Legend of the Guardians: Metal Beak Returns
Chapter 10: A challenge appears!
Finally! It's finished and sorry for not updating this! Please forgive me!
It was three and a half hours since Soren and the rest of the Fellowship left the The Echidna. Now they are on there way to gather the pieces of the legendary sword, once belong to the Legendary Hero: Seto. Ever since the possible return of Metal Beak, who was leading an army of the Eagle Empire, he began sacking St. Aggies and overthrown both King Metal Beak/Kludd and Queen Nyra Alba. The remaining Pure Ones manage to flee the invasion, they escaped the throne room of Metal Beak. And they're escape was a costly one: only one left behind the attack was Nyra's dear mate Kludd, who tries to buy Nyra and the others time to escape them Now they begin seeking aid from the Guardians, and with Metal Beak returns, he reclaims his rightful throne and renowned himself as 'King' of the Pure Ones.
Now they warn the Guardians of the return of the new threat, the Eagle Empire and the New Metal Beak. Recently, Boron began to set up an emergency meeting at the Parliament and formed the fleeing owls of St. Aggies and the guardians with team work and heroism known as the Fellowship. A small strike team performed by Boron and he gives them instruction's was to get inside the secret hide out were the enemy is hiding and learn more about their sinister plans.
But later it gives them a special bonus, when Marcus, a captive male Montane Solitary Eagle during the attack of Great Ga'Hoole Tree told them the Empire's location and planning to join their quest to stop the enemy and hoping to see his son again before he becomes the new blood killer soldier for the Empires of Eagles.
Therefore they followed the eagle as Ezlyryb and Soren visits their old friend The Echidna, he tells them they are not strong enough to fight against the empire, so he told them to seek an aid from the Imperial Resistance Army also known as The Allies.
To do so, they need a special item known to be a sword which belong to Seto, the legendary hero who slain Nihilus during the great battle. Many people believed his sword was lost and forgotten, mostly broken into two pieces in half that was impossible for it to be mended it together again, only those who are strongly in the path of Light. Once they complete all three challenges and complete the sword of Seto, they must show them they are working with the Allies and sought their help to defeat the empire, were they must fly to Penunsula of the Spirit Woods hoping to seek help from the Allies.
While making their way to find one of the Sword Keepers, they had to look one of the ancient deities or sword keepers and challenge them to get the pieces of Seto's sword. Overall, one question was always bothers the group: how would they find them? No one had ever saw or seen them or what the Sword Keepers really looked like, time ticks by as Nyra and the rest of her group began to have deep discussions as they making their way to search the pieces of Seto's sword while Ezylryb checks the map which the Echidna gave him.
"I am sure Seto's sword might be around there." Digger said, pointing his claw on the map of the river. Ezylryb glance at him, his brow raised in questioned.
"That's a river, Digger." Ezylryb said. This cause Digger's expression change into an embarrassment as he fly by to Soren. When he was close to his Barn Owl friend, he saw Soren's worried look on his heart shape face, it felt like he actually lost someone that is very close and a dear friend to him (his nephew Carlos), as Digger keep seeing his friend's expression, he decide to cheer his friend up as he was next to him.
"Hey Soren?" He called, Sorren suddenly snapped by his friend's call and glanced at him, "Are you alright? you look a bit sad." Soren sighed.
"Well…" He admitted, "I'm worried about Carlos, he is out there somewhere. I was worried if he was escape or being captured by the Eagle Empire. I'm not sure where he is at or alive right now..." With the name of the Eagle Empire came out, it caused Digger to shudder in ice about the name. But, he looked at him again, and said.
"I don't know Soren, he can be anywhere," Digger agreed, "but don't worry… I'm sure we will find him. You can count on us, we're in this together." Soren look at his friend (including the other Pure Ones and Marcus) smiled with a nod as he and the rest of the owls continue to flap their wings as they begin their search the sword of Seto.
Ever since Lorraine join the quest to help the Fellowship to fight against the Eagle Empire, she'll try to get use to Carlos's friends and that snowy owl named Thana, but what Soren said is right, Carlos could be anywhere… and it sprout the eerie feeling in her gizzard and her heart; worried than ever for his safety. As Marcus continue flying he saw a strange looking valley up the head.
This valley appears to be a dead valley of the hills, which shows many endless dead trees on the ground, also had caverns and caves. While Marcus observing the valley, he was wondering if he and the rest of the group should rest a bit, since the Nighttime was almost over, he glanced at them (while flying).
"We'll stay here for the morning, I'm sure you owl's won't fly while the Sun is out. So we might rest here for now." Marcus said. Nyra looked at the eagle, before she could answer, Ezylryb nodding in agreement.
"He's right, we could use a rest. Is it safe?" He asked, the Eagle nodded him.
"I'm positive; this valley was very safe. Me and my fellow scouting party flown here once and its safe the last time I check." Marcus explained his owl companions, as the old Owl nodded once more.
"We'll stay here till the suns out for the morning. Its best to have us some rest." The old Whiskered Screech Owl declared. And then everyone from the group nodded their heads as he and other party members landed safely near the topside of the valley. Once they land as they look around, observing the pale looking dead trees, and also fog glinting in some areas (which makes them harder to see).
As they begin to set up a place to rest and finding food as well (as well building some campfire to get wood), and it was Rosh who was ready to let out a yawn in boredom.
"This whole flying makes my wings tired." Rosh said tiredly, Kyle nodded him.
"Me to Rosh, and I hope we can find some food around here. But this place still gives me chills if you know what I mean." Kyle said as he sat next to him. "Speaking of chills: It makes me want to eat something." Rosh nodded as he notices Ezlyryb approach Jaden as he look at him with a smirk.
"Well if you want to help out. You can help us find some food if we want to eat." With that said, both Rosh and Kyle gotten up to their feet as they helping them to search the food. And now leaves Private, Trevor and Nyra, Thana and finally Lorraine even Serenity as she stayed with her brother so he could watch over her, while Joe, Soren, Twilight, Gylfie and Marcus to find any wood around the mountain valley.
It's been fifty minutes as half of the group did not return as everyone doing their usual things such as telling jokes whatnot, as they begin to used to each other and get to know better, while Nyra looked around the view from the mountain they've been standing on and it made her filled with awe and wonder. And she sighed sadly, she hoped her son and Kludd would see all this.
"You alright, Nyra?" Thana asked the white owl. Nyra glance at her and nodded her.
"I'm alright Thana," She answered. Thana stood next to her. The white tyto gives a small smile and look back around the view once more. "The view looks nice is it?" She asked her, Thana nodded at her as she look at her.
"Yeah it look nice. I wish Carlos would be here to see this." Thana said. This caused a sad look on the queen's face.
Ever since the sacking of St. Aggies first started, he wasn't around during the Empire's invasion and also the time when Lord Vadakes and his army attacks the Pure Ones. While the siege was underway, the new Metal Beak was confronted by Zallow as he bravely defends her kingdom with his last breath and died while trying protecting them. With him out of the way, he attack the throne and thus taking the throne and become Metal Beak. While she and the surviving members fled to Ga'hoole to seek shelter, she tries to figure it out of this new 'Metal Beak' is and she found a shocking truth that who recently known to be Carlos Nyroc Alba. But this wondered her greatly of why he do this... she knew deep down that the real Carlos would never do this to his family, as well being the prince of the Pure Ones. He was Metal Beak's heir and a heir to the throne.
But she fears the worst was ahead; wondering about the other surviving members from St. Aggies might've survived or killed… Stryker, Uglamore, Kyros, Thea, Zallow, Jatt and Jutt, and as well many others she once knew.
As the queen stood there in silence while looking at the view again. Thana feel the dreadness in her own very being, she remember the St. Aggies was been attack by the eagle empire. And where is Carlos at the invasion begins. While she at Great Tree of Ga'Hoole, her family notice that the Eagle Empire conquers all the owl kingdoms with instant attacks without giving them time to retaliate back in seconds. And another part is about Carlos, he was not been heard eversince he left Ga'hoole and arrived back to St. Aggies to find answers there. But he has not returned. Could it he be the one who choose to stand down and watch his loved ones dye around him when the evil army returns to bring hasgmire upon them?
But her thoughts suddenly stopped for a moment as Soren, Kyle and Marcus, even the Lyze of Kiel return with the bag of food.
"Foods here!" Ezlyryb called. Nyra turned to see the old owl brought a bag with him as well she sees the rest of the group who was helping him.
She sighed as she passed Thana for getting the food ready. Thana still know that their pure one queen still missed Kludd and Carlos, but in thana's opinion she thinks more about him, she still missed him even more.
Once the fire is set, they begin to have their meal as they begin discus some parts of how their life was since the war between the Guardians and The Pure Ones at the great tree is over.
While the campfire continued for letting its sparks danced, they are having fun about telling jokes which being told by Digger, but some of his jokes are half funny and not funny, while Twilight played a soothing tune for them to keep them entertaining. Now it's Kyle's turn as he began to tell the spooky tale known as 'The Following'.
"…The creature draws closer and closer to his helpless victims. And they suddenly realize… he had a highly contagious flu symptoms!" Kyle smirked as he watched Rosh who was sitting next to Nyra is frightened by his story.
"No! no! NO!" He cried in fear as Kyle chuckle in laughter.
"Hahaha! I knew that would get him!" He laughed.
"Right… Anyone else like to be the next one to scare us?" Lorraine asked the whole group. Silence plague the whole group but till Soren raised his right wing.
"I think I will." He answer. Nyra scoffed at him a little.
"Don't tell us about the story when you kill Metal Beak like twenty years ago." She glance at soren with a small glare, "and speaking of killing, we're at war with the Eagle Empire. There's no time to have fun or games of whatever, the eagles are hell-bent taking over the world if we don't stop them. And of course we don't know where the location of the Forbidden Canyons is."
"What about Marcus?" Gylfie suggest, everyone look at her, "I mean he's been helping us to find Forbidden Canyons so he can find his son back."
"I don't trust him if I were you." Lorraine butted in rudely.
"What makes you say that?" She asked her.
"I'm not referring to you, I'm referring to that eagle over there." She points her wing at Marcus who was sitting by himself as he looks at the night sky and keeps an eye out for everyone.
The masked owl continues on. "And of course, the queen is right we should not spend enjoying ourselves if we let them continue to gain more influence all over the world, and Marcus might lead us into a trap. I say we leave him. And if he is leading us into a trap I will kill him if-"
"Lass, Marcus is still helping us to fine their hideout and revenge is not our way." Ezlyryb explained. "Vengeance can only lead you to path of pain and suffering. And he's still willing to see his son again once we got there."
"You still believe his story?" Lorraine asked the old owl.
"Lass, sometimes you have to get use to know them and to know each other well. I also get to know Carlos when I first met him." He smiled as he went on, "And he is very great lad I must say." He saw Lorraine's expression change a little, he never know whats wrong as he explains more. "Lorraine, I know you miss him, but we all miss him too. Right now we must focus our task at hand. The Eagle's must be defeat if we want to find Seto's sword and the Allies."
"Is everyone ever sees the sword keepers before Ezlyryb?" Digger curiously ask. He cocked his head at him and said.
"Not a single one lad." He answered.
Digger look surprise by his words, "Wait no one?" Ezlyryb nodded him.
"No one lad, they are disappeared since Seto's disappearance." Ezlyryb went on, "They also took his sword with them. For safe keeping."
Digger was curious about it and he decide to ask more; but he's interrupted by Thana's worried some about Carlos's safety.
"But Ezlyryb sir? Isn't that possible Carlos can be alive during the invasion by the Eagle Empire?" Thana asked him worriedly. He remains silent for a moment, he shook his head as he glanced at her and said.
"I'm not sure if he can dear. But I know all of you are worried about him and so am I. But we can't do two things at once, first is the empire and we have-"
"I know he's alive!" Thana shouted at him, remembering of the dream she had of him before he's disappear "He is out there waiting for us and for me! He- he wants us to go look for him and bring him back home."
"I knew it." Lorraine murmured, Thana look at her in confused "Are you and my beloved prince are in engage?"
"Lorraine we-" She's interrupted when she's suddenly outburst.
"I knew you were in love with him! You stole him from me! My own dear prince and my own lover!" Lorraine glared at her, her anger shearing "I know I should've stayed at St. Aggies before he left, so we can spend our times together before he mentioned your name." She added with venom.
"Carlos and I are not lovers Lorraine. We are friends more than Lovers." Thana countered, "I know you both love each other in the past, but it's time for you to move on Lorraine." Lorraine felt angrier by her words.
"He doesn't even love you! 'He' loves me the most before he met you and the guardians! I know all of you change him to become something else! Brainwashed him with lies and make him unworthy of being a Pure One he is now today!" Nyra went up to her and said.
"My son made his own choice Lorraine! Last year, he ran away from home to seek help from the Guardians! Not brainwashing. They helped him to become a better owl than he was before." She explained she felt angry as ever, remembering her time she met Lorraine once. Thana however, who puzzled by what Nyra meant: Lorraine in exile? What Lorraine had done?
"You exiled me because you disapproved our relationship with each other! I still have feelings for him and I loved him more than anyone else! His personality. His kindness. That makes me interest about him and I love him!"
"You loved him?" Nyra asked her. "He is not ready for you. Because he's only fifteen and he's not a man you interest in and he's way too young to be with you."
She glared at Nyra as she got up angrier violently "Will you disapprove Carlos and his relationships with Thana to?!" Thana's eye's went widen by her statement. "Just look at her!" She pointed her wing towards Thana. "A princess and a female Snowy Owl?! That filth is not a Tyto Alba, she is a Snowy Owl!"
"I saved him Lorraine!" Thana said defensively. Lorraine turns her head at her, glaring her. "He couldn't find the tree of Ga'hoole for nights, during my flying lessons with Ezlyryb, I tried to call out to him but he started to fall to his death. So I dive down to save him and that got us together Lorraine." Lorraine felt angrier at her and she got up and glared her darkly.
"How the hasgmire of all this rubbish about the plunging death brings you and him as lovers?!" Lorraine demanded. "How can you know him? Does he ever tell you about his past or where he comes from?"
"He told me-"Thana was interrupted again by Lorraine's uncontrollable anger.
"You don't even know him! He was the prince of the Pure Ones and the heir of Metal Beak!" Lorraine said in anger. "Carlos has a true potential of becoming king! I will not stand by and watch everyone takes his future throne away from me or him! You don't know our culture. You don't know nothing of our family or how we live. You. Know. Nothing!"
"I *do* know!" Thana countered the Masked Owl. "He told me everything about his life and the culture of your family. You don't know how much suffering Carlos been through. He was suffered because his family treated him like racdrops!" She turned to Nyra who was next to Rosh. "No offense." Nyra nodded her for understanding her point, and she watches Thana's mightiest fury where Lorraine was in.
"I care for him as a friend. And I know you can be his friend to!" She continued, "Everyone has the right to be with him as friends and be around with him together as a family! No one… especially Carlos… he does not deserve to be alone and is not right for him to live like that! If he continues to be alone and feeling miserable, he'll have a miserable life and no one won't be around him when he dies alone! I will be with him no matter how dangerous the mission is. Carlos is still out there and he still waits for me to rescue him and he's the one who created the peace treaty so no wars won't ever happen! I will not let another owl watch and do nothing while the world as we know it crumbles! If anyone feels the same way as I am, then we will find him no matter what!"
Everyone around the camp went in silent. Even Marcus heard the whole conversation from the female snowy owl he attacked was right, it reminds him of his son and hoping that he can save his son from becoming a cold-killer soldier for the eagle's army. His experience from the army was a brutal nightmare. He lost his wife during the raiding mission of The Desert of Kuneer, and barely made it out alive after the mission. He sometimes wished he didn't want his son to know what happen there or the fates of his mother, he doesn't want him to know violence or war, he wants him know peace. He knows Lord Vadakes won't allow such failures from his army, even for Marcus. He also gives him a harshest punishment that they'll be suffered through prison camps for slave labor and for those who said a bad mouth about Lord Vadakes and his rule, they always as well as his rivals goes there. That's how Marcus feels when he's afraid of it.
Lorraine couldn't control her anger and jealousy of the female's relationship with the prince. Then all of suddenly, she said harsh words that would hurt the princes and her former lover's friend dearly.
"You have no right to say his name you filthy little mudwings!" She growled at her. "Carlos was still my lover and you have no right to take him away! In my point of view, you are just a filthy little brat that knows nothing of his past or how his heart feels. For me, he didn't care about anyone but only for himself and not even from you! A Pure One and a Guardian will never be together! And keeping the peace between us was just Bullfeathers! Peace is a lie and no peace between us will not stay alive when it's broken again for another thousand years!" Thana went silently and in the same time from her hatred, she was hurt by her words about her relationship with Carlos and then she ran from the group as Kyle steps in and glared Lorraine instantly.
"Hey ease off the princess you filthy Pure One!" Kyle angrily defended. Lorraine glared at him as she states.
"That's what she gets, even for you, dusty beak." Kyle felt shocked by the words Lorraine used and Twilight appalled by her words he felt greatly offensive by it.
As Kyle felt offended by as he about to say something back towards her, then Soren gotten up as he glared her, never he felt a bad vibe coming from him, he just can't handle from her for one bit. "Have you done enough? What if Carlos feels about you if you say such things to Thana? He won't like it and he won't accept anyone or you who called themselves friends." With that, he left the group and Lorraine as he went off to find Thana. Nyra glared at Lorraine, as she watched the exiled masked owl sat down to her seat. And for second time, she lowers her head in shame. Despite what Soren said, she realized that maybe she will apologize to her when the mission's over.
Somewhere deep from the Cavern Cave she found hiding herself from Soren or everyone, Thana continued crying silently as she's hurt by the words from Lorraine. Eventually, she's right about one thing, pure ones and the guardians shouldn't be around together nor bring peace with them won't stand forever. Carlos do manage to create the peace treaty so no conflicts against them and now it's all thanks to him and he finally create a everlasting peace for his families.
But Thana knows everyone still disagreeing about making a peace with the Pure Ones, but she knows Carlos's plan was to protect his family. Unlikely, Lorraine isn't interest for peace, she only cares destruction of the Guardians which still burns inside her heart. Then another thought about Lorraine she found from Nyra. Lorraine was in exile because of what she did something wrong? What happen between them?
She remain silent, then from within the cave, a sinister laughter heard and echoed louder, despite of whose voice belongs to; it echoed louder this time around the cave frightening her as she was still wasn't sure who is it from.
Without any warning, a long root from the cave's wall grabbed her as she was been attack by the roots under her feet and grabbed her. The beautiful snowy owl tried to struggle to break free from its clutches but it's no use. She tried to scream so anyone could hear her. Soren was only few meters away from the location Thana was in, and he heard the scream and the horror in his face… He ran to find her as he enters the cave and saw her being dragged into the wall.
"Soren!" Thana cried as her voice slowly fades she disappeared, Soren rushed towards her as he tries to save her but she vanished into the wall. He collapsed to his feet and screamed in anguish of losing her. Then, Nyra, Lorraine, Ezlyryb and the rest of the Fellowship see's Soren on the ground in despair.
"She's gone…" He muttered. "I can't believe she was gone!" Lorraine and the rest of the group weren't sure by what he meant as Ezlyryb walk up to Soren calmly.
"Who's gone, Soren?" He asked him. Soren looks over his shoulder at him and said.
"Thana's gone. She was gone, when I tried to save her… she was-" He answered. Ezlyryb and Nyra are shocked by what happen.
"She's what?" Trevor asked Soren in alarming dismay.
Suddenly, another chuckle around the cave and a hard old voice began to speak through the cave.
"So… you wanted her back so badly?" The voice asked the group as Soren gotten up. "If you wish… then you have to beat one quest… one challenge. A test will put you to tests your future and your present fate."
Nyra was confused as everyone else was, she asked in her demanding tone. "Who are you?! And why you kidnapped Thana?!"
"Thana?" The voice asked in confusion. "I didn't know that name nor what she looks like. To me, my year's lifespan would've been expired long ago. But enough! If you want to see your loved one again. You must take this challenge and test yourselves."
Suddenly, the ground starting to shake like an earthquake. The cave they're in saw huge root rising from the ground right in front of them. And Soren saw Thana was attached to it, he didn't have enough time to do anything to save her as he stood there and the root finally reached the top of the cave's ceiling.
A mysterious owl suddenly appeared and he was a Male Barn Owl, he had gold eyes and same color feathers like Soren had but he was an older version of himself. The present day Soren look shock to see his future self stood there, without of hesitation of asking 'how' or 'why', his older version smiled and Soren asked.
"Who are you?" He asked in shock. The future Soren smiled as he gladly to answer his question.
"I am Tenoch." He introduced to Soren and his friends and the Pure Ones. "I am a follower of Seto's prime and glory. We fought together against the Evil Eagle Army that once ruled all the Owl Kingdoms from three thousand years ago."
Everyone was shock even Ezlyryb was surprised to see the sword keeper in person. He found another rumor he heard awhile back at the young age that when a sword keeper appears, they can take shape a form of another owl since their old body was no longer stable in present time. But why are they still around if they have followers that follow his teachings or their future ascendants that could live on their family's legacy instead? Ezlyryb wasn't sure as the words rang his mind.
"Tenoch… who are you? No… what are you?" He thought….
Finally it's now finish! And I am really sorry for not updating the chapter from the past year. It just that when Im on youtube, I heard that last year on April 25th,2014 Disney declares the Expanded Universe non-canon for the incoming Star Wars: Episode 7: The Force Awakens that's coming up for this year in 2015. It saddens me to see my favorite games and novels from the EU was declared non-canon, and it took my time off for re-listening the audiobooks of my favorite novels from Star Wars. During the time of my break, some stories from the EU does wishes me to continue but it did give me few ideas, not from the story, but it still wishes me to continue. And Real Life is a pain in the butt! It took all my break time and blah blah blah! And also I finish few things from Star Wars: The Old Republic's newest expansion about my favorite character from the EU: Darth Revan. You may not need to know these things, but just minor issues of what Im doing during that year.