Chapter 13 – Exploration
Kendra, Bright and Raxtus all stared in awe at the Translocator that Warren was holding in his hands.
"Is that really it?" asked Raxtus, his lower jaw drooping downwards in astonishment.
"Yup," said Kendra proudly, having already identified the device. "This is it."
"How does it work, exactly?" asked Bright.
"It's simple really," said Warren. "You see how the design of the Translocator is made up of three basic sections? Well, one person just has to twist the two outer sections so that the jewels encrusted on them line up with the middle section. Once that's done, the user grabs the middle section and merely thinks of anyplace they've ever been to in the past, and they're instantly transported there, along with up to two other beings."
"It's easier than it sounds," said Kendra. "Care to demonstrate, Warren?"
"Wait," said Raxtus. "There's four of us."
"One of us can come back for the fourth after making a trip," said Warren. "It's a strategy we used back when the Translocator was first obtained."
"I can just go to my fairy guardian dimension," said Bright. "As long as I go into it near Kendra, it'll follow her."
"Even better," said Warren, as Bright disappeared in a flash of multicolored light. He then twisted the two ends of the Translocator and held on to the center section. "Grab hold, you two."
"Do I just hold one end?" asked Raxtus.
"That's all it takes," said Warren, as Kendra grabbed one end in her hand. As she did, she could feel energy pouring through her body and into the artifact, reminding her that the power she had initially infused it with had no doubt been drained out before the Translocator was hidden again.
"Okay," said Raxtus, placing his index finger and thumb on the other end. Warren then clenched the Translocator tightly, and Kendra experienced that all-too-familiar feeling of her body imploding into itself, before the front yard back at Fablehaven replaced the scenery of the tyrantula's lair.
"We're back?" asked Raxtus, as he let go of the Translocator and looked around at his surroundings.
"It's the only way to travel," said Warren.
"Bright," said Kendra, "you can come out, now."
"Nice trick," said Bright, looking around after making her appearance.
"You're back?" asked Dale, walking up to the group from the side of the house.
"We may have set a new record," said Warren, holding up the Translocator. "And we got what we came for too,"
"Well done," said Dale with a smile. "The Sorensons are inside. They'll be pleased to hear the good news!"
Kendra, Warren and Bright all followed Dale into the house, where they were greeted by Mr. and Mrs. Sorenson, as well as Grandpa and Grandma.
"You did it!" said Grandpa, admiring the recovered Translocator.
"Tell us, how did you fare in Labrador Labyrinth?" asked Grandma.
"It wasn't so bad," said Warren. "The tyrantula at the end was a nuisance, but it provided us with the silk we needed to trounce it."
"You weren't very fond of that giant snake, though," noted Bright.
"I get the feeling that it was supposed to chase us," said Warren. "We did the right thing by running."
"Please," said Mrs. Sorenson. "Let's sit down to some tea and you can tell us everything. It'll be ready in a few minutes."
Kendra, Warren and Bright all washed up and changed into fresh clothes in time for tea, then sat down at the dinning room table with the rest of the family. Lance sat at the end of the table, opting to be alone. The adventure still fresh in their minds, they were able to narrate their experience near-perfectly.
"Tyrantulas are incredibly dangerous creatures," said Grandpa. "I know that you were able to stab that one through its eyes, but to even have such an opportunity without getting caught in its silk is quite a feat.
"So, what do we do now that we've got the Translocator?" asked Kendra. "Couldn't we just travel to Living Mirage and see the Sphinx ourselves?"
"I'd rather leave that to the other group," said Grandpa. "Even if it takes longer. Besides, the Translocator can aid us in other ways. However, we need to keep the fact that we have it a secret from the Society at all costs. That means you can't just use it to hop from place to place, and you must avoid using it to make a clean getaway. The Society is very clever, and will likely figure out what's up."
"Now that we have the Translocator, perhaps we can try and travel to the Fairy Kingdom next," said Bright.
"That is what I had hoped for," said Grandpa.
Afterwards, the group headed outside, where Raxtus met up with them.
"I wonder if we even need Raxtus for this," said Kendra. "Nothing personal, but even though we can work around the three person limit of the Translocator, we don't know what this mission will actually require in terms of skill."
"We can always come back for you anyway," said Warren.
"I guess," said Raxtus. "I'll be here if you need me."
"So what's the plan, anyway?" asked Bright.
"That's something I'm not entirely sure of," said Grandpa. "All I can say is, travel to the Fairy Kingdom and find out what's going on on the other side. Mind you, given our assumptions, what you may find might not be very... pleasant."
"We have to know," said Kendra.
"Any time you're ready," said Warren, handing the Translocator to Bright.
"So I just twist the jewels into alignment and think of where I wish to go?" asked Bright.
"You got it," replied Warren.
Bright nodded and twisted the Translocator, then kept hold of the center section, while Kendra and Warren grabbed the sides.
"Nothing's happening," said Kendra, who felt rather confused.
"You are thinking of the Fairy Kingdom, aren't you?" said Warren.
"Course I am," said Bright. "You claimed that using the Translocator wasn't that difficult."
"Try something easy," said Kendra. "Like my living room."
Bright then closed her eyes, and instantaneously, the trio had been transported no more than twenty feet into the living room at Fablehaven.
"Well, you did it right that time," said Warren, as they walked back outside.
"What's going on?" asked Grandma, who was standing on the porch.
"I was testing the Translocator," said Bright. "It seems to work somewhat, but it's not letting me reach the Fairy Kingdom."
"I know that Oblivion sealed the barrier between our dimension and the Fairy Kingdom," said Kendra, "but is his enchantment really so powerful that it can stop the Translocator?"
"I'm going to say yes," commented Warren.
"You think maybe they could access the Fairy Kingdom through another dimension?" asked Lance, who had joined up with the group.
"That could work," said Warren, "but we don't know the technicalities of Oblivion's power."
"Wish I did," said Lance. "I just remember overhearing that the spell was to block all transportation in and out of the Fairy Kingdom."
"And that's something that requires the use of a Fairy Shrine on its own," added Bright. "But even the Translocator can't even bypass it. Are you sure it can travel through dimensions? That sort of thing is hard to accomplish."
"Of course it can," replied Warren. "The Knights used it to rescue me from the knapsack."
"And the knapsack was in its own dimension," added Kendra.
"Wait a minute," said Warren. "Would it be possible to transport ourselves into the knapsack, then use that point as a stepping stone to reach the Fairy Kingdom?"
"Perhaps," said Grandpa, scratching his head. "Mind you, who's to say that you'll be able to bypass the barrier even from in there?"
"It's worth a try," said Warren. "Besides, there's always the vents. Budba and I never did manage to figure out where they lead, since one would have to be the size of a cat to slip through. If it's in this dimension or elsewhere is anybody's guess.
Kendra cleared her throat. "I think you're all forgetting one thing. Navarog. He's still in there, remember?"
"You're right," said Warren disappointment. "Not only did Seth and I banish him to the knapsack forever, but Navarog himself wished to live forever."
"So he's still in there, alive and well?" asked Lance.
"Alive, yes," answered Kendra. "Hopefully, not well."
"But, Seth wished for Navarog to be powerless, and incapable of hurting anyone," said Warren. "He's essentially harmless."
"I do not like the idea of anyone running into Navarog again," said Grandpa. "However, passing through the knapsack may in fact be the only way around this obstacle."
"What's Navarog going to do, anyway?" asked Lance. "You said he was powerless."
"We'll just pop in to the knapsack, and immediately warp from there to the Fairy Kingdom," said Warren. "If we're fast enough, Navarog might not even realize what's going on."
"If Navarog were to somehow get a hold of the Translocator, couldn't he use it to escape?" asked Lance.
"Probably not," said Warren. "The wish that Seth and I made binds Navarog to the confinement of the knapsack for eternity. In theory, the Translocator wouldn't be able to help him."
Kendra looked around, a fearful expression gleaming in her eyes. "Well, here goes nothing."
Kendra then twisted the Translocator and held on to the middle part, while Warren and Bright grabbed the outer ends. Kendra imagined the inside of the knapsack, and felt as her body folded into itself.
When Kendra and the others reappeared, Kendra could feel herself in a dank room that felt much smaller and more narrow in height than the actual knapsack. Looking down, she could see that she was kneeling upon a hard, lumpy and black surface. The group had indeed warped to inside of the knapsack, but squished inside was Navarog, whose massive, compressed body took up almost the entire volume of the room, save for a few precious feet of space at the top.
"What's going on?" boomed Navarog, his voice overpowering the small room.
Kendra twisted the ends of the Translocator, and prepared to travel to the Fairy Kingdom. She had been there once in the past, but her vision of the place wasn't coming into reality. "It doesn't work," she whispered. The Fairy Kingdom is blocked off from this point too!"
"I hear voices," said Navarog, whose entire body was starting to rumble. "Who's on my back?"
Warren looked around, then pointed to a small hole in one of the walls that was up against the ceiling. "That's the vent Bubda tried to slip through," he whispered. "Let's see where it leads."
The group then trotted across Navarog's back towards the open vent.
"What are you doing?" asked Navarog. "I can't see you! ANSWER ME!"
Bright shrunk down to her smaller size and flew into the open vent, and Kendra passed her the Translocator. Bright then used her magic on Kendra, causing her to shrink down to her size, as well as float into the vent. Lastly, Bright shrunk Warren and he too flew into the vent.
"YOU!" snarled Navarog, poking his menacing face up towards the vent. "What are you doing here? Get me out of here!"
"We wouldn't if we could," said Warren, crossing his arms.
"I'll get you!" said Navarog, taking in a deep breath, before failing to exhale but a single cinder into the vent. "BLAST IT!"
"You're never going to get out of there," said Kendra. "Deal with it."
"I've been stuck in this room for ages!" blurted Navarog.
"Only a month or so," said Warren.
"A month?" gasped Navarog. "I'm trapped here forever! I've been so... furious!"
"Serves you right," said Warren. "Bye Navarog."
Kendra, Bright and Warren turned and and proceeded with walking down the hallway-like vent.
"GET BACK HERE!" blared Navarog. "I COMMAND YOU TO DO SO!"
"Shut up, Navarog," huffed Bright, as the group continued down the vent, rolling the Translocator along like a large log.
Kendra tried to think about where the vent was talking them, but her thoughts were being blocked out by Navarog's yelling. A rectangular, metalic passageway, the vent twisted and turned in a multitude of directions, and went on for quite some time, to the point where they could no longer hear Navarog's booming voice.
"I think I could've done without that little rendezvous," said Warren, as the group turned another corner. At the end of this next hallway of the ventilation system stood a grate with light pouring through it.
"We made it!" gasped Kendra, as she stepped away from the Translocator and dashed over to the vent.
"So what is this place?" asked Warren, as he followed Kendra towards the grate.
Kendra gazed between two bars of the grate and saw what appeared to be a flower-filled meadow within a valley "It's beautiful. But what is it?"
"It's the Fairy Kingdom!" shouted Bright. "We made it! But, something isn't right. Fairies come to this meadow often. Wouldn't they notice this vent?"
"I'm not complaining," said Warren. "Let's just get through this grate and pass through!"
"Allow me," said Bright, as she expelled her magic on the bars, causing them to vanish. The trio then rolled the the Translocator out of the vent, and Bright used her power to kept themselves and the artifact afloat.
Kendra turned back and observed the vent. It appeared to be floating in midair no more than two feet above the ground, yet not connected to the rest of the scenery, almost as if it were a portal.
"Very odd," said Bright, as she used her magic to restore the group to their normal heights, before placing them down on the ground.
"So this is the Fairy Kingdom?" asked Warren. "It's breathtaking."
"Whereabouts are we?" asked Kendra.
"A rather undeveloped sector," replied Bright. "It's full of beauty, but since we've been restoring the Kingdom from the old Zzyzx, there isn't much here at the moment."
"Wait a minute," said Warren. "Does that mean that the knapsack used to be connected to Zzyzx of all places?"
"It would make more sense for the knapsack to link to the Fairy Kingdom," said Kendra. "Given that the place is relatively impervious to outside interference, and would be a safe area to ventilate air into the knapsack."
"Perhaps it was always connected to the Fairy Kingdom," said Bright. "Even when the Fairy Kingdom changes."
"So where do we go from here?" asked Kendra.
"I know where we are," said Bright. "Not far from the Royal Castle. Follow me!"
Bright grabbed Kendra by her arm, then flew off into the air, with Warren following close behind. Kendra could feel that Bright was using her power to keep her afloat, lest she be left dangling from Bright's hand. They flew over several meadows and gardens, most of which were filled with streams, bridges, waterfalls and knolls. Eventually, what appeared to be a small town came into view, at the far end of which stood a large, shimmering castle.
"Welcome to my home," said Bright proudly, as they soared downwards towards the town. As soon as they landed, several small fairies flew up to them, all greeting them with cheers.
Looking around, Kendra could see that the houses, though small in size, were large enough for a human to live in. Clearly there had to be more than just the diminutive fairies living here.
"Kendra?" asked a familiar voice. "Bright? Warren?"
The group turned their heads towards the nearby castle, from which Bracken was dashing towards the group.
"Bracken!" cried Kendra, as she threw her arms around her unicorn friend. "I'm so glad to see you!"
"Bright," said Bracken, as he proceeded to hug Bright after letting go of Kendra. "We've missed you! And Warren, thank goodness you're all here," he said, shaking Warren's hand.
"What is going on?" asked Bright.
"You know, don't you?" asked Bracken. "The barrier between our world and the mortal realm has been rendered impenetrable. I see Warren's got the Translocator on him. Good thinking."
"It took more than that, though," noted Warren.
"We've got questions for you too!" exclaimed Bright. "Like, why haven't you just formed the Omega Star to fix the problem?"
Bracken frowned, then let out a deep breath. "I guess you really are unaware of how bad things have truly gotten. Come with me, I'll take you to see Mother."
Bracken led the group towards the castle, passing through a rather stunning garden filled with fountains and flora in all colors of the rainbow. They then walked over a large, cobblestone bridge and passed by several full-sized fairy guards, until they entered the castle.
Upon closer inspection, the walls and ceiling of the castle appeared to be made out of some sort of opaque diamond. However, Kendra did not have time to stand around and admire the beauty, as Bracken led the group through the brilliant castle, up a staircase, down another hallway, and into another room.
At the far end of the vast room, sitting upon her throne, was none other than the Fairy Queen. "Bright!" she exclaimed, standing up from her throne. "Kendra! And are you the one they call Warren?"
"Y-y-yes," said Warren nervously. He usually wasn't like this, but even Warren was astounded to see the Fairy Queen in person.
"I'm so glad you're all right, Bright," said the Fairy Queen, giving Bright a solid hug. "Is the the Translocator you have?"
"Yes," said Bright. "Bracken brought us here to talk."
"And talk we shall," said the Fairy Queen, as she waved her arms, causing several plush, silky couches to appear next to where everyone was standing. "Please, take a seat. I can tell that we all have some explaining to do."