Another day, another chap… Sky Garden here we come!


The dungeon started out normal enough, if you can ever call a floating garden normal… There were demons of course. They were pretty easy to kill except for these robotic creatures that fired lasers everywhere.

I slashed at one with my flute just to be rewarded with a rocket punch. "Whoa!" I ducked and the fists missed me by inches. That was new… I grasped my flute tighter and attacked.

As soon as I defeated that enemy a giant worm like creature approached. Its moves were easy to read and it was even easier to kill it.

I smiled triumphantly, "Piece of cake!"

I continued along until there was no place left to go. "Okay… Now what?" I looked around and noticed a piece of the railing missing. I walked over to it and peered over the side. I gulped nervously, "That's a long way down…"

Suddenly the spirit's words echoed in my head. "Drop off the cliff at the front and the back to find the upside-down world…"

I took a step back. "Oh, no way!" I shook my head. "Jump? You've got to be kidding!" I peered over the edge again. I suddenly felt grateful I didn't have lunch that day. I suppose…if there's no other way… "No! I wont do it! I-"

Before I could chicken out, I closed my eyes and jumped. "Aaaah! Huh?" I opened my eyes to discover I wasn't falling towards certain doom. I had landed on the backside of the dungeon!

I sighed in relief, "Alright then… Now that that's over…" I grasped my flute and continued.

The backside of the garden was both similar and unlike the topside. It was similar in its layout but dissimilar in its monsters. It was as if the creatures on this side were on crack! Double in strength and speed.

"Dammit!" I ran as a group of robotic creatures decided to gang bang me. Man… If only Freedan were-Shit! I stopped dead as another group of worm like creatures charged. "Ah! Enough of this! Psycho Dash!"

That pretty much destroyed them. I paused to catch my breath, forgetting one major thing. I was on the down side which means… What goes down…must come up…

I did my best to avoid the explosive body parts of the worms but there was only so much room. I felt myself falling as I dodged a little too far. I tried to steady myself but it was no use. I was going down.

Wait… Down? Or up…? I blinked in confusion as I found myself on the upside of the garden. "Okaay… Freaky but cool…" A treasure chest next to me caught my attention. Inside was, "A crystal! Yes!" Now just three more! Sweet!

After a couple minutes of backtracking I continued traversing the dungeon, headed southwest.

It was basically the same as the east except for a little wall hug section which scared the crap out of me. I thought I would fall for sure. Luckily that didn't happen and I continued.

Eventually I came upon a suite of armor holding a sword.

"Well, that's out of place…" I touched it and suddenly wished I hadn't.

The sword came to life and started attacking me!

"Dammit! Why does this always happen to me?" I brought up my flute to block the sword. Our weapons collided and the sword backed off, ready to attack again.

It came at me in a spin attack and I countered with one of my own. It hit the sword with a 'tang' and broke through it easily. The broken sword fell to the ground and moved no more.

"Well that was freaky… Why…" I paused and inspected my surroundings. The statue was standing in front of a sharp incline.

Sharp incline? On no… I groaned, remembering Itory Village. "Here we go again…" I moved the statue out of the way and got ready. "One… Two… Three!"

I hit the incline and flew through the air, landing on the other side of the garden. I took a moment to catch my breath and continued once more. After dispatching another sword and armor I entered a small room with a dark portal in it.

"Guess its Freedan's turn…" I entered the portal and was immediately greeted by Gaia.

"Young Will, welcome…"

I nodded and went straight to Freedan's statue. Hey there.

Hello, he greeted.

Your turn, I said already losing consciousness.

I see…

I couldn't tell for sure but I thought I heard a little sarcasm in that statement. In a few seconds it didn't matter.

X

"Freedan," said Gaia, "I trust you already know, but there is a Mystic Statue nearby."

He nodded. "I know. I will find it."

Freedan left the Dark Space and looked around. "The Sky Garden, eh? Its been awhile…"

Freedan! greeted Will. What's up?

Heh… We are…

Will paused. That was a joke, wasn't it? Oh my gosh! Freedan's' being funny! It's the end of the world!

He laughed at Will's comment. You'd best be careful… The end of the world is closer than you think…

That shut Will up. Pleased that he had won the conversation, Freedan continued until he made it to another drop off.

Hey, Freedan, you have to-

Without hesitating, he jumped off the side only to end up on the down side. You were saying?

How did you-

You'd be surprised by what I know…

Okay then, why don't you tell me?

Freedan paused. "He's a clever one…" Nice try, Will… Not yet…

Aw… Come on! he whined. We've been through, how many scrapes together? Juts tell me Something, man!

Later.

Wait, how long is 'later'? he asked.

Freedan shut him out and continued. Against his sword the demons on the downside fell easily. He smiled to himself as he came upon a treasure chest containing the second crystal.

"Two down…two to go…" He backtracked and headed down the southwest corridor.

This is where things started to get tricky. There were several barricades blocking access to certain areas and the only way to get rid of them was to activate a switch on the downside.

So after unveiling a secret a passage, Freedan fell to the downside and deactivated a barricade. He followed the same procedure unlocking a dark portal to Dark Space.

Wow… Hey, Freedan, how do you know this place so well? asked Will curiously.

I've been here before, he said without thinking. Instantly he regretted it.

Been here before? But how? He thought a minute. Freedan, just who Are you?

I am a knight in the service of Gaia. he answered truthfully.

I know that but-

Will… he said as he entered Dark Space. Its your turn.

Oh no you don't! I still have questions!

Good bye.

X

"Dammit, Freedan!" I yelled to no one in particular. I turned to Gaia. "What is up with that guy? Why's he always like that?"

"You should be grateful… You're the first person he's ever really opened up to-"

"You call that 'opening up'? He barely tells me anything!" I said, still mad.

"Give him time…" she said looking down at me. "Hw will open up soon enough…"

I stood there, trying to regain my composure. "He said…that he'd been to this place before… How is that possible?"

"Freedan has been many places. Many more than you, Young Will."

I frowned. He said he was in service to Gaia… So if Gaia is eternal then… "Gaia, how long has Freedan been by your side?"

She smiled proudly. "I see you have not only grown physically but mentally as well!"

Thanks for the praise and all but- "Answer my question."

"Freedan has and will always be in my service."

"So…what? He was born into it?" I asked.

"You could say that…"

I sighed realizing she wasn't going to tell me anything. "Fine…but I'll find out eventually…"

"Oh, I have no doubt you will…"

I turned and left. Continuing south I destroyed a statue blocking my path to the down side and jumped. Further down the path was a switch that needed to be pressed but when I pressed it nothing happened.

Maybe it needs more weight? As soon as I thought that I saw another armored statue. "Jackpot!"

After defeating the sword, I placed the statue on the switch, deactivating another barricade.

As soon as I arrived in the upside I ran down an incline increasing my momentum so I could run up the other side to the chest containing the third crystal.

Once in hand, I headed for the final passage. The rest of the dungeon was easy…if you don't count the evil fireballs of doom that were invincible. Trust me, I tried killing them but it didn't really work so I decided the best method of battle would be to…

"Retreat!" I ran straight into a Dark Space portal. "Hey, Gaia." I greeted before she could say anything.

"Hello…" she said awkwardly, not used to being second.

I went straight up to Freedan's statue. Yo, Freedan, how good are your dodging skillz?

Fair…why?

I grinned. Cuz its Your turn.

X

Freedan came to a little confused. "Gaia, what was that about?"

"Who knows? In any case…you should hurry."

"Very well…"

He left the portal only to come up against the invincible fireballs.

Have fun! said Will happily.

"Dammit…" Freedan ran as fast as he could. That was cheap, Will.

That's what you get for not answering my questions!

It took a while plus a few missteps but eventually he found the last crystal.

Alright! cheered Will. Now what?

Now…we fight.

Say what?

The crystals open a path to the Master of this Garden, Viper.

Viper? he asked. So is he like, a boss?

That's a good way of putting it. he said backtracking. He didn't use to be like this but…

But?

He was changed by the light of the Comet… he said darkly.

Freedan arrived back at the beginning and placed the four crystals into the indents on the floor. Once they were placed, a way to the arena opened.

He cleared his mind of all thoughts and grasped his sword. "Its time…"

Freedan ran up the stairs as they fell behind him. As he entered the arena the fight begun.

Viper appeared to be a giant bird with a stone mask. It flew at Freedan as he approached, just grazing him.

Freedan jumped out of the way and got ready to attack. "Dark Friar!" he yelled. The energy blast flew towards its target and hit.

Viper staggered back and flew off, preparing its next assault.

Freedan! Behind you!

Freedan dodged just in time to avoid an ice barrage directed at him. He deflected the shards with his sword and went in to attack. He slashed at the wings first, causing major damage, then went in for the kill.

With one final slash he delivered the final blow. Like Castoth, Viper self destructed, leaving no trace of it behind.

When the smoke cleared a small object lay in front of him. Freedan picked it up slowly. "A Mystic Statue…"

Freedan! yelled Will. You did it! You killed the demon and got a Mystic Statue! Awesome!

Once again Freedan cringed. Will… I would appreciate it if you stopped yelling in my head… he said forcefully.

Oh…sorry… He paused. Does something feel…odd to you?

Freedan stopped and looked around. After Viper was destroyed there was no one left to control the Sky Garden.

We're Falling! screamed Will. Freedan! Do Something!

He took a moment to asses the situation. Will…

Yes?

Good luck.

Say what?-!

He kneeled down.

No! Don't-You-Dare! Freedan!

That's what you get for being so cheap. He laugh and was lost to darkness.

X

"Freedan, you backstabbing bastard!" I yelled at the top of my lungs. "I'll get you for this!"

"Whoa!" I dropped to one knee to steady myself. This is Not good… I slowly crawled to the edge, peered over and suddenly wished I hadn't. I was up in the air with the ground coming up fast. "Dammit, now what?"

Suddenly I heard a strange noise fill the air around me. I looked around, trying to locate the source. From out of no where I heard Neil's' voice…

"Will! You're falling to the ground!" he yelled.

I looked over the side and that's when I spotted him. He was flying in his old airplane! "Neil!" I shouted desperately. "Do something!"

"Grab the plane and we'll fly out of here!" he instructed.

I gulped. Grab the plane? That meant I had to jump… I sighed, "Might as well…" I jumped off the platform and hoped that I'd land on the plane.

Neil brought the plane around and flew for me. Unfortunately he judged the distance wrong…

"Shoot! I dropped the contact!" yelled Neil.

"What?-!" yelled Kara. "You idiot! Will is doomed for sure!"

I could here Lance's voice as he shouted, "Neil! There's still some time! Try again!"

I really hoped he was right.

Neil brought the plane around again and this time we were ready. He threw out the contact and I caught it, securing myself to the plane.

I kneeled down, trying not to fall off. "That…" I gasped, "was a little too much for me…"

I could hear Kara crying below and Lance saying, "Its alright, Kara… Will is fine, see?"

She leaned out of her seat and looked up to see me. There were tears in her eyes as she said, "Will… You're alright… I thought-"

"Kara, its okay." I said reassuringly. "I'm alright. See?"

She nodded. "Thank goodness…"

Neil snickered from the pilot's seat. "Ooh… I see how it is! Will and Kara, sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-"

"Knock it off, Neil!" I yelled slightly embarrassed.

He laugh, "Sure thing, lover boy…"

I glared at him. Sometimes my cousin can be a little immature…

"You still interested in ruins?" he asked.

"Um, yeah! Know of any around here?" I asked. With the whole 'sky is falling scene' I totally forgot about receiving the Mystic Statue. I'm on my way, Father… Wait for me…

"The lost city of Mu is supposed to be located somewhere in this ocean according to legends," said Lilly.

"The ocean?" asked Erik. "How are we supposed to-"

And that's when it happened. It started as a low rumbling then quickly escalated into a full on shaking of the plane.

"What's going on?-!" screamed Erik terrified.

Neil paused to check his instruments and when he finally said something it wasn't good.

"Oops."

Oops? Oops is never a good thing for Anyone to say. "Neil, what's wrong?"

He laughed nervously, "Wrong fuel…"

"What?-!"

"Abandon ship!"

We grabbed the parachutes in the back and got out of the plane in the nick of time. We watched it crash into the ocean as we, ourselves, slowly sank towards the water.

I shook my head. Neil's a good inventor and all but he always manages to get something wrong… I guess no one's perfect, including Neil…

We hit the water and everything turned black…


These long chaps are gunna kill me… Anyways, two dungeons down, more to go…

Up next? The Dreaded Mu! -oh boy…-

Till next Chap!