Hey, guys! Once again huge thanks to all of my reviewers (especially to those who has reviewed every chapter). I'm awfully sorry it took me soooo long to update! So, will the guardians be able to get away from Ursula's secret shelter before it's too late? Go on and read to find out) Enjoy!
Chapter 10: Written in the stars
The chapter is named after the song by Blackmore's night, the lyrics of which are partially used here.
Once written in the stars
A pathway set in stone,
A candle in the night
To guide your way back home.
Then somewhere in your memory
Calling from afar…
It's daring you to see
What it is that's written in the stars...
Everything seemed to be over.
Ursula soon recovered a little from the great strike and tried to grope her trident to attack again, but with no use – the magical weapon was gone. She became very nervous and started shaking her hands brokenly, but there was no magic power in her entire being. Cornelia's sonic blast exterminated all Ursula's dark magic abilities and she really had no chances now. Even her scary octopus tentacles were now not that huge and couldn't do any harm to anybody.
The witch went on trying desperately to let out at least a tiny stream of black light from the tips of her fingers for a few more seconds but eventually realized that the game was over for her.
«My power, my precious power… » she whispered weakly to herself in a dispirited hoarse voice «My precious power! No! » she cried suddenly like insane and that made everybody shudder «NO! » she yelled once more furiously and in rage fistcuffed the wall of her underground lair.
That was the last straw. The walls of the premises, which have already been quite damaged in the whole furious battle, didn't sustain this last little strike. The walls started to shudder frighteningly and stones and pieces of rock began to fall down from the ceiling. Everything was about to collapse.
«Guys, it's going to collapse! » Will cried in panic «We must get out of here! »
But the heavy iron door, which separated everybody who was in that underground cave with outer world, was still closed. And the walls and ceiling continued shaking and dust and frightening sound of falling rock filled the air.
«Heart, help me! » the red-haired leader summoned to the magic crystal and held it out. A shining electric bolt of lightening let out of it and hit the metal door with all its strength breaching it all the way through.
A little hole was formed in the shining iron but it still wasn't big enough for the guys to escape. Then Caleb grabbed his wonderful sword and in one moment cleaved the door making the opening bigger. «Quick! » he commanded to the girls and they swiftly flew out of the hateful underground cave, Caleb followed them without delay…
«No! » Ursula roared once again. She was still sitting hopelessly on the floor trying to get over the loss of her power and the crush of her desired and everything was collapsing around her. «I've lost to you but you either won't get out of here… alive! » she cried madly when the guys were escaping, grabbed a little magic bottle with strange grayish-green potion inside – the last magic item that remained intact by chance – and furiously threw it after the guardian through the broken door before the opening was completely obstructed with fallen stones. Ursula immediately leaped up and rushed to the exit, but it was too late – he was bricked in her own shelter…
As for the bottle, it fell on the ground and broke; the liquid was immediately absorbed in the soil and the vapour of it in form of dark steam rose up into the air and followed the guardians along the tunnel. This potion was not really powerful and the possibility of being buried alive in Ursula's underground labyrinth was much more terrible.
The five guardians flew and Caleb ran along the long winding tunnel as fast as they could and everything was collapsing in the left, on the right, behind and in front of them.
Soon they arrived at the bifurcation which, as you can remember, constituted three tunnels.
«What?! Three tunnels?! » Cornelia was in confusion. She hadn't seen how Ursula brought her to her refuge and couldn't imagine that it was a real labyrinth.
«Ok, guys, I hope any of you remember which one is right? » Hay Lin asked the rest of the team trying not to show her disturbance, thought the Air guardian tried to stay calm, she was frightened to death as everything was collapsing behind and around the guys and every second was precious, and she had no idea what to do.
Will, Irma and Caleb shook their heads. They were too hurrying to the place to save Cornelia so they didn't pay much attention to those "trivial details".
«No! That's the end! We're gonna die! » Irma instantly hit in panic as usual (although all six of them were in panic they didn't show it as much as the Water guardian). A giant stone fell down from the vault of the tunnel just a half-step away from Irma (as if to confirm Irma's words), but luckily the guardian managed to jump aside screaming. She wasn't hurt but this incident influenced her shattered nerves. «You see that! We'll all die! » she screamed pointing at the fallen rock.
While all of this was going on Taranee left her friends and was quickly examining each of the tunnels. She remembered about the clue she had left there before (haha, you didn't think I would remember about it?) and knew it was going to save them now. Just as she saw her symbol of a Fire guardian on a wall at the entrance of one of the tunnels (it was still on its old place) she cried to the others: «Come here, guys, that's the right one! »
The four other girls and Caleb immediately rushed to her but they were confused and had a question "How do you know that?" written on their faces, so the Fire guardian explained. «This is the sign; I left it on our way here so now we can indicate the right one » she said pointing at the small triangle engraved in the stone.
«Tar, you're a genius! » Irma exclaimed with joy and hugged her friend. The hope that she wouldn't die really gladdened her.
Will took the responsibilities of a leader. «Less talk, more action, guys! » she hurried her friends as everything kept collapsing behind them. «Come on, we have little time left! »
And she flew into the tunnel. The girls obediently followed her and Caleb ran as fast as he could after them.
This tunnel was even worse because it was narrower than the previous one, which was troubling the guys' escape, and much darker. So Will flew the first holding out the Heart of Kandrakar and at least somehow illuminating the tunnel with its faint pink light. Then went Cornelia, who was detonating and spreading the stones that were falling from the ceiling in front of them thus clearing their way. Right after her went Caleb with Irma, Taranee and Hay Lin and behind them rushed the dark smoke of the potion and the rocks were falling down with deafening crash and clouds of dust were rising completely immuring the way to Ursula's dark lair. The atmosphere was more than intense and those few minutes they had left before the final crush of the underground empire were the climax of their whole escape.
Once written in the stars
A pathway set in stone,
A candle in the night
To guide your way back home…
All of a sudden a large and heavy stone collapsed from the vault right above Caleb. One more second and it could have simply squash him like an insect but in the last tiny moment Cornelia managed to descend on the ground in front of her beloved and make the falling piece of rock explode right before it hit Caleb. Instantly after that incident without waiting any more minute the two of them rushed ahead to escape from the evil spirit chasing them.
«Cornelia, » Caleb looked up at his bright angel while running «Thank for saving my life» sincere gratitude was shining in his emerald eyes.
The Earth guardian, who was flying with the other girls, looked down at him «You're always welcome» she replied with a faint smile «I've nearly lost you once, I can't lose you again! »
Then somewhere in your memory
Calling from afar
It's daring you to see
What it is that's written in the stars...
Soon the guys got out of this narrow tunnel right into another one (as it was said before Ursula's secret shelter was a real Minotaur's maze) which was straighter and wider than the previous one but the time left was still inexorably little.
Irma lingered a little and created a water barrier behind them to delay the collapse. This helped a little but she was nearly flattered by falling stones – fortunately Hay Lin managed to grab her and pull her ahead.
There were not yet all the troubles. The fallen pieces of rock obstructed the way of the travelers, but Cornelia managed to breach that barrier all the way through with her magical powers supported with her rage.
So their journey was continuing and had fewer chances to escape with every single second.
The large wide tunnel was long but for the guys, whose live were hanging by a thread, it seemed endless. They got further and further but the tunnel still extended meters away.
«Are you sure we're going the right way? » Cornelia asked the others nervously while flying as her panic increased «Where is the exit?! »
Right at that moment Caleb saw the saving stairway they were approaching.
«Look, the stairway! » the young rebel cried happily «Quick! Let's get there! »
Without losing a second the whole gang dashed to the stone stairway as fast as they could. It was their only chance.
The guardians flew up above the stairway and Caleb up the steps which were crumbling down right behind him. Destruction went forward headily and soon the dilapidated steps collapsed straight beneath the guy's feet. Caleb nearly fell down into the dark abyss of obscurity beneath the stairway where stones were falling down, but luckily Cornelia had time to grab his hand thus saving his life once again. Will grabbed his other hand and the two girls carried him up in the air as the staircase was now completely destroyed.
Higher and higher they went leaving the ominous underground kingdom with all its dangerous secrets below. Everything there turned into chaos, destruction didn't spare anything. There was now no trace of long winding tunnels which could so easily confuse a wayfarer, Ursula's secret cave and the endless staircase. Rocks and stones were loudly caving in obstructing all the ways and destroying the toil of so many years of the offcast witch. But this great crash still wasn't the final salvation for the six young warriors. The dark smoke spirit, Ursula's last curse, was still chasing them and the road to final freedom and safety was still very long.
The guardians were swiftly flying up the vertical aisle when new troubles approached – a large stone fell down into the aisle from above and was nearing the girls to crush them. Cornelia exploded the stone into smaller pieces but as the vertical aisle was rather narrow she couldn't move them away and small pieces of rock continued falling rapidly and this could as yet hurt the girls badly.
Then Hay Lin had a plan. She blew with all her air power and wind started to raise the stones up the aisle again. «Well done, Hay Lin! » the others cried happily. So, they went on flying up for some mote time (Hay Lin going the first and blowing up the stones, then Irma and Taranee and then Will and Cornelia carrying Caleb together) and then finally flew out of the hole in the ground of the small cave (which was already not an underground one but standing on earth level and which was the entrance to Ursula's lair as you can remember from Chapter 4).
The six finally stood on their feet after a long flight. It was so good to feel hard soil again but it was not yet the time to relax. Again a large stone fell from the vault of this small likeness of cave right above the guys' heads and could have had fatal consequences if Taranee hadn't managed to surround herself and her friends with a protective field of fire. The stone hit against the fire bubble and was destroyed by it and none of the young people were hurt.
The gang ran to the exit from the cave obstructed with a large piece of rock as quickly as they could and tried to move it away before they were completely out of time. «Wait! » Cornelia commanded and put her palms to the stone surface trying to explode it from inside with her magic power. The stone turned out to be a hard one and didn't want to crumble so the four other girls without saying a word to each other applied their powers to the rock.
Under the influence of the power of five the disobedient stone exploded and opened the way out.
It was now the matter of one second. Only one step separated the guys from final freedom or eternal oblivion. Behind them everything was collapsing and turning into a silent grave and in front of them was the big shining world they had the very last chance return to. It was the last point. The cave was about to collapse burying everything underneath its ruins. The cloud of dark smoke ready to consume everything on its way was already right behind their back. There was no way back. They couldn't linger any more. Everything would be decided with one second's action…
«Jump! » Caleb cried and he and the five girls put their last weak efforts together and jumped forward as far as they could before everything happened…
Still written in the stars
And written in your eyes
The prophecy fulfills
The dream that never dies…
A shooting star lights up the night
While the earth stands still
And somehow we lose sight
While following what's written in the stars...
It was more like an explosion rather than a collapse. The girls were lying on the ground faces downwards and covering their heads with their hands in order to protect themselves from small stones which were thrown off in the landside. Caleb, who was lying next to his beloved, protected her from pieces of rock with his own body. The tiny cave-like entrance to Ursula's underground kingdom collapsed causing loud thunder-like noise and large clouds of dust.
The dark-grey spirit of mist rose from the ruins, took the shape of some kind of ugly bird's head and disappeared in the air eternally – its weak power came to an end before it managed to hurt anybody. That was how the last Ursula's evil attempt came to grief. There was nothing left from her secret shelter, just a small heap of stone reminded that such amazing magi events had once taken place there. The six adventurers were now finally safe.
When everything was over the five guardians and the rebel leader started to stand up and shake off the dust.
«Is everybody alright? » Will asked to make sure that nobody was hurt.
«Apparently yes» Taranee answered adjusting her glasses and looking round the entire group.
Irma rose on her feet and started to shake off the dust from her now dirty and crumpled skirt. «I can't believe it's all over, finally over» she sighed with relief.
«Yeah, » Hay Lin added «In one day we seem to have done more than in a whole month of fighting with Phobos! And I've nearly got out of the habit of being a guardian! »
«We should better go away from here» said Caleb helping Cornelia to get up «It might be unsafe»
The guardians thought that Caleb was right and soon all the six started to abandon the wasteland moving towards the point where the land rose up steeply and where the forest began.
On that small hill not far from the trees Blunk was sitting. He had been sitting there since Will ordered him to wait and fidgeting nervously. He was very anxious about the guys and even had tried for several times to go into the cave and help them, but Will's prohibition and his own fear stopped him every time. Eventually, after a few hours of agonizing expectation he saw the guys jumping out of the collapsing cave but he didn't venture to run closer to them before everything was truly over. Generally, that desert-like area seemed spooky and unsafe to the little green creature, so he preferred to stay next to next to the forest where he could hide in case of danger. So Blunk didn't move from his place, although he was very nervous and worried, before the guys approached him themselves.
But when they went up the small hill and were in a safe distance from the ruins of Ursula's former shelter, Blunk could finally five free play to his emotions. He started skipping and jumping around gesticulating, grabbing the guys by their legs to make sure they were alive and unhurt and shouting out different exclamations of how worried he had been and how happy he was now that everything was over and they could finally go home.
He demanded the guys to tell him everything that happened when they got to Ursula's secret refuge, but was suddenly interrupted by some kind of strange thud. The guardians and Caleb turned back and saw a purple cloud mysteriously appearing in the air. As the cloud grew bigger the Oracle came out of it and stepped on the ground.
«Oracle! » they gasped in surprise.
«I came here, guardians, to congratulate you» the man explained slowly «You've just completed a very important mission. Ursula was a dangerous enemy, in some way she might have been even worse than Phobos»
«But why hadn't you informed us about her existence earlier, before she captured Cornelia? » Will asked «Maybe if we had attacked her first, took her unawares, all of these terrible things wouldn't have happened? »
«It's not that easy, Will» the man shook his bald head «The Council of Kandrakar had known about Ursula even before Phobos sat on the throne of Meridian. But after this unfortunate event she suddenly vanished and nobody knew where she was and what she was planning. We had another important aim – to defeat Phobos and his army, and gradually everybody forgot about the witch. We didn't have any information and not one living soul heard anything about her for a very long time, so we couldn't expect the sudden attack. That's why we couldn't warn you. Thanks to Yan Lin you found out about her evil intentions and came on time to save your friend and whole Meridian »
«Did Ursula die under the blockage? » Cornelia asked in shivering voice.
«No, somehow she managed to survive» the Oracle replied. «But this won't help her much. She's now under guard in prison of Kandrakar, in the same place where her ex-partner is kept. She had lost all her magical powers and without them she won't live too long. Her end is already defined. »
«Yeah, I don't envy Ursula's plight condition! » Irma noticed quietly.
«Thanks you for informing us, Sir» Caleb said respectfully «What must we do now? »
«This mission is over, Caleb, but there will be a lot more in the future» said the Oracle «I just want you and the guardians always to be ready to fight for freedom and justice. Most unexpected things can happen in the most unexpected time so you mustn't forget about your duty of being the protectors of the Veil of Meridian. I suppose the young ladies have been wondering if help of the Guardians of the Veil would still be needed after defeating Phobos» he turned to the girls «So I say to you, girls, that your help will always be necessary»
«That's exactly what we were talking about this very morning» Taranee remembered «We were wondering if we were still guardians and whether we would fight against the evil again and today's events gave us the straight answer to all of our questions! »
«I'm glad you realized it» the Oracle smiled and turned around to go «There will always be enough work for the guardians while there is at least a little evil left in Meridian (and in the world). And presumably, it will be a very long time till all of it disappears irrevocably» he added looking back at the guys. Then he stepped into his purple cloud that had again appeared above the ground and evaporated in the air.
The guys kept looking for some time at the point where the cloud had just disappeared when Cornelia suddenly fell on her knees and burst out crying. It was a little nervous breakdown. She had been forcing herself to remain calm but couldn't get over the experiences and sufferings of and broke out in tears. She still saw clearly in front of her eyes every detail of how she had been fighting against her own friends and she felt guiltier than ever.
The girls surrounded her. «Cornelia, what's with you? Dear, what happened? » they asked in worried voices.
«I can't forgive myself…» the Earth guardian whispered between sobs «I signed that document, I did it on my own will, I betrayed you! … How could I believe Ursula?.. I was fighting against you, I could kill you! I will never forgive myself… »
«The matter is in her nerves, she's weak after everything that has happened» Caleb explained. He helped his beloved to get up and calm down a little. He hugged her tightly and she kept sobbing quietly on his chest. «Shh, it's alright now» he said softly «It's over now, please don't worry. We'll never come back here again, you won't see her again»
«Cornelia, you need to speak out» Taranee advised «Tell us how Ursula deceived you, tell us everything. We are sure there's no your fault, you were made to do it»
«Speak out, Corny, don't bear such a heavy burden on your heart» Hay Lin said.
«We'll go Mrs. Lin now» Will smiled «They're right, it will be easier if you share your experiences with us»
Cornelia nodded and slowly started to tell her friends how she found herself in Ursula's dark lair and what awful things she had told her, failing to mention about the most painful moments of Caleb's false betrayal. She really felt better after pouring her heart but still considered herself a traitor. And the girls in their turn told Cornelia that Ursula had been cooperating with Phobos before he stood her up and that she needed an innocent loving heart like Cornelia's to make things work as she wanted. Cornelia started to value the girls' friendship and Caleb's love even more after they had told her how worried all of them were about her sudden disappearance and how hastily they set off to save her not even caring about the great risk and came to hate Ursula even more after she had heard ancient malicious intentions to use her as a bait for evil power.
While she was peaking out, Will opened a portal to Earth and the six travelers and Blunk stepped inside it leaving that lifeless, forgotten by God place in silence for centuries and centuries of unknown existence…
Yes, that is it! It was pretty a long chapter anyway. I know it might be not my most successful chap since there was a lot of action and it would better look on screen rather than on paper, but I tried to do my best and I really hope you liked it! So, there's gonna be one more final chapter and this story is over! Please, stay with me to the end! And now click the little purple button down there and tell me what you think! I really need to know your opinion)) Kisses!