell?" I screamed. "That spell I used on you? It was a charm. You can't very well attack the one who has charmed you," Abalon Demar said with a smirk. I gritted my teeth and glared at him.
Once again, I tried to attack, only for my vision to swim out of focus as I fell to the ground. The world was spinning and everything was a blurr. Nothing was clear except Abalon Demar. My whole world seemed to revolve around him, no matter how much I tried to break free of the charm. Mokka suddenly roared in fury. "Boulder Bash!" A large boulder crashed into Abalon and he cried out in pain and then smirked at Mokka. "Oh, so you have a soft spot? Hello, Goodbye!" he called, and then suddenly the charm snapped, but I was left feeling weak and unimportant, like everything else no longer had importance. "Nadia!" someone shouted from far away, but it didn't register.
Suddenly I was being pulled to my feet and I had some sense recovered. "BLOOD MONEY!" I suddenly cried, feeling nothing except the need to grasp blood, grasp health, grasp vengence, grasp LIFE. The spell hit Abalon Demar full on and when the health came back, I wanted more, so I cast the spell again. "Blood Money!" Again, the health came back, and all I felt was the desire for more blood. "Blood Money!" By this time, I was shrieking out my spell like a feral beast, but I didn't care. I needed the blood!
Finally, there was no more blood to take and Abalon retreated. Gil Mudflap collected his friend and then they disappeared in a flash of light. Pico struggled to his feet as he gurgled something about the gummy. I gasped as I came back to myself and darted back into the room, just in time to see Caldarroste reaching for the gummy. I screamed and tackled the otter, struggling to snatch the gummy. My elbow connected with something, and then Caldarroste's grip on the gummy went slack and I pulled back with a shout of triumph, the gummy clasped firmly in my hands.
"Nice job, Nadia! Now let's report back to Heatmaster Sturgeon!" Parfait exclaimed from where she was partially leaning against Lassi for support. I nodded and she led the way back to Ambergris Prep.
~CASSIA~CASSIA~
The Headmaster was kind enough to let us keep the gummy so we could get to Nova, and he offered us a place to stay the night and rest. Everyone else was asleep when I snuck out of the room and into the room a couple doors down. I was grateful Parfait had shown us where everything was after we'd collected the gummy. I tip-toed over to the counter and pulled out the Book of the Darned. I hesitated as I was about to open it. Was this book worth my life? It was a very risky gamble, reading a cursed book. However, I really wanted to stop this waking nightmares, learn powerful spells so I could save my teacher, maybe this book could even tell me the weaknesses of my sworn enemies, the enigmas.
Then, I thought of my friends. Chai would freak if he ever found out, Pico would demand to know all the cool spells and then ask why I wasn't dead yet. Sorbet would frown disapprovingly, Mokka would just sigh electronically, and Lassi...well, at the moment, I wasn't sure what my best friend's reaction would be. She still hadn't spoken to me since that incident at the festival. But she probably wouldn't be happy.
But...the power...and the possible cures... I shook my head and put the book away, slowly backing away from the counter before turning and running from the room.
~CASSIA~CASSIA~
The next morning, we were all surprised when Detective Beignet ran in. "Nadia! Something is wrong on Gren! The felins need your help! Your assisstance is needed on Gren right away! And...now I...must...rest," he panted. Clearly, he'd been running a lot. "Thanks Detective!" I called as I raced towards the boat so we could get to our rocket. I'd had a dream last night. A strange boy had said something about Gren being very important. Maybe I would find more of my past there, too.
End chapter! I was uncertain how to end that, so sorry if it seemed rushed! ...You know what I just noticed? There is a transformer from Revenge of the Fallen named Mudflap, and when I refer to Gil Mudflap as just Mudflap, it makes me think of that Autobot! ...Yeah, I just made a transformers reference in Magical Starsign... wow...
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