Hola! In this chapter, you get to meet the Wise Ladies, my version of the Three Fates. Just to clarify, in case you haven't quite picked up on it yet, there are three dimensions: The Shadow Dimension, The Magic Dimension (home of Huggy and the fairies), and the Hope Dimension, which is ours. Each lady is from a different dimension, as you will soon discover. Also, prepare to learn the identity of the archer who almost killed Miss Power! LivingLRW, that is an excellent guess, even I didn't think of it, but nevertheless, it's incorrect. Great try, though!
Random quote:
"Yes, Doctor Two-Brains, why are you here?" "I'm here to get a...gift! For my anniversary!" "You're not married." "I meant my niece's graduation!" "But Boss, she graduated two years ago. Lovely affair." "It's the anniversary of my niece's graduation. Her graduationaversary."
–WordGirl and Two-Brains "Rat Trap"
Disclaimer: Never have, never will, don't want to!
With Violet's tracking spell hovering in the palm of her hand, Becky dashed through the streets of Fair City, passing Captain Gigglecheeks who was helping scared and confused humans board the evacuation ships. The orb guided Becky to the outskirts of the city. As she flew, every particle of her being was focused on saving Tobey. There was no doubt or fear in her heart, for that had been replaced with boundless love.
As Becky soared to a series of run-down, abandoned warehouses, Violet's tracking spell suddenly became burning hot, causing her to relinquish her grip upon it in alarm. The purple orb expanded, turning a glaringly bright white. As if sculpted by a pair of invisible hands, the light morphed like putty into the hazy outline of a person, which then spilt into three. Soon, the details of these strange beings grew more profound until the light faded, leaving in its place the three most beautiful women Becky had ever seen.
The first one was like a shadow come to life. Her ebony hair swirled around her pallid, moonlight-white face, caused by an invisible wind. She was clothed in tattered black robes with emblazoned golden runes. Also, this strange lady seemed to fade into her surroundings, giving her a ghostly aura. Becky knew it didn't make sense, but this woman was so old she was young, like she had gone through the entire circle of life. There were no eyeballs in her sockets, her skin clung to her seemingly fragile bones, and she wore a haunted expression, as if she were thrown into the fires of Hell and resisting the urge to scream. And yet, despite this horridness, there was an unmistakable beauty radiating from her, a joyful memory in the midst of all the sorrow and grief from the past, a memory that made life worth living for.
The second lady was not a lady at all but an adorable, dimple-faced girl, a Cupid come to life. She had a frivolous pink gown sequined with an abundance of flowers. Golden curls framed her plump, cheerful face, drawing attention to her sparkling cobalt eyes. Perfect golden wings sprung delicately from her back, ornate with various swirling designs. She was easily the most normal of the three. This girl seemed to be the embodiment of happiness, and yet something behind those innocent crystal eyes hinted at a great sadness, and yet she seemed more than willing to push that grief aside until a later day, determined to live in the moment.
The third and final lady was about seven feet tall, her entire body glowing with an otherworldly radiance. She wore a simple yet extraordinary golden dress that seemed to be adorned with the stars, perfectly setting off her fiery crimson hair that fell in soft waves about her shoulders. The lady's eyes were completely gold, with no iris or pupil to be found. Staring into those eyes, Becky was held captivated, seeing amazing strength and wisdom swirling in their depths. While young in appearance, this woman must have been as old as time itself, yet Becky also noticed a spark of child-like innocence and hope. Faint whispering voices seemed to resonate from her, telling tales of countless lives and even more to come, blending together into a haunting litany. She was faded in and out of focus, as if she were not fully substantial. But perhaps the most unusual feature was the pulsating neon blue strands of energy coiling around her body like strange tattoos. These millions upon millions of threads were in constant motion like slithering snakes, ever bending and changing their paths, making Becky dizzy just looking at them.
Becky was deathly afraid of these women, wondering who they were and why they had appeared to her.
"Fear not; we come in peace, Alexandria Theia," the third lady stated, her mystical voice like the twinkling of chimes and the wind whispering long forgotten secrets among the leaves.
"Who… Who are you?" asked Becky, awed by these women.
"I am Adriane, the first Wise Lady, Guardian of the Shadow Dimension, Queen of the Past, and Keeper of Memories," stated the shadow-lady.
"I am Lucindia, the second Wise Lady, Guardian of the Magic Dimension, Queen of the Present, and Keeper of Innocence," declared the fairy-child.
"I am Celestia, the third Wise Lady, Guardian of the Hope Dimension, Queen of the Future, and Keeper of Prophecies," announced the goddess-like woman.
At the mention of the Wise Ladies, Becky backed away in terror and revulsion. "You're the ones who caused Huggy to die!"
"He knew that magic comes at a price," Adriane replied without a morsel of sadness or regret. "He took the chance; the guilt does not fall upon my shoulders because the resulting consequences were unfavorable."
"Why have you come to me?" demanded Becky fiercely, wanting nothing more to do with them.
"The time has come for you to hear the Prophecy of Angel's Sacrifice."
Becky timidly peeked into the window of the final warehouse, the warehouse were she had fought the Wizards of the Black Circle four years ago. Trying to force that awful prophecy from her mind, she concentrated on the present. Celestia had told her she would find answers here, but how? There was nothing here. That was the problem with mystical creatures; they always spoke in enigmas, never making their point clear.
She continued venturing inside, trying to avoid the assortment of miscellaneous trinkets littering the floor. Becky squinted in the dim light to see if anyone was there. Her heart was thumping rapidly, a combination of fear and adrenaline causing her senses to go into overdrive. Another roll of thunder boomed outside, and in the flash of lightning, she could just barely make out the Zenith army ships flying towards Earth. Becky was deathly afraid of what she would find, but she kept telling herself to be strong for Tobey's sake as well as for the planet she loved. She couldn't be a coward, not now. Tobey's face burned in her mind like a beacon guiding her through the shadowy curtain of fear.
Just when Becky had determined that no one was there and turned to go, a voice resonated in the abandoned warehouse.
"I knew you would find me," the voice said. It was deep and booming, piercing Becky's heart with a feeling of utmost doom. She couldn't verify the speaker, and yet there was something about it that was strangely familiar. Whipping around in alarm, Becky caught the quickest glimpse of a figure moving in the corner, shadows obscuring the person's face.
"Who are you?" demanded Becky, hoping she sounded brave and authoritative, trying to mask the overwhelming trepidation inside.
"Don't you already know?" the voice asked with a hint of amusement. Becky braced herself to learn this mysterious man's identity, the person who had almost killed her mother, started a realm-wide war, and kidnapped the person she loved. As the mysterious person stepped into the glare of the bare light bulb, everything became clear.
Tobey had never been kidnapped.
The initials on the arrow had never been a declaration of war.
They had been the initials of a person.
TTM.
Theodore Tobey McCallister.
Well, well, well, you weren't expecting THAT! Well, some of you probably were, but oh well. All will be explained tomorrow, in the final chapter of Angel's Sacrifice!
Reviews are welcomed!
Love to all,
Bella